Combination camper and boat trailer mechanism

Claim 2

A boat and camper transporting mechanism, comprising: a trailer having a boat supporting framework and being adapted for launching of a boat into a body of water from the rear of the trailer, said trailer framework being positioned relative to the axles of the trailer wheels such that pivoting of a boat relative to the trailer framework is prevented during boat launching and retrieval operations; a camper supporting framework being carried by said boat supporting framework; a plurality of jack mechanisms being disposed one at each corner of said camper framework, said jack mechanisms each having a movable portion and a stationary portion, one of said movable and stationary portions being fixed to said camper framework and the other of said movable and stationary portions being fixed to said boat supporting framework, relative movement of said movable and stationary portions of said jack mechanisms raising and lowering said camper framework relativE to said boat supporting framework; means causing selective relative movement of said movable and stationary portions of said jack mechanisms; and a camper assembly being carried by said camper supporting framework, said camper assembly comprising a generally rigid body portion and having a cover portion that is elevatable relative to said body portion to render said camper assembly habitable, said camper supporting framework and camper assembly being positioned above said boat supporting framework by said jack mechanisms when a boat is to be located on said boat supporting framework said camper assembly and camper framework being positioned by said jack mechanisms in spaced relation above the boat for roadway traveling and being positioned in supported relation on said boat supported framework when a boat is not positioned on said boat supporting framework, said camper assembly being habitable in the raised and lowered positions thereof.

Claim 3

A boat and camper transporting mechanism as recited in claim

Claim 4

A boat and camper transporting mechanism as recited in claim 1, wherein said jack mechanisms each comprise: inner and outer tubular elements being disposed in telescoping relation, said inner tubular element being secured to said trailer framework and said outer tubular element being secured to said camper framework; closure means closing opposed extremities of said inner and outer tubular elements; a linear hydraulic motors being disposed within each of said inner and outer telescoping tubular elements, said stationary portion being a hydraulic cylinder and said movable portion being a piston assembly telescopically received by said hydraulic cylinder, said piston assembly being connected to the closure means of said outer tubular element; and said means causing selective relative movement of said stationary and movable portions of each of said plurality of hydraulic motors being a hydraulic fluid supply system being selectively controllable for controlling movement of said piston assembly relative to said hydraulic cylinder.

Claim 5

A boat and camper transporting mechanism as recited in claim 1, wherein: each of said jack mechanisms are linear hydraulic motor devices having a stationary portion and a movable portion, one being disposed at each corner of said camper framework, said movable portions of said linear hydraulic motor devices being connected to said camper framework and said stationary portions of said motor devices being connected to said boat support framework, said movable portions of said motor devices being moved relative to said stationary portions for raising and lowering said camper framework relative to the boat supporting framework.

Claim 6

A boat and camper transporting mechanism as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said jack mechanisms for raising and lowering said camper framework comprises a hydraulic motor assembly, said stationary portion being secured to said camper framework and said movable portion being secured to said boat supporting framework, said movable portion being extended and retracted relative to said stationary portion for imparting vertical movement to said camper framework and said camper assembly relative to said boat supporting framework; and a controllably hydraulic fluid supply system for selectively imparting extension and retraction movement to said movable portion of said jack mechanism.

Claim 7

A boat and camper transporting mechanism as recited in claim 1, wherein: locking means is provided for supporting said camper framework at a position elevated above said boat supporting framework independent of said jack mechanisms.

Claim 8

A boat and camper transporting mechanism as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said fluid motor means comprises; first and second tubular members Being disposed in telescoping relation, one of said tubular members being connected to said boat supporting framework and the other of said tubular members being connected to said camper supporting framework; and linear fluid motor means being disposed within one of said tubular elements and having an operating piston shaft operatively connected to the opposite tubular element, said linear fluid motor, upon being energized, imparting telescoping movement to said first and second tubular elements and thereby achieving relative movement between said boat supporting framework and said camper supporting framework.

