AU2015201250B2

AU2015201250B2 - Assembly for Opening and Closing Camper Trailer

Info

Publication number: AU2015201250B2
Application number: AU2015201250A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Nicholas James Edwards
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-03-10
Filing date: 2015-03-10
Publication date: 2018-05-24
Anticipated expiration: 2035-03-10
Also published as: AU2015201250A1

Abstract

A camper trailer 10 has a wheel supported trailer chassis 12 and a trailer body 14 mounted on the chassis. The trailer chassis 12 includes a non-rotatable frame 16 and the 5 trailer body 14 includes a rotatable frame 18. The trailer body 14 has a hard floor 20 which is adapted to pivotally move about a pivot assembly 21 between a storage position on the chassis and an expanded position when in use. The trailer body 14 also has a collapsible tent structure connected to the hard floor. The hard floor 20 is mounted on the rotatable frame 18, and the collapsible tent structure is connected to 10 both the non-rotatable frame 16 and the rotatable frame 18. The hard floor 20 forms a hard top when in the storage position, and it is adapted to pivotally open to the rear of the chassis 12 to become the hard floor when in the expanded position. By and with this pivotal opening of the hard floor 20, the connected tent structure is caused to unfold and open to an erected condition. There are first and second drive assemblies at respective 15 opposite sides of the camper trailer 10. Each drive assembly includes a motor 24 mounted to the trailer chassis and a push rod 25 operably connected to the motor and having a leading end 26 which is extendable and retractable with respect to the motor by operation of the motor, and there is an articulated linkage assembly connected to the leading end 26 of the push rod 25. The operation of the first and second drive 20 assemblies, through their respective articulated linkage assemblies, causes the hard floor 20 to pivotally move between the storage position and the expanded position. 1 f/0l/1

Description

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

Name of Applicant: Nicholas James EDWARDS

Actual Inventor: Nicholas James EDWARDS

Address for Service: George Griziotis

IP Monopoly Services P.O.Box 1210 CRONULLA NSW 2230

Invention Title: ASSEMBLY FOR OPENING AND CLOSING CAMPER TRAILER

Details of Associated Provisional Application No.: 2014900795 Lodged : 10 March 2014

The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing the invention known to the inventor:2

2015201250 10 Mar 2015

ASSEMBLY FOR OPENING AND CLOSING CAMPER TRAILER

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to collapsible and expandable camper trailers that can be towed by vehicles and, in particular, to camper trailers of the “flip over” type. These types of camper trailers are also known as “hard floor, fold over, camper trailers” because of the way they open and close and because they have a hard floor which, when not in use, is stored on the wheel supported chassis of the traifer and forms a seated hard top which is ideal for when the traifer is travelling. The hard top of the cfosed camper traifer opens to the rear of the traifer to become a hard floor of the opened camper trailer.

BACKGROUND ART

Some known hard floor, fold over, camper trailers have utilized a manually operable winding mechanism involving a winch, straps and gas struts to open and close the camper trailer. In opening the camper trailer, the winding mechanism is manually operated (usually with much physical effort by the user) to lift the hard top from the trailer and then lower it to the ground to become a hard floor by a pivotal action which also unfolds a connected and collapsed canvas tent structure. When fully erected, the hard floor and its connected tent structure (now expanded) extend to the rear of the trailer chassis. In closing the camper trailer, the winding mechanism is again manually operated to pivotally lift and lower the hard floor and the tent structure (the load) back to their stored positions on the trailer chassis.

The manually operable winding mechanism for opening and closing these known camper trailers is easier to operate than a system that requires a user to lift and lower the load with their hands alone, but still suffers from some limitations, most notably, that it may pose problems to elderly or physically incapacitated or frail users who find

10/03/15

2015201250 10 Mar 2015 the winding mechanism, and especially the winder handle of the winch, difficult to operate.

Furthermore, during the opening of camper trailers which utilize manually operable 5 winding mechanisms, the hard floor is lifted to a location, just prior to a vertical position, where the user must then use their hands to push the hard floor through a point of balance (sometimes referred to as the “top dead centre point”) to a position just past vertical, before returning to the winder handle of the winch to lower the hard floor to the ground.

There are other limitations, for example, associated with the need to locate a winding mechanism, and especially a winch, at the front of the camper trailer, such as an inability to fully utilize the draw bar area of the trailer for other purposes, and associated with the need to anchor a strap from the winch to a rear of the hard floor and tent structure, such as an inability to fully utilize the rear area of the erected camper trailer for other purposes, including limiting the use of window awnings.

Also, during the closing of such camper trailers, the user needs to leave the winder handle of the winch on occasions when it is necessary to manually push in any protruding canvas material of the tent structure, before returning to the winder handle to lower the hard floor (to form the hard top) on the trailer chassis.

More recently, a hard floor camper trailer has been developed in which the hard top opens to the front (not the rear) of the trailer to become a hard floor that is suspended off the trailer by a stand, and which utilizes a motor driven hydraulic mechanism to pivotally open and close the camper trailer. When opened, the connected tent structure needs to be separately unfolded to an erected position extending over and to the rear of the trailer.

However, that hydraulic opening and closing mechanism for such a front opening hard floor camper trailer is complex and prone to failure. For example, the hydraulic rams

10/03/15

2015201250 10 Mar 2015 must first be extended so as to push the hard top to an upright position and then be retracted so as to pull it to its suspended flat position over the front of the trailer, with a brief pause at the vertical position where there is no driving force as the sliding direction of the rams change. Any strong wind impacting the hard floor when it is vertical or near vertical may prevent or seriously interfere with the change in direction of the rams, and hence disrupt their fluent operation.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the disadvantages and problems of the aforementioned prior art, or at least provide a useful alternative.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camper trailer comprising a wheel supported trailer chassis, a trailer body mounted on the chassis and comprising a hard floor adapted to pivotally move about a pivot assembly between a storage position on the chassis and an expanded position when in use, the trailer body also comprising a collapsible tent structure connected to the hard floor, the hard floor forming a hard top when in the storage position and being adapted to pivotally open to the rear of the chassis to become the hard floor when in the expanded position, whereby the connected tent structure is caused to unfold and open to an erected condition therewith, first and second drive assemblies at respective opposite sides of the camper trailer, each drive assembly comprising a motor mounted to the trailer chassis and a push rod operably connected to the motor and having a leading end which is extendable and retractable with respect to the motor by operation of the motor, and an articulated linkage assembly connected to the leading end of the push rod, the articulated linkage assembly comprising a first arm having a first end region pivotally connected to the chassis and a second end region pivotally connected to the leading end of the push rod, and a second arm having a first end region pivotally connected to the hard floor and a second end region pivotally connected to the second end region of the first arm, wherein the pivot assembly about which the hard floor pivotally moves relative to the

10/03/15

2015201250 10 Mar 2015 chassis has a pivot axis which, throughout the pivotal movement between the storage position and the expanded position, is located such that an imaginary line extending perpendicularly from the pivot axis to the second end region of the first arm is between the first arm and the second arm when viewed from a side of the camper trailer, whereby operation of the first and second drive assemblies, through their respective articulated linkage assemblies, cause the hard floor to pivotally move between the storage position and the expanded position.

Preferably, the push rod comprises a translating shaft of a worm gear which is 10 extendable and retractable with the operation of the motor.

It is preferred that the hard floor comprises a main body and an end bracket connected thereto, the end bracket extending perpendicularly from the main body to connect with the pivot assembly, and the first end region of the second arm is pivotally connected to the end bracket of the hard floor.

In another preferred form, the second end region of the first arm has a first pivot point to which the leading end is pivotally connected, and has a second pivot point to which the second end region of the second arm is pivotally connected, the second pivot point being further than the first pivot point from the first end region of the first arm.

It is also preferred that the imaginary line generally bisects an angle defined between the first arm and the second arm.

Each motor is preferably a 12 Volt electric motor, and may be rated to lift loads up to 1,000 kg.

Preferably, the first and second drive assemblies are synchronized to operate identically by an automatic controller, which may be programmable.

10/03/15

2015201250 10 Mar 2015

It is also preferred that the controller is configured, or may be programmed, with an automatic cut out function to stop the opening or closing of the hard floor if any one or more of the following occur:

(a) the hard floor passes a selected number of degrees beyond its expanded position 5 during its opening, (b) the hard floor passes a selected number of degrees beyond its storage position during its closing, (c) there is a physical obstruction to the opening and closing operations of the camper trailer, and (d) there is an increase in the load being lifted to above the load for which the motor is rated for lifting.

