AU615506B2

AU615506B2 - Improved vehicle

Info

Publication number: AU615506B2
Application number: AU28315/89A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Lawrence Malcolm Wedgewood
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-01-07
Filing date: 1989-01-09
Publication date: 1991-10-03
Anticipated expiration: 2009-01-09
Also published as: AU2831589A

Description

11111 1liii IIt 1 6.15 5 06 OF A UST RA L ,A CO 14 0 H 0 14 W E A L T H PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (Original) FOR OFFICE USE Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority: 0 0'0 0 .00 -0

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0S 0 0* *0 0 0 Related Art: Name of Applicant: LAWRENCE MALCOLM WEDGEWOOD Address of Applicant: Flat 8 No. 46 Princess Highway, Dandenpng, 3175, In the State of Victoria, Commonwealth-bf Australia Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: DAVIES COLLISION, Patent Attorneys, 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000.

Complete specification for the invention entitled: "VIMPROVED VEHICLE" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performingj it known too j 4 1 e:9; -1- Davies Collison, Melbourne and Canberra. L la "IMPROVED VEHICLE" This invention relates generally to vehicles and more particularly, though not exclusively to vehicles such as, for example, caravans or the like.

The problems associated with wind resistance on caravans and similar towed vehicles are well documented. There have been several proposals for caravans having pop-up roofs which can be lowered when the caravan is being towed, however, these are generally complicated and therefore relatively expensive.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved vehicle which alleviates the aforementioned problem.

According to the present invention there is provided a vehicle comprising a main body which includes a base and upper wall sections operatively connected to said base so as to be movable between an upright position in which said upper wall sections are generally upright and extend above said base and a retracted position in which said upper wall sections are so disposed that the distance said upper wall sections extend above said base is reduced, the vehicle further including a roof assembly, said roof assembly including a guide operatively connected to said main body with at least a section of said guide being connected to said upper wall sections a and a flexible roof panel adapted to co-operate with said guide for movement therealong so as to be capable of adopting an erected position in which it is engaged with said section of said guide and overlies at least a part of said main body and a f stored position in which said flexible roof panel is disengaged from said section of said guide and is disposed in a storage zone, said upper wall sections being capable of being moved into said retracted position when said roof panel is disengaged from said section of said guide.

9 Q910710,vmpc.008,wcgcwood, l aftestation required) required) LAWRENCE MALCOLM WEDGEWOOD 1 r Nolt Initi l a ll iteralions.

DAVIES (OLLISON, MELBOURNE and CANBERRA WA* 64 1r 1 0 -2- The upper wall sections of the main body nay be hingedly connected to the base so that in the retracted position they are arranged in a generally flat disposition.

Thus in this position the upper wall sections can form a cover over the base when in the retracted position. These can be locked in this position by any suitable means and a seal may be provided between the adjacent edges in the case, for example, where the upper wall sections are disposed on opposite sides of the base.

The guide may comprise a pair of spaced apart generally parallel guide tracks each being adapted to receive a respective side edge portion of the flexible roof panel so as to be capable of movement therealong between the erected and stored positions.

In one form the guide may comprise a section of each guide track which is secured to a respective one of the upper wall sections. A further section of each guide track may be secured to the base this further section being at least partially disposed within the storage zone, this section and the further section of each guide track co-operating to permit the roof panel to move therealong between the erected and stored positions.

Preferably the two sections of each guide track may have at least one'open end these open ends being disposed adjacent to one another so that the roof panel can p;ass from one section to the other.

The guide tracks may be generally channel shaped in cross-section the open side of each channel shaped guide track providing an access opening for receiving the respective side edges of the flexible roof panel. The base may comprise a bottom wall and a floor disposed above the bottom wall thereby forming a compartment therebet-veen defining said storage zone. The base may further comprise upstanding wall sections and the upper wall sections may be operatively connected to said wall sections of the base.

It will be appreciated that the vehicle of the present invention can alleviate the I need for complicated cabling for raising and lowering the roof panel, nor is there a requirement for providing a storage drain as is the case with many prior art devices.

I 1 it -3and a floor disposed above the bottom wjl- ar-s to form a compartment ie ween this compartment defi-tia -estorage zone.

In one form the flexible roof panel may comprise a plurality of interconnected elements which provide for flexibility in the normal direction of movement of the roof panel whilst providing more rigidity in the other direction.

Actuating means may be provided for moving the upper wall sections of the main body between the upright and retracted positions. Such actuating means may be in the form of an hydraulic piston/cylinder *e assembly and/or one or more manually operated lever mechanisms.

15 A preferred embodiment of the invention will hereinafter be d-scribed with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a vehicle according to the present invention with the upper wall sections of the main body being shown :in the upright position and the flexible roof panel being shown partially in the erected position; and Figure 2 is a similar view to that of Figure oc 1 showing the vehicle with the upper wall sections in the retracted position and the roof panel in the stored position.

Referring to the drawings, the vehicle generally indicated at 1 comprises a main body 3 and a roof assembly 10. The roof assembly 10 includes a guide 11 which is operatively connected to the main body 3 and a flexible roof panel 15 which is associated v with the guide 11 for movement therealong between the erected position and the stored position.

The main body 3 comprises a base 4 and upper i A or .1 0

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-4side walls 5 and 6 operatively connected thereto by hinges for movement between the upright position and the retracted position. The base 4 includes side walls 21 and 22 end walls 23 and a base wall 26. A floor 25 is disposed within the base which is spaced from base wall 26 so as to form a compartment 28. Ground engaging wheels 8 are provided and a coupling or hitching section 9 which enables the vehicle to be operatively connected to a driving vehicle so that it can be towed. It will be appreciated however, that in another arrangement, the main body o00000 of the vehicle could form part of the driving vehicle.

0O 00 S* In the form shown however, the vehicle is in the o form of a caravan with the base being supported on 15 a suitable frame or chassey.

The upper side walls 5 and 6 are hingedly connected to sides 21 and 22 of base 4. A door 29 is provided 0000 O :the door being formed of two parts which are also S0 *hinged together so that it can fold with side walls 5 and 6. Windows 16 are provided in upper side walls and 6. A retractable stairway 9 is provided which when not in use, can be retracted into compartment 28.

0000 00 As shown the guide 11 comprises a pair of generally parallel guide tracks 12 each of which include first and second sections 13 and 14. The guide tracks 12 are arranged generally parallel to one another and are operatively connected to the main body 3 with one section 14 being connected to the base 4 and the other section 13 being connected to an upper side wall 5 and 6. As is shown the guide tracks i are generally C-shaped channels with the open side of opposed channels facing one another. Each section further has open ends 17 and 18 which enable the roof panel to pass between from one section to theI iV i

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j *0 *O 00 4 0 4 0 0S S) dl 00 0S*4 04 V S 004 other. It will be appreciated that in an alternative arrangement, the guide tracks could be arranged in the form of a continuous oval shaped element hinged together in two parts or in yet another arrangement the lower section of each guide tracks could be dispensed with completely. As shown, the guide tracks 11 and 12 are in the form of channels which can receive therein runners or similar guide elements (not shown) associated with the side edges of the flexible roof panel.

Preferably the roof panel 15 is in the form of a flexible sheet and may have guide element runners (not shown) disposed along opposite side edges thereof.

In another arrangement, the roof panel may be formed 15 of a plurality of interconnected slats which enable flexibility in one direction and rigidity in the other.

The storage zone 20 is formed by the compartment 28 formed between the floor 25 of the vehicle and 20 the base wall 26. In another arrangement, storage means may be provided and may comprise a rotatable barrel onto and from which the roof panel could be wound or unwound. Conveniently the barrel can be operatively connected to the main body of the vehicle for rotation relative thereto.

Actuating means 30 is provided for causing movement of the roof panel between the stored and erected positions. Such actuating means may be in the form of hydraulic piston/cylinder assemblies 31 and/or manually operated lever mechanisms 31.

Finally it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be incorporated into the various constructions and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit or ambient of the invention.

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Claims

1. A vehicle comprising a main body which includes a base and upper wall sections operatively connected to said base so as to be movable between an upright position in which said upper wall sections are generally upright and extend above said base and a retracted position in which said upper wall sections are so disposed that the distance said upper wall sections extend above said base is reduced, the vehicle further including a roof assembly, said roof assembly including a guide operatively connected to said main body with at least a section of said guide being connected to said upper wall sections and a flexible roof panel adapted to co-operate with said guide for movement therealong so as to be capable to adopting an erected position in which it is engaged with said section of said guide and overlies at least a part of said main body and a stored position in which said flexible roof panel is disengaged from said section of said guide and is disposed in a storage zone, said upper wall sections being capable of being moved into said retracted position when said roof panel is disengaged from said section of said guide.

2. A vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said upper wall sections of said main body are hingedly connected to said base so that in said retracted position they are arranged in a generally flat disposition.

3. A vehicle according to claim 2 wherein said upper wall sections form a cover overlying said base when in said retracted position.

4. A vehicle according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said upper wall sections are disposed on opposite sides of said base. 91070o,Yr*sp. ,wcdgewoad,6 .1 S -7- A vehicle according to any preceding claim wherein said guide comprises a pair of spaced apart generally parallel guide tracks each being adapted to receive a respective side edge portion of said flexible roof panel so as to be capable of movement therealong between said erected and stored positions.

6. A vehicle according to claim 5 wherein said section of said guide comprises a section of each said guide track which is secured to a respective one of said upper wall sections.

7. A vehicle according to claim 6 wherein a further section of each said guide track is secured to said base said further section of said guide track being at lcast partially disposed within said storage zone, said section and said further section of each said guide track co-operating to permit said roof panel to move therealong between the erected and stored positions.

8. A vehicle according to claim 7 wherein said section and said further section of each said guide track has at least one open end said open ends being disposed adjacent to one another so that the roof panel can pass from one said section to the other.

9. A vehicle according to any one of claims 5 to 8 wherein said guide tracks are generally channel shaped in cross-section the open side of each channel shaped guide track providing an access opening for receiving said respective side edges of said flexible roof panel. A vehicle according to any preceding claim wherein said base comprises a bottom wall and a floor disposed above said bottom wall thereby forming a compartment therebetween defining said storage zone. 91Cr7IO(vYwp.0D8,wtdgewood,7 r n I t:' 4 ;rr~u~ S S -8-

11. A vehicle according to claim 10 wherein said base further comprises upstanding wall sections and said upper wall sections are operatively connected to said wall sections of said base.

12. A vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 10th day of July, 1991 LAWRENCE MALCOLM WEDGEWOOD By his Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON 910710,vrspc.008,wedgcwood,8