CA1095808A - Folding car top camper - Google Patents
Folding car top camperInfo
- Publication number
- CA1095808A CA1095808A CA311,393A CA311393A CA1095808A CA 1095808 A CA1095808 A CA 1095808A CA 311393 A CA311393 A CA 311393A CA 1095808 A CA1095808 A CA 1095808A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- base
- panels
- ridgepole
- erected
- slot
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
- E04H15/00—Tents or canopies, in general
- E04H15/02—Tents combined or specially associated with other devices
- E04H15/06—Tents at least partially supported by vehicles
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Architecture (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)
Abstract
"FOLDING CAR TOP CAMPER"
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
In a folding car top camper it is known to have a rectangular base to which four sides are hinged and hav-ing a flexible top which is secured to the top edge of the two longer sides. In this invention the two longer sides form a relatively strong top when the camper is folded.
The two shorter sides support a ridgepole and the ends of the roof when in the erected position. The top automatic-ally comes into roof position when the sides and ridgepole are set up and the top automatically folds into proper stor-age position when the sides are folded into position for storage or travelling. One end has an opening in it to allow a person to enter or exit. This opening may be fitted with a conventionally hinged door or any other suitable closure such as a weatherproof drape. The camper is mounted on the roof of the associated vehicle by means of conventional heavy-duty roof racks or roof racks specifically designed for this purpose.
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
In a folding car top camper it is known to have a rectangular base to which four sides are hinged and hav-ing a flexible top which is secured to the top edge of the two longer sides. In this invention the two longer sides form a relatively strong top when the camper is folded.
The two shorter sides support a ridgepole and the ends of the roof when in the erected position. The top automatic-ally comes into roof position when the sides and ridgepole are set up and the top automatically folds into proper stor-age position when the sides are folded into position for storage or travelling. One end has an opening in it to allow a person to enter or exit. This opening may be fitted with a conventionally hinged door or any other suitable closure such as a weatherproof drape. The camper is mounted on the roof of the associated vehicle by means of conventional heavy-duty roof racks or roof racks specifically designed for this purpose.
Description
1(~95808 "FOLDING CAR TOP CAMPER"
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
_ This invention relates to a folding camper to be carried and used on the top of an automobile.
Present folding car top campers have a relatively small volume when set up or if the volume is large, the me-ans of setting up the sides and top is relatively complex and awkward and the same applies when the camper is folded for travelling.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
I have found that these disadvantages may be over-come and in accordance with the invention there is provided a camper for car tops and the like moveable from an erected position to a collapsed, stored position and vice-versa, comprising in combination a base, means to secure said base to the associated car top, a pair of rigid side panels hin-ged to said base and extending upwardly therefrom in spaced and parallel relationship when erected, a pair of rigid end panels hinged to said base in spaced and parallel relation-ship when erected to form, with said side panels, an enclo-sure, a flexible roof secured by the edges thereof to upper edges of said side panels and overlapping the upper edges of said end panels when erected and a detachable xidgepole spanning the upper edges of said end panels intermediate the ends thereof to support said flexible roof, said end panels -` lO9S808 - lA
folding downwardly and inwardly, said side panels folding downwardly and inwardly one upon the other and over said end panels for storage purposes when in the collapsed, sto-red position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The drawing shows an isometric view of the camper cut away to illustrate the camper as it would appear when set up.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
. . .
The camper illustrated comprises a base 1 to which four sides 2, 3, 4 and 5 are attached by means of hinges 10 and 12. Side 2 i3 provided with a V-shaped support or brac-ket/at the upperside thereof to support a ridge pole 15 and the bottom is secured to a curved form 13 which in turn is secured to the base by a continuous hinge 12. Side 3 is the same as side 2 except that it has a suitable size opening in it for entry and exit to and from the camper.
Side 4 is secured on two curved end forms 6 which are held in relative alignment to each other by a rigid tube 8 extending therebetween and mounted upon brackets 11 secured to the portions 6. This side 4 is attached to the base by two or more hinges 10 in the form of sleeves surrounding the tube 8. The tube 8 of this side 4 is just long enough so that the curved forms 6 clear the outside of the end of the base 1.
Side 5 is secured on two curved forms 7 which are held in relative alignment with each other by a rigid tube 9 and brackets 11 in a manner similar to side 4. This side 5 is attached to the base by two or more hinges 10 and the tube 9 of this side is long enough so that forms 7 clear the out-of side/forms 6 when the camper is folded.
