AU781230B2 - An improved collapsible camper - Google Patents

Description

PATENTS ACT 1990 (AS AMENDED)

AUSTRALIA

(Patents Act 1990) COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT.

AN IMPROVED COLLAPSIBLE CAMPER, The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me.

AN IMPROVED COLLAPSIBLE CAMPER.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION.

This invention relates to mobile shelters. More particularly though not exclusively it discloses an improved form of camper for use on utility vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION.

Existing campers typically comprise structures which are either mounted direr.tiy nntn A mc- t eT h Ie C--4r ftt-o to a trailer. With motor vehiLcle mounted campers the structure is rigid and has to be high enough to provide standing room for the occupants. This leads to excessive air resistance and increaseda fuel consumption when travellina as well instability in cross winds. While in the case of trailer campers it -is known to provide .structures which are collapsible down to a low profile there are still the well known disadvantages associated with towing such as steering difficulties during brakina .:and reversing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION.

It is therefore an object of this invention to ameliorate the aforementioned disadvantages and accordingly a camper is disclosed for a utility vehicle or the like said- ::camper including a base frame adapted for mounting in the ::cargo tray of said utility, a pair of bed frames disposed above said base frame and slidable laterally relative .o thereto between inner closed position substantially within the width of said tray and open positions of use extending outward of the tray sides, a roof panel moveable between a lower closed position and a raised position of use and flexible sheet material extending between outer edges of said bed frames and roof panel the camper being collapsible for travelling by moving said bed frames and roof panel from said positions of use to said closed positions whereby a compact low profile shape is-provided which is set substantially within the transverse dimensions of said cargo tray.

Preferably the roof panel is supported by corner poles which may be either Ohe piece or logitudinally collapsible and removably attached to said bed frames.

It is further preferred that said corfter poles include a cable system for moving said roof panel between said lower closed position aid sciid rdised puoiLiuii.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

The currently preferred embodiment of this invention will now be described with reference to the attached representations in which: Figures I and 2 are schematic perspectives and rear •173'. elevation views of a camper according to this concept fitted to a utility and open for use.

Figure 3 is a partial plan view of the rear of the bench.

Figure 4 is a schematic plan view of the base frame showing the preferred arrangement of the tracks for the bed frames.

Figure 5 shows a cross section of the tracks and figure 6 is a perspective view of the camper of figure 1 when collapsed for travelling.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT.

0. Referring first to figures 1 to 5 there is a conventional utility vehicle 1 with a cargo tray 2 at the rear. The camper, indicated generally as 3, is mounted on the utility by fitting the central base frame 4 into the cargo tray. The shape of this frame 4 is adapted to match the inside of the cargo tray and includes appropriate recesses for the wheel arches etc,.

there may alsobe removable transport wheels 5 fitted to the bottom of the frame.The height of the base frame 4 and the tracks 6 are selected so that the bed frames 7 are slideable on said tracks out to each side of the cargo tray where they rest on telescopic props 8 hinged to the underside of each bed frame. There is a rectangular roof panel 9 which is supported by four vertical poles 10 removably attached adjapcnt tn the inboard corners of the bed frame-s using brackets 11. A flexible weatherproof sheet material 12 forms the walls of the camper by extending down -from the sides 9A of the roof panel and attaching to both the outer side edges 13 of the bed frames and the front and back edges 14.

The front and rear wall section 15 are 2 .:zippered so that it can be opened to provide access to the inside of the camper as shown in figure 2. There are mattresses 16 placed in each bed frame which may for example be 250mm in depth. 750mm in width and 1900mm in length. With this embodiment, the middle sections 6A of the tracks are removable after the camper is opened so that the central interior area 17 becomes available for daytime activities such as eating etc. For cooking purposes a bench 18 may be hinged to the rear of the base frame. This bench mounts a stove 19 of any suitable design and a gas bottle 20 if required. said stove and said gas bottle may be arranged in various configurations to suit particular applications. The bench swings out as illustrated in figure 3 for cooking and access to the camper. The construction of the base and bed frames would be well within the capabilities of a person skilled in the art using known technology. With the present embodiment, the base frame, bed frames and roof panel are preferably constructed from 20X20X1.6mm rolled hollow steel sections and the external sides are formed by less than 1mm thick galvanised steel or aluminium sheet as shown. The specific arrangement of the internal members is not an essential feature of the invention and various other designs could be used.

The frames with this embodiment have been constructed from steel to provide the strength to mount either a half or full length roof rack or roof bars on top. This would enable the user to carry light items such as fishing rods, a bicycle, spare wheel or a lightweight aluminium dinghy. The invention however also extends to the use of aluminium frames and sheeting for lightweight campers where no load carrying is required.

