AU704771B2 - A camping trailer - Google Patents

Description

45986 AWT:KP P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: TABONE NOMINEES PTY. LTD.

Name of inventor(s): FRANK JAMES TABONE Address for Service: COLLISON CO., 117 King William Street, Adelaide, S.A. 5000 Invention Title: A CAMPING TRAILER Details of Associated Provisional Applications: PN7296 dated 22nd December 1995 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 2 TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to vehicles for use for camping and more particularly to accommodation vehicles for such a purpose of the type known as camping trailers.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Caravans which include all their accommodation and facilities within an outer shell have been built in the past but caravans are heavy to tow and for the more adventurous camper they can be difficult to tow to out of the way places.

There has, therefore, been proposed camping trailers in which all of the requirements for camping can be stored on a relatively easy to tow trailer which has a cover or top which can be opened out or unfolded when it is required to be used. The main or only bed for such trailers if it is included on the trailer has usually been within the body of the trailer and this restricts the amount of permanent installations that can be for other functions of camping 15 such as food preparation which can be placed in or on the trailer.

A bed in such a position, therefore, is somewhat restrictive At the same time, however, it is desirable to have a bed associated with the camping trailer which is solid and off the ground and preferably can be left made up for sleeping in between uses.

It is the object or one of the objects of this invention to provide a camping trailer arrangement which will provide such desirable features.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In one form, therefore, the invention is said to reside in a camping trailer of a type including a body, ground engaging wheels and a forwardly positioned and extending towing attachment, the trailer including a bed assembly positioned within the trailer in a travel position when the trailer is adapted for travelling but moveable to a use position outside the trailer for use as a bed, N characterised by the bed assembly being mounted on a track arrangement and the track arrangement being mounted in the trailer whereby the bed assembly is slid out along the track arrangement between the travel position and the use position.

It will be seen that by this invention there is provided an arrangement where everything is stowed within the trailer for travel but when it is desired to use the bed or to set up to camp for the night the bed can be slid out utilising the track arrangement to a position outside the trailer for use.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention the bed assembly remains fastened to the track arrangement at least one end thereof when it is in the use 1 0 position.

Preferably the track arrangement and the bed assembly are so positioned within the camping trailer that they are drawn out from the rear of the trailer.

Alternatively the track arrangement and the bed assembly can be drawn out to one side such as to the near side of the camping trailer.

1 5 The trailer may include a door or hatch at the rear or side which is dust sealed and able to be opened to reveal the track arrangement and bed assembly.

i iThe tracK arrangement may include legs at least at the end remote from the trailer when extended. When the track arrangement and the bed assembly is Spulled out from the trailer the legs may be extended to support the bed at least one end. It is desirable of course to have variable length legs for it is inevitable that camping is done on uneven ground. The legs may be attached to the track arrangement or they may be separate and adapted to be fitted into position when required.

In one embodiment of the invention the track arrangement is telescopic, that is, it is made up from a number of inter-engaged segments and includes legs "at the end remote from the trailer when extended. When the telescopic track arrangement and the bed assembly is pulled out from the trailer the legs may be extended to support the bed at least one end. It is desirable to have variable length legs. The legs may be attached to the telescopic track arrangement or they may be separate and adapted to be fitted into position S when required.

4 There may be provided extra legs so that if desired the bed can be detached from the track arrangement and supported on its own legs so that the trailer can be moved if necessary.

The bed assembly may include extra legs so that if it is of a type which is opened out for use after being extracted then the bed can be supported at the corners to provide good stability.

In a preferred form of the invention the track arrangement may include a locking arrangement so that the track arrangement cannot retract when positioned in the use position. The locking arrangement may be mounted to 1 0 the track arrangement and act against the trailer or the door or hatch.

In a preferred form of the invention the track arrangement may be enabled to be pulled out from the camping trailer as a first stage and then the bed assembly slid out onto the track arrangement for setting up of the bed as a second stage.

