The present invention relates generally to camping equipment.
Pickup truck mounted enclosures that are used to provide temporary shelter while camping are well known. A majority of these enclosures are heavy rigid structures that are semi-permanently attached to the cargo box of a pickup truck. Collapsible rigid enclosures, i.e., xe2x80x9cpop-upxe2x80x9d campers, have been provided that include rigid panels that fold into a low profile for travel and then unfold, or pop-up, to form a camping enclosure. Unfortunately, these rigid enclosures are extremely heavy, difficult to install on a pickup truck, difficult to remove from a pickup truck, and relatively expensive.
Soft enclosures, i.e., tents, that are mountable in the cargo box of a pickup truck have also been provided. Typically, these tents are limited in size to the length of the cargo box with the tailgate in the vertical, or closed, position. Other tents have been provided that are partially attached to the cargo box and partially attached to the ground. Each of these tents are quite complex and takes a substantial amount of time to erect. Moreover, these tents tend to become quite hot in direct sunlight and do not provide adequate shelter from rain and wind. Also, these tents do not provide adequate storage space.
The present invention has recognized these prior art drawbacks, and has provided the below-disclosed solutions to one or more of the prior art deficiencies.
The present invention includes a tent assembly that can be removably attached to the cargo box of a pickup truck. The cargo box includes a left sidewall and a right sidewall. A forward wall and a tailgate are installed between the sidewalls at opposite ends of the cargo box. Moreover, the tent assembly includes a center section that defines a top, a left sidewall, and a right sidewall. Each sidewall includes an inner side flap and an outer side flap that can be draped over respective cargo box sidewalls and then, attached thereto. The tent sidewalls extend from the forward wall of the cargo box, along the length of the cargo box sidewalls, and across the tailgate, when it is in an open horizontal position. The tent assembly also includes a horizontal flap that is connected between the tent sidewalls such that it is beneath the open tailgate.
In a preferred embodiment, the tent assembly includes a forward tent pole sleeve that has a forward tent pole disposed therein. Preferably, the forward tent pole is inclined forward at an angle with respect to the vertical when the tent assembly is erected in the cargo box. The tent assembly also includes a center tent pole sleeve that has a center tent pole sleeve disposed therein and an aft tent pole sleeve that has an aft tent pole sleeve disposed therein. In a preferred embodiment, the aft tent pole sleeve is inclined aft with respect to the vertical when the tent assembly is erected in the cargo box.
In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention described below, the forward tent pole angle is inclined at an angle of between ten degrees to thirty degrees (10xc2x0-30xc2x0) and the aft tent pole angle is inclined at an angle of between ten degrees to thirty degrees (10xc2x0-30xc2x0). The center tent pole is perpendicular to the horizontal.
In a typical cargo box, each sidewall includes an interior lip and the inner flap includes plural hooks that extend from it. The hooks are used to hook each inner flap to the interior lip of each sidewall. Some pickup trucks, on the other hand, can include a cargo box liner installed within the cargo box. As such, the cargo box can be formed with plural holes, and the hooks, that extend from the inner flap, can be inserted into the holes to fasten each inner flap to the cargo box liner. Preferably, the tent assembly includes plural restraint lines that connect the outer flaps to the cargo box.
In a preferred embodiment, the tent assembly includes a forward section and an aft section that are attached to the center section to enclose the center section of the tent assembly. Moreover, a side screen is incorporated into each sidewall of the center section and an aft screen is incorporated into the aft section of the tent assembly.
In another aspect of the present invention, a pickup truck tent camping system is used in conjunction with a pickup truck that has a cargo box. The tent camping system includes a platform assembly installed in the cargo box. A tent assembly is installed over the platform assembly. Additionally, a tent cover is installed over the tent assembly.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, a pickup truck tent camping system is used in conjunction with a pickup truck. The tent camping system includes cargo box means and tent means covering the cargo box means. Flap means hold the tent means onto the cargo box means.
The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: