Vehicle cover assembly

Claim 2

A camper cover adapted for attachment to a vehicle having a cargo area, said camper cover comprising: a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart, transverse frame members having an upper portion and depending side portions and adapted for mounting on a vehicle to form a camper frame over the cargo area of a vehicle; an inflatable cover member having a front edge, a rear edge and two side edges and formed of opposed flexible, air tight sheets seamed together to form an inflatable enclosure between said sheets, said opposed sheets being further attached together by a plurality of elongated seams to form adjacent, longitudinal, inflatable sections within said enclosure, said inflatable sections being in gas communication and having means for introducing a gas into said inflatable cover member, said inflatable cover member adapted to fit over the camper frame formed by said frame members to form a camper cover; a plurality of longitudinal bracing members extending between adjacent frame members to form a V brace; and means for securing said two side edges of said inflatable cover member to the sidewalls of the cargo area of the vehicle.

Claim 3

A camper cover as claimed in claim 1 in which said frame members are cylindrical frame members.

Claim 4

A camper cover as claimed in claim 2 in which said frame members are tubular frame members.

Claim 5

A camper cover as claimed in claim 1 in which a first group of said bracing members are adapted to extend between said frame members to urge said frame members apart, and a second group of said bracing members are adapted to extend between the end said frame members to urge said end frame members together, thereby imparting rigidity to the camper frame formed by said frame members.

Claim 6

A camper cover as claimed in claim 1 further comprising mounting means for mounting said frame members on the vehicle.

Claim 7

A camper cover as claimed in claim 5 in which: said mounting means are a plurality of plugs adapted for insertion into stake holes in the sidewalls of the cargo area of the vehicle, with each of said plurality of plugs having an opening therein; and the depending side portions of said frame members being adapted for insertion in the openings of said plugs.

Claim 8

A camper cover as claimed in claim 1 in which said inflatable cover member includes a front panel extending from said inflatable cover member front edge to close the front end of said camper cover when over the cargo area of the vehicle.

Claim 9

A camper cover as claimed in claim 7 in which said front panel is an inflatable panel.

Claim 10

A camper cover as claimed in claim 7 in which said inflatable cover member includes a rear panel extending from said inflatable cover member rear edge to close the rear end of said camper cover when over the cargo area of the vehicle.

Claim 11

A camper cover as claimed in claim 1 in which said inflatable cover member includes a rear panel extending from said inflatable cover member rear edge to close the rear end of said camper cover when over the cargo area of the vehicle.

Claim 12

A camper cover as claimed in claim 1 in which said inflatable cover member is formed of polyvinylchloride.

Claim 13

A camper cover as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a vehicle having a cargo area with sidewalls, said frame members being mounted on said vehicle to form a camper frame over said cargo area; said inflatable cover member being fitted over said camper frame; said securing means securing said two side edges of said inflatable cover member to said sidewalls.

Claim 14

A camper cover as claimed in claim 12 in which said vehicle is a pick-up truck.

Claim 15

A cover assembly adapted for attachment to a vehicle having a cargo area, said cover assembly comprising: a plurality of longitudinally-spaced, transverse frame members adapted for mounting on a vehicle to form a frame over the cargo area of the vehicle, said frame members having an upper portion and depending side portions, an inflatable cover member having an upper portion and depending side portions, said cover member having opposed, flexible, air-tight members forming a plurality of transversely curved, longitudinally extending sections in each of said upper and depending side portions of said cover member; a plurality of longitudinal bracing members extending between said frame members; means for securing said cover member over said frame members; and in which said bracing members comprise a pair of members having forward and rear portions attached to separate ones of said frame members, and said forward portions are closer together than said rear portions.

Claim 16

A cover assembly adapted for attachment to a vehicle having a cargo area, said cover assembly comprising: a plurality of longitudinally-spaced, transverse frame members adapted for mounting on a vehicle to form a frame over the cargo area of the vehicle, said frame members having an upper portion and depending side portions, an inflatable cover member having an upper portion and depending side portions, said cover member having opposed, flexible, air-tight members forming a plurality of transversely curved, longitudinally extending sections in each of said upper and depending side portions of said cover member; a plurality of longitudinal bracing members extending between said frame members; means for securing said cover member over said frame members; and in which said bracing members comprise a pair of members having forward and rear portions attached to separate ones of said frame members, and said forward portions are closer together than said rear portions.

Claim 17

A cover assembly of claim 14 in which said bracing members comprise a pair of members having forward and rear portions attached to separate ones of said frame members, and said forward portions are closer together than said rear portions.

Claim 18

A cover assembly adapted for attachment to a vehicle having a cargo area, said cover assembly comprising: a plurality of transverse frame members adapted for mounting on a vehicle to form a frame over the cargo area of the vehicle, said frame members comprising first and second end and intermediate frame members, said frame members having an upper portion and depending side portions, first longitudinal bracing means extending between said end frame members, second bracing means comprising a first pair of support members extending between said first end frame member and an intermediate frame member, the ends of said first pair of support members being closer together at said first end frame member than at their intermediate frame members; third longitudinal bracing means comprising a second pair of support members extending between said second end frame member and an intermediate frame member, the ends of said second pair of support members being closer together at their intermediate frame member than at said second end frame member; an inflatable cover member having an upper portion and depending side portions, said cover member having opposed, flexible, air-tight members forming a plurality of transversely curved, longitudinally extending, adjacent sections in each of the upper and depending side portions of said cover member; and means for securing said cover member over said frame members.

Claim 19

A cover assembly adapted for attachment to a vehicle having a cargo area, said cover assembly comprising: a plurality of transverse frame members adapted for mounting on a vehicle to form a frame over the cargo area of the vehicle, said frame members comprising first and second end and intermediate frame members, said frame members having an upper portion and depending side portions, first longitudinal bracing means extending between said end frame members, second bracing means comprising a first pair of support members extending between said first end frame member and an intermediate frame member, the ends of said first pair of support members being closer together at said first end frame member than at their intermediate frame members; third longitudinal bracing means comprising a second pair of support members extending between said second end frame member and an intermediate frame member, the ends of said second pair of support members being closer together at their intermediate frame member than at said second end frame member; an inflatable cover member having an upper portion and depending side portions, said cover member having opposed, flexible, air-tight members forming a plurality of transversely curved, longitudinally extending, adjacent sections in each of the upper and depending side portions of said cover member; and means for securing said cover member over said frame members.

Claim 20

The cover assembly of claim 16 in which said second bracing means urges said first end frame member and its intermediate frame member apart, and in which said third bracing means urges said second end frame member and its intermediate frame member apart.

Claim 21

The cover assembly of claim 17 in which said second and third bracing means extend from their respective end frame members to the same intermediate frame member.

Claim 22

The cover assembly of claim 18 in which said first bracing means urges said end frame members together.

Claim 23

The cover assembly of claim 19 in which said bracing means are attached to said frame members by snap-type connections.

Claim 24

A camper cover adapted for attachment to a vehicle having a cargo area, said camper cover comprising: a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart, transverse frame members having an upper portion and depending side portions and adapted for mounting on a vehicle to form a camper frame over the cargo area of a vehicle; an inflatable cover member having a front edge, a rear edge and two side edges and formed of opposed flexible, air tight sheets seamed together to form an inflatable enclosure between said sheets, said opposed sheets being further attached together by a plurality of elongated seams to form adjacent, longitudinal, inflatable sections within said enclosure, said inflatable sections being in gas communication and having means for introducing a gas into said inflatable cover member, said inflatable cover member adapted to fit over the camper frame formed by said frame members to form a camper cover; a plurality of longitudinal bracing members extending between said frame members; means for securing said two side edges of said inflatable cover member to the sidewalls of the cargo area of the vehicle; and in which said inflatable sections are divided into a plurality of groups with the inflatable sections within each group being in gas communication with each other but not in gas communication with the inflatable sections of other groups, said inflatable cover member having means for introducing gas into each group of inflatable sections.

Claim 25

A camper cover adapted for attachment to a vehicle having a cargo area, said camper cover comprising: a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart, transverse frame members having an upper portion and depending side portions and adapted for mounting on a vehicle to form a camper frame over the cargo area of a vehicle; an inflatable cover member having a front edge, a rear edge and two side edges and formed of opposed flexible, air tight sheets seamed together to form an inflatable enclosure between said sheets, said opposed sheets being further attached together by a plurality of elongated seams to form adjacent, longitudinal, inflatable sections within said enclosure, said inflatable sections being in gas communication and having means for introducing a gas into said inflatable cover member, said inflatable cover member adapted to fit over the camper frame formed by said frame members to form a camper cover; a plurality of longitudinal bracing members extending between said frame members; means for securing said two side edges of said inflatable cover member to the sidewalls of the cargo area of the vehicle; and in which said inflatable sections are divided into a plurality of groups with the inflatable sections within each group being in gas communication with each other but not in gas communication with the inflatable sections of other groups, said inflatable cover member having means for introducing gas into each group of inflatable sections.

Claim 26

A camper cover adapted for attachment to a vehicle having a cargo area, said camper cover comprising: a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart, transverse frame members having an upper portion and depending side portions and adapted for mounting on a vehicle to form a camper frame over the cargo area of a vehicle; an inflatable cover member having a front edge, a rear edge and two side edges and formmed of opposed flexible, air tight sheets seamed together to form an inflatable enclosure between said sheets, said opposed sheets being further attached together by a plurality of elongated seams to form adjacent, longitudinal, inflatable sections within said enclosure, said inflatable sections being in gas communication and having means for introducing a gas into said inflatable cover member, said inflatable cover member adapted to fit over the camper frame formed by said frame members to form a camper cover; a plurality of longitudinal bracing members extending between said frame members and means for securing said two edges of said inflatable cover member to the sidewalls of the cargo area of the cargo area of the vehicle in which said securing means comprises: at least one channel member adapted for attachment to a sidewall of the cargo area of a vehicle and having a slot extending substantially the length thereof; and at least one bead formed on a side edge of said inflatable cover member, said bead being adapted for insertion into one of said channel members with the adjacent portion of said inflatable cover member extending through the channel member slot.

Claim 27

A camper cover adapted for attachment to a vehicle having a cargo area, said camper cover comprising: a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart, transverse frame members having an upper portion and depending side portions and adapted for mounting on a vehicle to form a camper frame over the cargo area of a vehicle; an inflatable cover member having a front edge, a rear edge and two side edges and formmed of opposed flexible, air tight sheets seamed together to form an inflatable enclosure between said sheets, said opposed sheets being further attached together by a plurality of elongated seams to form adjacent, longitudinal, inflatable sections within said enclosure, said inflatable sections being in gas communication and having means for introducing a gas into said inflatable cover member, said inflatable cover member adapted to fit over the camper frame formed by said frame members to form a camper cover; a plurality of longitudinal bracing members extending between said frame members and means for securing said two edges of said inflatable cover member to the sidewalls of the cargo area of the cargo area of the vehicle in which said securing means comprises: at least one channel member adapted for attachment to a sidewall of the cargo area of a vehicle and having a slot extending substantially the length thereof; and at least one bead formed on a side edge of said inflatable cover member, said bead being adapted for insertion into one of said channel members with the adjacent portion of said inflatable cover member extending through the channel member slot.

Claim 28

A camper cover adapted for attachment to a vehicle having a cargo area, said camper cover comprising; a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart, transverse frame members having an upper portion and depending side portions and adapted for mounting on a vehicle to form a camper frame over the cargo area of a vehicle; an inflatable cover member having a front edge, a rear edge and two side edges and formed of opposed flexible, air tight sheets seamed together to form an inflatable enclosure between said sheets, said opposed sheets being further attached together by a plurality of elongated seams to form adjacent, longitudinal, inflatable sections within said enclosure, said inflatable sections being in gas communication and having means for introducing a gas into said inflatable cover member, said inflatable cover member adapted to fit over the camper frame formed by said frame members to form a camper cover; a plurality of longitudinal bracing members extending between said frame members; means for securing said two side edges of said two side edges of said inflatable cover member to the sidewalls of the cargo area of the vehicle; and in which said securing means comprises at least one pair of cooperating tapes, one tape of said pair being adapted for attachment to a sidewall of the cargo area of the vehicle, the other tape of said pair being attached to a side edge of said inflatable cover member; one tape of said pair including a plurality of hook members, the second tape of said pair including a plurality of cooperating loop members adapted to be engaged by said hook members to provide a separable fastener.

Claim 29

A camper cover adapted for attachment to a vehicle having a cargo area, said camper cover comprising; a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart, transverse frame members having an upper portion and depending side portions and adapted for mounting on a vehicle to form a camper frame over the cargo area of a vehicle; an inflatable cover member having a front edge, a rear edge and two side edges and formed of opposed flexible, air tight sheets seamed together to form an inflatable enclosure between said sheets, said opposed sheets being further attached together by a plurality of elongated seams to form adjacent, longitudinal, inflatable sections within said enclosure, said inflatable sections being in gas communication and having means for introducing a gas into said inflatable cover member, said inflatable cover member adapted to fit over the camper frame formed by said frame members to form a camper cover; a plurality of longitudinal bracing members extending between said frame members; means for securing said two side edges of said two side edges of said inflatable cover member to the sidewalls of the cargo area of the vehicle; and in which said securing means comprises at least one pair of cooperating tapes, one tape of said pair being adapted for attachment to a sidewall of the cargo area of the vehicle, the other tape of said pair being attached to a side edge of said inflatable cover member; one tape of said pair including a plurality of hook members, the second tape of said pair including a plurality of cooperating loop members adapted to be engaged by said hook members to provide a separable fastener.