US-12624564-B2 - Shelter system having deployable platform

Abstract

A shelter system for a truck includes a platform assembly that can pivot back-and-forth between a stowed position and a deployed position. The platform assembly spans a bed of a truck when in the stowed position. The platform assembly is disposed over a cab of the truck when in the deployed position. A tent covers the platform assembly when the platform assembly is in the deployed position.

Inventors

• Michael John Harmon
• Amil Vira
• Shane Patton
• Michael Lozano
• Bradford Zercoe

Assignees

• FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20240207

Claims (19)

1. 1 . A shelter system for a truck, comprising: a platform assembly that can pivot back-and-forth between a stowed position and a deployed position, the platform assembly spanning a bed of a truck when in the stowed position, the platform assembly disposed over a cab of the truck when in the deployed position, the platform assembly including a first panel and a second panel pivotably connected to each other, the first panel and the second panel folded when the platform assembly is in the stowed position, the first panel and the second panel unfolded when the platform assembly is in the deployed position, wherein the platform assembly in the stowed position slopes downward from an upper, rear area of the cab to a tailgate of the truck; and a tent that covers the platform assembly when the platform assembly is in the deployed position.
2. 2 . The shelter system of claim 1 , wherein a cab back of the truck is configured to open to provide a passthrough between a passenger compartment of the truck and the bed of the truck.
3. 3 . The shelter system of claim 1 , wherein the second panel extends forward past a roof of the cab when the platform assembly is in the deployed position.
4. 4 . The shelter system of claim 3 , further comprising at least one support leg that extends from the second panel to the truck to support the second panel when the platform assembly is in the deployed position.
5. 5 . The shelter system of claim 4 , wherein the at least one support leg is pivotably connected to the second panel.
6. 6 . The shelter system of claim 4 , wherein the at least one support leg comprises a first leg connectable to a first mounting point on a driver side of a hood of the truck, and a second leg connectable to a second mounting point on a passenger side of the hood of the truck.
7. 7 . The shelter system of claim 6 , wherein the first leg is connectable to the first mounting point through a first latch, and the second leg is connectable to the second mounting point through a second latch.
8. 8 . The shelter system of claim 1 , further comprising a frame assembly that supports the tent when the platform assembly is in the deployed position.
9. 9 . The shelter system of claim 1 , further comprising a frame assembly having a plurality of support spokes that radiate from a pivot axis and are fanned out about the pivot axis when the platform assembly is in the deployed position, wherein some of the plurality of support spokes are connected to the platform assembly and some of the plurality of support spokes support the tent.
10. 10 . The shelter system of claim 9 , wherein the pivot axis is adjacent an upper, rear corner of a cab of the truck.
11. 11 . The shelter system of claim 1 , wherein the tent is folded when the platform assembly is the stowed position and is unfolded when the platform assembly is in the deployed position.
12. 12 . The shelter system of claim 1 , further comprising a pair of side panels that cover outboard areas of the platform assembly and the tent when the platform assembly is in the stowed position.
13. 13 . The shelter system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one support leg that extends from the platform assembly to the truck to support the platform assembly when the platform assembly is in the deployed position, wherein the at least one support leg is connectable to a mounting point that is pivotably back-and-forth between a mounting position and a concealed position.
14. 14 . A shelter system for a truck, comprising: a platform assembly that can pivot back-and-forth between a stowed position and a deployed position, the platform assembly spanning a bed of a truck when in the stowed position, the platform assembly disposed over a cab of the truck when in the deployed position; a tent that covers the platform assembly when the platform assembly is in the deployed position, wherein the platform assembly includes a first panel and a second panel pivotably connected to each other, the first panel and the second panel folded when the platform assembly is in the stowed position, the first panel and the second panel unfolded when the platform assembly is in the deployed position, wherein the second panel extends forward past a roof of the cab when the platform assembly is in the deployed position; and at least one support leg that extends from the second panel to the truck to support the second panel when the platform assembly is in the deployed position, wherein the at least one support leg comprises a first leg connectable to a first mounting point on a driver side of a hood of the truck, and a second leg connectable to a second mounting point on a passenger side of the hood of the truck, wherein the first mounting point and the second mounting point are pivotable back-and-forth between a mounting position and a concealed position.
15. 15 . A method of establishing a shelter for a truck, comprising: using a platform assembly as an aerodynamic shield that spans a bed of a truck when the platform assembly is in a stowed position, the aerodynamic shield sloping downward from an upper, rear area of a cab of a truck to a tailgate of the truck when in the stowed position and used as an aerodynamic shield; pivoting the platform assembly to a deployed position where the platform assembly spans a roof of the truck; and supporting a portion of the platform assembly that extends forward of the roof with at least one support leg that extends from the platform assembly to the truck.
