US3868088A

US3868088A - Apparatus for mounting camper bodies and the like

Info

Publication number: US3868088A
Application number: US442774A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles F Reeves
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-02-15
Filing date: 1974-02-15
Publication date: 1975-02-25
Anticipated expiration: 1992-02-25

Abstract

This invention relates to a tiltable stanchion-type jack for mounting and demounting camper bodies and similar units from the bed of a pickup truck. Each stanchion of both the front and rear pairs thereof is characterized by an inverted Y-shaped configuration that results in a bifurcated foot. With the four stanchions in vertical position, these feet support the demounted unit in freestanding condition without the benefit or need for front-to-rear bracing of any type and at a height when the truck bed can be backed into place therebeneath. The invention further includes a telescopable front stanchion subassembly and a modified form of stanchion having an adjustable shock absorber incorporated therein.

Description

United States Patent [191 Reeves [451 Feb. 25, 1975 APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING CAMPER BODIES AND THE LIKE [76] Inventor: Charles F. Reeves, 1200 S. Monaco Pky., Denver, Colo. 80222 [22] Filed: Feb. 15, 1974 [21] Appl. N0.: 442,774

[52] U.S. Cl 254/49, 214/515 [51] Int. Cl B66f 7/26 [58] Field of Search 254/45, 49; 280/150.5; 214/515 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,049,210 12/1912 Cole 254/45 2,868,401 H1959 Lelois 214/515 Primary Examiner-Al Lawrence Smith Assistant Examiner-Robert C. Watson Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Edwards, Spangler, Wymore & Klaas [57] ABSTRACT This invention relates to a tiltable stanchion-type jack for mounting and demounting camper bodies and similar units from the bed of a pickup truck. Each stanchion of both the front and rear pairs thereof is characterized by an inverted Y-shaped configuration that results in a bifurcated foot. With the four stanchions in vertical position, these feet support the demounted unit in freestanding condition without the benefit or need for front-to-rear bracing of any type and at a height when the truck bed can be backed into place therebeneath. The invention further includes a telescopable front stanchion subassembly and a modified form of stanchion having an adjustable shock absorber incorporated therein.

1 Claim, 13 Drawing Figures PATENTEB 3 868 O8 8 oul :00

APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING CAMPER BODIES AND THE LIKE,

The prior art is replete with tilt up type jacks for mounting and demounting camper bodies and the like atop pickup truck beds; however, such units usually have four plain stilt-like legs terminating at the lower end in a single foot that defines a fulcrum by means of which the body supported thereon is raised and lowered. In most instances, latches cannot be relied upon to maintain these legs in upright position and, as a result, the legs on each side of the unit are slightly inclined in parallel relation and then interconnected by some type of diagonal brace necessary to store the unit in freestanding condition. Chains can even be used for this purpose, however, regardless of how the assembly is braced, it remains highly unstable and, therefore, dangerous to be around when left in freestanding condition.

Mounting and demounting also creates certain problems with the prior art tilt-up type jack assemblies which may well be responsible for the fact that few are used even though they have been around for some time. To begin with, when a rigid diagonal brace is used to maintain a freestanding condition, it must be removed or atleast have one end detached before the legs can be tilted forwardly to lower the body down onto the bed. As soon as this brace is removed, however, and before the body rests on the truck bed, the whole assembly is highly unstable, virtually uncontrollable and otherwise extremely dangerous to be around, especially if it starts to tilt rearwardly.

Both the flexible and rigid diagonal braces usually under rather heavy tensile loading while the unit is standing by itself and, as such, these braces become rather difficultto detach. Also, if these braces go from a fixed point on the front leg to a fixed point on the rear one, it becomes very diffic ult to adjust the length of the legs to accommodate uneven ground because the length of the brace must be changed accordingly.

Furthermore, as the legs tilt forwardly in lowering the body supported thereon down atop the bed, their inclination is such that they can slip quite easily, especially in dirt, on grass or even a hard surface that is dirty. If even one leg slips, the body is likely to become skewed with respect to the truck bed and, once this occurs, it becomes very difficult to rectify sometimes demounting the unit and starting over becomes quite a problem as the truck is no longer pointed in the right direction to raise the unit back up upon the jacks.

