AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 INNOVATION PATENT SPECIFICATION Name of Applicant: Adam Wade Denning Actual Inventor: Adam Wade Denning Address for Service: Cullen & Co. Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys Level 26, 239 George Street Brisbane Queensland 4000 Australia Invention Title: Improved Camper Van, Camper Trailer or Caravan The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it, known to the applicant: IMPROVED CAMPER VAN, CAMPER TRAILER OR CARAVAN FIELD OF THE INVENTION 5 The present invention relates to a portable accommodation unit. The portable accommodation unit may be a camper van, a camp trailer or caravan, or indeed any other portable accommodation unit that includes a soft sided section movable from a stowed or storage position to an extended position. 10 BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION There are a number of camper vans, camp trailers and caravans that include expandable sections that can be moved from a stowed or storage position to an expanded position (and vice versa). Such camper vans, camper trailers and caravans normally include soft 15 sided sections that form the expandable sections. The soft sided sections are typically made from a fabric or flexible material, such as canvas, nylon, woven polyethylene and the like. The expandable section, when in the stowed or storage position, minimises the height and/or length and/or width of the campervan, camper trial or caravan and this facilitates easier towing and transport of the campervan, camper trailer or caravan. When 20 it is desired to use the campervan, camp trailer or caravan for accommodation, the expandable section can be moved from the stowed or storage position to the expanded position in order to provide increased interior volume. In the expanded position, the soft sided section may move outwardly or upwardly, or both, so that the soft sided section defines a space. 25 The soft sided section may be moved from the stowed or storage position to the expanded position in a number of different ways, including: a) extending a horizontal section of the campervan, camp trailer or caravan (for example, 30 by sliding out a solid floor or solid support section), which moves the soft sided section 2 outwardly and then moving the soft sided section upwardly to define a space above the solid floor or solid support section; b) folding or moving the soft sided section upwardly and outwardly; 5 c) moving a roof section upwardly (such as a roof section of a pop top caravan), which causes the soft sided section to expand (in this embodiment, the soft sided section may concertina downwardly from the roof section); 10 d) pushing the material that forms the soft sided section upwardly and outwardly and holding the soft sided section in the expanded position using one or more stays or supports. The soft sided section may form one or more soft side walls and a soft roof. 15 Alternatively, the soft side section may comprise one or more soft side walls attached to or extending from a hard roof. In many known camper vans, camp trailers or caravans, the soft sided section is used as sleeping accommodation when in the expanded position. Therefore, a mattress or bed 20 section is typically located in the soft sided section when the soft sided section is in the expanded position. The mattress or bed section may be slidably mounted and/or hinged in the camper van, camper trailer or caravan, particularly in those units where the soft sided section expands, at least in part, by sliding out or folding out a floor section or a solid support section. 25 When the soft sided section is moved to the stowed position or storage position, the soft sided section is typically folded inwardly such that it rests on the mattress or bed section. This can cause difficulties in that should the soft sided section be wet or damp (such as from rain, dew or condensation), the damp or wet material of the soft sided section lies on 30 the mattress or bed section. This can cause the mattress or bed section to become wet or 3 damp and it will be appreciated that a wet or damp mattress or bed section can take a considerable period of time to dry. A further problem arising from the soft sided section resting on the mattress or bed 5 section in the stowed or storage position is that any dust or dirt on the soft sided section can be transferred onto the mattress or bed section. A further disadvantage of the soft sided section is that the flexible fabric or material from which the soft side section is made typically has a very low insulation rating. As a result, 10 heat can rapidly be transferred through the soft sided section, leading to excessive heat inside the camper van, camper trailer or caravan in hot weather or causing the campervan, camp trailer or caravan to be excessively cold in cooler weather. Condensation on the inside of the soft side section can also be an issue. 15 Throughout this specification, the term "comprising" or its grammatical equivalents shall be taken to have an inclusive meaning unless the context of use clearly indicates otherwise. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 20 It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable accommodation unit that overcomes or at least ameliorates the above disadvantages, or provides a commercial alternative to known portable accommodation units. 25 In one aspect, the present invention provides a portable accommodation unit having a soft sided section movable from a stowed or storage position in which the soft sided section lies above a mattress to an extended position in which the soft sided section defines a space above the mattress, wherein the portable accommodation unit further comprise at least one panel, said at least one panel being positioned between the mattress and the soft 30 sided section when the soft sided section is in the stowed or storage position, said at least 4 one panel being positioned adjacent or near at least part of the soft sided section when the soft sided section is in the extended position. In some embodiments, the at least one panel has a higher insulation rating than an 5 insulation rating of the material from which the soft sided section is made. The portable accommodation unit may comprise a campervan, a camper trailer or caravan or indeed any other portable accommodation unit. 10 The soft sided section may be made from a flexible material, such as canvas, nylon, woven polyethylene and the like. The soft sided section may comprise one or more soft side walls. The soft sided section may comprise a roof section. The roof section may be made from a flexible material. The 15 soft sided section may comprise one or more soft side walls extending from a hard or rigid roof section. The at least one panel may comprise an insulating panel. The at least one panel may be made from a number of different materials, including aluminium, steel, timber plastics, 20 polyvinylchloride (PVC), fibre reinforced composite, insulation material sewn into canvas, nylon or other fabric type material pockets to form rigid or semirigid panels, or a combination of one or more of the above. The at least one panel may comprise a rigid frame and a flexible or semi-rigid infill portion. The least one panel may comprise a rigid panel. 25 The at least one panel may comprise a laminated panel. The at least one panel may comprise a sheet of insulating material. Insulating material could be bonded or adhered to the underside of the panels. Insulating 30 material may comprise closed cell foam, polyvinylchloride (PVC), polystyrene, expanded 5 polystyrene, polyurethane, polyurethane foam, vinyl, soft trim material or a combination of two or more of the above. The at least one panel may be hinged to the portable accommodation unit so that the at 5 least one panel can move from the stowed or storage position to the expanded position by hinging the at least one panel upwardly and outwardly about the hinge. In this embodiment, the at least one panel is hinged upwardly and outwardly such that it lies adjacent to the underside of at least part of the soft sided section when the soft sided section is in the expanded position. Biasing means, such as a spring or an over centre cam 10 arrangement, may be used to hold the at least one panel in position adjacent the underside of at least part of the soft sided section when the soft side section is in the expanded position. Alternatively, support means, such as a stay, a stem or a rod, may be used to hold the at least one panel in the expanded position. 15 In another embodiment, the at least one panel may be held in place against the underside of the soft sided section when the soft sided section is in the expanded position by use of appropriate fasteners. The fasteners may include one or more zippers, press studs, clips, hook and loop type fasteners (such as VELCROTM), hooks or the like. In another embodiment, the at least one panel may be held in place against the underside of at least 20 part of the soft sided section by fixing the at least one panel to at least part of the soft sided section. For example, the at least one panel may be sown into the soft sided section or it may be mounted in pockets sewn into the soft sided section or it may be glued to the soft sided section. 25 The at least one panel may include one or more window sections. The one or more window sections may comprise an opening in the panel. The one or more window sections may comprise a transparent portion in the panel. The one or more window sections may be arranged such that they are positioned adjacent one or more windows or openings in the soft sided section when the soft side section is in the expanded position. 30 In this manner, light and ventilation through the windows in the soft sided section can also pass through the window section(s) in the at least one panel.
6 The present invention provides a number of advantages, including i) the at least one panel is positioned between the mattress and the soft sided section when 5 the soft sided section is in the stowed or storage position. Therefore, the at least one panel can prevent contact between the mattress and the material of the soft sided section in the stowed or storage position, thereby protecting the mattress or the bed area from the material of the soft sided section. This will prevent or minimise any transfer of moisture or dust from the soft sided section onto the mattress or bed area. 10 ii) as the at least one panel may have a higher insulating rating then the material of the soft sided section, transfer of heat into or out of the portable accommodation unit is reduced, leading to more comfortable conditions inside the portable accommodation unit. Furthermore, condensation on the inside walls of the soft sided section is likely to be 15 reduced. iii) in some embodiment, particularly those in which the one or more panels are held in place by supports or stays when in the expanded position, enhanced rigidity is provided to the soft sided section when in the expanded position. 20 The at least one panel is desirably a lightweight panel having good heat insulating properties. The at least one panel may be built into the portable accommodation unit during 25 manufacture of the portable accommodation unit. The at least one panel may be retrofitted to existing portable accommodation units. The at least one panel may be removable from the portable accommodation unit. In a second aspect, the present invention provides a method for moving a soft sided 30 section of a portable accommodation unit from a stowed or storage position to an expanded position, and back again, the method comprising the steps of moving the soft 7 sided section from the stowed or storage position to the expanded position and positioning at least one panel against an inner side of at least part of the soft sided section, and moving the least one panel such that it overlies or lies on a mattress or bed area of the portable accommodation unit and folding the soft sided section such that it 5 rests on the at least one panel when in the stowed or storage position. In another aspect, the present invention provides a panel when used in a portable accommodation unit in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention. 10 In yet a further aspect, the present invention provides a panel when used in the method of the second aspect of the present invention. Some embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the company and drawings. 15 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure I is a side view of a first camper trailer in a stowed or storage mode; 20 Figure 2 is a side view of the camper trailer shown in figure I in an expanded mode; Figure 3 is a side view of another camper trailer in a stowed or storage mode; Figure 4 is a side view of the camper trailer shown in figure 3 in an expanded mode; 25 Figure 5 is a side view of yet another camper trailer in a stowed or storage mode; Figure 6 is a rear view of the camera trailer shown in figure 5 in an expanded mode; 30 Figure 7 is a side view of another camper trailer in a stowed in storage mode; 8 Figure 8 is a side view of the camper trailer shown in figure 7 in an expanded mode; Figure 9 is a side view of a pop top caravan in a stowed or storage mode; 5 Figure 10 is a side view of the pop top caravan shown in figure 9, but in an expanded mode; Figure I I is a side view of a caravan having a soft sided sleeping area but in the stowed or storage mode; 10 Figure 12 is a side view of the caravan shown in figure I I with the soft sided sleeping area shown in the expanded mode; Figure 13 is a perspective view showing detail of an expanded sleeping area of a camper 15 van, caravan or camper trailer; Figure 14 is a cross-sectional side view of the apparatus shown in figure 1 3 but including at least one panel; 20 Figure 15 is an end view of the apparatus shown in figure 14; Figure 16 is a cross sectional side view of an apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and 25 Figure 17 is an end view of the apparatus shown in figure 16. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It will be understood that be drawings accompanying this specification have been 30 provided for the purpose of illustrating embodiments of the present invention. Therefore, 9 it will be understood that the present invention should not be considered to be limited solely to the features shown in the embodiments illustrated in the drawings. Figure I shows a side view of a camper trailer in a stowed or storage mode. The camp 5 trailer 10 of figure 1 includes a chassis 12 and wheels 14. The chassis 12 carries a trailer body 16. A soft sided section, in the form of a tent 18 is joined to and mounted in the trailer body 16. Although not shown in figure 1, a mattress is also positioned within the trailer body 16. 10 Figure 2 shows the camper trailer 10 in an expanded condition. The camper trailer 10 is moved from the stowed or storage conditions shown in figure 1 to the expanded condition shown in figure 2 by sliding out solid support 20 in a longitudinal direction towards the drawbar 15 of the camper trailer 10. This expands the tent 18 in the longitudinal direction. The tent 18 can then be raised to the condition shown in figure 2. The tent 18 15 may be provided with one or more internal stays to maintain it in the raised condition shown in figure 2. As will be understood by persons skilled in the art, the mattress is typically supported on solid support 20. When the camp trailer 10 is moved from the expanded condition shown 20 in figure 2 back to the stowed or storage condition shown in figure 1, the solid support 20 is slid back into the trailer body 16 and the tent 18 is folded inwardly and downwardly. It will be appreciated that in conventional camper trailers of the type shown in figures 1 and 2, the material or fabric of the tent 18 will be folded such that it rests on top of the mattress or bed area of the camp trailer 10 when in the stowed or storage condition. 