AU2010202803B2

AU2010202803B2 - Accommodation Unit

Info

Publication number: AU2010202803B2
Application number: AU2010202803A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Raymond Bruce Cunningham
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-07-29
Filing date: 2010-06-30
Publication date: 2012-02-16
Anticipated expiration: 2030-06-30
Also published as: AU2010202803A1

Abstract

-16 A cabin or mobile home with an internal living space adapted to minimize the space of furniture and beds during transport such that a small car can be included within the living 5' space and when in the set up configuration and the car removed via a hinged rear panel ramp, the beds can be deployed externally to the living space by a system of hinged panels attached to the side of the cabin and the furniture rearranged on floor tracks.

Description

CABIN Field of Invention 5 The invention generally relates to a cabin with a living space that is configurable to maximise the use of space. Background of Invention 10 A cabin used as part of a motor home, caravan or other mobile cabin will often have limited internal living space. Accordingly, it is desirable to be able to reconfigure the interior living space depending on the use. One such limitation on the internal space is due to a maximum allowable width of the 15 cabin when used on the road. In particular, it is desirable to be able to expand the width of the internal living space when the vehicle is at the campsite and narrow the cabin in preparation for transit on the road, Providing bedding takes up a considerable amount of floor space in a cabin. Bedding in 20 known motor home cabins is often provided above the drive cabin or toward the rear of the cabin. This restricts the head room available either in the driver cab or toward to driver cab end of the cabin or where the bedding is in the rear of cabin restricts the available floor space. 25 When the cabin is used as part of a motor home, it is often desirable to go for a drive away from the campsite to go, for example, sightseeing. This requires packing up the motor home and taking, what is often a large vehicle, sightseeing. As such, it is common for motor-home owners to tow a small vehicle on a trailer. However, the trailer can increase the difficulty of driving the motor home. 30 Accordingly, it may be desirable to reconfigure the interior to provide an enlarged space to -2 accommodate, for example, a small vehicle. Summary of Invention 5 In accordance with the invention there is provided a cabin with an internal living space and a side wall adapted to fold out to form an annex wherein the side wall includes an upper panel and a lower panel that are operatively coupled to the cabin such the wall is moveable between a stowed and deployed condition to form the annex 10 Preferably, in the deployed position, the lower and upper panels pivot outwardly from the cabin; and wherein the lower panel provides a floor support for the enlarged space and the upper panel provides a roof for the annex. Preferably, the upper panel and lower panel are coupled by a linkage wherein movement of 15 the lower panel from the stowed to toward the deployed condition causes movement of the upper panel from the stowed toward the deployed condition. Preferably, in the stowed condition, the linkage folds to fit within a recess behind the upper panel; and wherein the outward movement of the lower panel, toward the deployed 20 condition, actuates the linkage thereby drawing the linkage from the recess. Preferably, wherein the linkage includes at least one wall panel that, when in the deployed condition, forms a vertical wall between the floor support and the roof of the annex. 25 Preferably, wherein a side panel is provided to enclose the annex. Preferably, wherein in the stowed condition the side wall is positioned internal to the cabin and laterally spaced apart from the side wall as to provide the recess. 30 Preferably, wherein the side wall is in the form. of door hinged to the cabin or side wall; wherein in the deployed condition the door is pivoted into the annex, between the upper -3 and lower panels. Preferably, wherein the lower panel provides support for a mattress. 5 Preferably, the cabin further includes a second side wall located on an opposite side of the cabin from the side wall; and wherein the second side wall is similarly constructed to the side wall, in accordance with any of the preceding claims, thereby forming a second annex. Preferably, wherein the interior further includes furniture mounted on tracks, the furniture 10 being moveable between a useable and a compacted condition. Preferably, wherein in the compacted position a space is provided adjacent to the side wall such-as to accommodate a small motor vehicle. 15 In one form there is provided a cabin adapted for carriage by a first vehicle including an interior that is reconfigurable to form an enlarged space inside the cabin; wherein the interior further includes furniture mounted on tracks, the furniture being slidable on the tracks between an expanded and a compacted condition. 20 Preferably the cabin, further including a side wall located toward the rear of the cabin that is expandable to form an annex space; wherein the side wall includes an upper panel and a lower panel that are operatively coupled to the cabin such the wall is moveable between a stowed and deployed condition thereby providing for the annex., 25 Preferably, wherein the compacted condition is provided by sliding the furniture toward the front of the cabin, thereby forming an enlarged space at rear of the cabin. Preferably, wherein the enlarged space accommodates a small vehicle. 