AU2006100226A4 - A camper trailer - Google Patents

Description

P/00/012 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Invention Title: "A CAMPER TRAILER" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: Va) 1 0 0 TITLE "A CAMPER TRAILER" FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to camper trailer. In particular, the

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N 5 invention resides in a camper trailer that is able to carry a motorised bike.

SBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Camping is a relatively cheap way to experience many and 0 Cvaried locations where fixed accommodation is not available. One popular way in which to experience camping is through the use of camper trailers.

Camper trailers are towed behind a vehicle until a desired destination is reached where a canvas caravan-type tent is easily erected. One popular method of erecting a camper trailer is achieved by simple rotation of a top of the camper trailer toward the rear of the camper trailer to cause the canvas caravan-type tent to open outwardly.

A popular vehicle to take camping is a motorbike or motorised quad bike. These types of bikes are able to travel to places that four wheel drive vehicles are not able to travel. Further, they provide added adventure merely by being able to ride such vehicles.

Unfortunately, many of the off road bikes are not equipped to travel on sealed road. Therefore, in order to take a bike on a camping trip, a trailer is used to carry the bike to the destination of interest. The problem with having to tow a trailer with the bikes is that a camper trailer cannot be towed at the same time. Hence, the comforts provided by a camper trailer are often not able to be enjoyed when a bike is also desired.

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0 N It is known for people to load a bike onto a roof of the camper trailer in order to transport a bike to a desired destination. There are several l problems associated with this practise. First, by loading a bike onto the roof of the camper trailer this changes the centre of mass of the camper trailer to a point that is further above the ground. This increases the likelihood of the o camper trailer to inadvertently roll over, especially on rough terrain.

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Second, the bike typically is loaded onto the roof of the camper Ctrailer using removable ramps. It is relatively simple to drive the bike onto the top of the camper trailer. However, in order to remove the bike from the top of the camper trailer, the bike must be reversed down the ramps. This is both difficult and dangerous.

Third, locating the bike on the top of the camper trailer requires that the bike be removed before the canvas caravan-type tent is erected.

This is often not convenient especially when only single night stop over is required when travelling from one location to another.

Lastly, the bike often creates additional wind drag that decreases fuel economy and increases the cost of camping.

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

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one form, although not necessarily the only or broadest form, the invention resides in a camper trailer comprising: IND 3 0 ca camper body movable between a closed position and an open position; a bike carrier for carrying at least one motorised bike; wherein the bike carrier is located between the camper body N 5 and a trailer hitch.

o The camper body may be moved between a closed position o and an open position when a bike is located on the bike carrier.

cThe camper may be moved from the closed position to the open position by rotating the top of the camper body towards the rear of the camper trailer.

The carrier platform may allow the bike to be loaded on one side of the carrier and unloaded on an opposite side of the carrier.

The bike carrier may be in the form of a carrier platform. The carrier platform may be located on top of a draw bar of the camper trailer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the invention, by way of example only, will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a camper trailer with a camper body in a closed position; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a camper trailer with a camper body in a closed position; FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a quad bike being loaded onto the camper trailer of FIG. 1; and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a quad bike being unloaded IND 4 0 0from the camper trailer of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIGS.1 and 2 show a camping trailer 10 used to carry a motorised quad bike. The camping trailer 10 includes a camper body 20, a

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trailer body 30 and a carrier platform 0The camper body 20 is a standard camper body that is I movable between a closed position and an open position. The closed c position, as shown in FIG. 1, is used when the camper trailer is transported between one location and another location. The open position, as shown in FIG. 2, provides a canvas caravan-type tent 21 to be utilised by campers.

The camper body 10 is moved between an open position and a closed position by rotating a top 22 of the camper trailer 20 towards the rear of the camper trailer 10. When rotated, the top 22 of the camper trailer becomes the floor of the canvas caravan-type tent 21.

The trailer body 30 includes a trailer chassis 31 that is used to rotatably mount an axle 32. Two wheels 33 are attached to each end of the axle 32 to enable transportation of the camper trailer 10. The camper body is mounted to a top of the chassis 31. An A-framed draw bar 34 forms a front part of the chassis 31. A trailer hitch 35 is located at the end of the chassis to connect the camper trailer to a motor vehicle. A jockey wheel 36 is also attached to the front of the draw bar.

The carrier platform 40 is formed from 10 mm thick steel plate.

The carrier platform is 1500 mm wide x 1200 mm long. However, it should be appreciated that the material and dimensions may be varied. The carrier IND 0 0platform 40 is welded to the draw bar 34 and is located between the trailer hitch 35 and a front 33 of the carrier body.

A quad bike 50 is loaded on the carrier platform using a pair of ramps 51. The ramps 51 can be located on either side of the carrier platform

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40. The bike 51 is then driven onto the ramp to load the bike and then 0 o secured. The bike 50 is unloaded from the platform by locating the ramps on v.0 0 the platform 40 in front of the bike 50 and driving the bike off the ramps 51.

c This provides a simple and safe way of removing the bike 50. It should be appreciated that two standard motor bikes may be used instead of the quad bike.

The carrier platform 40 is sized and positioned so that the camper body 20 can be moved from its open position to its closed position or visa versa without the need to remove the bike 50 from the platform It should be appreciated that various changes and modifications may be made to the embodiment described without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Claims (5)

1. A camper trailer comprising: a camper body movable between a closed position and an open position; a bike carrier for carrying at least one motorised bike; o wherein the bike carrier is located between the camper body Va o and a trailer hitch.

2. The camper trailer of claim 1 wherein the bike carrier may be in the form of a carrier platform.

3. The camper trailer of claim1 or claim 2 wherein the carrier platform may be located on top of a draw bar of the camper trailer.

4. The camper tailer of claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the carrier platform allows the bike to be loaded on one side of the carrier and unloaded on an opposite side of the carrier.

5. A camper trailer as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this Twenty-fourth day of March 2006. BRUCE DAVID LOXTON By his Patent Attorneys FISHER ADAMS KELLY