25 Figures 3 and 4 show a side view of another camper trailer in the stowed or storage condition (figure 3) and in the expanded condition (figure 4). The camper trailer 30 shown in figures 3 and 4 comprises a chassis 32. The chassis 32 supports wheels 34 and a trailer body 36. A drawbar 35 is provided to enable the trailer 30 to be towed. Although 30 not shown in figure 3, camper trailer 30 also includes a mattress or a sleeping area.
10 Figure 4 shows camper trailer 30 in an expanded condition. In order to move the camper trailer 30 from the stowed or storage condition shown in figure 3 to the expanded condition shown in figure 4, the trailer body is opened and the tent 38 is folded rearwardly and extended upwardly. The tent 38 includes a hard floor 40 that, in the 5 extended condition, rests on the ground rearwardly of the trailer. In the camp trailer 30 shown in figures 3 and 4, a mattress or a sleeping area is located on and supported by the trailer body 36. The general position of the mattress is shown in figure 4 by reference numeral 42. 10 When the tent 38 in a conventional camper trial of type shown in figures 3 and 4 is folded back from the expanded position as shown in figure 4 to the stowed or storage condition are shown in figure 3, the material or fabric that makes up the tent portion is folded down onto the mattress or bed region and the hard floor 40 subsequently tilted upwardly to 15 cover the material of the tent 38. The hard floor 40 also provides a lid will cover to the camp trailer 30 when in the stowed all storage condition. Figures 5 and 6 show views of a traditional or conventional soft floor camper trailer. The camper trailer 50 shown in figure 5 (which shows the camper trailer 50 in a stowed or 20 storage condition) comprises a chassis 52 that carries wheels 54. A drawbar 55 is provided to enable the camper van 50 to be towed behind a vehicle. A trailer body 56 is also carried on the chassis 52. A cover 57 covers tent material of the camp trailer 50 when in the stowed or storage condition. 25 Figure 6 shows a rear view of the camper trailer of figure 5 with the tent in an expanded condition. As can be seen from figure 6, the tent 58 is folded sideways to form an annex type region, denoted generally by reference numeral 60, and a sleeping region 62 is provided. The sleeping region 62 includes a mattress that is supported by or within the trailer body 56. 30 I I When the camper trailer shown in figures 5 and 6 is moved from the extended condition shown in figure 6 to the stowed or storage condition shown in figure 5, the tent 58 is folded such that it is followed back into the trailer body 56. This results in the material of the tent 58 lying on top of the mattress that is supported on or within the trailer body 56. 5 Figures 7 and 8 show side views of a traditional camper. The camper 70 shown in figure 7 includes a chassis 72 carrying wheels 74. A drawbar 75 is provided to enable the camper 70 to be towed behind a vehicle. A camper body 76 is carried on the chassis. The camper body carries the components of the camper. 10 The camper 70 is shown in its extended condition in figure 8. In order to move the camper 70 from the stowed or storage condition shown in figure 7 to the extended condition shown in figure 8, the roof 80 is raised (for example, by using a scissor lift mechanism or a jacking mechanism). The roof 80 includes a soft sided portion 82 that is 15 raised with the roof as the roof 80 rises. Respective solid supports 84 and 86 are then slid outwardly which results in the soft sided portions 85 and 87 (that are respectively associated with the solid supports 84 and 86) also extending outwardly. Soft sided portions 85 and 87 define sleeping accommodation in the camper 70. It will be understood that sold supports 84 and 86 typically carry beds or mattresses. 20 To move the camper 70 back to the stowed or storage condition shown in figure 7, the solid supports 84 and 86 are pushed back inwardly and the material or fabric that form the soft sided portions 85 and 87 is folded on to the beds or mattresses supported on sold supports 84, 86. The roof 80 is then lowered. Again, the material or fabric that forms the 25 soft sided portions rests on the mattresses or beds in the stowed or storage condition. Figures 9 and 10 show views of a pop top caravan. The caravan shown in figure 9 is a traditional pop top caravan with soft sided sleeping areas. The caravan 100 shown in figure 9 includes a chassis 102 that carries wheels 104. A drawbar 105 is provided to 30 enable the caravan to be towed by a tow vehicle. The caravan 100 includes a caravan body 106 having a pop top roof 108.