The opening and closing operations of the camper trailer may be controlled by a remote control unit or by a control unit mounted to the camper trailer, each of which is operable by a user pressing one or more buttons thereon.

There has been thus outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and put into practical effect, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.

There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which the disclosure is based, may be readily utilized as the basis for designing other processes and systems for carrying out the objects of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the broad outline of the invention described above be regarded as including such equivalent constructions in so far as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

10/03/15

2015201250 10 Mar 2015

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a left side view of a rear portion of a camper trailer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and showing the hard floor of the trailer body in the storage position on the trailer chassis,

Figure 2 is a left side view of the camper trailer of Figure 1, showing the hard floor of the trailer body at an intermediate stage of opening during its pivotal movement from the storage position to the expanded position, and showing the positions to which the push rod and the articulated linkage assembly have moved from the storage position shown in Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a left side view of the camper trailer of Figures 1 and 2, showing the hard floor of the trailer body at a completed stage of opening, when the hard floor is in the expanded position, and showing the positions to which the push rod and the articulated linkage assembly have moved from the intermediate stage shown in Figure 1.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With specific reference to the above summarized drawings of Figures 1 to 3, the camper 25 trailer 10 has a wheel supported trailer chassis 12 and a trailer body 14 mounted on the chassis. The trailer chassis 12 includes a non-rotatable frame 16 and the trailer body 14 includes a rotatable frame 18. The trailer body 14 has a hard floor 20 which is adapted to pivotally move about a pivot assembly 21 between a storage position on the chassis (as shown in Figure 1) and an expanded position when in use (as shown in Figure 3).

The trailer body 14 also has a collapsible tent structure (not shown) connected to the hard floor. The hard floor 20 is mounted on the rotatable frame 18, and the collapsible

10/03/15

2015201250 10 Mar 2015 tent structure is connected to both the non-rotatable frame 16 and the rotatable frame 18. The hard floor 20 forms a hard top when in the storage position, and it is adapted to pivotally open (as shown in Figure 2) to the rear of the chassis 12 to become the hard floor when in the expanded position (as shown in Figure 3). By and with this pivotal opening of the hard floor 20, the connected tent structure is caused to unfold and open to an erected condition.

There are first and second drive assemblies (only first drive assembly shown) at respective opposite sides of the camper trailer 10. Each drive assembly includes a motor

24 mounted to the trailer chassis and a push rod 25 operably connected to the motor and having a leading end 26 which is extendable and retractable with respect to the motor by operation of the motor, and there is an articulated linkage assembly connected to the leading end 26 of the push rod 25. These components are normally covered (and obscured from view or tampering) by a protective cover or side panel.

In this embodiment, the motor 24 is a 12 Volt electric motor, although the invention can utilize other types of motors or mechanical actuators, and the motor 24 is rated to lift loads up to 1,000 kg, which is more than the weight of the hard floor 20 and any collapsible tent structure connected thereto.

Each articulated linkage assembly includes a first arm 27 and a second arm 34. The first arm 27 has a first end region 28 pivotally connected to a fixed bracket 30 on the chassis 12 and has a second end region 32 pivotally connected to the leading end 26 of the push rod 25. The second arm 34 has a first end region 36 pivotally connected to the hard floor 20, such as to the end bracket 38 of the hard floor, and has a second end region 40 pivotally connected to the second end region 32 of the first arm 27. In this embodiment, the end bracket 38 is connected to, and extends perpendicularly from, a main body 42 of the hard floor 20 to connect to the pivot assembly 21.

The pivot assembly 21 about which the hard floor 20 pivotally moves relative to the chassis 12 has a pivot axis which, throughout the pivotal movement between the

10/03/15

2015201250 10 Mar 2015 storage position and the expanded position, is located such that an imaginary line (shown as line 42) extending perpendicularly from the pivot axis to the second end region 32 of the first arm 27 is between the first arm 27 and the second arm 34 when viewed from a side of the camper trailer 10 (as shown in Figures 1 to 3). This position of the imaginary line 42 facilitates the efficient opening and closing operations of the camper trailer 10. In one embodiment of the invention, the imaginary line 42 generally bisects an angle defined between the first arm 27 and the second arm 34.

The above arrangement of the camper trailer 10 is such that operation of the first and 10 second drive assemblies, through their respective articulated linkage assemblies, causes the hard floor 20 to pivotally move between the storage position and the expanded position.

