US3658376A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Jack and tie-down system for a vehicle mounted camper
Assignee: Dodgen Ind Inc
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Filing: 1970-10-05
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Granted: 1972-04-25
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Expires: 1990-10-05
Abstract
Abstract A jack and tie-down system for a vehicle mounted camper including first and second jacks secured to the lower front corners of the camper and third and fourth jacks secured to the rearward end of the camper. The first and second jacks each include a vertically movable leg portion extending downwardly therefrom and having a U-shaped support member secured to the lower ends thereof and extending therebetween. The support member serves as a stand for the front end of the camper when the camper is removed from the vehicle and extends beneath the vehicle frame and engages the same to serve as a tie-down means for the front end of the camper when the camper is on the vehicle. First and second arms are pivotally connected at their upper ends to the lower rearward end of the camper and have the rearward ends of first and second frame members selectively pivotally connected thereto. The forward ends of the first and second frame members are pivotally connected to a support member which is secured to and extends between the lower ends of the third and fourth jacks. A pair of ground engaging wheel members are rotatably secured to the first and second frame members. First and second brackets are secured to the rearward end of the vehicle frame and are adapted to receive the support member extending between the lower ends of the third and fourth jacks when the third and fourth jacks are raised to serve as a tie-down for the rearward end of the camper and also serving as a means for aligning the wheel members secured to the frame members. The support member extending between the lower ends of the third and fourth jacks serves as a stand for the rearward end of the camper when the camper is removed from the vehicle. A spring means is operatively connected to the axle supporting the wheel members for yieldably urging the wheel members into ground engagement whether the third and fourth jacks are in their raised or lowered positions. The selective pivotal connection of the first and second frame members with the first and second arms provides a means for varying the amount of weight carried by the wheel members.
Inventors
- 👤 John N Dodgen
- 👤 Kenneth R Johnson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 03:03
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60P; B60P3/00; B60P3/32; B60P3/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
383 words
In a jack and tie-down system for a vehicle mounted camper, the camper having rearward and forward ends and opposite sides, the vehicle having rearward and forward ends and a frame means, comprising, first and second jack means secured to said camper adjacent the forward end thereof and being length adjustable from first to second positions, said first and second jack means adapted to engage a supporting surface to support the forward end of the camper when said first and second jack means have been moved to their second positions, first and second spaced apart arms pivotally secured at their upper ends to the camper adjacent the rearward end thereof and extending downwardly therefrom, first and second elongated frame members pivotally connected at one end thereof to said first and second arms respectively and extending forwardly therefrom, a third jack means having upper and lower ends and being length adjustable from first to second positions, said third jack means being secured adjacent its upper end to said camper at one side thereof forwardly of the rearward end thereof, a fourth jack means having upper and lower ends and being length adjustable from first to second positions, said fourth jack means being secured adjacent its upper end to said camper at the other side thereof forwardly of the rearward end thereof, a support member secured to the lower ends of said third and fourth jack means and extending therebetween, said first and second frame members being pivotally secured at their forward ends to said support member, first and second wheel members connected to said first and second frame members intermediate the lengths thereof respectively, first and second brackets secured to the vehicle frame means extending downwardly therefrom adapted to detachably receive said support member to tie-down the rearward end of the camper to the vehicle when said third and fourth jack means have been moved to their first positions, said support member adapted to engage a supporting surface to support the rearward end of the camper when said third and fourth jack means have been moved to their second positions, and means connected to said wheel members for maintaining said wheel members in engagement with the supporting surface when said third and fourth jack means are in either of their first or second positions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
383 words
In a jack and tie-down system for a vehicle mounted camper, the camper having rearward and forward ends and opposite sides, the vehicle having rearward and forward ends and a frame means, comprising, first and second jack means secured to said camper adjacent the forward end thereof and being length adjustable from first to second positions, said first and second jack means adapted to engage a supporting surface to support the forward end of the camper when said first and second jack means have been moved to their second positions, first and second spaced apart arms pivotally secured at their upper ends to the camper adjacent the rearward end thereof and extending downwardly therefrom, first and second elongated frame members pivotally connected at one end thereof to said first and second arms respectively and extending forwardly therefrom, a third jack means having upper and lower ends and being length adjustable from first to second positions, said third jack means being secured adjacent its upper end to said camper at one side thereof forwardly of the rearward end thereof, a fourth jack means having upper and lower ends and being length adjustable from first to second positions, said fourth jack means being secured adjacent its upper end to said camper at the other side thereof forwardly of the rearward end thereof, a support member secured to the lower ends of said third and fourth jack means and extending therebetween, said first and second frame members being pivotally secured at their forward