1 5 The actual arrangement of the bed in the bed assembly can be done in several ways depending upon the amount of accommodation required.

In one form the bed assembly may comprise a single or double bed which can be merely pulled from the trailer on the track arrangement and used.

In another arrangement the bed assembly may be folded substantially in 2 0 halves either laterally or longitudinally so that when it is pulled from the trailer it can then be opened out to be supported on the track arrangement and the legs and to provide a double or larger bed.

In yet another embodiment the bed assembly may be of a sufficient size that when it is pulled out of the trailer and opened out it may provide two double beds.

In one preferred embodiment the bed assembly may be mounted onto a turntable assembly on the track arrangement so that it may be pulled longitudinally out of the trailer on the track arrangement and then turned around in a horizontal plane on the turntable assembly on a vertical axis and 3 0 then opened out to provide a double bed or two double beds.

1=~ The turntable assembly may be mounted onto the track arrangement on a sliding arrangement so that in the stowed position the turntable assembly is in a first position on the track arrangement and in the turned and opened position of the bed assembly the turntable assembly is in a second position on the track arrangement. Locking means may be provided to maintain the turntable assembly and hence the bed assembly fixed for use.

The bed assembly may include foldable frames and a tent structure which are fixed to the bed assembly and stored within the bed assembly when it is stowed. When the track arrangement and the bed assembly is pulled out of 1 0 the trailer and the bed assembly is opened out then the tent frames may be hinged out from the bed assembly with the tent structure covering over them to provide shelter for sleeping and a living area adjacent the bed or beds. Such a tent structure arrangement may include doors and windows as is conventional.

1 5 The camping trailer may include doors or hatches which can be opened from .oeo either side of the camping trailer to reveal a storage area on one side and a kitchen or food preparation area on the other side. Underneath the trailer there may be room for water storage tanks and the like.

The hatch from which the track arrangement and the bed assembly is extracted may have a door covering it so that it is dust sealed during travel.

This door may include a mounting arrangement for mounting a spare wheel.

The size of the trailer may be any convenient size but preferably it is of a o°4, length sufficient to include the required length of a bed longitudinally within o€ the camping trailer. For instance the trailer may be 1800 mm long by 1500 25 mm wide or longer or wider if required.

In a further form the invention is said to reside in a camping trailer having a •4 body, ground engaging wheels and a forwardly positioned towing arrangement the body including openable hatch doors on either side to provide access to a kitchen area and a storage area respectively and a rear hatch door at the rear of the trailer, the trailer including a track arrangement and the bed assembly within the trailer, the rear hatch door being openable to reveal the track arrangement which can be withdrawn from the rear of the Z trailer to provide support for the bed assembly, the bed -o I 6 assembly being adapted to be slid with the track arrangement and then rotated through 900 in a horizontal plane and opened out to provide a pair of double beds outside the trailer, the bed assembly including tent frames and the tent structure which can be opened up to provide shelter for the double beds and a living area adjacent the double beds.

This then generally describes the invention but to assist with understanding reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show the preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 1 0 In the drawings: FIG 1 shows a first embodiment of a camping trailer according to this invention; FIG 2 shows the embodiment of FIG 1 with the bed assembly partially extracted; 1 5 FIG 3 shows the embodiment of FIG 1 with the bed assembly fully .extracted; FIG 4 shows the camping trailer of FIG 1 with the bed fully extracted tl"and opened; FIG 5 shows an alternative embodiment of camping trailer according to this invention with the bed and track arrangement partially F extracted; ,00 FIG shows the embodiment of FIG 5 with the bed fully extracted and rotated through 900; FIG 7 shows the embodiment of FIGS 5 and 6 with the bed opened out and a tent arrangement opened above it; "FIG 8 shows a schematic view of a camping trailer with particular reference to the track arrcingement and bed assembly; i: 7 FIG 9 shows the embodiment of FIG 8 with the track arrangement partially extracted from the trailer; FIG 10 shows the embodiment of FIG 8 with the track arrangement and bed assembly fully extracted; FIG 11 shows the embodiment of FIG 10 with the bed rotated and opened out and tent assembly opened; FIG 12 shows a schematic view of a further embodiment of a camping trailer according to this invention; FIG 13 shows a schematic view of a still further embodiment of a camping 1 0 trailer according to this invention with the bed arrangement extracted; FIG 14 shows a schematic view of a further camping trailer with particular reference to the track arrangement and bed assembly with the bed arangement extracted; 1 5 FIG 15 shows the embodiment of FIG 14 with the track arrangement partially extracted from the trailer; FIG 16 shows the embodiment of FIG 14 with the track arrangement and bed assembly fully extracted; FIG 17 shows the embodiment of FIG 14 with the bed partially rotated; FIG 18 shows the embodiment of FIG 14 with the bed fully rotated and moved towards the trailer; and FIG 19 shows the embodiment of FIG 14 with the bed fully rotated and opened and the tent structure opened out.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Now looking at the drawings in more detail it will be seen that the camping trailer in FIGS 1 to 4 comprises a body 1 and ground engaging wheels 2. On *btSA

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*t4* 1 4 "9Rasgllepll~p~.---Nunn Ii 4i 0 8 each side of the camping trailer large hatch doors 3 and 4 can be opened as particularly shown in FIG 2 to reveal a storage area 5 on one side and a kitchen area 6 on the other with for instance a kitchen sink 7 within it. A cooker and other components for storage such as racks may be also provided in this area. Support legs 17 are provided at the rear of the trailer to provide support when the bed is set up.

At the rear end of the trailer a door 10 can be opened to reveal a bed assembly 11 which is mounted on a track arrangement within the trailer so that it can be pulled out as progressively shown in FIGS 2 and 3. When the 1 0 bed assembly has been extracted, legs 14, as can be seen in FIG 3, can be mounted onto the bed assembly or swung out from a stowed position underneath the bed assembly to support the end of the bed assembly remote from the trailer. The other end of the bed assembly remains supported within the trailer n the track arrangement but the bed is completely outside the 1 5 trailer.

As can be seen in FIG 4 the bed assembly is folded in two halves and has been opened out to provide a space 12 large enough for the mattress of a bed.

Shown in dotted lines in FIG 4 in this embodiment there is a tent structure 2 0 which can be extended above the bed to provide shelter for sleeping and a i living area 16 adjacent the bed 11.

i As can be seen in FIGS 5, 6 and 7 in an alternative embodiment of the invention the camping trailer 20 has a track arrangement 21 which can be arrangement has been fully extracted the bed assembly 24 can be pulled out and as shown in FIG 6 can be rotated through 900 so that the length of the bed assembly is transverse to the direction of travel of the trailer. The bed i assembly can then be opened out to provide a bed area 25 within the bed i assembly 24.

Also positioned within the bed assembly when stowed are tent frame poles 26 which can be lifted up to support a tent 27 shown by dotted lines. It will be noted that there are pairs of frames 26 with one each of each frame adapted to be folded into half of the bed assembly.

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t 9 To support the bed assembly there may be legs 28 on the track and legs 29 mounted onto the bed assembly 24.

FIGS 8 to 11 show plan view schematic views of another embodiment of a camping trailer. The various stages of opening out the bed for use are shown consecutively.

k The trailer has a body 30, a forwardly positioned towing arrangement 31 and wheels 32.

When it is desired to extract the bed for camping the hatch 33 at the rear of the trailer is opened and the track arrangement 34 is withdrawn. In this 1 0 embodiment the track arrangement comprises three components. A first component 35 comprises two rails fixed within the trailer. A second component 36 is first travelling rails which travel longitudinally along the rails and are fixed for other than this longitudinal movement with respect to the rails 35. A third component is a further pair of rails 37 which are fixed to the bed assembly 38 by means of a turntable 39 and which are adapted to travel longitudinally on the rails 36 and are fixed for all other than this longitudinal movement with respect to the rails 36.

