Camper unit

Claim 2

A camping unit which may be collapsed into a compact unit and is easily erected, comprising: a. a frame including opposing side portions; b. a panel mounted on each of said opposing side portions for movement between a collapsed position where said panels are positioned substantially between said opposite side portions and a cantilever position where said panels extend outwardly beyond said opposing side portions; and c. means including a removable member for connecting said opposing side portions of said frame for reinforcing said frame for supporting said panels in said cantilever position wherein said panels can provide a storage or sleeping area extending beyond the frame.

Claim 3

The structure set forth in claim 1, including: a. a tent-like cover; and b. cover supporting means attached to and extending from said panels and from said frame for supporting said tent-like cover in an erected position.

Claim 4

The structure set forth in claim 1 including: a. said frame including panel supporting members attached to each of said opposite side portions and extending from said opposite side portions of said frame in a substantially horizontal direction, each panel supporting member having a groove disposed therein; and b. each of said panels is slidably mounted in said grooves in said panel supporting members for movement in a substantially horizontal direction whereby said panels provide a substantially horizontal surface area for storage or sleeping.

Claim 5

The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein: said removable member connecting said opposing side portions in order to provide support for said panels in the cantilever position.

Claim 6

The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein one of said panel support members is attached at one end to one of said opposing side portions is also attached at the other end to said other opposing side portion in order to provide an integral substantially U-shaped frame.

Claim 7

The structure set forth in claim 2 wherein said cover supporting means includes: a first cover supporting member pivotally mounted to each of said panels whereby said cover supporting members may be pivoted to substantially upright positions in order to support said cover in an erect position.

Claim 8

The structure set forth in claim 4 wherein said removable member provides support for the frame when the panels are in a collapsed position.

Claim 9

The structure set forth in claim 6 including: a. said first cover supporting members are attached to said tent-like cover; and b. said outrigger means extends outwardly from each panel and connects to said first cover supporting member for maintaining said tent-like cover in an erect position.

Claim 10

The structure set forth in claim 6 including: a. second vertically extending cover supporting members mounted on each of said panels to support said cover; and b. cross cover supporting member attached to said second vertically extending members in order to further support said cover in an erect position.

Claim 11

The structure set forth in claim 6 wherein said first cover supporting members are pivotal to a collapsed substantially horizontal position against the panels so that said camper unit forms a compact unit when not erected.

Claim 12

The structure set forth in claim 1, including: a. said frame is adapted for mounting on opposIng upstanding side walls of a load carrying bed of a vehicle such as a pick up truck whereby said panels in the cantilever position extend outwardly from said upstanding side walls; b. anchoring means are mounted on the floor of the vehicle load carrying bed; and c. means for connecting said frame to said anchoring means.

Claim 13

The structure set forth in claim 11 wherein said means for connecting are adjustable tie rods connected to said frame and to the floor of the load carrying bed of the vehicle.

Claim 14

The combination of a vehicle such as a pick up truck having a load carrying bed defined by upstanding side walls and a floor and a camper unit mounted on said vehicle capable of providing a covered storage or sleeping space extending beyond the opposing upstanding sides of the vehicle load carrying bed, comprising: a. a frame including opposing side portions mounted on each of the opposing upstanding side walls of the load carrying bed and a set of panel supporting members attached to each of said opposite side portions; b. a panel mounted on each set of said panel supporting members for slidable movement between a collapsed position where said panels are positioned substantially inside the opposing upstanding side walls of the load bed and a cantilever position where said panels extend outwardly of the load carrying bed over the opposing upstanding side walls; and c. means including a removable member for connecting said opposing side portions of said frame for reinforcing said frame for supporting said panels in said cantilever position whereby said panels provide a storage or sleeping area extending outwardly of the load carrying bed of the truck.

Claim 15

The combination of a vehicle such as a pick up truck having a load carrying bed defined by upstanding side walls and a floor and a camper unit mounted on said vehicle capable of providing a covered storage or sleeping space extending beyond the opposing upstanding sides of the vehicle load carrying bed, comprising: a. a frame including opposing side portions mounted on each of the opposing upstanding side walls of the load carrying bed and a set of panel supporting members attached to each of said opposite side portions; b. a panel mounted on each set of said panel supporting members for slidable movement between a collapsed position where said panels are positioned substantially inside the opposing upstanding side walls of the load bed and a cantilever position where said panels extend outwardly of the load carrying bed over the opposing upstanding side walls; and c. means including a removable member for connecting said opposing side portions of said frame for reinforcing said frame for supporting said panels in said cantilever position whereby said panels provide a storage or sleeping area extending outwardly of the load carrying bed of the truck.

Claim 16

The structure set forth in claim 13, including: a. a tent-like cover; and b. cover supporting means attached to and extending from said panels and from said frame for supporting said cover in an erected position.

Claim 17

The structure as set forth in claim 13 including: said removal member connecting a panel support member mounted on one of said opposing side portions to a panel support member mounted on said other opposing side portion to support said camper unit.

Claim 18

The structure set forth in claim 13 including: a. anchoring means mounted on the floor of the vehicle load carrying bed; and b. means for connecting said frame and to said anchoring means.

Claim 19

The structure set forth in claim 13 wherein said reinforcing means is an adjustable tie rod connected to said frame and to said floor of said load carrying bed of said vehicle.