16. 16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising unfolding a tent during the pivoting, the tent covering the platform assembly when the platform assembly is in the deployed position.
17. 17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising rotating a plurality of support spokes about a pivot axis when transitioning back-and-forth between the stowed position and the deployed position, the plurality of support spokes radiating from the pivot axis and fanned out about the pivot axis when the platform assembly is in the deployed position, wherein some of the plurality of support spokes are connected to the platform assembly and some of the plurality of support spokes support the tent when the platform assembly is in the deployed position.
18. 18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the platform assembly comprises a first panel and a second panel that are folded together when the platform assembly is in the stowed position and that are unfolded when the platform assembly is in the deployed position.
19. 19 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising pivoting a mounting point on the truck from a concealed position to a mounting position, and connecting at least one support leg to the mounting point such that the at least one support leg supports the platform assembly when the platform assembly is in the deployed position.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD This disclosure is directed toward a shelter system that can be used with a truck and, more particularly, to a shelter system that has a deployable platform that extends over a roof of the truck when deployed. BACKGROUND A typical pickup truck has a cab providing a passenger compartment and a bed providing a cargo area. A cab back can separate the passenger compartment from the cargo area. In some pickup trucks, such as unibody pickup trucks, the cab back can provide a front wall of the bed. SUMMARY In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a shelter system for a truck, including: a platform assembly that can pivot back-and-forth between a stowed position and a deployed position, the platform assembly spanning a bed of a truck when in the stowed position, the platform assembly disposed over a cab of the truck when in the deployed position; and a tent that covers the platform assembly when the platform assembly is in the deployed position. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a shelter system, wherein the platform assembly in the stowed position slopes downward from an upper, rear area of the cab to a tailgate of the truck. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a shelter system, wherein a cab back of the truck is configured to open to provide a passthrough between a passenger compartment of the truck and the bed of the truck. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a shelter system, wherein the platform assembly includes a first panel and a second panel pivotably connected to each other, the first panel and the second panel folded when the platform assembly is in the stowed position, the first panel and the second panel unfolded when the platform assembly is in the deployed position. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a shelter system, wherein the second panel extends forward past a roof of the cab when the platform assembly is in the deployed position. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a shelter system, further including at least one support leg that extends from the second panel to the truck to support the second panel when the platform assembly is in the deployed position. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a shelter system, wherein the at least one support leg is pivotably connected to the second panel. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a shelter system, wherein the at least one support leg includes a first leg connectable to a first mounting point on a driver side of a hood of the truck, and a second leg connectable to a second mounting point on a passenger side of the hood of the truck. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a shelter system, wherein the first leg is connectable to the first mounting point through a first latch, and the second leg is connectable to the second mounting point through a second latch. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a shelter system, wherein the first mounting point and the second mounting point are pivotably back-and-forth between a mounting position and a concealed position. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a shelter system, further including a frame assembly that supports the tent when the platform assembly is in the deployed position. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a shelter system, further including a frame assembly having a plurality of support spokes that radiate from a pivot axis and are fanned out about the pivot axis when the platform assembly is in the deployed position, wherein some of the plurality of support spokes support the platform assembly and some of the plurality of support spokes support the tent. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a shelter system, wherein the pivot axis is adjacent an upper, rear corner of a cab of the cab. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a shelter system, wherein the tent is folded when the platform assembly is the stowed position and is unfolded when the platform assembly is in the deployed position. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a shelter system, further including a pair of side panels that cover outboard areas of the platform assembly and the tent when the platform assembly is in the stowed position. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method of establishing a shelter for a truck, including: using a platform assembly as an aerodynamic shield that spans a bed of a truck when the platform assembly is in a stowed position; and pivoting the platform assembly to a deployed position where the platform assembly spans a roof of the truck. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method, further including unfolding a tent during the pivoting, the tent covering the platform assembly when the platform assembly is in the deployed