It has now been found in accordance with the teaching of the instant invention that these and other shortcomings of the prior art tilt-up type camper-mounting jacks can, in large measure, be overcome by the simple, yet unobvious, expedient of eliminating all front-torear bracing in favor of a bifurcated foot on each stanchion. The front pair of stanchions are transversely adjustable relative to one another so as to vary the gap therebetween and provide a wide secure footing to support the unit in freestanding condition. Each stanchion can, if desired, be made adjustable both for the purpose of accommodating different height truck beds and also to adjust to uneven ground, all without having any appreciable effect upon either the mounting or demounting operation such as would be encountered with fixed point-to-point diagonal bracing.

The forwardly inclined front arm of the bifurcated foot provides an extremely stable configuration, especially during the mounting sequence where a slip is more critical than when demounting the unit. The resulting dogleg stanchion will maintain its position on the ground without slippage under conditions where a straight leg would be inoperative. The tendency toward slippage, if any, is far more pronounced during the demounting sequence where, if it occurs, the body rests securely atop the truck bed and presents no hazard whatsoever to those in the vicinity. Furthermore, with the unit still mounted, one need only seek a better location to demount same.

Finally, the bifurcated feet on the lower end of each stanchion support the unit in a stable freestanding condition where it can be latched secure in the knowledge that the latch pins are under no shear load and will remain so except under extraordinary circumstances.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved tilt-up type jack assembly for mounting and demounting camper bodies and the like from pickup truck beds.

A second objective of the within described invention is to provide a novel method of using the aforementioned apparatus.

Another object of the invention herein disclosed and claimed is to provide a set of four tilt-up type camper jacks that cooperate with one another independently to produce a stable freestanding assembly.

Still another objective is to provide a jack assembly of the type described wherein the individual stanchions can be made independently adjustable of one another without material adverse effect upon the operation thereof while, at the same time, making provision for adapting to uneven ground conditions.

An additional objective is to provide a tilt-up type jack assembly with a dogleg arrangement on each stanchion that effectively resist slippage when tilted for-, wardly and in which the slippage, if any, is likely to occur when tilting same rearwardly at which point the unit supported thereon remains securely lodged atop the truck bed.

Further objects are to provide a tilt-type of camper jack that is simple, versatile, rugged, compact, easy to use, safe and readily adapted for use on various types and styles of units to be mounted and demounted from a bed of a pickup truck or the like.

Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out specifically hereinafter in connection with the description of the drawings that follows, and in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view showing a camper body supported in freestanding position upon the tilt-up jack assembly of the present invention as seen from a vantage point at the left front comer thereof;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation to the same scale as FIG. 1 showing the first step in mounting the body on the bed of a pickup truck;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation like FIG. 2 and to the same scale except that the jacks have been shown tilted forward using the forwardly inclined legs as fulcrums to first raise and then lower the body;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view showing the elements in the same condition as in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a section taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a rear elevation of the elements in the same condition as in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged exploded fragmentary perspective view of the left front stanchion subassembly as it would be seen from a vantage point slightly above and to the left of the left front corner of the unit, portions thereof having been broken away to conserve space.

and to more clearly revealthe interior construction.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view like FIG. 7

and to the same scale as the latter showing the left rear stanchion subassembly, portions of the latter having,

once again, been broken away to conserve space;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side elevation to a still further enlarged scale showing the design of the bifurcated foot on the lower end of each stanchion. I

FIG. 10 is a perspective view like FIGSJ7 and 8 and V be rotated rearwardly through about three quarters of overhang 34 of thecamper and the side 36 ofthe truck bed will be wide enough to admit the bifurcated feet 38. of the stanchions assuming, of course, that a space 40.

to the same scale as the latter showing a modified form.

of adjustable stanchion; portions having been broken away to conserve space as before;

FIG. 11 is afragmentary section to a. greatly enlarged scale taken along line 11-1I of FIG. 10; 7

FIG. 12 is still another perspective view like FIGS. 7,

a 8 and 10 showing a further modified form of shock ab- 16, inclusive for this purpose reference numeral. 10

has been chosen to designate broadly the tilt-up jack like I6. As illustrated. a camper body comprises the dcmountable unit although the jack assembly was origi nally developed for use as a means for mounting and demounting a vacuum sweeping and cleaning unit of the type used out-of-doors to pick up dirt and debris from parking lots.

The jack assembly 10 will be seen to include front and rear pairs of inverted generally Y-

shaped stanchions

18F and 18R, the upper ends of which are bent a turn from the full line into the broken line position of FIG. 3. In'some instances, the gap 32 left between the between the opposed truck bed wall 42. and the recessed side wall 44 ofthe camper iswide enough to re-" ceive same.