12 In order to move the caravan 100 from the stowed or storage condition shown in figure 9 to the expanded condition shown in figure 10, the roof 108 is popped up, which causes soft sided portion 110 to extend downwardly from the roof of 108. In this regard, the soft 5 sided portion 110 may comprise fabric or material that is connected to the roof. As the roof is raised, the upper edge of the fabric or material moves upwardly with the roof, causing the fabric or material to extend. The caravan 100 also includes soft sided sleeping areas 112 and 114. These soft sided 10 sleeping areas are expanded by hinging out solid supports 116, 118, which causes the fabric that forms the soft sided sleeping areas 112, 114 to also fold out. Appropriate internal mechanisms, such as stays or supports, can then be used to hold the soft sided sleeping areas 112, 114 in the erected condition. These soft sided sleeping areas may have a hard roof. 15 The solid supports 116, 118 carry mattresses or bedding. When the soft sided support areas 112, 114 are moved back into the stowed or storage condition, the solid supports 116, 118 are slid inwardly and the material of the soft sided support regions 112, 114 is folded downwardly onto the mattresses. 20 Figures I 1 and 12 show a traditional caravan having soft sided sleeping areas. The caravan 120 shown in figures 11 and 12 is very similar to the caravan 100 shown in figures 9 and 10, except that the roof 128 of the caravan 120 is not a pop top roof. For convenience and brevity of description, the features of the caravan 120 shown in figures 25 11 and 12 that are common to the features of the caravan 100 shown in figures 9 and 10 will be denoted by similar reference numerals, but with the addition of a '. These features need not be described further on, except to say that the soft sided sleeping areas 112', 114' are moved from the stowed or storage condition to the expanded condition and back again in the same fashion as the soft sided sleeping areas 112, 114 described with 30 reference to figures 9 and 10. Again, the material that forms of the soft sided sleeping areas 112', 114' in the caravan 120 shown in figures I1 and 12 is folded onto the 13 mattresses or bedding supported on the solid supports 116', 118' when the caravan 120 is moved back to the stowed or storage condition. Figure 13 shows a perspective view of the soft sided sleeping areas shown in the 5 embodiments described with reference to figures 1 to 12. Figure 13 will be more specifically described with reference to the embodiment shown in figures 9 and 10. In particular, the sleeping area shown in figure 13 includes solid support 116. A mattress 120 is supported on the solid support 116. The soft sided portion 112 includes sidewalls 130, 132, end wall 134 and roof portion 136. Sidewalls 130, 132, end wall 134 and roof 10 portion 136 may be in made from canvas, nylon or other similar material known be suitable for forming the tent portion of a soft sided portion of a caravan, campervan or camper trailer. The respective portions may be joined to each other using sewing, heat joining, adhering or gluing or other known suitable joining techniques. An opening 136 is provided to enable access between the soft sided portion 112 and the caravan body 106. 15 As can be seen from the above description, the soft or flexible fabric or material that forms the soft sided portion of the camper trailer or campervan or caravan shown in figures I to 12 rests on or lies on bedding or mattresses when the camper trailer or campervan or caravan is in the stowed or storage condition. This can be undesirable in 20 that if the material or fabric is wet or damp, the mattress or bedding on which the material or fabric rests will also become wet or damp. If the camper trailer, campervan or caravan is stored in the stowed or storage condition for a lengthy period of time, this can lead to the mattress becoming mouldy. Further, if the owner of the camper trailer, campervan or caravan does expand it when he or she arrives home to enable the camper trailer, 25 campervan or caravan to be aired and dry out, it will be appreciated that a wet mattress or wet bedding can take a lengthy period of time to dry. In order to overcome the above disadvantage, embodiments of the present invention provide at least one panel that, when in the expanded condition, lies adjacent to an inner 30 wall of a soft sided portion of the camper trailer, campervan or caravan. The at least one panel may comprise an insulating panel to provide a degree of heat insulation in the soft 14 sided portion of the camper trailer, campervan or caravan. The least one panel is arranged such that when the campervan, camper trailer or caravan is moved to the stowed or storage condition, the at least one panel lies on or overlies the bedding or mattress and thus provides a physical barrier between the material or fabric of the soft sided portion 5 and the mattress or bedding. Therefore, the at least one panel separates the fabric or material of the soft sided portion from the bedding or mattress. This assists in preventing or minimising the transfer of moisture from the material or fabric of the soft side of portion to the mattress or bedding. 