AU2017248480A1 - Improved volume towed vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

IMPROVED VOLUME TOWED VEHICLES A front and rear double-hinged towed vehicle 11 includes a chassis 13 supported at an inner end with a load wheel 14 and having a towing mechanism 12 including a socket at the other end for being supported on a towball and being towed by a powered vehicle. Mounted on the chassis 13 is a passenger compartment 21. Thefrontandrear double-hinged towed vehicle 11 further includes an upper cover 22 and an inner cover 23, which have the hinge point of the upper cover higher than the height of the hinge point of the inner cover, when the upper cover and the inner cover are substantially overlapping and closing the top of the compartment. ~'~J L I %-YFi~ N-f 'J 'L, N'J JL I '10 'Ii rQN

Description

IMPROVED VOLUME TOWED VEHICLES

Field of the Invention [001]The present invention relates to Improved volume towed vehicles and particularly recreational vehicles including camper trailers and caravans.

[002] The present invention pertains to the field of vehicle manufacturing technology, and more particularly to a front and rear double-hinged traction type RV.

[003]The invention has been developed primarily for use in/with camper trailers and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use.

Background of the Invention [004] A towed vehicle has no need to have drive traction, and so the volume of the towed vehicle can use its entire volume. However there is a certain limit to a towed volume.

Extended towed vehicles are very difficult to tow and usually require large towing vehicles.

Further the weight of long towing vehicles can require special suspension and brakes. The driver of the towing vehicle might then need to be licensed to drive over dimension vehicles.

[005] It is therefore important for most recreational vehicle users to have a compact small length towed vehicle. The structure of the towed vehicle can make more use of folding in transport as it generally does not transport people but is occupied when the towed vehicle is in parking. The users can then make use of various functional components in the stationary parked mode.

[006] An important need therefore is that the structure of the towed vehicle, must make use of the towed vehicle cover as an important area to expand parts in the manufacturing process. Generally, to date that has been limited.

[007] There is known to have the use of vehicle covers greatly expand the use of RV area. But the shortcomings of the existing vehicles include:

i) built-in vehicle cover in the form of drawing leading to the built-in compartment cover is located in the side of the compartment, to hold up the tent to build a greater difficulty;

2017248480 18 Oct 2017 ii) manual operation by users brings great inconvenience.

[008] It can be seen that known prior art improved volume towed vehicles has the problems of:

a) Bulkiness which is emphasized when towing

b) Restriction of effective expansion volume

c) Awkwardness in transforming to a usage mode

d) the limitation due to chassis length.

[009] The present invention seeks to provide improved volume towed vehicles, which will overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one or more of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative.

[0010] It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Summary of the invention [0011] According to a first aspect of the present invention, improved volume towed vehicles is provided by a pair of overlapping spaced hinged covers that in transport extend over a passenger compartment but in use extend outwardly from the passenger compartment.

[0012] It can be seen that the invention of improved volume towed vehicles provides the benefit of an increased base area over which can extend a flexible tent material to provide a substantial increased usable volume in the parked in use configuration while retaining a small volume compact volume when in towing mode.

[0013] According to a second aspect of the present invention, improved volume towed vehicles is provided by the hinge axis of one of the covers being higher than the axis of the other cover.

[0014] It can be seen that the invention of improved volume towed vehicles provides the benefit of overlapping while allowing for sealing by the overlapping particularly with

2017248480 18 Oct 2017 the inner cover having an area smaller than the footprint of the passenger compartment and thereby fitting therewithin in towing mode.

[0015] According to a third aspect of the present invention, improved volume towed vehicles is provided by the use of powered driving means together with over axis drive arms and spaced hinged points.

[0016] It can be seen that the invention of improved volume towed vehicles provides the benefit of being able to rotate a cover over a full 180 degrees from an in use position to a towing mode.

[0017] An improvement over defects existing in the manufacture and use of the two10 vehicle house vehicle, the present invention provides a front and rear double-hinged traction type RV.

[0018] In accordance with the invention there is provided an improved volume towed vehicle including: a compartment mounted on a towing chassis, a top cover to the compartment provided with an upper cover and an inner cover, wherein the upper cover and the inner cover adopts a rotating mounted structure around spaced parallel walls of the compartment, and the hinge point of the upper cover is higher than the height of the hinge point of the inner cover, when the upper cover and the inner cover are substantially overlapping and closing the top of the compartment.

[0019] The inner cover and the upper cover are preferably respectively provided with powered driving means.

[0020] The inner cover and the upper cover can be respectively provided with a piston connected to over-axis drive arms.

[0021 ] Preferably the powered driving means includes an electric control drive means comprising an electric push rod, a first link, and a second link; said electric push rod and the first link is hinged at one end of the first connecting rod, the other end of the first connecting rod is hinged with one end of the second connecting rod, and the other end of the first connecting rod is hinged with the end of the first connecting rod, and the other end of the second link is hinged to the flip cover.

