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This invention relates to improvements in a pivoting device for a camper shell. More particularly, the present pivoting device for a camper shells allows for lifting one or the other side of a camper shell for easier access to the bed of the pick-up unlatch both sides to completely remove the camper shell from the truck.
The present invention relates to a pivoting device for camper shells and more particularly pertains to allowing a camper shell to pivot upwardly on one side and remain in the upward position, for easy access to an interior of the pick-up truck bed.
The use of truck bed mounts is known in the prior art. More specifically, truck bed mounts heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of protecting the contents of a truck bed are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,948,311 to St. Pierre discloses a tie down fitting for removably mounting within stake holds in a wall section of a pickup truck, to secure structures such as a tent. U.S. Pat. No. 3,924,365 to Orberg discloses means for attaching a curtain support shell to form a sleeping compartment for a vehicle. U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,729 to Magnito discloses a tent for a pickup truck with means to quickly construct the device. U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,826 to Davis, Sr. discloses a removable tent top attachable by a series of pins.
The inventors prior U.S. Pat. No. 6,394,532 discloses a pivoting device for a pick-up camper shell but had limited capability that is resolved in this disclosure. While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objective and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a pivoting device for pick-up truck camper shells for allowing a camper shell to pivot upwardly for easy access to an interior of the pick-up truck bed.
What is needed is a new and improved pivoting device for pick-up truck camper shells which can be used for allowing a camper shell to pivot upwardly for easy access to an interior of the pick-up truck bed. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.
It is an object of the pivoting device for pick-up truck camper shells to provide an improved pivoting device for pick-up truck camper shells. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved pivoting device for pick-up truck camper shells which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.
It is another object of the pivoting device for pick-up truck camper shells to include a pair or four support posts removably coupled between the camper shell and one of the opposed sides of the truck bed. The support posts each have a short lower section and a long upper section. The short lower sections each have a lower end dimensioned for being received within the forward and rearward post holes of the truck bed. The long upper sections extend upwardly at an inward angle from the short lower sections. The long upper sections each have an upper end securable to the camper shell for elevating the side of the camper shell above the truck bed. A Chain or support post is secured between one of the side walls of the truck bed and one of the sides of the camper shell. A pivot rod assembly is secured at the side wall of the truck bed opposite the pair of support posts. The pivot rod assembly is comprised of a pivot rod having opposed ends, and a pair of vertical support brackets secured within posts holes in the side wall. The support brackets each have a tab extending vertically upward therefrom. Each tab has a pair of apertures for receiving the pivot rod. The pivot rod has a lever extending outwardly therefrom inwardly of one of the opposed ends thereof. The pivot rod assembly helps maintain the camper shell against the truck bed and selectively allows it to be raised therefrom.
It is another object of the pivoting device for pick-up truck camper shells to provide a new and improved pivoting device for pick-up truck camper shells which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such a pivoting device for pick-up truck camper shells economically available to the buying public.
It is still another object of the pivoting device for pick-up truck camper shells to include a powered lift system that can lift one-side or the entire shell using pneumatics or hydraulics. This allows for access to the interior of the shell without requiring a user to lift the weight of some or all of the camper shell for allowing a camper shell to pivot upwardly for easy access to an interior of the pick-up truck bed. These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components.
It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the drawings herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the system and method of the present invention, as represented in the drawings, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, but is merely representative of various embodiments of the invention. The illustrated embodiments of the invention will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout.
The pivoting device for pick-up truck camper shells is used in conjunction with a truck bed 22, having a pair of longitudinally extending opposed sides 23, each having a side upper surface 23U. Several post holes 20 are located in the side upper surfaces 23U- and are generally positioned rearwardly, forwardly, and centered therebetween, as seen in
According to the present pivoting device for pick-up truck camper shells the pair of support posts 12 are used to maintain the camper shell in the upward position. As such, the support posts 12 are selectively and removably coupled with respect to the forward and rearward ends of one of the opposed sides of the camper shell 14. The support posts 12 each have a short lower section 16 and a long upper section 18. The short lower sections 16 are dimensioned for being received within the forward and rearward post holes 20 of the truck bed 22. The long upper sections 18 extend upwardly at an inward angle from the short lower sections 16. The preferred angle is substantially twenty degrees. The long upper sections 18 each have an upper end securable to the camper shell 14 for elevating the side of the camper shell 14 above the truck bed 22. A post pin 13 extends axially upward from the upper section 18. In addition, as the lifted flange 52 has a lifted flange opening 54. The pin 13 extends through the lifted flange opening 54 and thereby prevents the camper shell from slipping off the upper section 18 of the support post 12. The pin can be a straight pin or can have an “L” bend. The “L” hooks 13 pull pins 19 and one strap in each corner. If the chain or strap 24 is eliminated there is more room for loading and unloading.
The flange 52 and the bed 22 would be connected at 4 corners with one strap at each corner. Each strap will have enough slack so the support post can be installed without adjusting the straps. The 4 straps decrease/raise the chance for the wind to take control of the camper shell 14 from being blown off of the truck bed 22 during windy conditions.
The pivot rod assemblies 26 are secured to the side walls 23 of the truck bed 22. The pivot rod assembly 26 fastens the lower flange 52 to the side upper surface 23U, yet allows one of the lower flanges 52 to be lifted in accordance with the invention. Accordingly, the pivot rod assembly includes a support bracket 28 and a latching device 40. The support brackets 28 are mounted in the post holes, such that each of the side walls 23 has two support brackets. The support brackets 28 each have a lower end 36 and an upper end 34, such that the lower end 36 is mounted within the post holes 20. Accordingly, the lower end 36 is a square cross-sectioned tube which is dimensioned to fit snugly within the post hole 20, and mounting holes 35 are provided to facilitate attachment of the lower end 36 to the post hole 20. In addition, the upper end 34 comprises a tab 30 extending vertically upward therefrom. Each tab 30 is substantially flat, and when the support bracket 28 is mounted in one of the post holes 20, said tab extends transverse to the truck bed 22. The tab 30 has a pair of apertures 38, including an upper aperture 38U and a lower aperture 38L. Among the two support brackets 28 mounted to each of the side walls 23, the upper apertures 38U are coaxially aligned with each other, and the lower apertures 38L are coaxially aligned with each other.
Once extended through apertures 32 in two of the support brackets 28 as seen in
The latching device 40 has a lever 42 extending outwardly therefrom inwardly of one of the opposed ends thereof. Once extended through apertures 32 in two of the support brackets 28 as seen in
Accordingly, during transport of the truck having the camper shell mounted thereon, the lower flanges 52 rest against the side upper surfaces 23U, with the tabs 30 extending through the lower flange openings 54 therein, as seen in
However, when it is desirable to pivot the camper shell upward, at the side to be lifted, the latching device 40 is removed from the tabs 30 on that side 23 of the truck bed to fully free the camper shell thereat. On the opposite side 23, it is still desirable to hold the camper shell 14 to the truck bed 22. However, the lower flange 52 thereat requires room to pivot, to avoid interfering with the lower flange 52. Accordingly, the latching device 40 is first moved to the upper apertures 38U in its associated support brackets 28, as seen in
It should be noted that the latching device 40 is shown as having arbitrary length. In general, its length is determined by the distance between post holes in the truck in which it is mounted. However, to make the latching device 40 universal between various truck types, the latching device 40 can be made telescoping in various ways, so that it can be adjusted to function with the post hole spacing of the truck with which it is used.
In the preferred embodiment there is a total of 4 risers, with two risers on the right side and two risers on the left side. At the base of each riser is a rectangular tube. Each side of the tube has two vertically centered holes, for a total of 8 holes in the base. At the top of each riser is one plain. One pair of bolt holes of riser base would be used to bolt the riser to the post hole. The other holes of the riser base fits different post hole designs. The bottom hole at the top of each riser is for latching devices. When a camper shell is down and both sides of the camper shell is resting on the bed of the truck. The side of the camper shell. To lift the camper shell, the latching device is removed and set aside. The latching device of the camper shell side must remain down into the top holes of the riser front and rear camper shell. The flange connection to the camper shell can freely travel up and down on the risers. The slot length is determined by how high the camper shell is lifted.
The L-hook 13 point to the corner of the camper shell 14. Front L-hook points to the front. Rear points to the rear is adjusted to fit the flange of the camper shell. Then use a compound to hold the L-hook in the correct clock position. The adhesive force of the compound should be selected to allow for changing the camper shell so the L-hook can be used on a replacement camper shell, or the user can use binding type threads.
A total of two stand assemblies are used in the front and rear stands. Each stand assembly consists of rectangular tubing that fits in the post hole with support bracket. The base of the riser will be located under the stand assembly. The size of the tubing of the stand is selected for a snug front-to-back fit within the post hole. The stand loosely fits left-to-right of the post hole. Therefore, the L-hook at the top of the stand can move left to right of the truck. This allows the L-hook to line-up with the slot. The L-hook is prevented from turning in the saddle, therefore, with the L-hook in the slot and then turned 90 degrees with the support post 12. The foot of the stand assembly can then be placed into the post hole. Same time pulling on the release pin, let go of the release pin. This is also performed on the other stand. The camper shell is fastened.
Two latching devices are used. One on the left side and one on the right side of the truck bed. The new design of the latching device allows for adjusting the latching device 40 from 4 feet-3 inches, up to eight feet to fit different lengths of truck beds. This also makes it easier for shipping. When manufacturing, the latching device 40 can be made to work as two support posts as well. This allows the latching device to serve a dual function—dual purpose.
Thus, specific embodiments of a pivoting device for pick-up truck camper shells have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.
Not Applicable.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
3924365 | Orberg | Dec 1975 | A |
4566729 | Magnino | Jan 1986 | A |
4629243 | Jensen | Dec 1986 | A |
4768824 | Andonian | Sep 1988 | A |
4819981 | Moe et al. | Apr 1989 | A |
4948311 | St. Pierre et al. | Aug 1990 | A |
5102185 | Lake | Apr 1992 | A |
5353826 | Davis, Sr. | Oct 1994 | A |
5403061 | Micknowicz | Apr 1995 | A |
5558392 | Young | Sep 1996 | A |
5595418 | Medlin | Jan 1997 | A |
5704681 | Lambden | Jan 1998 | A |
5951095 | Herndon | Sep 1999 | A |
6007137 | Lambden | Dec 1999 | A |
6086134 | Cravens et al. | Jul 2000 | A |
6086135 | Bourgeois | Jul 2000 | A |
6394532 | Dence | May 2002 | B1 |
6749249 | Lang | Jun 2004 | B1 |