10 Figures 14 and 15 show one possible embodiment utilising at least one panel in accordance with the present invention. In figure 14, the traditional canvas tent section includes end wall 134 and roof portion 136. A mattress 120 is supported on solid support 116. The soft sided section 112 is also provided with a panel 140. Panel 140 comprises a first panel portion 142 that is hinged at hinge 144. The panel 140 includes second panel 15 portion 146 that is hinged to the first panel portion 142 at hinge 148. Hinges 144, 148 allow the respective panel portions to rotate or hinge about those hinges. As can be seen from figure 14, hinge 144 hinges the panel portion 142 to the solid support 116. Figure 14 shows the panel 140 in an extended or expanded condition. As can be seen 20 from figure 14, when the panel is extended, it lies adjacent an inner wall of the soft sided section 112. In particular, panel section 142 lies adjacent the end wall 134 and panel section 146 lies adjacent part of the roof portion 136. The panel 140 may be maintained in an expanded condition by providing appropriate biasing means, such as springs or over centre cam mechanisms, or even gas struts or hydraulic struts, to hold or lock the panel 25 into the extended condition. Alternatively, supports or stays may be used. The panel 140 is sized such that it is sufficiently large so that when it is folded downwardly so that it rests on the mattress 120, the panel 140 essentially covers all of the mattress. As a result, the panel 140 provides a cover to the mattress and it prevents direct 30 contact between the fabric of the soft sided section 112 and the mattress 120 when the fabric of the soft sided section 112 is folded down.
15 Figure 15 shows an end view of the apparatus shown in figure 14. As can be seen from figure 15, the end wall 134 is provided with a window 150. In order to ensure that the panel 140 does not become blocked by the panel section 142, the panel section 142 is 5 provided with a transparent region 152 or an opening 152. If an opening 152 is provided, a separate cover for the opening 152 may also be supplied so that the opening 152 can be covered and prevent the fabric or material contacting the dead or mattress when the soft sided section 112 is in the stowed or storage condition. 10 Figure 16 and 17 show a similar embodiment to that shown in figure 14. For convenience, like features will be denoted by like reference numerals and need not be described further. Where the embodiment shown in figure is 16 and 17 differs from the embodiment shown in figures 14 and 15 is that the soft sided section 112 shown in figure 16 and 17 is also provided with side panels 160, 162 that are hinged about respective 15 hinges 164, 166 to the solid support 116. The side panels 160, 162 lie adjacent respective sidewalls 130, 132 when the soft sided section 112 is in the expanded condition. As can be seen from figure 17, the side panels 160, 162 can fold inwardly and rest on the mattress 120 when in the stowed or storage condition. The side panels provide additional insulating properties to the soft sided section 112 and also offer support to the roof 20 section. The side panels 160, 162 may be provided with openings or windows that are located in alignment with openings or windows in the sidewalls 130, 132. Although the embodiments shown in figures 14 to 17 show the at least one panel being hingedly mounted, it will be appreciated that the present invention encompasses any 25 arrangement whereby the panel rests on the bedding or mattress when in the stowed or storage condition and is positioned adjacent and inner side of the soft sided section when in the expanded condition. For example, the panel may be supported in position by stays or clips or hook and loop fasteners or straps or any combination of these or other fasteners or positioning members. 30 16 Where side panels are provided, these side panels may support an end wall or roof panel. The side panels can also fold flat onto the bed or mattress, either under or on top of the folded roof panel or end wall panel for storage and transport. Embodiments of the present invention may also include sidewall panels without roof panels. For example, in 5 embodiments where the soft sided section has a hard roof, it may not be necessary to provide a roof panel. The panels may comprise laminated panels or sheets of material. The panels may have a rigid frame member with semirigid infill material. Alternately, the entirety of the panels 10 may be of rigid construction. The panels may be made from an insulating material. The panels may be included as part of the original manufacturing of the portable accommodation unit. Alternatively, the panels may be retrofitted to existing portable accommodation units. 15 Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention may be susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It will be understood that the present invention encompasses all such variations and modifications that fall within its spirit and scope. 20