AU2007216838A1 - A vehicle body and a vehicle - Google Patents

Description

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A VEHICLE BODY AND A VEHICLE FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a vehicle body. It also extends to a vehicle having the oo00 M vehicle body and also to a method of increasing the interior space of a vehicle oo00 ID body.

0 This invention relates particularly but not exclusively to a recreational vehicle that N 10 is a motor home and it will therefore be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention with reference to this example application. However it is to be clearly understood that the invention is capable of broader application. For example the invention could equally be applied to a recreational vehicle that is a caravan or a fifth wheeler.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Powered recreational vehicles such as motor homes and passive towed recreational vehicles such as caravans and motor homes are widely used in many countries around the world.

A motor home has its own engine and motive power and does not need to be towed. It typically comprises a commercial base vehicle such as a cab chassis truck or a van that is built up so that it is adapted to be lived in. The motor home defines an interior space made up of a front seat space with a driver's seat and a passenger seat and a rear living region behind the front seat space. The rear living space of the motor home is fitted out with the usual amenities of a home that enable it to be lived in.

A caravan by contrast is a passive vehicle that is towed by a powered vehicle that defines an interior space that is fitted out to be lived in. Typically it has a lounge Sand a dining area, a kitchen area, a bedroom area and often also a bathroom as well.

SA fifth wheeler is a passive vehicle that is a semi-trailer that is mounted on a tray of a tow vehicle such that it can pivot and articulate relative thereto. Like the 00 Mcaravan it has an interior space that is fitted out to be lived in.

00 N It will readily be appreciated that space is at a premium in the interior space of a O motor home, caravan and fifth wheeler. This is particularly so in a rear living N 10 region of a motor home.

Each amenity or fitting such as a bed, a cupboard, a table, a kitchen appliance or a shower, is generally fitted or mounted against a wall extending along the sides of the living space of the vehicle. The length of these two side walls is limited by the length of the vehicle and very often there are practical limitations on the length of a recreational vehicle. Usually the length of a recreational vehicle is limited by considerations such as drivability, manoeuvrability and parking to a length of about 8 to 9m. The width of a road going vehicle is naturally also limited to a width that enables it to be safely received within a vehicle lane on a road. Effectively the road use regulations limit the total width of such vehicles to 2.5m to be received within a single lane of a road.

Accordingly it is a constant challenge for designers of recreational vehicles to provide a comfortable living region in a motor home having these length and width limitations. There is therefore an ongoing need for innovations that enable the interior space of a recreational vehicle to be increased or to be used more effectively or efficiently.

Fig. 1 illustrates a motor home in accordance with the prior art. As can clearly be seen the motor home has an interior space that is very cramped and has very limited space particularly in a lateral direction across the width of the motor home.

The motor home has a small and compact bathroom positioned along the right side of the vehicle. The bathroom has a toilet and a shower that occupy the same space and a vanity adjacent the toilet/shower. However it is immediately obvious that the bathroom is very small. For example it would not be practical for more than one person to use the bathroom at the same time. Further a person using the bathroom has limited space to move around in the bathroom and to towel them 00 M self or arrange their hair. However it is not a simple matter to simply increase the 00 D size of the bathroom because it would then be extremely difficult to fit all the other c amenities such as bed and kitchen area into the living space. Further the vehicle O has a very confined lateral width along its length.

N Clearly therefore there is an ongoing need for innovations that enable the interior space of a recreational vehicle to be increased or to be used more effectively or efficiently. In particular it would be advantageous if a more spacious bathroom could be provided in a motor home without appropriating space required for other amenities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a vehicle body for forming part of a vehicle or being mountable on a vehicle, the body including: a body shell arrangement having end body walls and side body walls that together define an interior space; an end slide out defining a slide out interior space that is movable between a retracted position in which the slide out is at least partly received within the body shell arrangement and an extended position in which the slide out projects away from an adjacent end body wall; and one side slide out defining a slide out interior space that is movable between a retracted position in which the slide out is at least partly received within Sthe body shell arrangement and an extended position in which the one side slide out projects away from an adjacent side body wall of the body shell.

In particular the vehicle body may be the body of a recreational vehicle.

The interior space of the body shell arrangement may include a stowing zone for 0the end slide out and the end slide out may occupy the stowing zone when the end slide out is in the retracted position.

10 The end slide out may extend across substantially all of the end body wall of the body shell arrangement, and the end slide out may extend substantially the full height of the body shell arrangement.

The interior space of the end slide out may have a width extending orthogonally to the direction in which the slide out is extended of 2.3m to The interior space of the end slide out may have a depth in the direction in which the slide out is extended and retracted of 0.5m to 2.0m, e.g. 1.0m to In some forms the end walls of the body shell arrangement may include a rear body wall and the end slide out may be mounted on the rear body wall. For a motor home body and fifth wheeler body the end slide out will typically be mounted on the rear body wall.

In other forms the end walls of the body shell arrangement may include a front body wall and the end slide out may be mounted on the front wall. This is an option for a caravan body in particular.

The interior space of the body shell arrangement may include a stowing zone for the one side slide out and the one side slide out may occupy the stowing zone when the slide out is in the retracted position.

The interior space of the one side slide out may have a length of 1.7 to 3.5m, e.g.

to 3.0m. The interior space of said one side slide out may have a depth in the direction of movement of the slide out of 0.6m to 2.0m, e.g. 1.0 to The end slide out may form at least part of a bathroom.

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N The end slide out may form a working and functional bathroom and the size of the N bathroom may be expanded when the end slide out is moved to the extended O position to further include the end slide out stowing zone.

N Thus the interior space of the end slide out and the stowing zone for the end slide out together may form a bathroom of expanded size when the rear slide out is in the extended position.

The vehicle body may further include a partition for partitioning the bathroom off from the remainder of the interior space of the body shell arrangement.

In some forms where the bathroom can be expanded to include the stowing zone the partition may be mounted on the body shell arrangement.

In some forms the end slide out may form a full bathroom of constant size. In these forms the end slide out stowing zone does not form part of the bathroom and cannot be used to expand the size of the bathroom. In these forms where the end slide out encloses the full bathroom, the partition may be mounted on the end slide out.

The end slide out may have at least one bathroom fitting mounted thereon, e.g.

selected from the group including a shower and/or vanity and/or toilet.

Said one side slide out may form at least part of a bedroom and said one side slide out may open into the interior space of the body shell arrangement. The stowing zone of said one side slide out may also form part of said bedroom.

N Further a bedroom portion of said interior space that is laterally inward of said one side slide out stowing space may also form part of the bedroom.

The one side slide out forming part of a bedroom may have a bed mounted thereon and the bed may extend across the stowing zone for the one side slide out 00 Mwhen the one side slide out is in the extended position. The bed may be oriented 00 D substantially orthogonally to the fore and aft direction of the vehicle body.

O Said one side slide out may include storage fixtures on each side of the bed that extend up no higher than 1.2m. The storage fixtures may be bed side tables and the bed side tables may include drawers for storage.

In one form of the invention the end slide out forms part of a bathroom and the one side slide out forms part of a bedroom.

Thus in one form of the invention, e.g. described immediately above, the vehicle body may comprise a bathroom mounted on said end slide out and a bed mounted on said one slide out.

In another form of the invention the end slide out may form at least part of a bedroom.

The end slide out may open into the interior space of the body shell arrangement.

The stowing zone of said end slide out may also form part of said bedroom.

Further a bedroom portion of said body shell interior space longitudinally inward of said end slide out stowing space may also form part of the bedroom.

The end slide out may have a bed mounted thereon and the bed may extend across the stowing zone for the end slide out when the end slide out is in the extended position. The bed may be oriented substantially parallel to the fore and aft direction of the vehicle body.

N The end slide out may include storage fixtures that extend up no higher than 1.2m on each side of the bed. The storage fixtures may include bed side tables on each side of the bed and the bed side tables may include drawers for storage.

In this other form of the invention said one side slide out may, form at least part of 00 M, a bathroom.

00 N In some forms the one side slide out may form the bathroom and the bathroom O may be expanded when the one side slide out is moved to the extended position N 10 to further include the end slide out stowing zone in the bathroom.

This way the interior space of the one side slide out and the stowing zone for the one side slide out together may form a bathroom of expanded size.

The vehicle body may further include a partition separating the bathroom from the remainder of the interior space of the body shell arrangement.

In the form of the invention defined above the partition may be mounted on the body shell arrangement.

In other forms the end slide out may form the full bathroom and the size of the bathroom is not able to be expanded by moving the one slide out to the extended position. In these other forms of the invention the partition may be mounted on the one side slide out.

The one side slide out may have at least one bathroom fitting mounted thereon, e.g. selected from the group including a shower and/or vanity and/or toilet mounted thereto.

Thus in one form of the invention the vehicle body may comprise a bed mounted on said end slide out and a bathroom mounted on said one side slide out.

In any of the forms of the invention described above the vehicle body may include another side slide out defining a slide out interior space that is movable between a retracted position in which the other side slide out is at least partly received within the body shell arrangement and an extended position in which the other side slide out projects away from a side body wall of the body shell arrangement that is 00 Mopposite to the side body wall away from which said one side slide out projects.

00 SThus the other side slide out is positioned on the other side of the vehicle body to 0 the one side slide out, i.e. they are on opposite sides of the vehicle body.

N The interior space of the body shell arrangement may include a stowing zone for the other side slide out and the other side slide out may occupy the stowing zone when the slide out is in the retracted position.

The interior space of the other side slide out may have a slide out length of 2.0 to e.g. 3.0m to 4.0m. Further the interior space of said other side slide out may have a depth in the direction of movement of the slide out of 0.6 to 2.0m, e.g. to The other side slide out may include a kitchen arrangement mounted thereto. The kitchen arrangement may include a basin or sink, and a cook top, and a bench top.

The kitchen arrangement may have a length of 1.0m to 1.6m.

The other side slide out may include a seat arrangement, e.g. adjacent the kitchen fittings. The seat arrangement may be a lounge seating arrangement and may have a length of 1.2m to 2.0m. The seat arrangement may be positioned forward of the kitchen arrangement in the fore and aft direction of the vehicle body.

The other side slide out may further include a storage arrangement mounted on the slide out. The storage arrangement may extend substantially the full height of the interior space of the slide out, e.g. from floor to ceiling of the other side slide out. The storage arrangement may be in the form of a wardrobe, e.g. for storing Slinen, clothes and the like. The wardrobe may include wardrobe hanging space for hanging clothes therein and the wardrobe may include one or more drawers.

The wardrobe may have a length of 1.5m to 2.5m and the wardrobe may be positioned rearward of the kitchen arrangement in the fore and aft direction of the 00 Mvehicle body, e.g. adjacent to the kitchen fittings. The wardrobe may optionally be 00

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Ilaterally aligned with a bed mounted in the interior space of said one side slide out.

O The interior space of the body shell arrangement may further include a dinette N 10 arrangement, comprising a small dining table and at least two dining table seats arranged next to the dining table.

The dinette arrangement may be positioned towards said one side of the body shell arrangement and the dinette arrangement may be substantially laterally aligned with the kitchen arrangement or the seating arrangement on said other side slide out.

The one side slide out may be on the left side of the vehicle body, when seated in the vehicle body facing in the direction of travel, and said other side slide out may be on the right side of the vehicle body. This configuration is particularly suitable in countries in which vehicles drive on the left side of the road, e.g. Australia and New Zealand and the UK.

Instead in countries in which vehicles drive on the right side of the road the sides may be reversed. That is the one side slide out may be on the right side of the body and the other side slide out may be on the left side of the vehicle body.

The vehicle body may be a motor home body. The vehicle body may also be a fifth wheeler body. The vehicle body may also be a caravan body.

In this specification the term room shall be construed broadly and shall be defined to include a space or zone within which certain amenities are contained. For example a bedroom may not necessarily be a closed off bedroom. It could be a space or zone that is open to the remainder of the interior space of the body shell arrangement. The same applies to a bathroom or a kitchen or a living room.

According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a vehicle body for 00 Mforming part of a vehicle or being mountable on a vehicle, the body including: 00 N a body shell arrangement having end walls and side body walls that a together define an interior space; c an end slide out defining a slide out interior space that is movable between a retracted position in which the slide out is at least partly received within the body shell arrangement and an extended position in which the slide out projects away from an adjacent end body wall; one side slide out defining a slide out interior space that is movable between a retracted position in which the slide out is at least partly received within the body shell arrangement and an extended position in which the one side slide out projects away from the adjacent side body wall of the body shell; and another side slide out defining a slide out interior space that is movable between a retracted position in which the other side slide out is at least partly received within the body shell arrangement and an extended position in which the other side slide out projects away from a side body wall of the body shell opposite to the side body wall away from which said one side slide out projects.

The end slide out may form at least part of a bathroom and the one side slide out may form at least part of a bedroom.

Instead the end slide out may form at least part of a bedroom and the one side slide out may form at least part of a bathroom.

The other side slide out may include a kitchen arrangement.

According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a motor home including a vehicle body as defined above according to the first aspect of the invention.

00oo 00 N The body may include any one or more of the optional features of the vehicle body N defined in the first aspect of the invention.

According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a fifth wheeler including a vehicle body as defined above according to the first aspect of the invention.

The body may include any one or more of the optional features of the vehicle body defined in the first aspect of the invention.

According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a caravan including a vehicle body as defined above according to the first aspect of the invention.

The body may include any one or more of the optional features of the vehicle body defined in the first aspect of the invention.

The end walls of the vehicle body may include a front body wall and a rear body wall.

The end slide out may be mounted on the front body wall or the end slide out may be mounted on the rear body wall.

The body may include a further end slide out mounted on the other end to which said one end slide out is mounted.

According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a method of increasing the space within a vehicle body, comprising: providing a body shell arrangement having end walls and side body walls that together define an interior space; 00 0providing an end slide out defining a slide out interior space that is movable cbetween a retracted position in which the slide out is at least partly received within 0 the body shell arrangement and an extended position in which the slide out 0 N 10 projects away from an adjacent end body wall; providing one side slide out defining a slide out interior space that is movable between a retracted position in which the slide out is at least partly received within the body shell arrangement and an extended position in which the one side slide out projects away from an adjacent side body wall of the body shell; providing another side slide out defining a slide out interior space that is movable between a retracted position in which the other side slide out is at least partly received within the body shell arrangement and an extended position in which the other side slide out projects away from an adjacent side body wall of the body shell which is opposed to the side body wall away from which said one side slide out projects; and moving the end slide out and the one side slide out and other side slide out to the extended positions whereby to increase the interior space defined within the vehicle body.

The end slide out, the one side slide out, and the other side slide out may have any one or more of the optional features of the slide outs defined in the preceding aspects of the invention.

13 N Displacing may comprise displacing the slide outs with a translational linear sliding displacement into their extended positions in which they project substantially fully out of the body shell arrangement.

Displacing may comprise displacing the slide out by means of a drive means such 00 Mas a linear actuator.

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N The method may include the step of mounting the slide outs on the body shell Oarrangement.

N The method may include partitioning a said slide out off from the remainder of the interior space. The method may include providing access to the slide out interior space through the partition from the rest of the interior space.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A vehicle that is a motor home or a caravan or a fifth wheeler in accordance with this invention may manifest itself in a variety of forms. It will therefore be convenient to hereinafter provide a detailed description of the invention with reference to several example embodiments. The purpose of providing this detailed description is to instruct persons having an interest in the subject matter of the invention how to put the invention into practical effect. It is to be clearly understood however that the specific nature of this detailed description does not supersede the generality of the preceding broad description. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of a prior art motor home body showing the internal layout of the motor home; Fig. 2 is a three dimensional view of a motor home body having slide outs in accordance with one embodiment of this invention with the slide outs shown in an extended position; SFig. 3 is a schematic plan view of the motor home body of Fig. 2 showing the internal layout; Fig. 4 is a schematic plan view of a motor home body having a different internal layout in the bathroom to that in Fig. 3; 00 00 N Fig. 5 is a three dimensional view of the bathroom on the motor home body N shown in Fig. 4; N 10 Fig. 6 is a schematic plan view of a motor home body having a different layout to the motor home body shown in Figs. 2 and 3; Fig. 7 is a schematic plan view of a motor home body having a different bathroom slide out and bathroom layout to that shown in Fig. 6, with the slide outs shown in the retracted positions; Fig. 8 is a schematic plan view of the motor home body shown in Fig. 7 with the slide outs shown in the extended position; Fig. 9 is a three dimensional view showing the support for supporting the slide outs on the vehicle body of Fig. 2 such that the slide outs can slide relative thereto; and Fig. 10 is a sectional end view of the support shown in Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a schematic plan view of a caravan body in accordance with the invention showing the interior layout of a vehicle with the slide outs in the extended condition; Fig. 12 is a schematic plan view of a caravan body in accordance with another embodiment of the invention with the slide outs shown in the extended condition; and SFig. 13 is a schematic three dimensional view of a vehicle that is a fifth wheeler having a fifth wheeler body with a slide out at the rear end shown in its extended condition.

0 Fig. 1 is a prior art motor home and is discussed in the preamble to the invention

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0described above. It will not be discussed further in the detailed description which focuses on embodiments of the invention that is disclosed in this application.

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N 10 In Figs. 2 and 3 reference numeral 1 refers to a vehicle body 1 that is a motor home body in accordance with the invention.

The vehicle body 1 includes a body shell arrangement 3 having body walls defining an interior space. The body walls comprise a front body wall 5 and a rear body wall 7, and two side body walls 9, and 11 extending between the front and rear body walls 5, and 7.

The front body wall 5 and the rear wall 7 together with the side body walls 9 and 11 extending there between define an interior space of the body shell arrangement 3. In turn this interior space is divided up into a front seat region shown very generally by the numeral 13 and a living region rearward of the front seat region 13 shown very generally by the numeral The front seat region 13 comprises a forward most portion of the interior space.

Typically this contains a driver's seat 17 on one side in proximity to the usual set of driver's controls and a passenger seat 19 alongside it for a front seat passenger.

Typically the driver's seat 17 and the passenger's seat 19 are comfortable padded chairs that are suitable for long distance driving. Further they are often swivel seats that can be swiveled around when the vehicle 1 is not in driving use to face rearward into the rear living region 15 of the interior space.

The body 1 includes an end slide out 25 defining a slide out interior space, that is movable between a retracted position in which the slide out 25 is at least partly received within the body shell 3 and an extended position in which the slide out projects away from the body shell 3.

00 MThe interior space of the body shell arrangement 3 includes a stowing zone 27 for 00 N the slide out 25. The slide out 25 is received within the stowing zone 27 when the c, slide out 25 is in the retracted condition. The slide out 25 may be displaced away O from the stowing zone 27 when the slide out 25 is moved to the extended N 10 condition. The stowing zone 27 is formed by a rear region of the interior space of the body shell arrangement 3 adjacent the rear body wall 9.

The end slide out 25 forms at least part of a bathroom 23. The bathroom 23 is made up of the interior space of the slide out 25 and also the entire stowing zone 27 within the interior space of the body shell arrangement 3.

The vehicle body 1 further includes an internal partition 35 for closing off the bathroom 23 from the rest of the interior space of the body shell arrangement 3. In the illustrated form the partition 35 includes a wall having an access opening therein and a closable door 37 mounted in the access opening. In another form that has not been shown in the drawings the partition is in the form of a collapsible wall that can be pulled closed or pushed open in a concertina fashion.

The bathroom slide out 25 has a plurality of bathroom fittings or bathroom fixtures mounted thereon. The bathroom fittings comprise a shower 43, a toilet 45 and a vanity 47 all of which are mounted on the slide out 25 up against the main wall portion thereof. In the illustrated embodiment the shower 43 is in one corner and a toilet 45 is positioned adjacent to the shower 43. A vanity 47 is located in the other corner of the bathroom 51. The vanity 47 has a single basin mounted in a vanity counter and a cupboard beneath the counter and a mirror mounted on the wall adjacent the vanity.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the slide out 25 is positioned such that it aextends across substantially all of the rear body wall 9 and has a width of 2.4m to V. The interior space of the slide out 25 has a depth in the direction in which the slide 00oo out 25 is moved to the extended position (which is the same as the fore and aft o00 IN direction of the vehicle body) of 1.0m to 1.5m. The stowing zone 27 has a depth of ci, 0.8m to 1.5m. Overall the bathroom 31 has a depth in the direction in which the slide out 25 is moved of 2.0m to 3.0m made up of the interior space of the slide ci 10 out 25 and also the stowing zone 27 within the body shell arrangement 3.

The resultant depth in the bathroom 23 when the slide out 25 is in the extended position enables two people to use the bathroom 23 at the same time. For example if one person is using the vanity 47 then another person can walk behind the person at the vanity 47 without having to bump them or deliberately squeeze past them. Further a person can get out of the shower 43 and dry themselves while another person is standing in front of the vanity 47.

As shown in Figs. 3 to 5 the vehicle body 1 also has a one side slide out 51, e.g. a left slide out, on the left side of the body shell arrangement 3. The left slide out 51 has a corresponding stowing zone 55 within the interior space towards the left body side wall 9 of the body shell arrangement 3 for receiving the slide out 21 in its retracted position.

The left slide out 51 has a length of 2.0 to 3.0m with the direction of length being orthogonal to the direction in which the slide out 51 is moved to the extended position. The left slide out 51 has a width or depth in the direction in which the slide out 51 is moved to the extended position of 1.0 to 1.5m. Further the left slide out 51 may be a full height slide out and may extend up substantially the full height of the body shell arrangement 3.

The left slide out 51 may form part of a bedroom 71. The bedroom 71 may have a Sdouble bed 21 mounted on the slide out 51 with an east west configuration with the head of the bed 21 against the slide out 51. The bed 21 also extends into the interior space of the body shell arrangement 3. Specifically the double bed 21 extends across the stowing zone of the left slide out 55 and also extends across 00 part of the interior space of the body shell arrangement inward of the stowing zone 00 0 When the left slide out 55 is moved to the extended position the foot of the bed 21 C- 10 is spaced in from the side wall 7 of the body shell arrangement 3. This provides space to walk around the foot of the bed 71 to gain access one side of the bed 71 and also to gain access to the bathroom 23 in the rear slide out The left slide out 51 also includes storage fixtures or fittings 73, 75 in the form of bed side tables on each side of the bed 71. These fixtures 73, 75 typically do not extend up to a height that is higher than the height of the bed 71. The bed side tables 73, 75 include a plurality of drawers which may be used for storing personal items. In the illustrated embodiment the storage fixture 73 forward of the bed 71 has a greater length than the storage fixture 75 rearward of the bed.

The vehicle body 1 also includes another side slide out 53 (hereinafter called a right slide out) on the right side of the body shell arrangement 3.

The right slide out 23 also has a corresponding stowing zone 57 adjacent the right body side wall 11 of the interior space for receiving the slide out 23 in its retracted position.

The right slide out 53 is also a full height slide out and extends up substantially the full height of the body shell arrangement 3. The right slide out 53 has a length of 3.0m to 4.0m, in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the slide out 53. Further the right slide out 53 may have a depth in the direction of extension of the slide out 53 of 1.0m to defined in the body shell arrangement 3 corresponding to the particular slide out.

Thus the container opens into the interior space of the body shell arrangement 3 of the vehicle body 1 and communicates therewith.

5 At a structural level each slide out 25, 51 and 53 comprises a primary slide out 00 0wall portion 61 for covering the surface area of the slide out opening in the 0associated wall of the motor home body shell arrangement 3. Each slide out c51 and 53 also has a side wall portion 63 extending transverse to the primary wall a portion 61. The side wall portion 63 in turn comprises end wall portions at each end of the primary wall portion 61 extending from the associated body wall of the body shell arrangement 3 to the primary wall portion 61 of the slide out. The side wall portion 63 also includes a bottom portion and a roof portion. The side wall portion 63 extends transverse to the primary wall portion 61 and act to close off the slide out 25, 51 or 53 from the outside, particularly when the slide out is in the retracted configuration. Thus the space defined by the slide out in the retracted position opens into the living region 15 of the motor home body 1.

Each slide out 25, 51 and 53 is mounted on the body shell arrangement 3, and particularly the chassis 2 thereof, by means of a female member 65 on the body shell arrangement 3 engaging and receiving a male member 67 on the slide out 51 or 53. The female member 65 is sized to receive the male member 67 snugly and with little clearance so as to provide a guide mechanism that is very accurate and precise and is not prone to rattling when the vehicle is being driven on the road. This structure is shown in some detail in Figs. 9 and 10 of the drawings.

In an example embodiment two linear actuators that are longitudinally spaced from each other are used to drive each slide out 25, 51 or 53 between the contracted and retracted conditions. The linear actuators are driven by an electric motor associated with the actuator and the motor in turn is energized or powered by electrical power from the battery of the motor home body 1. Further each linear Sactuator is fitted with limit switches for stopping displacement of the actuator when the slide out reaches each of the extended and retracted positions.

The linear actuators are particularly suitable for this application because they are very precise in their movements and are able to guide the slide outs 25, 51 and 53 00 0very precisely into their retracted and extended positions. Further the linear

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0actuators 45 are able to repeatedly move the slide outs 25, 51 and 53 into exactly the same position each time they move them into the retracted or extended a positions. A further advantage of the linear actuators is that they occupy very N 10 limited space in the motor home body 1 and this is advantageous.

In use the slide outs 25, 51 and 53 are positioned in their retracted positions on the body 1 when the vehicle is being stored or being driven on the road. Each of the slide outs 25, 51 and 53 is received within its stowing zone 27, 55, or 57 within the body shell arrangement 3. This compact arrangement provides a vehicle that can comfortably and easily be driven on the road and can be received within a normal vehicle lane on a road.

In this configuration a user can move around in the interior space and can use the bathroom 23 in the rear region of the body shell arrangement 3. While the bathroom 23 is small and compact in this configuration each of the toilet 45 and shower 43 and vanity 47 can still be used in the normal way.

When the motor home body 1 is to be used for being lived in it is transformed into its camping configuration. Each of the slide outs 25, 51 and 53 is moved to its extended position and this drastically increases the interior space within the body 1. The bathroom 23 is significantly increased in size and can be used by a user with freedom of movement. In particular two people can comfortably use the bathroom 23 at the same time.

Figs. 4 and 5 show a variation on the motor home body 1 shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

As the motor home body in Fig. 4 is similar to that described above and shown in Fig. 3 the same reference numerals will be used to refer to the same components.

The description above applies generally to the motor home body shown in Fig. 4.

The following description will focus on the differences between this embodiment 00 Mand the Fig. 3 embodiment.

00 c- The differences between the motor home body 1 in Fig. 3 and that in Figs. 4 and O reside solely in the internal layout of the fittings and units in the bathroom slide out 0 N 10 In Fig. 4 a vanity 47 having two hand basins 68 and 69 side by side is positioned next to the shower 43. A toilet 45 is then positioned in the corner remote from the shower 43. A feature of this layout is that the bathroom is able to accommodate a vanity with two hand basins and the vanity is centrally positioned in the bathroom 23.

As shown in Fig. 5 the bathroom 23 has sufficient depth to comfortably accommodate and receive two people at one time. In the drawing one person is beautifying themselves in front of a mirror. The other person can have a shower and then also get out of the shower and towel themselves in comfort in the space within the bathroom. The increased depth afforded by the slide out is important to achieve this effect.

In Fig. 6 a motor home body in accordance with another embodiment of the invention is shown.

The Fig. 6 embodiment has the same basic outline as the embodiment in Figs. 3 and 4 with left and right slide outs 51, 53 and a rear slide out 25. As the Fig. 6 motor home body is similar in many ways to the Figs. 3 and 4 motor home bodies the same reference numerals will be used to refer to the same components unless otherwise indicated.

The internal layout in the Fig. 6 embodiment is different to that in the Fig. 3 embodiment and the following description will focus on these differences in internal layout.

00 M' This body 1 has a rear end slide out 25 and left and right slide outs 51, 53 like 00 IDthose in Fig. 3. However the usage of the different slide outs is somewhat c different.

c 10 The bathroom 23 is positioned in the left slide out 51. The space within the bathroom 23 is formed partly by the stowing zone 55 in the body shell arrangement 3 that receives the slide out 51 in the stowed configuration and the remainder is formed by the interior space of the left slide out 21.

In its fully extended condition the slide out 51 projects fully out of the stowing zone 53 in the interior space of the vehicle body 1. Fig. 6 shows the slide out 51 displaced only part of the way to the fully extended position.

The body 1 also includes a right slide out 53 of considerable length that includes a kitchen arrangement 77 and a lounge seat arrangement 79. Further the right slide out 23 overlaps with the left slide out 21 in a longitudinal direction.

The rear slide out 25 typically forms part of a bedroom region or zone 71 and the slide out 25 acts to increase the depth of the bedroom zone 71 when in the extended position. The movement of the rear slide out 25 to the extended position increases the space around the foot of the bed 21 and thereby increases the amenity in the bedroom zone 71.

Figs. 7 and 8 show a plan view of a motor home body in accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention.

As the Fig. 7 motor home body has some similarities to the motor home body 3 described above with reference to Fig. 6 the same reference numerals will be used to refer to the same components unless otherwise indicated.

The following description will focus on the differences between this embodiment 00 Mand the earlier embodiments above.

00 SThe left slide out 51 has a bathroom 23 which is substantially fully contained within 0 the slide out 51 in the retracted position shown in Fig 7. The partition 35 is N 10 mounted on the slide out and moves with the slide out 51 when it is moved out to the extended position. As shown in Fig. 8 the stowing zone forms part of the general interior space and does not form part of the bathroom 23 when the slide out 51 is moved to the extended position. The bathroom 51 thus does not encroach or intrude into the interior space of the body shell arrangement 3 when the slide out 51 is extended. By contrast in Fig. 6 the bathroom 23 is formed by a combination of the stowing zone 55 of the slide out 51 and partly by the interior space of the left slide out 51.

Fig. 11 shows the interior layout of a caravan body in accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention. In the drawing the caravan body is indicated generally by reference numeral 61.

As the caravan body 61 shares many structural and functional similarities with the motor home body described above with reference to Fig. 3 the same reference numerals will be used to refer to the same components unless otherwise illustrated. Further the description above of the motor home applies mutatis mutandis to the caravan body.

The caravan body 61 has a rear slide out 25 forming part of the bathroom 23 to expand the space within the bathroom 23 during use as in the Figs. 3 and 4 embodiments. The caravan body 61 also has left and right slide outs 51 and 53 to increase the living region or living space 15 within the motor home body 1. Fig. 11 O in particular shows how the interior space is significantly increased in three different directions.

_Further the caravan body 61 also has a draw pole 63 and hitch 65 for hitching it to a towing vehicle at the front wall 5 of the caravan body 61.

00 00 Fig. 12 illustrates a caravan body in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

As this caravan embodiment has many structural and functional similarities to the caravan embodiment shown in Fig. 11 the same reference numerals will be used to refer to the same components unless otherwise illustrated.

The following description will focus on the difference between this embodiment and the Fig. 11 embodiment.

In Fig. 12 the caravan body has a forward slide out 81 on the front wall 5 of the caravan body 61 in addition to the rear slide out 25. The front slide out 81 thus increases the interior space defined by the interior space of the body 1 by expanding out forward over the draw pole 63 of the caravan body 61. The front slide out 81 can be used as a dining and living room area with a table and a couple of seats.

Fig. 13 illustrates a fifth wheeler for mounting to a towing vehicle with a rear tray which is indicated generally by reference numeral 83.

As this fifth wheeler has many structural and functional similarities to the caravan body embodiment shown in Fig. 12 the same reference numerals will be used to refer to the same components unless otherwise illustrated.