A ridgepole 15 is of adjustable length being long enough to hold the ends 2 and 3 in a vertical position when erected but short enough to fit within the base when in the 109S8~8 collapsed position.
The top 14 is formed of a flexible material glued or otherwise fastened along the top edges of sides 4 and 5 and long enough to hang over or overlap the upper ends of the two end panels 2 and 3. Each end of the ridgepole 15 is pro-vided with a fitting such a nail or screw (not illustrated) hich fits into apertures (not illustrated) in the support to brackets 16/detachably secure the ridgepole to the brackets.
To fold the camper, the ridgepole 15 is first re-moved from the support bracket 16 (not shown) at the top of end 3 and this end is lowered and pulled towards the entrance until it releases from the support brackets 16 on end 2. The ridgepole is placed upon the base 1 and side 2 is lowered or folded inwardly flat upon the base.
While holding side 4 with one hand, side 3 is now folded downwardly upon the side panel 2 whereupon side panel 4 will fold inwardly upon end sides 2 and 3.
A pivoted sliding bracket 17 is now released so that side 5 may be lowered thus forming the top of the folded or collapsed camper. Any conventional method may be used to keep the camper in the folded position such as tie downs, hooks, clasps and the like. Foam rubber or plastic may be used at all joints as a weather-strip.
The sliding brackets 17 includes a rod or bar 18 pivoted by one end thereof to the curved form 7 and having an -- 109~ 8 inturned other end slidably engaging within slot 19 to move from a locked position as shown to an unlocked position at the other end of slot 19.
Erection of the camper is a reverse of the fore-going lowering procedure.
Since various modifications can be made in my in-vention as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accom-panying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
_ This invention relates to a folding camper to be carried and used on the top of an automobile.
Present folding car top campers have a relatively small volume when set up or if the volume is large, the me-ans of setting up the sides and top is relatively complex and awkward and the same applies when the camper is folded for travelling.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
I have found that these disadvantages may be over-come and in accordance with the invention there is provided a camper for car tops and the like moveable from an erected position to a collapsed, stored position and vice-versa, comprising in combination a base, means to secure said base to the associated car top, a pair of rigid side panels hin-ged to said base and extending upwardly therefrom in spaced and parallel relationship when erected, a pair of rigid end panels hinged to said base in spaced and parallel relation-ship when erected to form, with said side panels, an enclo-sure, a flexible roof secured by the edges thereof to upper edges of said side panels and overlapping the upper edges of said end panels when erected and a detachable xidgepole spanning the upper edges of said end panels intermediate the ends thereof to support said flexible roof, said end panels -` lO9S808 - lA
folding downwardly and inwardly, said side panels folding downwardly and inwardly one upon the other and over said end panels for storage purposes when in the collapsed, sto-red position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The drawing shows an isometric view of the camper cut away to illustrate the camper as it would appear when set up.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
. . .
The camper illustrated comprises a base 1 to which four sides 2, 3, 4 and 5 are attached by means of hinges 10 and 12. Side 2 i3 provided with a V-shaped support or brac-ket/at the upperside thereof to support a ridge pole 15 and the bottom is secured to a curved form 13 which in turn is secured to the base by a continuous hinge 12. Side 3 is the same as side 2 except that it has a suitable size opening in it for entry and exit to and from the camper.
Side 4 is secured on two curved end forms 6 which are held in relative alignment to each other by a rigid tube 8 extending therebetween and mounted upon brackets 11 secured to the portions 6. This side 4 is attached to the base by two or more hinges 10 in the form of sleeves surrounding the tube 8. The tube 8 of this side 4 is just long enough so that the curved forms 6 clear the outside of the end of the base 1.
Side 5 is secured on two curved forms 7 which are held in relative alignment with each other by a rigid tube 9 and brackets 11 in a manner similar to side 4. This side 5 is attached to the base by two or more hinges 10 and the tube 9 of this side is long enough so that forms 7 clear the out-of side/forms 6 when the camper is folded.
A ridgepole 15 is of adjustable length being long enough to hold the ends 2 and 3 in a vertical position when erected but short enough to fit within the base when in the 109S8~8 collapsed position.
The top 14 is formed of a flexible material glued or otherwise fastened along the top edges of sides 4 and 5 and long enough to hang over or overlap the upper ends of the two end panels 2 and 3. Each end of the ridgepole 15 is pro-vided with a fitting such a nail or screw (not illustrated) hich fits into apertures (not illustrated) in the support to brackets 16/detachably secure the ridgepole to the brackets.
To fold the camper, the ridgepole 15 is first re-moved from the support bracket 16 (not shown) at the top of end 3 and this end is lowered and pulled towards the entrance until it releases from the support brackets 16 on end 2. The ridgepole is placed upon the base 1 and side 2 is lowered or folded inwardly flat upon the base.
While holding side 4 with one hand, side 3 is now folded downwardly upon the side panel 2 whereupon side panel 4 will fold inwardly upon end sides 2 and 3.
A pivoted sliding bracket 17 is now released so that side 5 may be lowered thus forming the top of the folded or collapsed camper. Any conventional method may be used to keep the camper in the folded position such as tie downs, hooks, clasps and the like. Foam rubber or plastic may be used at all joints as a weather-strip.
The sliding brackets 17 includes a rod or bar 18 pivoted by one end thereof to the curved form 7 and having an -- 109~ 8 inturned other end slidably engaging within slot 19 to move from a locked position as shown to an unlocked position at the other end of slot 19.
Erection of the camper is a reverse of the fore-going lowering procedure.
Since various modifications can be made in my in-vention as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accom-panying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
Claims
WHAT I CLAIM AS MY INVENTION:
(1) A camper for car tops and the like moveable from an erected position to a collapsed, stored position and vice-versa, comprising in combination a base, means to secure said base to the associated car top, a pair of rigid side panels hinged to said base and extending upwardly therefrom in spaced and parallel relationship when erected, a pair of rigid end panels hinged to said base in spaced and parallel relationship when erected to form, with said side panels, an enclosure, a flexible roof secured by the edges thereof to upper edges of said side panels and over-lapping the upper edges of said end panels when erected and a detachable ridgepole spanning the upper edges of said end panels intermediate the ends thereof to support said flex-ible roof, said end panels folding downwardly and inwardly, said side panels folding downwardly and inwardly one upon the other and over said end panels for storage purposes when in the collapsed, stored position.
(2) The invention according to Claim 1 in which said side panels each include a concavo-convex panel and forms, one at each end thereof which extend inwardly at right angles from said concavo-convex panel, the outer ver-tical edges of said end panels meeting the inner vertical side edges of said forms when erected, said concavo-convex panels being curved correspondingly with the curving outer edges of said forms whereby when folded downwardly, one side panel becomes the top of said stored camper and en-closes the remainder thereof.
(3) The invention according to Claim 2 which in-cludes hinge means mounting said side panels to said base, said hinge means including a base tube extending between said curved forms adjacent the lower ends thereof and tu-bular hinge portions secured to said base, said tube being journalled within said hinge portions.
(4) The invention according to Claim 1 which in-cludes means to detachably secure said ridgepole in posi-tion when erected, said means including V-shaped brackets on the upper side edges of said end panels centrally there-of and means detachably connecting said ridgepole within said brackets, said ridgepole being stored upon said base when in the collapsed, stored position.
(5) The invention according to Claim 2 which in-cludes means to detachably secure said ridgepole in posi-tion when erected, said means including V-shaped brackets on the upper side edges of said end panels centrally there-of and means detachably connecting said ridgepole within said brackets, said ridgepole being stored upon said base when in the collapsed, stored position.
(6) The invention according to Claim 3 which in-cludes means to detachably secure said ridgepole in posi-tion when erected, said means including V-shaped brackets on the upper side edges of said end panels centrally there-of and means detachably connecting said ridgepole within said brackets, said ridgepole being stored upon said base when in the collapsed, stored position.
(7) The invention according to Claims 1, 2 or 3 which includes means to detachably hold at least one of said side panels in the erected position, said last mentioned means including a rod hinged by one end thereof to one end of said side panel and an angulated slot formed in the ad-jacent base, the other end of said rod being angulated and slidably engaging said slot, said slot including a downturn-ed portion at the outer end thereof to receive said angula-ted end of said rod when said side panel is in the erected position, said angulated end sliding along the remainder of said slot when said angulated end is lifted clear of said downturned end of said slot and when said side panel is folded inwardly upon said base.
(8) The invention according to Claims 4, 5 or 6 which includes means to detachably hold at least one of said side panels in the erected position, said last mentioned means including a rod hinged by one end thereof to one end of said side panel and an angulated slot formed in the ad-jacent base, the other end of said rod being angulated and slidably engaging said slot, said slot including a downturn-ed portion at the outer end thereof to receive said angula-ted end of said rod when said side panel is in the erected position, said angulated end sliding along the remainder of said slot when said angulated end is lifted clear of said downturned end of said slot and when said side panel is folded inwardly upon said base.
(1) A camper for car tops and the like moveable from an erected position to a collapsed, stored position and vice-versa, comprising in combination a base, means to secure said base to the associated car top, a pair of rigid side panels hinged to said base and extending upwardly therefrom in spaced and parallel relationship when erected, a pair of rigid end panels hinged to said base in spaced and parallel relationship when erected to form, with said side panels, an enclosure, a flexible roof secured by the edges thereof to upper edges of said side panels and over-lapping the upper edges of said end panels when erected and a detachable ridgepole spanning the upper edges of said end panels intermediate the ends thereof to support said flex-ible roof, said end panels folding downwardly and inwardly, said side panels folding downwardly and inwardly one upon the other and over said end panels for storage purposes when in the collapsed, stored position.
(2) The invention according to Claim 1 in which said side panels each include a concavo-convex panel and forms, one at each end thereof which extend inwardly at right angles from said concavo-convex panel, the outer ver-tical edges of said end panels meeting the inner vertical side edges of said forms when erected, said concavo-convex panels being curved correspondingly with the curving outer edges of said forms whereby when folded downwardly, one side panel becomes the top of said stored camper and en-closes the remainder thereof.
(3) The invention according to Claim 2 which in-cludes hinge means mounting said side panels to said base, said hinge means including a base tube extending between said curved forms adjacent the lower ends thereof and tu-bular hinge portions secured to said base, said tube being journalled within said hinge portions.
(4) The invention according to Claim 1 which in-cludes means to detachably secure said ridgepole in posi-tion when erected, said means including V-shaped brackets on the upper side edges of said end panels centrally there-of and means detachably connecting said ridgepole within said brackets, said ridgepole being stored upon said base when in the collapsed, stored position.
(5) The invention according to Claim 2 which in-cludes means to detachably secure said ridgepole in posi-tion when erected, said means including V-shaped brackets on the upper side edges of said end panels centrally there-of and means detachably connecting said ridgepole within said brackets, said ridgepole being stored upon said base when in the collapsed, stored position.
(6) The invention according to Claim 3 which in-cludes means to detachably secure said ridgepole in posi-tion when erected, said means including V-shaped brackets on the upper side edges of said end panels centrally there-of and means detachably connecting said ridgepole within said brackets, said ridgepole being stored upon said base when in the collapsed, stored position.
(7) The invention according to Claims 1, 2 or 3 which includes means to detachably hold at least one of said side panels in the erected position, said last mentioned means including a rod hinged by one end thereof to one end of said side panel and an angulated slot formed in the ad-jacent base, the other end of said rod being angulated and slidably engaging said slot, said slot including a downturn-ed portion at the outer end thereof to receive said angula-ted end of said rod when said side panel is in the erected position, said angulated end sliding along the remainder of said slot when said angulated end is lifted clear of said downturned end of said slot and when said side panel is folded inwardly upon said base.
(8) The invention according to Claims 4, 5 or 6 which includes means to detachably hold at least one of said side panels in the erected position, said last mentioned means including a rod hinged by one end thereof to one end of said side panel and an angulated slot formed in the ad-jacent base, the other end of said rod being angulated and slidably engaging said slot, said slot including a downturn-ed portion at the outer end thereof to receive said angula-ted end of said rod when said side panel is in the erected position, said angulated end sliding along the remainder of said slot when said angulated end is lifted clear of said downturned end of said slot and when said side panel is folded inwardly upon said base.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA311,393A CA1095808A (en) | 1978-09-15 | 1978-09-15 | Folding car top camper |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA311,393A CA1095808A (en) | 1978-09-15 | 1978-09-15 | Folding car top camper |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1095808A true CA1095808A (en) | 1981-02-17 |
Family
ID=4112363
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA311,393A Expired CA1095808A (en) | 1978-09-15 | 1978-09-15 | Folding car top camper |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1095808A (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2001020090A1 (en) * | 1999-09-16 | 2001-03-22 | John Eric Cock | Collapsible structure |
| US10543771B2 (en) | 2016-06-05 | 2020-01-28 | Yakima Products, Inc. | Vehicle rooftop rack assembly |
-
1978
- 1978-09-15 CA CA311,393A patent/CA1095808A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2001020090A1 (en) * | 1999-09-16 | 2001-03-22 | John Eric Cock | Collapsible structure |
| US10543771B2 (en) | 2016-06-05 | 2020-01-28 | Yakima Products, Inc. | Vehicle rooftop rack assembly |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |