AU2008203069A1 - Improved Expanding Caravan - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT IMPROVED EXPANDING CARAVAN The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me.

00 C'I IMPROVED EXPANDING CARAVAN Many caravan and camper configurations exist which are to varying degree compact O to tow, manoeuvre or transport, but can be expanded to provide an enlarged living space for occupation. These existing configurations very often achieve this expansion capability by suffering the disadvantages of sections of folding fabric (eg.

canvas) walls or roof, or of requiring not one but a sequence of setup operations.

Existing configurations frequently do not permit expansion in both plan area and headroom simultaneously, and where this is achieved often involve difficulties in keeping the living space weatherproof during the expansion operation. Some 00 existing versions also require large manual effort to expand or fold down.

The invention, applicable to either caravan, or "traytop camper" as discussed and defined below, has been devised to overcome these disadvantages by using an expansion arrangement which permits the use of two rigid shells the upper of which incorporates walls and a rigid or semi-rigid roof moving one over the other to form the cabin, thereby avoiding the need for (but not precluding use of) folding fabric wall or roof materials such as canvas. The expansion method is a single movement of the upper shell, making expansion for occupation or folding down to a relatively compact streamlined shape for easy towing, manoeuverability or transportation a simple one-step operation.

The method used in the improved expanding caravan for raising the upper shell and controlling its position increases simultaneously both the expanded plan area and ceiling height of the cabin. By virtue of the relationship between the two shells, entry of rain into the cabin even if wind-driven, is avoided in any position of the upper shell including while raising or lowering. Due to the geometry of the expansion method the manual effort involved in raising or lowering the upper shell can be kept to a low amount by either lightweight construction of the upper shell, or by means of simple mechanical assistance. The upper shell in its folded down position, locked down onto and partly or fully enveloping the lower shell, provides inherent security to the cabin and to any externally accessed compartments of the lower shell.

As illustrated later the expansion method also facilitates versatile and space efficient layouts within the cabin area. Due to the rigid upper shell, ancillaries such as deep overhead cupboards or an external fold-out awning sometimes difficult to provide in a more typical expanding caravan arrangement are easily accommodated.

As well as for caravans the invention also lends itself to use in an "expanding traytop camper" implementation, wherein a similar expanding camping accommodation chamber concept is applied on the tray of a small flatbed or pickup truck. For simplicity in this specification hereinafter, the term improved expanding caravan shall be taken to mean any implementation of this invention either as a self-contained caravan or as a "traytop camper.

00 Z A further aspect of the invention is that the expansion method, although enabling a rigid Z or semi-rigid roof as a fixed component of the upper shell if desired, does not preclude combining the use of a conventional 'pop-top' expanding roof arrangement of stiff or O semi-stiff fabric supported by struts, with the improved expanding caravan shell expansion method described. In appropriate embodiments this creates the opportunity using this invention for an even lower height for towing than the already relatively low \ID profile achieved in a fixed-roof implementation of the improved expanding caravan, Swithout compromising the generous headroom available in the raised position.

e¢3 10 Any implementation of the improved expanding caravan defined by this invention will 00 comprise a lower shell and upper shell, both rigid and the latter carrying a fixed or moveable rigid or semi-rigid roof, the two shells connected by two pairs of supporting Slegs, equal in length within a pair but not necessarily between the two pairs, with each of the four legs pivoted at its lower end off the chassis or lower shell and at its upper end off the upper shell. These supporting legs will guide, support and control the movement of the upper in relation to the lower shell. The respective lengths of each pair of matching of legs, the positions of the pivot points, and the angles through which the pairs of legs are permitted to move, define and limit the movement and position of the upper in relation to the lower shell. For expansion from a lowered 'stowed for travel' position, to a raised 'expanded for occupation' position, the upper shell supported and controlled by the two pairs of supporting legs will describe in a single combined motion lifting, rotation in the vertical plane, and horizontal displacement.

