AU2005101040A4 - A camper - Google Patents

Description

P/00/012 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Invention Title: "A CAMPER" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: S1

STITLE

"A CAMPER" 2FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a camper. In particular, the invention relates to a ventilation unit within a storage box of a camper.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Camping has become a very popular past time for millions of Australians. One way in which many people camp is to tow a camper trailer to a desired location. Camper trailers are quick to set up and access.

Further, camper trailers provide many comforts in a single, convenient unit that is "ready to go" at any time.

Many camper trailers include a storage box that is located on the front of the camper trailer. This storage box is often used to carry camping equipment such as cooking stoves, refrigerators and fuel tanks.

Pivotal flaps are normally provided on the storage box to allow access to the compartments and also to lock the compartments.

In order to carry refrigerators within the storage boxes it is necessary to provide ventilation to the storage boxes or the refrigerator can overheat and fail. One popular method of ventilating the storage box is to provide a partially Iouvred side wall within the storage box. This works well in ventilating the storage box on sealed roads. However, when a camper is taken off-road in dusty conditions then the louvres allow dust to enter directly into the storage box covering everything in the storage box. Dust seals have been developed but are not effective in preventing dust from entering the 2 O storage box.

a OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to overcome and/or alleviate one or more of the above disadvantages and/or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice.

OF THE INVENTION SIn one form, the invention resides in a camper comprising: c a storage box for location of articles such as a refrigerator, the storage box having an opening to allow articles to be placed in the storage box; and a ventilation unit located attached to the storage box, the ventilation unit including an inlet into the storage box and covered by an inlet filter; an outlet out of the storage box and covered by an outlet filter; and a pressurisation unit to vary pressure in the storage box to cause air to pass in the inlet and out of the outlet; wherein the inlet is in a position lower than a position of the outlet.

Preferably, the pressurisation unit includes a fan.

Preferably, the pressurisation unit is an exhaust fan unit located over the outlet.

Preferably, the outlet and the inlet are located in one or more S3 c side walls of the storage box.

a BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the invention will be described with (Ni reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 shows a side view of a camper trailer in a folded position; SFIG. 2 shows a side view of a camper trailer in an open C( position; and FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a storage box.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG 1 and 2 show a camper trailer 10 used for camping. The camper trailer 10 includes a storage box 11, for storing articles such refrigerators and fuel tanks, and a camper box 12 from which a canvas tent 13 is erected. The canvas tent 13 is erected by rotating a top 14 of the camper box 12 that causes poles to be extended upwardly from the camper box that support the canvas tent as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the inside of a storage box 11. The storage box 11 has been fitted with a ventilation unit 20. The ventilation unit 20 includes an inlet 21 and an outlet 25. The inlet 21 is located on a side wall of the storage box adjacent a floor of the storage box 11. However, it is envisaged that the inlet 21 may be located on the floor of the storage box. An inlet filter 22 is located over inlet and held in position by an inlet face plate 23. Two inlet wing nuts 24 and associated bolts hold the inlet filter in position and allow for quick and easy replacement of the inlet i. 4 Sfilter 22.

a The outlet 25 is located on a side wall of the storage box 11 adjacent a lid 12 of the storage box. However, it is envisaged that the outlet may be located on the lid 12 of the storage box 11. An outlet filter 26 is located over the outlet 25 and held in position by a outlet face plate 27. Two outlet wing nuts 28 and associated bolts hold the outlet filter 26 in position and allow for quick and easy replacement of the outlet filter 26.

CAn exhaust fan unit 30 is located over the outlet, external of the storage box 11. However, it should be appreciated that the exhaust fan unit 30 may be located over the outlet internal of the storage box. The exhaust fan unit 30 includes an exhaust fan 31 connected to an electric motor 32 which is located in a housing. The electric motor 32 is connected to a power source (not shown), such as a battery, via an electrical cable 33. A switch 34 is used to operate the electric motor 32.

The inlet filter 22 and outlet filter 26 are normally made of paper, cloth or foam. For example, a suitable paper filter may be a Briggs and Stratton Industrial Engine Air Filter No 491588 whilst a suitable foam filter may be a Briggs and Stratton Rotary Air Filter No 805267. However, it should be appreciated that various other types of filters may be suitable.

In use, the exhaust fan unit is activated and the electric motor 32 drives the exhaust fan. This causes air to pass through the outlet 25 and creates a low pressure area within the storage box 11. Air is thereby caused to pass through the inlet 21. Any dust that is drawn into the inlet 21 is trapped by the inlet filter 22. Similarly, if any dust is present within the Sstorage box 11, the outlet filter captures the dust so as to protect the exhaust Sunit The ventilation unit 20 operates effectively due to the placement of the inlet 21 below the outlet 25. Air that passes through the inlet 21 heats up and rises to the top of the storage box 11 whereby it is exhausted through the outlet 25. Hence, a convection current is created ventilating the storage box 11.

(Ni The ventilation unit of the present invention allows a refrigerator to be operated within a storage box of a camper without failure due to overheating. Further, the ventilation unit allows the camper to be taken offroad without the worry of the storage box being filled with dust.

It should be appreciated that in a further embodiment, an inlet fan unit may be placed over the inlet to force air through the inlet and into the storage box 11.. This will cause air to pass through the outlet 25 as a high pressure area is created within the storage box 11.

It should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications may be made to the embodiment described without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Claims (4)

1. A camper comprising: a storage box for location of articles such as a refrigerator, the storage box having an opening to allow articles to be placed in the storage box; and ventilation a ventilation unit located attached to the storage box, the unit including an inlet located through the storage box and covered by an inlet filet; an outlet located through the storage box and covered by an outlet filter; and a pressurisation unit to vary pressure in the storage box to cause air to pass in the inlet and out of the outlet; wherein the inlet is a position lower than the position of the outlet. The camper of claim 1 wherein the pressurisation unit includes a

2. fan.

3. The camper of claim 2 wherein the pressurisation unit is an exhaust fan unit located over the outlet.

4. The camper of any one of the preceding claims wherein the outlet and the inlet are located in one or more side walls of the storage box. A camper as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.