The fifth wheeler body 83 comprises a rear slide out 25 that forms part of a bathroom 23. When the slide out 25 is moved to the extended position the depth Sof the bathroom 51 is increased making it much more spacious and thereby increasing the amenity thereof.

The fifth wheeler body 83 also includes left and right slide outs 51 and 53 like those in the earlier embodiments.

00 0The fifth wheeler body 83 also includes a bed 21 in a bedroom region 71 towards cthe front body wall 5 of the fifth wheeler body 83. The body 83 has a raised region a 85 towards its front body wall 5 and the bed which would ordinarily be spaced above the ground is conveniently mounted on the raised front region An advantage of the motor homes and caravans and fifth wheelers desribed above with reference to the drawings is that the three sizeable slide outs significantly increase the space within the body of the motor home when parked at a site with the slide outs extended into their extended positions. Further the space is expanded in three separate directions. Yet the vehicle still has a compact form when being driven on the road and is fairly easy to drive. It only becomes large when it is in a camping mode. Further by having three slide outs different positions for the bathroom and bedroom are available depending on the needs or desires of any given customer. There is real choice over where the different rooms are positioned.

An advantage of the Figs. 2 to 5 embodiments is that the bathrooms is at the rear of the body. This way the floor to ceiling obstruction caused by the bathroom is positioned at the rear of the body and does not create a floor to ceiling obstruction intermediate the ends of the motor home.

A further advantage of the Figs. 7 and 8 embodiment is that the bathroom is fully received within the left slide out and as a result the bathroom does not encroach on the interior space within the body shell arrangement when the slide out is in the extended position. This preserves an interior space free of floor to wall obstructions from the front wall to the rear wall on that side of the body.

A further advantage of the Figs. 2 to 8 embodiments is that it has floor to ceiling wardrobes received within the right slide out in line with the bed as well as providing a comfortable walk around space at the foot of the bed. A further advantage is that the floor to ceiling wardrobe is fully received within the interior 00 M space of the right slide out. The wardrobe does not intrude on and encroach on 00 Ithe lateral width or space within the body shell arrangement.

O Consequently a recreational vehicle is provided that has a high level of amenity 10 and comfort. This is particularly advantageous for affluent users of motor homes such as baby boomers who are used to living in a comfortable home. They find it particularly desirable that the motor home provides a well appointed and comfortably sized bathroom, bedroom and kitchen arrangement.

Another advantage of the motor home described above with reference to the drawings is that it can have a manufactured weight of less than 4.5 ton consequently can be licensed to be driven on a car license in Australia.

A further advantage of the rear slide out described above is that it can be easily and quickly changed from the contracted to the expanded positions. A user simply activates the linear actuators which then drive the slide out very precisely and smoothly into the desired position.

It will of course be realized that the above has been given only by way of illustrative example of the invention and that all such modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein set forth.

Claims (42)

1. A vehicle body for forming part of a vehicle or being mountable on a O' vehicle, the body including: 00 a body shell arrangement having end body walls and side body walls that oo together define an interior space; an end slide out defining a slide out interior space that is movable between 0 10 a retracted position in which the slide out is at least partly received within the body shell arrangement and an extended position in which the slide out projects away from an adjacent end body wall; and one side slide out defining a slide out interior space that is movable between a retracted position in which the slide out is at least partly received within the body shell arrangement and an extended position in which the one side slide out projects away from an adjacent side body wall of the body shell.

2. A vehicle body according to claim 1, wherein the interior space of the body shell arrangement includes a stowing zone for the end slide out and the end slide out occupies the stowing zone when the end slide out is in the retracted position.

3. A vehicle body according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the end slide out extends across substantially the full end body wall of the body shell arrangement.

4. A vehicle body according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the end slide out extends substantially the full height of the body shell arrangement. A vehicle body according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the interior space of the end slide out has a width extending orthogonally to the direction in which the slide out is extended of 2.3m to

6. A vehicle body according to claim 5, wherein the interior space of the end slide out has a depth in the direction in which the slide out is extended and retracted of 0.5m to

7. A vehicle body according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the end walls 00 of the body shell arrangement include a rear wall and the end slide out is mounted 00 00on the rear wall. cIN

8. A vehicle body according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the end walls c 10 of the body shell arrangement include a front wall and the end slide out is mounted on the front wall.

9. A vehicle body according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the interior space of the body shell arrangement includes a stowing zone for the one side slide out and the one side slide out occupies the stowing zone when the slide out is in the retracted position. A vehicle body according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the interior space of the one side slide out has a length of 1.7 to

11. A vehicle body according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the interior space of said one side slide out has a depth in the direction of movement of the slide out of 0.6m to

12. A vehicle body according to any one of claims 2 to 11, wherein said end slide out forms at least part of a bathroom.

13. A vehicle body according to claim 12, wherein said end slide out forms the bathroom and the bathroom is expanded when the end slide out is moved to the extended position to further include the end slide out stowing zone.

14. A vehicle body according to claim 12 or claim 13, further including a partition for partitioning the bathroom off from the remainder of the interior space of the body shell arrangement.

15. A vehicle body according to claim 1, wherein the end slide out forms a full 00 Mbathroom and the end slide out stowing zone does not form part of the bathroom. 00 S16. A vehicle body according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the end 0 slide out forming the bathroom has at least one bathroom fitting mounted thereon. c-I

17. A vehicle body according to claim 16, wherein the bathroom fitting/s includes fittings selected from the group including a shower and/or vanity and/or toilet mounted thereto.