For lowering the reverse motion will take place. In the 'lowered' position the upper shell will straddle, lock down onto and partially or fully enclose the lower shell.

This provides compactness and rigidity for travel, and inherent protection to the enclosed spaces (cabin, plus any externally accessed storage compartments built into the lower shell) against damage or unauthorized entry. In the 'raised' position the upper shell will take up a position more elevated but also horizontally displaced in relation to the lower shell. This new position will provide increased headroom within the cabin as a result of the increase in elevation and change in angle of the upper shell; an overhang of the upper beyond the lower shell along one edge of the cabin as a result of the horizontal component of the movement of the upper in relation to the lower shell; and access to outer areas of the lower shell such as doorways to the cabin and hatches into any external storage compartments of the lower shell. This invention can be applied to either caravan, or "traytop camper" defined elsewhere herein.

In summary, the key features of the improved expanding caravan are: a compact and relatively fuel-efficient shape for easy towing, manoeuverability or transport, combined with the ability to expand the cabin living space in both length and ceiling height or to reverse this operation in order to stow for travel, this achieved by movement of a rigid 'upper shell' of walls and roof in relation to a rigid 'lower shell' of lower walls and floor; (ii) achievement of the change between travel mode and living mode, or the reverse, 00 by a single movement of the upper shell controlled by two pairs of supporting legs Zpivoted at their ends; (iii) a living space enveloped by the two shells which remains weatherproof in any position of the upper shell including while raising or lowering; (iv) ability via method of construction, geometry of the expansion arrangement, and if desired provision of mechanical assistance, to limit the manual effort involved in executing the raising or lowering movement to a low amount; Iand the added security and convenience if desired, of the use of totally hard- Osided 'non-fabric' walls and roof.

The invention may be better understood with reference to the illustrations of 00 several possible embodiments, of which: Figure 1 is an elevation of one embodiment of the invention in which the upper shell is shown in the 'lowered' position, fully straddling and enclosing the lower shell, whose position enclosed within the upper shell is shown by dotted lines and shading in the Figure. Figure 2 shows the same elevation as for Figure 1, however with the upper shell in its raised position.

In Figures 1 and 2 but not a mandatory feature all embodiments of the invention, the lower shell incorporates a large storage boot with its own external access hatch.

Figure 1 shows this boot and hatch fully enclosed by the upper shell, while Figure 2 shows how a cabin access door 1 and boot access hatch 2 become accessible and thereby openable, only when the upper shell is moved into its raised position.

Figure 3 illustrates in elevation, the broad geometry concept by which the two pairs of support legs 3 and their pivot point attachments 4 and 5 to the lower and upper shells respectively intrinsic to the invention and common to all embodiments, are used to guide and support the simultaneous vertical, rotational and horizontal movement of the upper shell. Figure 4 shows in plan view indicative locations of the four support legs 3 and their pivot points 4 and 5 in the example just described.

Other attractions of the improved expanding caravan are (vi) the opportunity which its expansion concept provides for versatile and efficient use of the spaces enclosed; (vii) typically, considerable opportunities for building-in of storage compartments in the lower shell, which are protected by the upper shell when the latter is folded down.

The following discussion further illustrates particular features and advantages.

For lightness, strength and /or convenience of manufacture, the improved expanding caravan can be constructed in any of a wide variety and combination of materials including but not limited to steel, aluminium, fiberglass, thermoplastics or fabrics. Embodiments wherein raising or lowering is to be achieved manually without mechanical assistance, favour construction of the upper shell in fiberglass, thermoplastics or other light materials.

00 4 If convenience or constructed weight of the upper shell dictates, gas spring(s), cable and winch or other form of mechanical assistance can be utilized to reduce the manual effort involved in raising or lowering the upper shell. Figure 3 shows in one 0 embodiment a pair of gas traction-springs 6 (viz, nitrogen gas struts providing a pulling rather than the more conventional pushing force), providing assistance in raising and lowering the upper shell. In the illustration this is achieved by providing a tension IDforce between a cleat fixed near the mid-point of each of the longer pair of support Slegs, and corresponding anchorage points each side of the lower shell.

e¢3 10 In the preferred embodiment raising of the upper shell also carries with it any 00 windows built into the upper shell, from a position possibly overlapping the lower shell, to a new position above and clear of the walls of the lower shell.

Any gap between the upper and lower shells where one slides past the other can, if desired, be partially or fully closed by a sliding seal fixed to one or other shell to improve insulation and dust sealing of the cabin, and to exclude insects.

One external storage compartment typically provided in caravans is a storage 'boot'. Due to the geometry of the improved expanding caravan this can be voluminous in comparison to the storage boot normally available. In the embodiment shown in Figures 5 and 6 but without limitation to possible layout, the advantages and flexibility of the large boot space typically provided by the improved expanding caravan are illustrated. In the figures space is utilized within a part of the 'boot' area accessible from the cabin, to accommodate a fridge 7 and beside it across the caravan a substantial closet for the hanging storage of clothing, this without major impact on cabin floorspace. In a caravan constructed in accordance with this example, as well as accommodating fridge and closet as outlined above the remaining section of the boot accessed via its own external hatch, has been tailored to accommodate the storage of caravan spare wheel, portable generator, portable toilet, folding table, fishing rods and tent poles, folding chairs, wine storage and an ensuite tent, still leaving considerable space for other items requiring storage.

Figures 1 to 6 are provided to illustrate but not limit the generality of the invention. In other embodiments expansion of the upper shell in relation to the lower shell can be in a forward or sideways direction, rather than in the rearward direction embodied in the various figures illustrated. Amongst the embodiments and uses of the improved expanding caravan which are possible, different degrees of upper shell horizontal and vertical movement and vertical plane rotation can be obtained by varying the lengths and geometry of the support legs. This range of possible geometrical relationships plus the ability to vary the shapes of the shells themselves, creates the opportunity for many different cabin layouts and uses.

00 To illustrate this versatility, Figures 5 and 6 show how in one embodiment a bed n platform 9 is provided, hinged along its rear edge to the upper shell. In the lowered position this bed platform automatically stores away under a table 8 cantilevered off O the side wall. As the upper shell is raised, the bed platform is drawn back by its hinges while supported at points beneath by a set of rollers, into a normal horizontal sleeping position mainly occupying the plan area by which the upper shell in its raised IDposition overhangs beyond the lower shell thereby leaving the bed platform mainly Sclear of the lower shell cabin floor. In this raised position, when the bed is not in use for sleeping a folding backrest 10 is used in the example provided to convert it to a 10 'day use' settee, part of which can be used for seating at the cantilevered table 00 described above.

As further examples of versatility, layouts involving cupboards built into the upper shell within the 'horizontal overhang' area, or an 'island bed' similarly arranged to that illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 but providing trafficable space between its two edges and the lower shell side walls, could be described.

Claims (3)

1. 2. An expanding caravan or expanding "traytop camper" as claimed in claim 1, wherein the combined horizontal, vertical and rotational movement of the upper shell is fully accomplished in a single simultaneous motion, without the need to move other walls into place as a subsequent operation to complete the conversion operation.
2. 3. An expanding caravan or expanding "traytop camper" as claimed in claim 1 and claim 2, wherein opportunity for entry of rainfall into the cabin space, even driving rain falling other than vertically, may be avoided in any position of the upper shell including while raising and lowering by virtue only of the geometry and interaction of the two shells.
3. 4. An expanding caravan or expanding "traytop camper" as claimed in claim 1 and claim 2, achieving improved cabin security and convenience of use in comparison to certain other caravan or traytop camper expansion systems by not requiring the use of a folding fabric such as canvas or similar for any section of its walls or roof. An expanding caravan or expanding 'traytop camper", as herein before described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings. PETER BUSCOMBE 3 JULY 2008 (Name of Applicant(s)) (date)