Combined trailer-camper unit

• US 4,014,586 A
• Filed: 06/26/1975
• Issued: 03/29/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Concept Engineering Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Concept Engineering Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Swofford, Aubrey L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Song, Robert R.
• Application Number:
  US05/590,640
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 296/23 A, 296/23 F, 296/23 G, 296/23 R, 296/27, 224/42.1 E
• US Class Current: 296/169
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/341 comprising flexible elements

Abstract

A combined trailer-camper unit is disclosed and claimed herein suitable for towing behind a motorcycle, a small automobile or the like. A wheeled frame is provided having a body secured thereto. The body comprises a bottom section and a top section associated therewith and has a luggage rack provided atop same. The luggage rack is pivotally secured at a forward end of the body and in a luggage carrying capacity resides atop the body. The luggage rack can be pivotally moved to an extended position in front of the body top and is supported by a portion of the wheeled frame. In this position, the underside of the rack provides an extension that is co-planar with the top of the body to define a floor for sleeping or the like. A tent or other suitable structure that may be conveniently carried within the body of the unit can then be erected atop the body and luggage rack extension and secured thereto along the sides. Both ends of the trailer are provided with leveling means to stabilize the unit when it is disconnected from a towing unit. Moreover, the body top may contain a closeable opening therein to permit ingress to the body compartment when the tent structure is erected. Other accessories such as air mattresses, ice chests and the like may also be incorporated into or associated with the present unit.

Claims

1. A trailer-camper combination comprising:

a. a wheeled frame;

b. a tongue secured to said frame and extending forwardly therefrom;

c. a body secured to said frame, said body having a pair of mating sections cooperating to define an enclosure therebetween, a top section of said pair of sections being securable to a bottom section of said pair of sections along at least one edge thereof;

d. a luggage rack associated with said body, said luggage rack having a planar bottom, said luggage rack being movable forwardly and inverted to provide a planar surface extension of the top section of said enclosure, and cooperating with said top section to define a floor for a camper system; and

e. collapsible camper cover means erectable above said floor and securable around at least a position of the periphery of said floor to provide a habitable compartment atop said floor.

2. A trailer-camper combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame has front and rear leveler means associated therewith to provide stability for said unit.

3. A trailer-camper combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said tongue has a connector member at a terminal portion thereof, said connector member being associable with a towing vehicle.

4. A trailer-camper unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said mating body sections are hingedly secured along a side thereof with latch means provided along another side thereof.

5. A trailer-camper combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said luggage rack is hingedly secured to said top body section adjacent a front wall thereof, said luggage rack being pivotal forwardly so as to provide said planar surface extension.

6. A trailer-camper combination as defined in claim 5 wherein said luggage rack has a vertical element extending outwardly therefrom for engagement with said tongue when said luggage rack is pivoted forwardly around its hinge connection with said top body section to thereby afford support for said luggage rack portion of said floor.

7. A trailer-camper combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said collapsible camper cover means comprise a tent, said tent including tent poles and a cover therefor, said tent poles being received in sockets therefor adjacent said top body section, whereby said tent poles extend upwardly and receive the tent cover therearound.

8. A trailer-camper combination as defined in claim 7 wherein said top body section and said luggage rack have a plurality of hooks along the edges thereof, and wherein said tent has a plurality of tie down elements secured along a lower portion thereof, said tie down elements being connectable to said hooks so as to secure a bottom portion of said tent to said floor defined by said top body section and said luggage rack.

9. A trailer-camper combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said top body section has a door in a top thereof whereby access may be provided to the enclosure defined by said body section when said tent is erected.

10. A trailer-camper combination comprising:

a. a wheeled frame, said frame having a leveler means secured along a rear portion thereof, said leveler means being pivotal into and out of a leveling position;

b. a tongue secured to said frame and extending outwardly therefrom, said tongue having a forward leveling means associable therewith;

c. a body secured to said frame, said body comprising a pair of mating sections cooperating to define a body enclosure, a lower of said sections being secured to said frame and an upper of said sections being hingedly secured along a side thereof to the other of said sections, said sections having latch means located on an opposite side thereof to the hinge connection, said top body section having a ribbed surface in the top thereof;

d. a luggage rack hingedly connected to said top body section along a front wall thereof, said luggage rack having a floor having longitudinal ribs provided therealong and having an upstanding rack secured to the floor and extending around the periphery thereof, said luggage rack further having a vertical support member secureable thereto, said luggage rack being pivotal forwardly whereby said vertical support member engages said tongue to provide support for said inverted luggage rack whereupon said top surface of said body section and the underside of said floor of said luggage rack define a planar floor surface; and

e. collapsible cover means erectable above said floor and secureable thereto to provide a habitable compartment atop said floor.

11. A trailer-camper combination as defined in claim 10 wherein said collapsible cover means comprises a tent that is supported by a plurality of tent poles, said tent poles being associable with said top body section for support of same.

12. A trailer-camper combination comprising

a. a wheeled frame;

b. a tongue secured to said frame and extending forwardly therefrom;

c. a body secured to said frame, said body having a pair of mating sections cooperating to define an enclosure therebetween, a top section of said pair of sections being securable to the other of said sections along at least one edge thereof, and having a generally planar upper surface;

d. a planar member hingedly secured to said upper body and having support means provided thereon, said member being moveable forwardly of said body, and maintained thereat by said support means engaging said tongue, whereby said planar member and said upper body section cooperate to define a planar floor for a camper system; and

e. collapsible camper cover means erectable above said floor and securable around at least a portion of the periphery of said floor to provide a habitable compartment atop said floor.

13. A trailer-camper combination as defined in claim 12 wherein said support means is secured to an upper side thereof, whereby said planar member is inverted to cooperate with said upper section and define said floor.