In this embodiment, the push rod 25 is a translating shaft of a worm gear which is 15 extendable and retractable with the operation of the motor 24, such as from an outer casing 44.

In this embodiment, the second end region 32 of the first arm 27 has a first pivot point 46 which is located on a laterally protruding curved portion 47 of the first arm 27, and to which the leading end 26 of the translating shaft 25 is pivotally connected, and has a second pivot point 48 to which the second end region 40 of the second arm 34 is pivotally connected. The second pivot point 48 is further than the first pivot point 46 from the first end region 28 of the first arm 27.

The angular offsetting of these pivot points 46, 48 further facilitates the efficient opening and closing operations of the camper trailer 10, and the spatial disposition of the arms 27, 34 and their pivotal connection points are such that they can be located in a very small area or confined space of the camper trailer, thereby saving space for other uses.

10/03/15

2015201250 10 Mar 2015

Another advantage of this arrangement is that the passage of the hard floor 20 through the “top dead centre point” during its opening and closing motion is smooth and uninterrupted by a “breaking through” disruption.

The camper trailer 10 also includes, in this embodiment, an automatic controller 50, which may be programmable, to synchronize the first and second drive assemblies to operate identically. One advantage of this feature is that it prevents twisting or warping of the hard floor 20 during the opening and closing operations.

Ideally, the controller 50 is configured, or may be programmed, with an automatic cut out function to stop the opening or closing of the hard floor 20 if any one or more of the following occur:

(a) the hard floor passes a selected number of degrees, such as 2 degrees, beyond its expanded position during its opening, (b) the hard floor passes a selected number of degrees, such as 2 degrees, beyond its storage position during its closing, (c) there is a physical obstruction to the opening and closing operations of the camper trailer, and (d) there is an increase in the load being lifted to above the load for which the motor is rated for lifting.

The opening and closing operations of the camper trailer 10 can be controlled by a remote control unit or by a control unit mounted to the camper trailer, each of which is operable by a user pressing one or more buttons thereon.

By way of example only, the control unit, after being turned on, allows the user to select between an OPEN operation and a CLOSE operation. Both operations can be either limited or continuous in their duration by the applying or releasing of pressure to a respective button. A limited duration operation requires constant pressure on the button and will finish when pressure is released. A continuous duration operation requires

10/03/15

2015201250 10 Mar 2015 once only or instantaneous pressure on the button and will finish when instantaneous pressure is reapplied.

To open the trailer body 14 of the camper trailer 10, the user carries out the usual first 5 step of manually releasing the lock down catches located at various points around the camper trailer.

The control unit is turned on, and the user then presses the OPEN button which causes the synchronized operation of the first and second drive assemblies, which, in turn causes, through the movement of the articulated linkage assembly, the hard floor 20 and the collapsible tent structure connected thereto, to pivotally move from the storage position to the expanded position.

During these operations, for example, each motor 24 drives the push rod 25 (or the translation shaft of the worm gear) rearwardly of the motor so as to cause the pivotally interconnected first and second arms 27, 34 to both separately pivot and in an overall clockwise direction (as seen from the left side of the camper trailer). This, in turn, causes the hard floor 20 to be lifted from its storage position and then lowered about the pivot assembly 21 onto the ground behind the chassis, having completed an arc of approximately 180 degrees to reach its expanded position. A passive hydraulic ram 56 interconnecting the chassis 12 and the hard floor 20 may be used for minimizing sudden impact forces and gentle lowering onto the ground. The motor 24 automatically cuts out when the expanded position is reached. Similar operations occur, but in reverse, during the closing of the hard floor 20 and until it reaches its storage position, when the motor

24 again automatically cuts out.

The OPEN operation can be paused and restarted at any point during the operation by appropriate manipulation of the one or more buttons on the control unit.

After the camper trailer 10 has been opened (with the hard floor 20 in the expanded position), the control unit is turned off, and the user carries out the usual steps to

10/03/15

2015201250 10 Mar 2015 finalize the setting up of the hard floor and the connected tent structure to unfold and open so as to assume an erected condition.

To close the camper trailer 10, the user carries out the usual pre-closing steps, and then 5 turns on the control unit. The user then presses the CLOSE button which causes the synchronized operation of the first and second drive assemblies, which in turn causes, through the articulated linkage assembly, the hard floor 20 and any collapsible tent structure connected thereto, to pivotally move from the expanded position to the storage position.

During the CLOSE operation, the user is able to pause the CLOSE operation at any time, such as at a point during the operation when it is necessary to manually push in any protruding canvas material of the tent structure, and move around the camper trailer 10 before restarting the operation.

After the camper trailer 10 has been closed (with the hard floor 20 in the storage position), the user manually applies the lock down catches located at various points around the camper trailer, the control unit is turned off, and the user carries out the usual steps to finalize the preparation of the camper trailer for travelling.

The other features of the camper trailer 10 shown in Figures 1 to 3, but not described above, are readily understood, both in terms of their structure and function, by persons skilled in the art.

It will also be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in details of design and construction of the embodiments of the camper trailer, and in the steps of using the camper trailer described above, without departing from the scope or ambit of the present invention.

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

10/03/15

2015201250 10 Mar 2015 acknowledgement 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 before the priority date of this patent application.

10/03/15

2015201250 10 Mar 2015

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A camper trailer comprising a wheel supported trailer chassis, a trailer body mounted on the chassis and comprising a hard floor adapted to pivotally move about a

5 pivot assembly between a storage position on the chassis and an expanded position when in use, the trailer body also comprising a collapsible tent structure connected to the hard floor, the hard floor forming a hard top when in the storage position and being adapted to pivotally open to the rear of the chassis to become the hard floor when in the expanded position, whereby the connected tent structure is caused to unfold and open to

10 an erected condition therewith, first and second drive assemblies at respective opposite sides of the camper trailer, each drive assembly comprising a motor mounted to the trailer chassis and a push rod operably connected to the motor and having a leading end which is extendable and retractable with respect to the motor by operation of the motor, and an articulated linkage assembly connected to the leading end of the push rod, the

15 articulated linkage assembly comprising a first arm having a first end region pivotally connected to the chassis and a second end region pivotally connected to the leading end of the push rod, and a second arm having a first end region pivotally connected to the hard floor and a second end region pivotally connected to the second end region of the first arm, wherein the pivot assembly about which the hard floor pivotally moves

20 relative to the chassis has a pivot axis which, throughout the pivotal movement between the storage position and the expanded position, is located such that an imaginary line extending perpendicularly from the pivot axis to the second end region of the first arm is between the first arm and the second arm when viewed from a side of the camper trailer, whereby operation of the first and second drive assemblies, through their

25 respective articulated linkage assemblies, cause the hard floor to pivotally move between the storage position and the expanded position.
2. The camper trailer of claim 1, wherein the push rod comprises a translating shaft of a worm gear which is extendable and retractable with the operation of the motor.

10/03/15

2015201250 10 Mar 2015
3. The camper trailer of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the hard floor comprises a main body and an end bracket connected thereto, the end bracket extending perpendicularly from the main body to connect with the pivot assembly, and the first end region of the second arm is pivotally connected to the end bracket of the hard floor.
4. The camper trailer of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second end region of the first arm has a first pivot point to which the leading end is pivotally connected, and has a second pivot point to which the second end region of the second arm is pivotally connected, the second pivot point being further than the first pivot point from the first

10 end region of the first arm.
5. The camper trailer of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the imaginary line generally bisects an angle defined between the first arm and the second arm.

15
6. The camper trailer of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the motor is a 12 Volt electric motor.
7. The camper trailer of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first and second drive assemblies are synchronized to operate identically by an automatic controller.
8. The camper trailer of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the controller is configured, or is programmed, with an automatic cut out function to stop the opening or closing of the hard floor if any one or more of the following occur:

(a) the hard floor passes a selected number of degrees beyond its expanded position 25 during its opening, (b) the hard floor passes a selected number of degrees beyond its storage position during its closing, (c) there is a physical obstruction to the opening and closing operations of the camper trailer, and

30 (d) there is an increase in the load being lifted to above the load for which the motor is rated for lifting.

10/03/15
9. The camper trailer of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the opening and closing operations of the camper trailer are controlled by a remote control unit or by a control unit mounted to the camper trailer, each of which is operable by a user pressing one or more buttons thereon.

2015201250 10 Mar 2015
10/03/15

1/3

2015201250 10 Mar 2015

2/3

2015201250 10 Mar 2015 οο ι< ¢2015201250 10 Mar 2015