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The rails 35, 36 and 37 together provide a telescopic track arrangement by which the bed assembly can be completely withdrawn from being within the trailer to outside the trailer so that the bed can be opened out for use while still being supported on the track arrangement.

Once the bed assembly 38 has been fully withdrawn from the camping trailer it jcan be rotated on turntable 39 and opened out to the arrangement as shown in FIG 11. Once the bed assembly has been opened out then the tent shown in dotted lines can be then opened out to provide a shelter over the bed 38 and a living area 41.

FIG 12 shows an embodiment of a camping trailer according to this invention in which two double beds 50 and 51 are in a bed assembly which can be i withdrawn from a camping trailer 52 and a tent 53 which can be opened out to iA provide shelter over the double beds 50 and 51 and living space 54.

FIG 13 shows a smaller arrangement where the camping trailer 60 has a Ol c d' S1, double bed 61 extracted from it and a tent 62 opened sideways from the bed to provide a living space 63 and shelter over the bed 61. In this embodiment the bed at the stage that it is useable remains in the sam. longitudinal configuration as it is stowed.

FIGS 14 to 19 show a further embodiment of the invention in various stages of extracting and opening of the bed.

In FIG 14 the bed assembly 70 shown by a dotted line is suitably positioned within the trailer body 71 when the bed is stowed for travel. The trailer has wheels 72 and a towing frame 73.

1 0 Within the trailer are fixed rails 74 and a moving frame 75, the fixed rail 74 and the moving frame 75 together comprising the track arrangement.

As shown in FIG 15 the door 76 at the rear of the trailer has been opened ,nd the moving frame 75 and the bed assembly 70 have been partially withdrawn from the rear of the trailer.

15 As shown in FIG 16 the bed assembly 70 has been completely withdrawn from rear of the trailer but the moving frame 75 is still supported at one end of the S"fixed rails 74. The bed assembly 70 is supported on the moving frame 75 by a turntable assembly generally shown as 78. The turntable pivot is in the centre both longitudinally and in width of the bed assembly 70. The turntable assembly 78 is supported on a pair of rails 79 for longitudinal movement with respect to the moving frame jo As shown in FIG 17 the bed assembly is rotated on the turntable pivot 80 while the moving frame 75 remains extending from the rear of the trailer.

As shown in FIG 18 once the bed assembly 70 is at right angles to the moving frame 75 it is slid towards the trailer so that the turntable assembly 78 moves along the rails 79. Extension pieces 82 are placed on the ends of the moving frame 75 and then as shown in FIG 19 the bed assembly 70 is opened out i with hinges along the side 83. A locking arrangement 85 prevents the moving frame 75 from moving along the fixed rails 74 with the bed open. A tent assembly 86 can then be opened out over the bed assembly ,x 11 When it is desired to close up the bed the tent assembly 86 is folded back down into the bed assembly 70 and then the bed assembly 70 is pulled out away from the trailer and then rotated so that the bed assembly is parallel to the moving frame 75. The extension pieces 82 are taken off and then the locking mechanism 85 is disengaged and the moving frame and bed assembly pushed in together into the trailer along the fixed rails 74 to the position as shown in FIG 14.

It will be seen generally by this invention that there is provided a camping trailer where there is economic use of space because the bed is stored 1 0 underneath the main storage and food preparation area of the tfi, nd is extracted out to behind the trailer for use.

As discussed above if it is required to remove the trailer the bed assembly can be disconnected from the trailer and left standing while the trailer is used for other purposes.