ends to said support member, first and second wheel members connected to said first and second frame members intermediate the lengths thereof respectively, first and second brackets secured to the vehicle frame means extending downwardly therefrom adapted to detachably receive said support member to tie-down the rearward end of the camper to the vehicle when said third and fourth jack means have been moved to their first positions, said support member adapted to engage a supporting surface to support the rearward end of the camper when said third and fourth jack means have been moved to their second positions, and means connected to said wheel members for maintaining said wheel members in engagement with the supporting surface when said third and fourth jack means are in either of their first or second positions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 1 wherein first and second elongated supports are secured to the camper at the rearward end thereof and are secured at one end thereof to said third and fourth jack means respectively.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
The system of claim 1 wherein each of said first and second brackets have an inverted substantially U-shaped opening extending upwardly into the lower ends thereof, said support member being a tubular member adapted to be received in said U-shaped openings to tie-down the rearward end of the camper and to align the first and second wheel members with respect to the vehicle frame means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said first and second frame members are selectively vertically adjustably secured to said first and second arms respectively to permit the amount of weight carried by said first and second wheel members to be selectively varied.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
104 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said means connected to said wheel members comprises an axle rotatably secured to and extending between said first and second frame members, each end of said axle having an axle portion extending rearwardly therefrom and an outwardly extending axle portion at the rearward end of said rearwardly extending axle portion, said wheel members being rotatably mounted on said outwardly extendinG portions whereby the axis of rotation of said wheel members is rearwardly of the longitudinal axis of said axle, and a spring means connected to said axle yieldably urging said wheel members into engagement with the supporting surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said spring means is a coil spring secured to and embracing said axle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
The system of claim 1 wherein a second support member is secured to and extends between the lower ends of said first and second jack means, said second support member adapted to extend beneath the vehicle and to engage the vehicle frame means to tie-down the forward end of the camper to the vehicle when said first and second jack means are in their said first positions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
270 words
In a jack and tie-down system for a vehicle mounted camper, the camper having rearward and forward ends and opposite sides, the vehicle having rearward and forward ends and a frame means, comprising, first and second jack means secured to said camper adjacent the forward end thereof and being length adjustable from first to second positions, said first and second jack means adapted to engage a supporting surface to support the forward end of the camper when said first and second jack means have been moved to their second positions, a third jack means having upper and lower ends and being length adjustable from first to second positions, said third jack means being secured adjacent its upper end to said camper at one side thereof forwardly of the rearward end thereof, a fourth jack means having upper and lower ends and being length adjustable from first to second positions, said fourth jack means being secured adjacent its upper end to said camper at the other side thereof forwardly of the rearward end thereof, said third and fourth jack means adapted to engage the ground when in their second positions and adapted to operatively engage the vehicle when in their first position, a support means secured to said camper at the rearward end thereof, an auxiliary wheel assembly on said support means adapted to support the rearward end of the camper, means connecting said support means and said third and fourth jack means for maintaining the wheels of said auxiliary wheel assembly in a ground engaging position when said third and fourth jack means are in their first and second positions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
270 words
In a jack and tie-down system for a vehicle mounted camper, the camper having rearward and forward ends and opposite sides, the vehicle having rearward and forward ends and a frame means, comprising, first and second jack means secured to said camper adjacent the forward end thereof and being length adjustable from first to second positions, said first and second jack means adapted to engage a supporting surface to support the forward end of the camper when said first and second jack means have been moved to their second positions, a third jack means having upper and lower ends and being length adjustable from first to second positions, said third jack means being secured adjacent its upper end to said camper at one side thereof forwardly of the rearward end thereof, a fourth jack means having upper and lower ends and being length adjustable from first to second positions, said fourth jack means being secured adjacent its upper end to said camper at the other side thereof forwardly of the rearward end thereof, said third and fourth jack means adapted to engage the ground when in their second positions and adapted to operatively engage the vehicle when in their first position, a support means secured to said camper at the rearward end thereof, an auxiliary wheel assembly on said support means adapted to support the rearward end of the camper, means connecting said support means and said third and fourth jack means for maintaining the wheels of said auxiliary wheel assembly in a ground engaging position when said third and fourth jack means are in their first and second positions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-04-25 | 1975-10-25 | 1976-04-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-04-25 | 1979-10-25 | 1980-04-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-04-25 | 1983-10-25 | 1984-04-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |