Adjustable shelf for vehicular campers

Abstract

A slidable and adjustable shelf assembly adapted to be fitted to the rear of a pickup truck, more precisely the side walls. While overriding such side walls, the shelf assembly is in rolling contact with a rigid canopy or camper shell fixed to the side walls. The assembly includes a pair of U-shaped members which telescopically engage a pair of intermediate joining members to form a generally rectangular frame sized to fit the truck side walls, and to receive a pair of overlapping planar panel members. The respective U-shaped members are each provided with at least a pair of spring biased, roller members that include complementary roller wheels maintained in rolling contact with the side walls and rigid canopy during sliding movement of the shelf assembly, even where the canopy walls are in a nonparallel relationship. Further, a clamping device is provided to prevent premature movement of the shelf assembly.

1. In combination with a vehicle having a generally flat rearwardly extending bed defined by a floor and pair of upwardly extending side walls, and a rigid canopy overriding and extending over said bed to provide cover thereto,
 an adjustable, sliding shelf assembly adapted to be positioned on said side walls in sliding contact with said canopy, said shelf assembly comprising a frame composed of a pair of U-shaped members, each said member having a spaced apart base and two arms extending perpendicular to said base, means to join and align one said arm of each said U-shaped member, whereby to fix the spaced apart bases to a distance equal to the distance between said side walls, at least a pair of spring biased roller members laterally extending from each said base arranged to override said side walls in contact with said canopy, and a pair of planar, overlapping panel members positioned on said frame for receiving items to be transported thereon.  
 
     
     
       2. The combination according to  claim 1 , wherein said arms are tubular in cross section and said means include a pair of telescopic, intermediate members for sliding engagement with said tubular arms, where said tubular arms include a series of openings and said telescopic, intermediate members each include a pair of push pins for engagement with one of said openings in said tubular arms, whereby to fix the distance between said bases. 
     
     
       3. The combination according to  claim 1 , wherein said spring biased roller members each comprise a shaft laterally extending from a said base, said shaft having a distal end mounting a roller, and a coil spring about said shaft biasing said roller away from said base. 
     
     
       4. The combination according to  claim 3 , wherein each said roller members includes an outwardly extending hemispherical guide member arranged to slidably contact said canopy. 
     
     
       5. The combination according to  claim 1 , wherein a first of said panel members includes a transversely extending support member to overlie a second panel members. 
     
     
       6. The combination according to  claim 5 , wherein said transversely extending support member comprises a edged flange projecting downwardly. 
     
     
       7. The combination according to  claim 1 , wherein said arms are generally rectangular in cross-section exhibiting a pair of broad sides and a pair of narrow sides, where one of said broad sides is a surface upon which said pair of panel members lie. 
     
     
       8. The combination according to  claim 1 , wherein one said arm of each said U-shaped member includes clamping means cooperating with a respective said side wall to fix said shelf assembly along each of said side walls. 
     
     
       9. The combination according to  claim 8 , wherein each said side wall includes a longitudinal flange having an underside, and said clamping means includes a pivotal arm for operative contact with said underside. 
     
     
       10. The combination according to  claim 9 , wherein said pivotal arm includes an adjustable screw to spatially fix said pivotal arm relative to said underside. 
     
     
       11. An adjustable, sliding shelf assembly for use in a vehicle having opposing interior side walls, comprising:
   a. a frame composed of a pair of adjusting members, each said member having a base;        b. at least one pair of spring - biased roller members laterally extending from each said base; and,        c. a pair of planar, overlapping panel members positioned on said frame for receiving items to be transported thereon.     
     
     
       12. The combination of  claim 11 , wherein each adjustable member is U- shaped, and wherein each adjustable member comprises two arms extending perpendicular to said base.   
     
     
       13. The combination according to  claim 12 , wherein said arms are generally rectangular in cross- section exhibiting a pair of broad sides and a pair of narrow sides, where one of said broad sides is a surface upon which said pair of panel members lie.   
     
     
       14. The combination of  claim 12 , further comprising a means for joining and aligning one said arm of each said adjustable member. 
     
     
       15. The combination according to  claim 14 , wherein said arms are tubular in cross section and said means include a pair of telescopic, intermediate members for sliding engagement with said tubular arms, where said tubular arms include a series of openings and said telescopic, intermediate members each include a pair of push pins for engagement with one of said openings in said tubular arms, whereby to fix the distance between said bases. 
     
     
       16. The combination according to  claim 11 , wherein said spring biased roller members each comprise a shaft laterally extending from said base, said shaft having a distal end mounting a roller, and a coil spring about said shaft biasing said roller away from said base. 
     
     
       17. The combination according to  claim 16 , wherein each said roller member includes an outwardly extending hemispherical guide member arranged to slidably contact said side walls. 
     
     
       18. The combination according to  claim 11 , wherein the first of said panel members includes a transversely extending support member to overlie the second of said panel members. 
     
     
       19. The combination according to  claim 18 , wherein said transversely extending support member comprises an edged flange projecting downwardly. 
     
     
       20. The combination according to  claim 11 , further comprising clamping means to lock the shelf assembly in place against inadvertent movement. 
     
     
       21. The combination according to  claim 20 , wherein each adjustable member comprises two arms extending perpendicular to said base and one said arm of each said member includes said clamping means cooperating with a respective said side wall to fix said shelf assembly along each of said side walls. 
     
     
       22. The combination according to  claim 21 , wherein each said side wall includes a longitudinal flange having an underside, and said clamping means includes a pivotal arm for operative contact with said underside. 
     
     
       23. The combination according to  claim 22 , wherein said pivotal arm includes an adjustable screw to spatially fix said pivotal arm relative to said underside. 
     
     
       24. In combination with a vehicle having a generally flat rearwardly extending bed defined by a floor and pair of upwardly extending side walls, and a canopy overriding and extending over said bed to provide cover thereto, an adjustable, sliding shelf assembly adapted to be positioned on said side walls in sliding contact with said canopy, said shelf assembly comprising a frame composed of a pair of adjustable members, each said member having a base, wherein the base of each member may be spaced apart a distance equal to the distance between said side walls, at least a pair of spring biased roller members laterally extending from each said base arranged to override said side walls in contact with said canopy, and a pair of planar, overlapping panel members positioned on said frame for receiving items to be transported thereon. 
     
     
       25. An adjustable, sliding shelf assembly for use in a vehicle having opposing interior side walls, comprising:
   a. a frame composed of a pair of adjustable members, each said member having a base and two arms extending from said base;        b. at least one pair of spring - biased roller members laterally extending from each said base; and,        c. a pair of planar, overlapping panel members positioned on said frame for receiving items to be transported thereon.     
     
     
       26. The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said base of each member may be spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the distance between said side walls.