The rear pair of stanchions 18R can, if desired, be constructed and mounted upon the rear wall 46 of the camper body in just the same way as thetfront pair, however, as shown, they are not mounted for telescopic, but only pivotal, movement within. tubular sockets 22R.These sockets are securedto the side wall 44 of the body in transversely-aligned coaxial relation" by rear mounting brackets26R. The axes defined by I the front and rear pairs of

stanchion mounting members

22F and 22R are, preferably, both parallel to one another and elevated thesame distance above ground level so that" the arcs throughwhich the feet 38' swing will be substantially alike.

Now, the bifurcated feet 38 on the lower end of each of the four stanchions 18 comprise oneof themost significant features of the present invention and reference 1 will be made to FIG. 9 for a detailed description thereof. Each foot 38 includes a downwardly and'forassembly forming the subject matter hereof while nu-. j

wardly inclined front arm 48 that cooperates with the main stem port-ion50 thereofto produce a 'dogleg that t defines the fulcrum about which the unit is'pivoted d-uring the mounting and demounting operations as depicted in FIG. 3. The other half of the ,bifurcatedfoot 38 consists of the downwardly and rearwardly inclined rear arm 52 which, in the particular form shown; also has a dogleg configuration su'ch that the tip'54 thereof.

V is essentially perpendicular to the ground when the at rightangles to define horizontally-disposed laterally- 7 extending

arms

20F and 20R. The front pair of these arms 20F are each mounted in tubular sleeves 22F for,

limited telescopic movement between the extended op.-

V erative position shown in full lines in FlGS.l-6 and the retracted inoperative or stowed position shownin broken lines in FIGJ3. These same sleevesare secured to chions. Both stanchions 18L and I8R=are depicted, for I the front wall 24 of the camper body in transversely aligned coaxial relation by front mounting brackets 26F. The sleeves thus mounted define a common horizontally-disposed axis of pivotal'movement for the front pair of stanchions 18F about which theypivot between the freestanding upright'vposition of FIGS. l, 2,

7 Also, as seen in FIG. 1, this feature provides the jack assembly with avery wide and stable stance when in freestanding condition. The stowed condition of FIG.

' 3. on the other hand, requires a compact relationship stanchions are in their upright freestanding positionsf Both the front and rear armsof the bifurcated feet are preferably capped with anti-slip cups 56 of conventionaldesign. r V FIGS. 7 and 8 to whichbrief reference will now be made show further details of the front and rear stanexample, as having apertures 58 in their horizontal sections that register in upright position withlike apertures 60 in the, tubular parts of their mounts. Suitablelatch pins 62 can be dropped through these registering openings so asto maintain the jack assembly in the freestanding position of FIG. 1 thus preventingthelegs from folding back prematurely. Since the front stanchions telescope inwardly tobe stowed, the apertures are located to register only in the extended operative position of the latter. f 1

These same two figures of the drawings also reveal annulargrooves 64in the horizontal portions 20 of the stanehions into. which is keyed a retractable pin 66 shown inthe form of a bolt threaded into a nut welded wherein the four stanchions are detachably fastened to" r the sides 28 of the camper body withsuitable latch mechanisms 30. The front pair 18F can, of course; be

swung rearwardly up into stowed position through an I are of only. about whereas, the rear pair 18R must onto the outside of tubular elements 22 so as to register with an opening therebeneath (not shown). These interlocked pins and grooves hold the stanchions telescoped into their respective tubular elements 22 while,

at the same time, allowing relative pivotal movement I therebetween. If, for some reason; the stanchions are to be detached from the mounting brackets for storage,

; the user need only back the pins out of the grooves in the well-known manner. Obviously, the means. illus' trated for latching the stanchionsin upright position along with the other means for keeping them fastened to their respective brackets during the mounting and demounting operations are intended as being merely representative of two such connections that could be used, there being many others that would work just as well.

Next, FIGS. and 11 reveal a modified form of stanchion 18M in which the stem portion 50M is rectangular in cross section rather than tubular and consists of two

sections

66U and 66L that telescope one inside the other. Inside member 66L carries, in the particular form shown, a single pair of transversely-aligned apertures 68 which can be placed in registry with anyone of several pairs of like apertures 70 in the outer member 66U for purposes of adjusting the length of the stanchion in the well-known manner. Once adjusted, pin 72 maintains the adjusted position. Adjustable stanchions 18M can be used in place of either the front pair 18F, the rear pair 18R, or both.

FIGS. 12 and 13 reveal a still further modified form of stanchion 18N wherein the stem portion SON comprises an inner tubular member 741.. with a cap 76 on the top thereof that telescopes up into outer tubular member 74U and presses upwardly against compression spring 76 housed in the top of the latter. The outer tube is vertically slotted at 78 and a pin 80 carried by the inner tube rides within this slot to keep the sections in assembled relation. The upper end of spring 76 rests against an adjustable abutment 82 which is, in turn, mounted on the lower end of screw 84 threaded through nut 86 fastened to the outside of horizontal portion 20. The effective length of stanchion 18N under load is, of course, determined by the position of adjustable stop 82. Spring 76, on the other hand, provides a shock absorbing feature to the stanchion that prevents damage to the contents of the camper as these stanchions rock upright and assume a freestanding position.

Finally, turning once again to FIGS. 1-6, inclusive, for a description of the method of mounting a camper atop the bed of a pickup using the tilt-up jack assembly of the present invention, it will be seen that the bifurcated feet support the unit in the freestanding position of FIG. 1 without the need for bracing of any kind. The upright stanchions support the unit far enough off the ground for the bed of the pickup to be backed into position therebeneath as shown in FIG. 2. Next, as seen in FIG. 3, the truck is moved forwardly while, at the same time, the camper body is pushed or pulled forwardly to tilt the stanchions in the same direction using the front arms 48 of the bifurcated feet as fulcrums. As the stanchions tilt forwardly on these forwardlyextending arms 48, they will first lift the camper slightly before letting it down again on to the truck bed. Note that these from arms do not assume a perpendicular position relative to the ground until the camper rests in final position atop the bed thus providing a secure nonslip footing during the mounting operation. Once arms 48 reach a near vertical position, however, the stanchions can be lifted free of the ground and swung to the rear for stowage.

The tilt-up jack assembly works best with lightweight campers and the like that can be easily pushed to tilt the stanchions forwardly. As such, no connection to the vehicle has been shown nor is one needed; however, obviously, the vehicle itself can, if desired, be used to supply the power for mounting and demounting the unit so long as enough slack is left in connection to accommodate the rise and fall occasioned by the movement thereof around the fulcrums.

The demounting of the unit is accomplished by merely reversing the mounting procedure. In demounting, however, the vehicle itself is advantageously used to push rearwardly against the camper thereby tilting the stanchions rearwardly until they assume their upright freestanding positions. Once the stanchions are upright they may, of course, be locked in the manner previously explained. At this point, the camper will be raised free of the truck bed and the truck can be driven away.

I claim:

1. The tilt-up jack assembly which comprises: four rigid stanchions each including a stem portion terminating at its lower end in divergent arms defining a bifurcated foot, and bracket means connectable to the upper end of the stem portion of each stanchion and to the load to be supported upon the latter, said bracket means when so connected being operative to mount said stanchions for relative independent pendulumtype pivotal movement in a vertically disposed plane extending alongside said load, the feet of the stanchions cooperating with one another upon placement of the stem portions thereof in an upright position to maintain said load in a stable freestanding condition, and the stem portions of each stanchion including an outer tubular element and an inner tubular element telescoped into the latter, a fixed abutment on the upper end of the inner tubular element, a movable abutment within the upper end of the outer tubular element operative upon actuation to limit and vary the penetration of the inner tubular element therein, and means comprising a compression spring interposed between the fixed and movable elements operative to form a shock-absorbing coupling therebetween.

Claims

1. The tilt-up jack assembly which comprises: four rigid stanchions each including a stem portion terminating at its lower end in divergent arms defining a bifurcated foot, and bracket means connectable to the upper end of the stem portion of each stanchion and to the load to be supported upon the latter, said bracket means when so connected being operative to mount said stanchions for relative independent pendulum-type pivotal movement in a vertically disposed plane extending alongside said load, the feet of the stanchions cooperating with one another upon placement of the stem portions thereof in an upright position to maintain said load in a stable freestanding condition, and the stem portions of each stanchion including an outer tubular element and an inner tubular element telescoped into the latter, a fixed abutment on the upper end of the inner tubular element, a movable abutMent within the upper end of the outer tubular element operative upon actuation to limit and vary the penetration of the inner tubular element therein, and means comprising a compression spring interposed between the fixed and movable elements operative to form a shock-absorbing coupling therebetween.