2017248480 18 Oct 2017 [0022] An improved volume towed vehicle according to the invention can have the rear cover of the inner cover and the upper cover provided with a hinge plate, and the inner cap is fixedly connected to the top of the hinge plate.

[0023] The bottom of the hinge plate of the cover tail can be hinged with the inner side of the front axle of the vehicle, and the hinge point of the hinge plate is lower than that of the front panel of the vehicle; The top hinge, the hinge point is higher than the front of the vehicle front wall.

[0024] Preferably an auxiliary gas spring is provided at a side portion of the inner cover and the upper cover, and the width of the inner cover is smaller than the width of the vehicle, and the outer end of the gas spring is arranged at the top of the front side of the front wall, and one end of the gas spring on the inner side of the inner cover is hinged with the inner cover side, and the gas spring and the other end is hinged to the side wall of the vehicle compartment, and the other end is hinged with the side wall of the vehicle.

[0025] The improved volume towed vehicle can further comprise a slotted block having a width and a height corresponding to the width and height of the groove.

[0026] The bottom of the plate is hinged to the outside of the bottom of the groove, and a rod is arranged between the gas shield and the gas spring on the side of the inner cover.

[0027] The ends of the rod are hinged with the gas shield and the gas spring respectively.

[0028] According to one form of the present invention, there is provided a front and rear double-hinged trailer type vehicle including a passenger compartment, wherein the top portion of the vehicle compartment is provided with an upper cover and an inner cover, characterized in that the inner cover and the rear cover is connected with the inner end of the vehicle, and the hinge point of the upper cover is higher than the hinge point of the inner cover and the inner cover is located inside the compartment under the upper cover; and the inner cover and the upper cover are respectively provided with an electronically controlled driving device.

[0029] Further, the electronic control drive device includes an electric push rod, a first link and a second link; the bottom of the electric push rod is hinged with the frame of the bottom of the vehicle compartment, the piston rod of the electric push rod is connected

2017248480 18 Oct 2017 with the first and the other end of the first link is hinged at the other end of the second link and the other end of the second link is hinged with the flip cover.

[0030] Further, the inner end of the inner cover and the upper cover is provided with a hinge plate, the inner cap is connected to the top of the hinge plate, and the bottom of the hinge plate of the inner cap is hinged to the inside of the front panel of the vehicle, Which is lower than the front end of the front panel of the vehicle; the bottom of the hinge plate of the upper cover is fixedly connected with the front wall of the vehicle, and the upper end of the upper cover is hinged with the top end of the hinge plate.

[0031] Further, at the side of the inner cover and the upper cover, a gas spring is provided, and the width of the inner cover is smaller than the width of the vehicle, and the longitudinal cover is provided at the position of the front wall corresponding to the front wall of the vehicle compartment And the other end of the gas spring is hinged at the other end of the gas spring, and the gas of the upper side of the cover The spring is hinged at one end to the side of the upper cover and the other end is hinged to the side wall of the vehicle.

[0032] And further comprising a groove block having a width and a height corresponding to the width and height of the groove, and the bottom of the groove and the bottom of the groove are hinged at the bottom of the groove, Between the side of the gas springs are equipped with rods, rod ends are respectively with the slotted block and gas spring hinge.

[0033] The beneficial effect of the invention is that the structure is reasonable and the operation is simple, and the usable area of the vehicle can be greatly expanded.

[0034] In order to solve the technical shortcomings existing in the manufacture and use of the two-vehicle house vehicle, the present invention provides a front and rear double-hinged towed vehicle including a vehicle, wherein the top of the vehicle is provided with an upper cover and an inner cover. The inner cover adopts the front-turn structure, and the inner cap of the inner cap is hinged with the front axle of the vehicle. The upper cover adopts the rear-turn structure, the upper end of the upper cover is hinged with the vehicle body, Height is higher than the height of the hinge of the inner cover; when the upper cover and the inner cover are closed, the inner cover is located inside the compartment under the upper cover; and the inner cover and the upper cover are

2017248480 18 Oct 2017 respectively provided with electric control driving device. The beneficial effect of the invention is that the structure is reasonable and the operation is simple, and the usable area of the vehicle can be greatly expanded.

[0035] Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

Brief Description of the Drawings [0036] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, a preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0037] Figure 1 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] Figure 2 is an enlarged schematic view of A in Figure 1.

[0039] Figure 3 is an enlarged schematic view of B in Figure 1.

[0040] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of Figure 1.

[0041] Figure 5 is an enlarged schematic view of C in Figure 4.

[0042] Figure 6 is an enlarged schematic view of D in Figure 4.

[0043] Figure 7 is a left side view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention of Figure 1.