30 Preferably, further including a ramp pivotally coupled to the rear of the cabin and a winch system; wherein the ramp is lowerable to allow the vehicle to be winched up the ramp and -4 into the enlarged space at the rear of cabin. Preferably, wherein the winch system is includes two cables that may be independently tensioned as to align the vehicle with the ramp and cabin. 5 In another form of the invention there is provided a cabin coupled to a first side wall, adapted to fold out from a stowed position to a deployed position to form a second side wall; the first side wall including an upper panel and a lower panel that are coupled with a linkage; wherein in the deployed condition the linkage forms the second wall that is 10 outwardly and laterally spaced from where the first wall was in stowed position, thereby forming an annex. Brief Description of drawings 15 The invention is described, by way of non-limiting example only by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 is a side view of the cabin mounted to a transportation vehicle; 20 Figure 2 is a side view of the side wall with a bed in the stowed condition; Figure 3A is a front view of the side wall enclosed by folding doors; Figure 3B is a top view of the side wall and folding doors; 25 Figure 4 is a side view if the side wall in an intermediate position between the stowed and deployed condition; Figure 5 is a side view of the side wall fully deployed forming an annex; 30 Figure 6 is a top view of the annex; -5 Figure 7 is a side view of the annex; Figure 8a is a front view of the locking mechanism is the unlocked condition; 5 Figure 8b is a side view of the locking mechanism is the locked condition; Figure 9 is a top view of the cabin with annexes on both sides; 10 Figure 10 is a side view of furniture mounted to tracks within the floor; Figure 11 is a top view of the cabin with side walls in the stowed condition and the furniture moved forward in the cabin; 15 Figure 12 is a side view of the cabin showing the furniture moved forward in the cabin and a small vehicle parked in the rear of the cabin; Figure 13(a) - 13(d) illustrate cross section views of the cabin. The locations of the cross sections are indicated on Figures 9 and 11. 20 Detailed Description of Invention Referring to Figure 1, there is illustrated a cabin 1 with an internal living space 2 seated on a transport vehicle 3. The living space 2 includes a vertical side wall 4 located toward the 25 rear 5 of the cabin 1 partially over wheels arches 6 that house the wheels 7 of the transport vehicle 3. Referring now to Figure 2, the side wall 4 is shown in the stowed condition 9, and includes a lower panel 10 and an upper panel 11. The lower panel 10 is hinged by a pivot 12 located 30 atop a vertical support section 13 located above the wheel arch 6. The upper panel 11 is hinged by a pivot 14 located on the edge 15 of the roof 16 of the cabin 1, -6 The lower panel 10 and upper panel 11 are joined by a linkage 17 that includes a first arm 18 and a second arm 19. The first arm 18 is connected via a pivot connection 24 to the upper panel 11 at one end 21 and is connected via pivot connection 25 to the second arm 5 19 at the other end 22. To complete the linkage 17 between the lower panel 10 and the upper panel l Ithe second arm 19 is then connected to side support 41 by pivot connection 26. In the bed stowed condition, a folding door 30 is located behind and internally of the side 10 wall 4. The folding door 30 is parallel in orientation and laterally spaced and from the side wall 4 such that a recess 31 is formed. The upper portion 32 of the recess 31 houses the linkage 17. In this condition, first linkage arm 18 extends upward and diagonally across the upper portion 32 of the recess 31 from end 21 to end 22. The second arm 19 is stored in a vertical orientation, adjacent and parallel to the folding door 30. The lower portion 33 of 15 recess 31 is used to house a bed 34. The length of the bed is defined by end supports 23 that are located at each end of the bed, forming a bed head and a bed foot. The bed 34 is supported by a bed support 35 that is mounted to the lower panel 10 by spacers 40. Side support 41 skirts the side of the bed support 35 and provides a lower outer edge of the annex 51 immediately beneath the second linkage 19. The bed support 35, also acts as a 20 floor support for the annex 51, defining the width of the bed 34. The bed is secured by a roller blind 43 that may be tensioned by a tensioning device 44. Figure 3A shows a front view of the doors 30 from inside the cabin 1. In this arrangement the doors 30 hide linkage mechanism 17 from view and partially hide the bed 34 from 25 view. The doors 30 also retain the linkage 17 in the recess 31. Referring now to Figure 3B, to fold out the bed 34 to a useable horizontal position the folding doors 30 have been opened. The doors, which are hinged via hinges 36 to an inner wall 37 of the cabin 1, are opened inwardly thereby providing access to the recess 31 and 30 providing clearance for the linkage 17 to move. A user is than able to move the bed 34 to an in use position.

