AU609328B2

AU609328B2 - Trailerable camper

Info

Publication number: AU609328B2
Application number: AU40822/89A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Peter James Kaesler
Original assignee: TRAK SHAK Pty Ltd
Current assignee: TRAK SHAK Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1988-08-29
Filing date: 1989-08-28
Publication date: 1991-04-26
Anticipated expiration: 2009-08-28
Also published as: AU4082289A

Description

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COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRA6~ 0 7. 8- 2 Sr m Patents Act 1952-1969 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE: Class Int. Class Application Number Lodged Complete Application No.

Specification Lodged Published 41riority: CC t C "R~mated art: L hsdocument contains the amendments made under Scction 49 and is coriect for Pinhting.

Name of Applicant: TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT PETER JAMES KAESLER Address of Applicant: 4 HILLSDALE STREET, PROSPECT STATE OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Actual Inventor: PETER JAMES KAESLER Address for Service: COLLISON CO, PATENT ATTORNEYS 117 KING WILLIAM STREET, ADELIADE SOUTH AUSTRALIA, 5000 Complete Specification for the invention entitled: TRAILERABLE CAMPER The following statemnent Is a full description of This invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 2 a 0 a ;3 PATENT, TRADE MARKS DESIGNS SUB-OFFICE 2 8 AUG 1989 SOUTH AUSTRALIA ,1 A000417 29/0o88 i 29 AUG1 I SOUTH AUSTRALIA 2 2 I This invention relates to a trailerable camper, more particularly to a camping or tent assembly which is carried by and erected from a transport vehicle such as a trailer.

There have been various proposals for the erection of tents or the like incorporated with and carried by a vehicle such as a trailer, but these have not 1 0 always been satisfactory in that they are often of a limited size, and are often difficult and time consuming to erect.

Thus it is an object of this invention to provide a trailerable camper which is carried on a transport vehicle such as a trailer, and also has provision for 1 5 adequate storage of goods to be carried.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a trailerable camper in which the accommodation area is quickly and easily erected.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a trailerable camper which can be of various sizes and configurations by connecting assemblies in parallel or series to accommodate up to 24 persons.

Thus there is provided according to the invention a trailerable camper comprising a vehicle such as a trailer, a flat rectangular framework supported S' i by the trailer, said framework comprising a lower base member and an upper base member hinged to each other to be opened from a closed position in t which the upper base member is positioned above the lower base member, to an opened position in which the base members are in the same plane, each base member having pivoted thereto a plurality of tent frames which in the t t t t closed position of the framework are enclosed within the framework and which by pivoting are erected to form a tent like structure when the framework is opened to the erected position, said frames carrying the tent fabric said ,1"3,5 lower base member to the upper base member.

In a preferred form the assembly may be constructed in either of two forms, a first of which includes a folding galvanised steel frame and attached plywood panels containing the tent and mattresses while protected with a tonneau cover.

.40 This is a basic cost effective design being able to carry extra luggage on top of S5• l Signalure(s) of declarantfs)

NOTE:

No Iegaliialion or other witness required (i) TO: The Commissioner of Datents Ir

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3 the folded assembly under the tonneau cover. The second form is preferably a sealed "suitcase" arrangement constructed from zinc/anneal steel and marine plywood protecting the tent and mattresses from the elements. As the unit is sealed the need for a tonneau cover is eliminated, thus saving time and effort in the erection ot the tent. With this arrangement the sealed unit during storage keeps out vermin such as spiders and mice, and this arrangemnent has the added feature that has the ability to carry a pack rack or dingy on top of the unit.

1 0 In order to more fully describe the invention reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:f C Ct C rI C V C C

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t Ct ,&0 Figure 1 shows the first form of the invention of the frame and the attached plywood panels, Figure 2 shows the second form of the invention of the sealed "suitcase" form, Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but with portion of the broken away to show the frame arrangement in the folded condition, Figure 4 shows the unit as mounted on a trailer, Figure 5 shows the framework of one form of the invention in the erected condition.

Figure 6 shows a side elevation of the tent having the frame work of Figure 5 with the trailer in position, Figure 7 shows two further views with the trailer removed and the base supported on legs, Figure 8 shows the frame work in the erected condition of a further form of the invention, Figure 9 shows a still further form of the invention, I It 4 Figure 10 shows the version of Figure 9 in two perspective views, Figure 11 shows a still further form of the invention, Figure 12 shows another version of the invention, 1 0 Figure 13 shows the version of Figure 12 as a further variant, Figure 14 shows one form of connection, and Figure 15 shows a further form of connection.

Referring to the drawings the invention comprises platform and tent assembly which is a flat rectangular frame work 1 which can readily be stowed and converted into a tent. The frame work comprises two hinged base members 2 and 3 containing an arrangement of pivoting tent frames 4 and an attached fabric In the transportable mode the first base member 3 is located squarely on top of the second base member 2 which is attached to and supported by the transport vehicle 6. The base members are separated and attached in a parallel plane to one another by hinges 7 on one side and by pivoting load bearing latches on the opposite sides. To the. op side of the upper base member 3 are pivoting telescopic legs 9 which can be folded out to support the base member 3 in a plane parallel to the base member 2 in the opened t o C position when the base member is pivoted through 180 degrees and the telescopic legs adjusted to required height and locked in position with a thumb screw to support the platform which thus provides a sleeping berth.