The poles 10 may be preferably collapsible or of one piece construction and are removably attached to the inboard corners of the bed frames using any suitable form of clamp 21. Pulleys 22 are fitted adjacent to the top S* of the poles and cables 23 extend up from winch reels on the ends of winding shafts at each side. The cables pass through the pulleys and attach to eyebolts 23A at corners of the roof panels 9. To elevate thereof panels the winding shafts are turned by hand cranks 24 in a direction to take up the cables. With the current embodiment this cable arrangement allows the roof panel 9 to be lifted to a clear interior height of 1.9 metres above the camper floor. This promotes a feeling of spaciousness within the enclosed space and also permits the camper to be very compact when closed up. Rotation in the reverse direction serves to lower the roof panel The preferred arrangement for the tracks is best shown in figures 4 and 5. There are runners 25 attached to the bed frames 7 with wheels 26 extending laterally through side slots 27 in each track. The tracks are bolted across the base frame 4 as shown in figure 4. Preferably the innermost wheel 26A of each runner makes contact with and runs along the top side of its associated track to counteract the weight of the bed frames as said frame tilts when extended past the point of balance.It is this contact which keeps the bed frames stable when fully extended. With the bed frames 7 deployed and the roof panel 9 elevated as shown in fiqures 1 and 2 a serviceable and weatherproof structure is provided for short term or overnight shelter. With the currently preferred example shown the available interior width is over three metres, the interior height is 1.9 metres and the ceiling area is 1.8 by 1.5 metres.

For travelling the camper is closed by first winding down K* the roof panel using the aforementioned crank handles.

The cornerpoles are then removed, collapsed and Spaced inside the storage compartments in the top. The support props are then retracted and folded up against the undersides of the bed frames, the centre track section installed and the bed frames slid inwardly until their inner facing sides meet. Any suitable form of S..latch may be used to hold the bed frames in place.

*9 9 Finally the cooking bench is folded into the back of the cargo tray and the rear tailgate of the utility is shut.

Preferably a rubber seal is fitted around the underside of the roof panel to engage the top of the bed frames.

The result as shown in figure 6 is a compact low profile shape which sits squarely over the cargo tray and is less than the overall width of the vehicle. Wind resistance-_ when travelling is thus minimised and the relatively low centre of gravity ensures better vehicle control than with conventional rigid structure campers.

While the camper has been illustrated in conjunction with A utility vehicle it can also be erected and used as an off vehicle shelter. When users are staying in one location for an extended period they can erect the camper on the ground thus freeing the vehicle for other purposes. It is envisaged that the camper could be used in this manner as temporary accommodation at the user's home or a temporary site or emergency office.

It will thus be appreciated that this invention at least in the form of the embodiment disclosed provides a novel and improved camper. Clearly however the example described is only the currently preferred form of the invention and a wide variety of modification may be made which would be apparent to a person skilled in the art..

For example the shape, configuration and method of constructing the frame assemblies and roof panel may be changed according to the type of utility vehicle being fitted. Also while cables and hand cranks are currently proposed to raise and lower the roof panel, other mechanical, electrical or hydraulic mechanism may be used. The invention is also not restricted to specific materials although rolled hollow sections are preferred o: for the internal structural members and sheet metal for the frame sides and roof panel.

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Claims (4)

1. A camper for a utility vehicle, said camper including a base frame for fitting into the cargo tray of said utility vehicle, a pair of bed frames disposed above said base frame and slidable laterally thereto between inner closed positions substantially within the width of said cargo tray and open positions of use extending outwards of the cargo tray sides, a roof panel moveable between a lower closed position and a raised position of use and flexible sheet material extending between the outer edges of said bed frames and said roof panel, the camper being collapsible for travelling by moving said bed frames and roof panel from said positions of use to said closed positions whereby a compact low profile shape is provided which is less than the overall width of the utility vehicle and said bed frames being slidable on tracks between said inner closed positions and said open positions of use with middle sections of the tracks being removable or displaceable when the bed frames are at said open positions of use and said roof panel being rectangular and supported at said raised positions of use by corner poles removably attached'adjacent inboard corners of said bed frames wherein said corner poles include a cable system for moving the roof panel between said lower closed position and said raised position of use, the cable system including pulleys fitted at or adjacent the tops of said poles and cables extending up from winding shafts at each side of the camper, said cables passing through the pulleys and attaching to said roof panel whereby rotating of said winding shafts in one direction raises said roof panel and the rotation of said winding shaft in the opposite direction lowers said roof panel.

2. The camper as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tracks are disposed across the base frame and there are runners attached to the bed frames with wheels extending laterally through side slots in the tracks.

3. The camper as claimed in claim 2 wherein transport wheels are fitted to the underside of the base frame.

4.The camper as claimed in claim 3 wherein a bench is hinged to the rear of said base frame. The camper as claimed in claim 4 wherein the bed frames when at open positions of use rest on props hinged to the underside of said bed frames. Dated this 16th day of March 2005 *i* 0 Sprepared For Neville Consulting Pty Ltd. Robert Nevil e. 0* I *as o 9