18. A vehicle body according to claim 9, wherein said one slide out forms at least part of a bedroom.

19. A vehicle body according to claim 18, wherein said one slide out opens into the interior space of the body shell arrangement. A vehicle body according to claim 18 or claim 19, wherein said stowing zone of said one side slide out also forms part of said bedroom.

21. A vehicle body according to any one of claims 18 to 20, wherein the interior space of the body shell arrangement defines a bedroom portion that is laterally inward of said one side slide out stowing space also forms part of the bedroom.

22. A vehicle body according to any one of claims 18 to 21, wherein the one side slide out has a bed mounted thereon and the bed extends across the stowing zone for the one side slide out when the one side slide out is in the extended position.

23. A vehicle body according to claim 22, wherein the bed is oriented substantially orthogonally to the fore and aft direction of the vehicle body.

24. A vehicle body according to claim 22 or claim 23, wherein the slide out includes storage fixtures on each side of the bed that extend up no higher than 0 01.2m. 00 S 25. A vehicle body according to any one of claims 2 to 11, wherein said end a slide out forms at least part of a bedroom.

26. A vehicle body according to claim 25, wherein said end slide out opens into the interior space of the body shell arrangement.

27. A vehicle body according to claim 25 or claim 26, wherein said stowing zone of said end slide out also forms part of said bedroom.

28. A vehicle body according to claim 27, wherein the end slide out has a bed mounted thereon and the bed extends across the stowing zone for the end slide out when the one side slide out is in the extended position.

29. A vehicle body according to claim 28, wherein the bed is oriented substantially parallel to the fore and aft direction of the vehicle body. A vehicle body according to claim 28 or claim 29, wherein the slide out includes storage fixtures that extend up no higher than 1.2m on each side of the bed.

31. A vehicle body according to claim 9, wherein said one side slide out forms at least part of a bathroom.

32. A vehicle body according to claim 31, wherein said one side slide out forms the bathroom and the bathroom is expanded when the one side slide out is moved to the extended position to further include the one side slide out stowing zone.

33. A vehicle body according to claim 31 or claim 32, further including a 00 partition separating the bathroom from the remainder of the interior space of the 0 body shell arrangement.

34. A vehicle body according to any one of claims 31 to 33, wherein said one side slide out forms the full bathroom and the bathroom is not expanded when the one side slide out is moved to the extended position. A vehicle body according to any one of claims 31 to 34, wherein the one side slide out has at least one bathroom fitting mounted thereon selected from the group consisting of a shower and/or vanity and/or toilet.

36. A vehicle body according to any one of claims 1 tol l, wherein said end slide out forms part of a bathroom and said one slide out forms part of a bedroom.

37. A vehicle body according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein said end slide out forms part of a bedroom and said one side slide out forms part of a bathroom.

38. A vehicle body according to any of claims 1 to 37, wherein said vehicle body includes another side slide out defining a slide out interior space that is movable between a retracted position in which the other side slide out is at least partly received within the body shell arrangement and an extended position in which the other side slide out projects away from the adjacent side body wall of the body shell.

39. A vehicle body according to claim 38, wherein said interior space of the body shell arrangement includes a stowing zone for the other side slide out and Sthe other side slide out occupies the stowing zone when the slide out is in the retracted position. A vehicle body according to claim 38 or claim 39, wherein the interior space of the other side slide out has a slide out length of 2.0 to 00 00

41. A vehicle body according to any one of claims 38 to 40, wherein the interior cspace of said other side slide out has a depth in the direction of movement of the a slide out of 0.6 to

42. A vehicle body according to any one of claims 38 to 41, wherein the other side slide out includes a kitchen arrangement and a seat arrangement mounted thereon.

43. A vehicle body according to claim 42, wherein the other side slide out further includes a storage arrangement mounted on the slide out extending substantially the full height of the interior space of the slide out.

44. A vehicle body according to any one of claims 1 to 43, wherein the vehicle body is a motor home body or a fifth wheeler body or a caravan body. A vehicle body for forming part of a vehicle or being mountable on a vehicle, the body including: a body shell arrangement having end walls and side body walls that together define an interior space; an end slide out defining a slide out interior space that is movable between a retracted position in which the slide out is at least partly received within the body shell arrangement and an extended position in which the slide out projects away from an adjacent end body wall; one side slide out defining a slide out interior space that is movable between a retracted position in which the slide out is at least partly received within the body shell arrangement and an extended position in which the one side slide out projects away from the adjacent side body wall of the body shell; and 00 0another side slide out defining a slide out interior space that is movable O 0between a retracted position in which the other side slide out is at least partly received within the body shell arrangement and an extended position in which the 0 other side slide out projects away from the adjacent side body wall of the body N 10 shell.

46. A vehicle according to claim 45, wherein the end slide out forms at least part of a bathroom or at least part of a bedroom.

47. A vehicle body according to claim 45, wherein the one side slide out forms at least part of a bedroom or part of a bathroom.

48. A motor home including a vehicle body as defined in any one of claims 1 to 47.

49. A fifth wheeler including a vehicle body as defined in any one of claims 1 to 47. A caravan including a vehicle body as defined in any one of claims 1 to 47.

51. A vehicle body for forming part of a vehicle or being mountable on a vehicle substantially as herein described in any one of the embodiments described in the detailed description with reference to the drawings.

52. A motor home or a fifth wheeler or a caravan substantially as herein described in any one of the embodiments described in the detailed description with reference to the drawings.