1 5 Throughout this specification and the claims that follow unless the context requires otherwise, the words 'comprise' and 'include' and variations such as 'comprising' and 'including' will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

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Claims (17)

1. A camping trailer of a type including a body, ground engaging wheels and a forwardly positioned and extending towing attachment, the trailer including a bed assembly positioned within the trailer in a travel position when the trailer is adapted for travelling but moveable to a use position outside the trailer for use as a bed, characterised by the bed assembly being mounted on a track arrangement and the track arrangement being mounted in the trailer whereby the bed assembly is slid out along the track arrangement between the travel position and the use position.

2. A camping trailer as in Claim 1 wherein the bed assembly remains fastened to the track arrangement at least one end thereof when it is in the use position.

3. A camping trailer as in Claim 1 wherein the track arrangement and the bed assembly are so positioned within the camping trailer that they are 1 5 drawn out from the rear of the trailer. 0.

4. A camping trailer as in Claim 1 wherein the trailer includes a dooi or hatch at the rear or side of the trailer which door is dust sealed and able to be opened to reveal the track arrangement and bed assembly.

A camping trailer as in Claim 1 wherein the track arrangement includes legs at least at the end remote from the trailer when extended.

6. A camping trailer as in Claim 5 wherein the legs have variable lengths.

7. A camping trailer as in Claim 5 wherein the legs are attached to the .track arrangement. i

8. A camping trailer as in Claim 5 wherein the legs are separate from the track arrangement and adapted to be fitted into position on the track A/ arrangement when required. 13

9. A camping trailer as in any one preceding claim wherein the track arrangement is telescopic being made up from a number of inter engaged segments and including legs at the end remote from the trailer when extended.

10. A camping trailer as in any one preceding claim wherein the track arrangement includes a locking arrangement so that the track arrangement cannot retract when positioned in the use position.

11. A camping trailer as in any one preceding claim wherein the track arrangement is adapted to be pulled out from the camping trailer as a first i 0 stage and then the bed assembly slid out onto the track arrangement for setting up of the bed as a second stage.

12. A camping trailer as in any one preceding claim wherein the bed assembly is folded substantially in halves either laterally or longitudinally so that when it is pulled from the trailer it can then be opened out to be supported et.. on the track arrangement and to provide a double or larger bed.

13. A camping trailer as in any one preceding claim wherein the bed A assembly is mounted onto a turntable assembly on the track arrangement so that it may be pulled longitudinally out of the trailer on the track arrangement and then turned around in a horizontal plane on the turntable assembly on a vertical axis and then opened out to provide a double bed or two double beds.

14. A camping trailer as in Claim 13 wherein the turntable assembly is mounted onto the track arrangement on a sliding arrangement so that in the ,stowed position the turntable assembly is in a first position on the track arrangement and in the turned and opened position of the bed assembly the turntable assembly is in a second position on the track a& angement. St"

15. A camping trailer as in any one preceding claim wherein the bed assembly includes foldable frames and a tent structure which are fixed to the bed assembly and stored within the bed assembly when it is stowed and which foldable frames may be hinged out from the bed assembly with the tent 0 structure covering over them to provide shelter for sleeping and a living area adjacent the bed or beds. 32 14

16. A camping trailer having a body, ground engaging wheels and a forwardly positioned towing arrangement the body including openable hatch doors on either side to provide access to a kitchen area and a storage area respectively and a rear hatch door at the rear of the trailer, the trailer including a track arrangement and the bed assembly within the trailer, the rear hatch door being openable to reveal the track arrangement which can be withdrawn from the rear of the trailer to provide support for the bed assembly, the bed assembly being adapted to be slid with the track arrangement and then rotated through 900 in a horizontal plane and opened out to provide a pair of 1 0 double beds outside the trailer, the bed assembly including tent frames and the tent structure which can be opened up to provide shelter for the double beds and a living area adjacent the double beds.

17. A camping trailer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in any one set of Figures 1 to 4, Figures 5 to 7 and Figures 8 to 11. .,Dated this 19th day of February 1999 TABONE NOMINEES PTY. LTD. By their Patent Attorneys, COLLISON CO. a C t