-7 During movement to the useable horizontal position the lower panel 10 is pivoted outwardly about the lower panel pivot 12, the outward movement pulls on linkage 17. To facilitate this motion, the pivotal connections (12, 14, 24 and 25) operate together allowing 5 lower panel 10 to pivot outwardly, lowering the bed 34 toward to an in use position and allowing the upper panel 11 to pivot about pivot connection 14 toward a horizontal orientation. During this motion end 22, which defines the locality of the pivotal connection 25, between the first arm 18 and the second arm 19, firstly moves in an arc inwardly and downwardly relative to the side wall 4. As the lower panel 10 and the upper panel 11 are 10 moved toward horizontal orientations, the pivot connection 12 and 24 tension the linkage 17. This tension causes the first arm 18 and second arm 19 to be withdrawn from the recess 31 and straighten to a deployed condition 50, forming an new vertical outer wall 54, and defining an annex 51 as shown in Figure 4. Stops 42 are provided, that engage with the outer edge of the end supports 23 to restrain the lower panel 10 from rotating past the 15 horizontal position until the doors 30 are folded out to secure the upper panel 11 and lower panel 10 into position. Referring to Figure 5, the lower panel 10 and upper panel 11 are in a horizontal orientation defining the base 52 and the roof 53 of the annex respectively. The first arm 18 and second 20 arm 19 are in a vertical orientation forming the outer wall 54 of the annex 51. The space provided by annex 51 increases the internal living space 2 living space of the cabin 1 and provides for an area for the bed 34 to be oriented in a useable position. To access the bed 34, the blind 43 is then removed from the bed 34, rolling up into the tensioning device 44. 25 Referring to Figure 6, the doors 30 are pivoted through 180 degrees from the position shown in Figure 3B to the position shown in Figure 6. Each folding door 30 now forms a side panel 55 of the annex 50. Additionally, the side panel 55 provides support of the roof 53 of the annex. To achieve the 180 degrees of rotation the folding door 30 is sized to provide clearance as it is pivoted over the surface of the bed 34. 30 Referring to Figure 7, the doors 30 are secured to the roof 53 and the base 52 using a - 8 locking mechanism 60. In this arrangement, each of doors 30 abuts their respective end support 23 and the top panel 11 enclosing the annex 51 from the elements, for example, wind or rain. The locking mechanism is further illustrated in Figure 8a and Figure Sb. 5 Figure 8a illustrates the locking mechanism 60 including an actuating handle 61 with a hook 62 at one end 63 and a pivot 64 that couples to a linkage 65 located intermediate the hook 62 and the handle 61. The linkage 65 is horizontal in orientation and is held in place by two space guides 66 affixed to the doors 30. The end of the linkage 67 away from the handle 61, further includes another hook 68 couped to the linkage via a pivot 69. The side 10 70 of the bed base 35 includes eyes 71. To lock the doors to the bed base 35 the handle 61 is actuated, as shown in Figure 8b, to engage hooks 62 and 68 with eyes 71. A similar locking mechanism is provided to lock the doors 30 to the roof 53 of the annex. Figure 9 illustrates a plan from view of the cabin 1 mounted on the transportation vehicle 15 3. The annex 51 is shown on the both sides toward the rear 5 of the cabin 1. The internal living space 2 is skirted by facilities such as a toilet 80, shower 81, refrigerator 82, bench 83, kitchen 84 and access door 85. The front 104 of the cabin also includes a sliding door 98 configured to allow access between the drive cab 99 and the cabin 1. The living space also includes movable furniture 88 such as a chair 86 and table 87. The Furniture 88 is 20 coupled to a track 90 integrated into the floor 91 of the internal living space 2. The track 90 is configured to run along the elongate axis of the cabin 1. Figure 10 shows the chair 86 and the table 87 coupled to the tracks 90 with a bogey wheel 89 type arrangement. Additionally, the base of the furniture is configured with Castor 25 wheels 92 that are spaced apart from the bogey wheel 89 to provide a stable base. These wheels allow the chair 86 and table 87 to be easily slidable along the tracks 90. The configuration of the castor wheels, bogey wheels and the track allow the furniture 88 to pivot 90 degrees. 30 To change the configuration of the internal living space 2, the furniture 88 is slid along the tracks 90 towards the front 104 of the cabin 1 and is able to be pivoted 90 degrees to -9 provide for additional space near the beds 34, as is shown in Figure 9. Referring now to Figure 11, the furniture 88 is shown located at the front of the 104 of cabin. This provides an enlarged space 93 toward the rear 5 of the cabin 1. The cabin 1 also includes a ramp 94 coupled via a hinge 95 to the rear 5 of the cabin 1. Figure 12, 5 shows a side view of the ramp 93. The ramp 93 is able to be raised and lowered with a door raising mechanism 101 and position such that a small vehicle 100 could be moved up the ramp 94 and inside the enlarged space 93. The small vehicle 100 is held in place, behind the furniture 88 by tie-downs 102. Winches 103 are needed since there is insufficient space to exit the small 100 vehicle if the small vehicle 100 is driven into the 10 enlarged space 103. Figure 13(a) - 13(d) illustrate cross section views of the cabin. The location of the cross sections are indicated on Figures 9 and 11. 15 Figure 13(a) illustrates cross section A-A and shows the location of two winches 103 that are spaced apart, on opposite sides of the cabin 1. These winches 103 are used to pull the small vehicle 100 up the ramp 94 and into the enlarged space 93. The winches 103 provide differential tension to the cable (not shown) use to pull the small vehicle 100. This differential tension is controllable by a user using a joystick (not shown) and provides the 20 ability to steer or guide the small vehicle 100 up the ramp 94 and into the enlarged space 93. Figure 13(b) illustrates cross section B-B, showing the small vehicle 100 inside the living space 2. 25 Figure 13(c) illustrates cross section C-C, showing the annex 51 in a deployed condition. A detailed view of the roller blind 43 that is used to cover the bed 34 during transport and stowed into the tensioning device 44 when the bed 34 is in the in use position, as shown in the figure. 30 Figure 13(d) illustrates cross section D-D, showing the arrangement of the track 90 that - 10 guide the bogey wheel 89 that is coupled to the furniture. It may be appreciate that the configuration of the internal living space 2 of the cabin 1 also avoids some of the compromises found in cabins associated with know motor homes where 5 the bed takes up a major part of the floor space or is located over the drive cabin. In the latter case this presents problems for older people with reduced dexterity or the need to visit the bathroom during the night. Also, the toilet and shower in many motor homes are very confined and the kitchen bench 10 space is limited. The configuration presented herein provides a larger than normal shower 81 and toilet 80 which because it is located immediately behind the driver cab 99 is easily accessed via the drive cab 99 for roadside stops. The arrangement of the access door 85 and the sliding door 98 allows for the cab to be closed off when camping with the access door 85 allowing access from the cabin 1. Alternatively with both doors open access can 15 be achieved into part of the kitchen even with the small vehicle 100 on board. It may also be appreciate that because the bed 34 opens outwardly of the internal living space 2 and the moveable furniture 88 coupled to a track 90 can be reconfigured, greater internal floor and bench space is able to be achieved. 20 The invention has been described by way of non-limiting example only and many modifications and variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention described. 25 The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates. 30 - 11 List of Parts 1. Cabin 5 2. Internal Living Space 3. Transport Vehicle 4. Side Wall 5. Rear of Cabin 6. Wheel Arch 10 7. Wheels 9. Stowed Condition 10. Lower Panel 11. Upper Panel 12. Pivot 15 13. Vertical Support Section 14. Pivot 15. Edge 16. Roof 17. Linkage 20 18. First Arm 19. Second Arm 21. End 22. End 23. End Support 25 24. Pivot Connection 25. Pivot Connection 26. Pivot Connection 30. Folding Door 31. Recess 30 32. Upper Portion 33. Lower Portion - 12 34. Bed 35. Bed Support 36, Hinges 37. Inner Wall 5 40. Spacer 41. Side Support 42. Stops 43. Blind 44. Tensioning Device 10 50. Deployed Condition 51. Annex 52. Base of Annex 53. Roof of Annex 54. Outer wall of Annex 15 55. Side Panel 60. Locking Mechanism 61. Actuating Handle 62. Hook 63. End 20 64. Pivot 65. Linkage 66. Guides 67. End 68. Hook 25 69. Pivot 70. Side of Bed Base 71. Eyes 80. Toilet 81. Shower 30 82. Refrigerator 83. Bench - 13 84. Kitchen 85. Access Door 86, Chair 87, Table 5 88. Furniture 89. Bogey Wheel 90. Track 91. Floor 92. Castor Wheels 10 93. Enlarged Space 94. Ramp 95. Hinge 98. Sliding Door 99. Driver cab 15 100. Small Vehicle 101. Door Raising Mechanism 102. Tie-Downs 103. Winches 104. Front. 20