Claim 9

A boat and camper transporting mechanism as recited in claim 7, wherein each of said fluid motor means includes; locking means for locking said fluid motor means at selected positions thereof.

Claim 10

A boat and camper transporting mechanism adapted to be towed behind a vehicle, said mechanism comprising: a wheeled trailer having a boat supporting framework and being adapted for launching of a boat into a body of water from the rear portion of the trailer, said boat supporting framework being positioned relative to the axles of the trailer such that a boat may be launched from the trailer into a body of water and retrieved from the body of water without pivoting relative to the boat supporting framework during launching and retrieval operations; a camper supporting framework being disposed above said boat supporting framework; a plurality of jack mechanisms being disposed one at each corner of said camper framework, said jack mechanisms each having a movable portion and a stationary portion, one of said movable and stationary portions being fixed to said camper framework and the other of said movable and stationary portions being connected to said boat supporting framework, relative movement of said movable and stationary portions of said jack mechanisms raising and lowering said camper framework relative to said boat supporting framework; means causing selective relative movement of said movable and stationary portions of said jack mechanisms; and a camper assembly being carried by said camper supporting framework, said camper assembly comprising a generally rigid body portion and having a cover portion that is elevatable relative to said body portion to render said camper assembly habitable, said camper assembly being habitable both in the raised and lowered positions thereof, when a boat is located on said boat supporting framework, said camper assembly and camper framework being positioned by said jack mechanisms in spaced relation above the boat for roadway traveling and being positionable in supported relation on said boat supporting framework when a boat is not positioned on said boat supporting framework

Claim 11

A boat and camper transporting mechanism adapted to be towed behind a vehicle, said mechanism comprising: a wheeled trailer having a boat supporting framework and being adapted for launching of a boat into a body of water from the rear portion of the trailer, said boat supporting framework being positioned relative to the axles of the trailer such that a boat may be launched from the trailer into a body of water and retrieved from the body of water without pivoting relative to the boat supporting framework during launching and retrieval operations; a camper supporting framework being disposed above said boat supporting framework; a plurality of jack mechanisms being disposed one at each corner of said camper framework, said jack mechanisms each having a movable portion and a stationary portion, one of said movable and stationary portions being fixed to said camper framework and the other of said movable and stationary portions being connected to said boat supporting framework, relative movement of said movable and stationary portions of said jack mechanisms raising and lowering said camper framework relative to said boat supporting framework; means causing selective relative movement of said movable and stationary portions of said jack mechanisms; and a camper assembly being carried by said camper supporting framework, said camper assembly comprising a generally rigid body portion and having a cover portion that is elevatable relative to said body portion to render said camper assembly habitable, said camper assembly being habitable both in the raised and lowered positions thereof, when a boat is located on said boat supporting framework, said camper assembly and camper framework being positioned by said jack mechanisms in spaced relation above the boat for roadway traveling and being positionable in supported relation on said boat supporting framework when a boat is not positioned on said boat supporting framework

Claim 12

A boat and camper transporting mechanism as recited in claim 9, including; means for supporting said camper supporting framework and said camper assembly in the raised positions thereof independent of said jack mechanisms.

Claim 13

A boat and camper transporting mechanism as recited in claim 10 including: locking means locking said camper framework and said camper assembly in selected elevated positions thereof, said locking means supporting said camper framework and camper assembly exclusive of said jack mechanisms.

Claim 14

A boat and camper transporting mechanism as recited in claim 9 including: means for supporting said cover portion of said camper assembly relative to the boat supporting framework of said trailer and accomplishing at least partial erection of said camper assembly during lowering of said body portion of said camper assembly relative to said boat supporting framework.

Claim 15

A boat transporting mechanism as recited in claim 12 wherein said means for supporting said cover portion of said camper assembly comprises: cover support connector means being provided on said camper cover; and cover support means being removably disposed in fixed relation to said boat suppOrting framework of said trailer and engaging said cover support connector means and supporting said camper cover relative to said boat supporting framework as said body portion of said camper assembly is lowered toward said boat supporting framework.

Claim 16

A boat and camper transporting mechanism adapted to be towed behind a vehicle, said mechanism comprising: at least one trailer axle means having a pair of wheels disposed one at each extremity thereof; a pair of generally parallel longitudinal structural elements being disposed above said axle means and being disposed in substantially normal relation with said axle means; spring means being connected to said axle means and being interposed between said longitudinal structural elements and said axle means and supporting said structural elements in movable cushioned relation with said structural elements; boat supporting means being connected between said longitudinal structural elements and cooperating with said longitudinal structural elements to define a boat supporting framework, said boat supporting means extending below the level of said longitudinal structural elements and providing non-pivoting boat launching and retrieval operations; a camper supporting framework being disposed above said boat supporting framework, and a camper assembly being carried by said camper supporting framework; a plurality of jack mechanisms being disposed one at each corner of said camper framework, said jack mechanisms each having a movable portion and a stationary portion, one of said movable and stationary portions being fixed to said camper framework and the other of said movable and stationary portions being connected to said boat supporting framework, relative movement of said movable and stationary portions of said jack mechanisms raising and lowering said camper framework relative to said boat supporting framework and, when a boat is located on said boat supporting framework, said jack mechanisms position said camper assembly and camper framework in spaced relation above the boat for roadway traveling; means causing selective relative movement of said movable and stationary portions of said jack mechanisms; and said camper assembly comprising a generally rigid body portion and having a cover portion that is elevatable relative to said body portion to render said camper assembly habitable, said camper assembly being raised and lowered relative to said boat supporting framework along with said camper framework and being habitable in both the raised and lowered positions thereof.

Claim 17

A boat and camper transporting mechanism adapted to be towed behind a vehicle, said mechanism comprising: at least one trailer axle means having a pair of wheels disposed one at each extremity thereof; a pair of generally parallel longitudinal structural elements being disposed above said axle means and being disposed in substantially normal relation with said axle means; spring means being connected to said axle means and being interposed between said longitudinal structural elements and said axle means and supporting said structural elements in movable cushioned relation with said structural elements; boat supporting means being connected between said longitudinal structural elements and cooperating with said longitudinal structural elements to define a boat supporting framework, said boat supporting means extending below the level of said longitudinal structural elements and providing non-pivoting boat launching and retrieval operations; a camper supporting framework being disposed above said boat supporting framework, and a camper assembly being carried by said camper supporting framework; a plurality of jack mechanisms being disposed one at each corner of said camper framework, said jack mechanisms each having a movable portion and a stationary portion, one of said movable and stationary portions being fixed to said camper framework and the other of said movable and stationary portions being connected to said boat supporting framework, relative movement of said movable and stationary portions of said jack mechanisms raising and lowering said camper framework relative to said boat supporting framework and, when a boat is located on said boat supporting framework, said jack mechanisms position said camper assembly and camper framework in spaced relation above the boat for roadway traveling; means causing selective relative movement of said movable and stationary portions of said jack mechanisms; and said camper assembly comprising a generally rigid body portion and having a cover portion that is elevatable relative to said body portion to render said camper assembly habitable, said camper assembly being raised and lowered relative to said boat supporting framework along with said camper framework and being habitable in both the raised and lowered positions thereof.

Claim 18

A boat and camper transporting mechanism as recited in claim 14, wherein said boat supporting means comprises: a plurality of transverse boat supporting elements being connected at the extremities thereof to said longitudinal structural elements, said central portion of said boat supporting elements being disposed below the level of said longitudinal structural elements.

Claim 19

A boat and camper transporting mechanism as recited in claim 15, wherein: said plurality of transverse boat supporting elements are of generally V-shaped configuration.

Claim 20

A boat and camper transporting mechanism as recited in claim 15, including: boat supporting and launching means being connected to said boat supporting elements and being disposed for engagement with a boat positioned within said trailer mechanism.