Van camper

• US 4,867,502 A
• Filed: 10/03/1988
• Issued: 09/19/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Christopher J. Sylvester, Mary E. Sylvester
• Original Assignee: Christopher J. Sylvester, Mary E. Sylvester
• Inventors: Sylvester, Mary E., Sylvester, Christopher J.
• Primary Examiner(s): SONG, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US07/251,755
• Time in Patent Office: 351 Days
• Field of Search: 296/161, 296/165, 296/26, 135/88
• US Class Current: 296/161
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/341 comprising flexible elements
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/06 Tents at least partially supported by vehicles

Abstract

A tent-like enclosure structure is described. The structure is particularly adapted and constructed as an extension for and in combination with a van having a solid upward opening rear door; the top of said enclosure when in use to be held in position by and above the opened rear door of the vehicle. The enclosure has side and end portions, each of which portions extends from the top of the enclosure to the ground, and each of which enclosure portions is substantially trapezoidal in shape, with the top and bottom sides being substantially parallel to each other with the top side being the shorter side. Said enclosure also has a bottom floor panel, to the sides and end of which are attached the bottom edges of each of the aforesaid trapezoidally shaped portions of the enclosure structure. The combination can quickly and easily be put together by the typical users of such combination.

Claims

1. A tent-like enclosure structure particularly adapted and constructed as an extension for a van with a solid upward opening rear door, the top of said enclosure to be held in position by and above the opened rear door of the vehicle said enclosure also having side and end portions, each of which portions extend from the top of the enclosure to the ground, and each of which enclosure portions is substantially trapezoidal in shape, with the top and bottom sides being substantially parallel to each other with the top side being the shorter side, said enclosure also having a bottom floor panel, to the sides and end of which are attached the bottom edges of each of the aforesaid trapezoidally shaped portions of the enclosure structure.

2. The tent-like enclosure structure of claim 1 wherein the approximate dimensions of same are as follows:

the bottom of the end trapezoid is 84 inches in length;

the top of the end trapezoid is 54 inches in length;

the bottom of each of the side trapezoids is 66 inches in length;

the top of each of the side trapezoids is 46 inches in length;

the abutting edges of the end and side trapezoidal portions are each 761/2 inches in length; and

wherein the main area of the bottom floor panel of the enclosure is approximately 38.5 square feet.

3. The tent-like enclosure structure of claim 1 wherein the top of said enclosure structure is held in position by means of one or more rigid poles extending from the ground to the top of the enclosure.

4. The tent-like enclosure structure of claim 1 wherein each of the side and end portions have openings therein for ventilation purposes, said openings being covered with an open mesh material, and flaps which may be used to cover the openings for privacy or rain or weather protection purposes.

5. The tent-like enclosure structure of claim 1 wherein the bottom floor panel has an access hole in or near the center of same large enough for a person to fit through.

6. The combination of a tent-like enclosure structure and a van with a solid upward-opening rear door, said tent-like structure being particularly adapted and constructed as an extension for the van vehicle, the top of said enclosure being held in position by and above the opened rear door of the vehicle, said enclosure also having side and end portions, each of which portions extend from the top of the enclosure to the ground, and each of which enclosure portions is substantially trapezoidal in shape, with the top and bottom sides being substantially parallel to each other with the top side being the shorter side, said enclosure also having a bottom floor panel, to the sides and end of which are attached the bottom edges of each of the aforesaid trapezoidally shaped portions of the enclosure structure.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein the bottom floor panel has an access hole in or near the center of same large enough for a person to fit through.

8. The combination of claim 6 wherein the van is selected from the group of vans bearing the name Dodge, Plymouth, Ford, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Jeep, Toyota and Volkswagon.