Claims

1. A cabin of a transport vehicle, the cabin comprising; a cabin structure having an adjustable internal living space; 5 at least one bed movably coupled to a side wall of the structure to transition between a stowed configuration in which the bed is substantially vertical and a deployed configuration in which the bed is substantially horizontal; and at least one expandable alcove configured to accommodate the bed and transition the bed between the stowed configuration and the deployed configuration, the expandable alcove 10 including a roof panel movably coupled to the cabin structure, a base panel movably coupled to the cabin structure and a pair of articulated side panels movably coupled between the roof and base panels and wherein the roof, base and side panels are locked in position by end panels movably coupled to opposing sides of the expandable alcove, the side door panels configured to 15 align substantially parallel to and offset from the roof panel and the base panel to collectively define an exterior wall of the alcove when the bed is in the deployed configuration.

2. An expandable alcove of a cabin configurable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration, the alcove comprising: 20 a roof panel movably coupled to the cabin; a base panel movably coupled to the cabin, the roof panel and the base panel aligned end-to-end to collectively define an exterior wall of the cabin when the alcove is in the stowed configuration; a pair of articulated side panels movably coupled to the roof panel and the base 25 panel, the articulated side panels positioned within a recess adjacent a side wall of the cabin when the alcove is in the stowed configuration and positioned substantially vertically end-to-end to collectively form an outer wall of the alcove when the alcove is in the deployed configuration; and a pair of side door panels rotatably coupled to the cabin on opposing sides of the 30 alcove, the side door panels configured to align substantially parallel to and offset from the roof panel and the base panel when the alcove is in the stowed configuration to define the recess. -15

3. The cabin of claim 1, further comprising: furniture movably attached to a floor of the cabin structure, the furniture movable from a f-ont portion of the cabin structure when the cabin is in a transport configuration to a rear portion of the cabin structure when the cabin is in an in-use configuration. 5

4. The cabin of claim 3 wherein the furniture is arranged on floor tracks, the floor tracks guiding the furniture between the front portion of the cabin structure and the rear portion of the cabin structure when the cabin transitions between the transport configuration and the In-use configuration. 19

5. The cabin of claim 1 wherein in the stowed configuration the said side panels are disengaged from the roof and base panels and rotated away from the alcove, wherein the roof panel and base panels are drawn into the stored configuration via the pivotal connections to the side panels and wherein the end door panels are rotated and locked in position to cover the 15 bed and articulated side panels.

6. The cabin of claim I wherein in th deployed configuration the roof and base panels pivot outwardly drawing the roof and base panels into a horizontal position via movable couplings between the roof panel, base panel and the side panels and whereby the said 20 end panels pivot into the recess and lock together with the base panel and roof panel such as to provide a rigid enclosure to support the weight of an avenge adult without supplementary braces nr around supports.

7. The cabin of claim 1, further comprising: 25 a ramp pivotably coupled to a rear portion of the cabin structure; and a pair of independently controlled winches positioned at opposing sides of the internal living space that are configured to pull and maneuver an unoccupied automobile up the ramp and into the internal living space. -16

8. The cabin of claim 7 wherein a cable of each winch is configured to be independently tensioned to facilitate alignment of the automobile with the ramp and cabin structure. 5

9. The cabin of claim 7 herein the ramp is configured to be fixed in a horizontal configuration to form an outdoor deck to supplement the internal living space when the cabin is in an in-use configuration.

10. The cabin of claim 7 further comprising: 10 an adjustable suspension system, the suspension system configured to selectively lower the rear portion of the cabin structure to expel the automobile out of the internal living space at least partially under the force of gravity.