This platform can provide sleeping accommodation for four to six persons and each optional lower berth 10 provides additional accommodation for an 3 5 additional two or three persons.

ci The perimeter of the platform has a rail on three sides to attach the tent fabric while on the fourth side of the platform pivoting tent frames 14 are attached to the inside of each of the base members which form the platform. The frames 14

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'q k 0: ILs~ are pivoted and raised in pairs about an arc inside the tent to positions determined by their fixture location the the inside of the tent roof.

With the larger assembly at least one pair of pivoting tent frames are telescopic extending in an angular plane over the area to the fourth side of the platform.

The telescopic movement of the tent frames is locked by thumb screws to support and adjust the te.nsion of the tent roof and the sides.

In one form of the invention at least one pair of the pivoting frames are 1 0 connected by a hinged frame clamp 15 which allows each frame to pivot at the same time and about the same axis when the base members are pivoted relative to each other on the opening and closing of the base members.

When the frame pairs are once raised into position they are braced together Snear the roof of the tent with further clamps 15a and with larger constructions, after the assembly has been erected as above described, a further frame 17 is erected inside the tent like structure, with an end post 18 against the end wall Sand posts 19 against the side walls. In the embodiment including an awning, S" this forms an extension of the roof and is supported by poles Referring to Figures 14 and 15 the assembly of frame 17 using standard tent poles 20 to 14 is achieved by bending the spike at the top of tent pole 20 to thirty degrees and inserting this inside a holVow section of tubing through a p suitably sized hole. The advantage of this construction is that no holes are required in the canvas to enter the spike therethrough, and the spike is Sprotected inside the tubing.

The increase in sleeping accommodation is complemented with the formation of a large suspended tent uninhibited by vertical pores within the parameter of the living area.This is achieved by the configuration of the pivoting base members each having the pivotal tubular frames extending from one side in vertical and angular planes.

The flat frame work is readily stowable and self supporting on its side against any wall of a garage, carport or house thus taking minimal floor space that would not prevent a vehicle using the same facility. Compared to c, her forms of

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6 campers it is not necessary to own the trailer for example a 6 x 4 trailer can readily be hired form the local service station to carry the tent assembly.

Additional accessories such as beds or camp stretchers are already present with the formation of the base frames, as the mattresses and sleeping bags are stowed in the frame work and are ready for use once the tent is erected, and access to the trailer can be obtained by raising the plywood base situated over the trailer making possible all packing and unpacking from inside the erected tent.

1 0 The base frame construction is preferably of metal section offering a robust support for the affixed plywood panels that from the base of the sleeping Splatform.

4 Ct' While previous campers have been limited in the number of sleeping berths I and living areas, and these have in the past been increased by add-on units such as a zip-on annexe, add-on sides and ground sheet and the erection of more tent poles, it will be realised that all these have been achieved in the design of the present invention r C t i: it: t44

Claims

1. A trailerable camper comprising a vehicle such as a trailer, a flat rectangular framework supported by the trailer, said framework comprising a lower base member and an upper base member hinged to each other to be opened from a closed position in which the upper base member is positioned 1 0 above the lower base member, to an opened position in which the base members are in the same plane, each base member having pivoted thereto a plurality of tent frames which in the closed position of the framework are enclosed within the framework and which by pivoting are erected to form a tent like structure when the framework is opened to the erected position, said 1 5 frames carrying the tent fabric said plurality of tent frames being pivoted in a direction lateral to the hinging of the lower base member to the upper base member.

2. A trailerable camper as defined in claim 1 wherein the lower base member and the upper base member are each open sided boxes so that in the closed position the two members totally enclose the tent frames and the tent fabric. It C

3. A trailerable camper as defined in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the lower base member is supported by and attached to the trailer, the upper base member having a plurality of legs pivoted to its upper surface when in the t t C t L closed position, the legs supporting the upper base member when in the S erected position, the base members in the opened position forming the support for a bed or beds.

4. A trailerable camper as defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein each tent frame is U shaped and pivoted to the sides of the base member adjacent one side thereof, the portions of the sides of adjacent corresponding frame members on the two base members being attached to each other so that they can fold relative to each other and also be secured to each other in the opened position, two pairs of the frame members supporting the tent fabric over the base members and another pair of frame members extending upwardly and outwardly from the base members, said tent fabric being attached to the sides of the base members other than said one side and ,4O the sides adjacent each other.

C t 8 A trailerable camper as defined in claim 4 wherein the another pair of frame members are tolescopic.

6. A trailerable camper as defined in claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the tent fabric extends beyond the another pair of frame members, the tent fabric being supported by a plurality of tent poles remote from the base members.

7. A trailerable camper as defined in claim 6 wherein the tent poles support the tent fabric at locations spaced from the base members so that an extended 1 0 area is covered by the tent fabric, various of these tent poles being telescopic. S

,8 .A trailerable camper as defined in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which bracing clamps are provided to brace the tent frame pairs when in the erected position. I 5

9. A trailerable camper as defined in claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the tent posts on the end or sides of the tent have a bent spike at their upper ends to be inserted into a suitable sized hole in the respective frame so that the pole spike does not protrude through a hole in the tent fabric.

10. A trailerable camper as defined in any une of the preceding claims wherein the lower base member has extendable legs to support the lower base member so that the trailer may be removed.

11. A trailerable camper as defined in any one of the preceding claims and including sleeping berths beneath the upper and/or lower base members.

12. A trailerable camper substantially as hereinbefore described with C reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 28th day of August 1989 PETER JAMES KAESLER By his Patent Attorneys COLLISON CO. t I 1