Description of Preferred Embodiments [0044] It should be noted in the following description that like or the same reference numerals in different embodiments denote the same or similar features.

[0045] The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples.

[0046] As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 4, a front and rear double-hinged towed vehicle 11 includes a chassis 13 supported at an inner end with a load wheel 14 and having a towing mechanism 12 including a socket at the other end for being supported on a towbail and being towed by a powered vehicle. Mounted on the chassis 13 is a passenger compartment 21, having a front wall 27 and spaced parallel rear wall 28 with two side walls 29, 30 extending therebetween. The side walls 29, 30 can include an access

2017248480 18 Oct 2017 doorway and windows for allowing users to enter and view when the towed vehicle is in a parked in use configuration.

[0047] The front and rear double-hinged towed vehicle 11 further includes an upper cover 22 and an inner cover 23, which are provided at the top of the vehicle. As shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, the inner edge of the inner cover 23 is hinged to the rear wall 28 of the passenger compartment 21, and the inner cover 23 is free to be rotated to extend rearwardly.

[0048] As shown in Fig. 5, in the present embodiment, the inner end of the inner cover 23 is provided with a hinge plate 34, the top of which is fixedly connected to the tail of the inner cover 23, and the bottom of the hinge plate 34 is connected to the vehicle 11 so that the height of the inner cover 23 is lower than the height of the front side of the front wall of the vehicle, thereby raising the height of the inner cover 23 after turning over while lowering the height of the inner cover 23 to the rotation axis. The inner cover 23 is not disturbed by the front wall 27 of the passenger compartment 21 of the vehicle 11 during the flipping, and the inside of the vehicle 21 is ensured as to ensure that the inner cover 23 is closed.

[0049] As shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 6, the upper cover is of a rear-turn structure in which the upper end of the upper cover 22 is hinged with the tail wall of the passenger compartment 21 and the upper cover 22 is freely flipped back.

[0050] As shown in Fig. 6, in the present embodiment, the tail portion of the upper cover 22 is provided with a hinge plate 34, the top of the hinge plate 34 and the tail portion of the inner cover 23 are hinged by a hinge shaft 35. The height of the hinge shaft 35 is higher than the height of the top of the front wall 27 of the compartment 21, thereby raising the height of the upper cover 22 turning axis so that the height of the upper cover 22 is higher than the height of the inner cover 23. This ensures that the upper cover 22 is covered at the top of the inner cover 23 after the inner cover 23 and the upper cover 22 are closed.

[0051] As shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, in the present embodiment, the turning of the inner cover 23 and the upper cover 22 is effected by means of controlled driving devices

49. 76.

2017248480 18 Oct 2017 [0052] The electric drive device 76 of the upper cover 22 includes an electric push rod 76, a first link 77 and a second link 78. The bottom of the electric push rod 76 is hinged with the frame of the bottom of the vehicle. The piston rod of the electric push rod and the middle of the first link 77 and the other end of the first link 77 is hinged with the other end of the second link 78 and the other end of the second link 78 is hinged with the flip cover.

[0053] According to Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, when the piston rod of the electric push rod 76 is moved in a straight line, the operation of the first link 77 and the second link 78 enables the overturned cover to be wound back around the turning axis 180 ° rotation, in order to to achieve the cover of the opening and closing the formation in a flip action.

[0054] The electric drive device provided by the present embodiment can realize the overturning effect, but since the first link 77 and the second link 78 are limited in space, the length cannot be too long. Therefore, in order to realize a smooth transmission in a load state, there must be an increase in the power of the electric driver, or otherwise it is easy to burn the electric driver. In order to solve this technical problem, as shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, on the side of the inner cover 23 and the upper cover 22, the increase in power consumption and the increase of the electric driver installation space and a gas spring 49 is provided in part, and as shown in Fig. 7, [0055] In the present embodiment, the width of the inner cover 23 is smaller than the width of the vehicle compartment 21, and the longitudinal groove 50 is opened at the position of the front wall corresponding to the front wall of the vehicle compartment. As shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 5, one end of the gas spring 49 at the side of the inner cover is hinged to the inner cover side, and the other end of the gas spring is hinged with the groove 50. When the inner cover 23 is turned over, the gas spring 49 can swing freely through groove 50. As shown in Fig. 6, the gas spring 49 on the side of the upper cover 22 is hinged at one end to the side of the upper cover 22 and the other end is hinged to the side waii of the vehicle. When the upper cover 22 is turned over, the gas spring 49 The side of the vehicle to do swing telescopic action.

[0056] The gas spring 49 can act as an assisting force when the inner cover 23 and the upper cover 22 are turned on by providing the assist gas spring 49, thereby effectively

2017248480 18 Oct 2017 reducing the load of the electric push rod 76 and preventing the electric push rod from being excessively large.

[0057] As shown in Fig. 5, there is also a slotted block 51 having a width and a height corresponding to the width and height of the groove 50, and the bottom of the cutout block 11 is hinged to the outside of the bottom of the groove. A rod 52 is provided between the slotted plate 51 and the gas spring 49 on the side of the inner cover, and the ends of the tie rod 12 are respectively hinged to the chute and gas spring 49. When the inner cover 23 is turned forward, the slotted plate 11 is rotated by the swing of the gas spring 49, and the gas spring 49 is extended from the groove 50, and when the inner cover 23 is closed, the gas spring 49 The vehicle inside the swing, while pulling the slotted block 11 will clear the slot to block.

[0058] Other variations will be understood and are included in the scope of the invention. However, this particular embodiment structure has particular novel and inventive improvements over the prior art.

Interpretation

Embodiments:

[0059] Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but may. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments.

[0060] Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the above description of example embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are

2017248480 18 Oct 2017 expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

[0061] Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some but not other features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form different embodiments, as would be understood by those in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

Different Instances of Objects [0062] As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of the ordinal adjectives “first, “second”, “third”, etc., to describe a common object, merely indicate that different instances of like objects are being referred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other manner.

Specific Details [0063] In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.

Terminology [0064] In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar technical purpose. Terms such as forward, rearward, radially, peripherally, upwardly, downwardly, and the like are used as words of convenience to provide reference points and are not to be construed as limiting terms.

2017248480 18 Oct 2017

Comprising and Including [0065] In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” are used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

[0066] Any one of the terms: including or which includes or that includes as used herein is also an open term that also means including at least the elements/features that follow the term, but not excluding others. Thus, including is synonymous with and means comprising.

Scope of Invention [0067] Thus, while there has been described what are believed to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the invention. For example, any formulas given above are merely representative of procedures that may be used. Functionality may be added or deleted from the block diagrams and operations may be interchanged among functional blocks. Steps may be added or deleted to methods described within the scope of the present invention, [0068] Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

2017248480 18 Oct 2017

Industrial Applicability [0069] It is apparent from the above, that the arrangements described are applicable to the field of vehicle manufacturing and after sale technology and in particular the campervan and trailer, caravan and camping industries.

Claims (9)

1. The claims defining the invention are as follows:

   1. An improved volume towed vehicle including:

   i) a compartment mounted on a towing chassis,

   5 ii) a top cover to the compartment provided with an upper cover and an inner cover, iii) wherein the upper cover and the inner cover adopts a rotating mounted structure around spaced parallel walls of the compartment, iv) and the hinge point of the upper cover is higher than the height of the hinge

   10 point of the inner cover, when the upper cover and the inner cover are substantially overlapping and closing the top of the compartment.
2. 2. An improved volume towed vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the inner cover and the upper cover are respectively provided with powered driving means.
3. 3. An improved volume towed vehicle according to claim 2 wherein the inner cover

   15 and the upper cover are respectively provided with a piston connected to over-axis drive arms.
4. 4. An improved volume towed vehicle according to claim 2 wherein said powered driving means includes an electric control drive means comprising

   i) an electric push rod, a first link, and a second link;

   20 ii) said electric push rod and the first link is hinged at one end of the first connecting rod, the other end of the first connecting rod is hinged with one end of the second connecting rod, iii) and the other end of the first connecting rod is hinged with the end of the first connecting rod,

   25 iv) And the other end of the second link is hinged to the flip cover.
5. 5. An improved volume towed vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the rear cover of the inner cover and the upper cover is provided with a hinge plate,

   i) and the inner cap is fixedly connected to the top of the hinge plate

   2017248480 18 Oct 2017 ii) The bottom of the hinge plate of the cover tail is hinged with the inner side of the front axle of the vehicle, iii) and the hinge point of the hinge plate is lower than that of the front panel of the vehicle;

   5 iv) The top hinge, the hinge point is higher than the front of the vehicle front wall.
6. 6. An improved volume towed vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a auxiliary gas spring is provided at a side portion of the inner cover and the upper cover,

   i) and the width of the inner cover is smaller than the width of the vehicle, ii) And the outer end of the gas spring is arranged at the top of the front side of
7. 10 the front wall, iii) and one end of the gas spring on the inner side of the inner cover is hinged with the inner cover side, and the gas spring iv) And the other end is hinged to the side wall of the vehicle compartment,

   v) and the other end is hinged with the side wall of the vehicle.
8. 15 7. An improved volume towed vehicle according to claim 6, further comprising a slotted block having a width and a height corresponding to the width and height of the groove.

   i) The bottom of the plate is hinged to the outside of the bottom of the groove, ii) and a rod is arranged between the gas shield and the gas spring on the side of
9. 20 the inner cover.

   iii) The ends of the rod are hinged with the gas shield and the gas spring respectively.