AU710698B2 - Recreational vehicle - Google Patents

Description

RECREATIONAL

VEHICLE

This invention relates to improvements in caravans and in particular to improvements in extendable caravans or motor homes.

Over the years there have been various proposals made relating to modification of the effective sizes of caravans when used, as against when being towed, and these have had to do with 000* S both the length and the height of the caravan.

The present invention has to do with the first of these, that is the variation in length of the caravan between when it is being towed and when it is being used.

00 0 The object of the invention is to provide a caravan which can be of different effective lengths when being towed as against when being used but which, at the same time, can be useable Seven when in its shorter configuration.

A further object is to provide a caravan of this type in which the change in orientation is effectively and easily done and in which, unlike previous caravan extension designs, the extensible portion can be constructed substantially of rigid materials rather than canvas or flexible synthetic materials such as have been previously used.

WP51/SPEC/LEIGH.CAP/BV/6 May, 1996 The invention, in its broadest sense, includes a caravan or motorhome having a body portion adapted to be moved from a first position at which it is close to the main body of the caravan or motorhome to a second position where its base is moved outwardly therefrom, the portion having a floor subassembly such that when the body portion is in the second position it forms an extension to the caravan or motorhome.

5' It is preferred that the body portion includes an end wall r which is connected by way of hinge members to the upper rear Sees edge of the main body portion so that, when in the first position, the body portion abuts the rear frame of the caravan and in the second position the end wall constitutes the hypotenuse of a triangularly shaped annexure to the caravan S hinged at the lower end of the end wall to the exterior edge of the base of the body portion. A gas strut or equivalent means may be provided.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood a preferred embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings and for convenience will be described in terms of a caravan extension however it is to be understood that such a description is intended to include motorhomes: Fig. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the caravan rear body portion when fully extended.

WP51/SPEC/LEIGH.CAP/BV/6 May, 1996 Fig. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the caravan rear portion when nearly fully extended.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the caravan rear portion when partially closed.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the caravan rear portion when fully' folded and closely abutting the rear of the basic caravan.

eeom Fig. 5 shows a plan view of the sides of the caravan rear portion when the sides are folded down in the storage position.

•C o Fig. 6 shows a schematic vertical cross-sectional view through the caravan rear portion.

In this preferred embodiment of the invention, when in its folded position (Fig. the extensible portion of the caravan includes a rear module 10 which has portions 13, 11 and 12 shaped to provide headroom above the bed 20 and bedside cupboard This rear extensible module is provided with a frame of rectangular steel tubing, although any appropriate framing may be used, which is bolted to the rear of a caravan or motorhome WP51/SPEC/LEIGH.CAP/BV/6 May, 1996 in place of a rear wall. Another framework of steel tubing surrounds rear module 10 and is used to attach rear module to the upper edge of the caravan by means of a sturdy "piano" type hinge.

Module 10 is hinged to the floor module 50 through a hinge or hinges 15 which are covered and protected by the lower portion 14 of the rear module 10 as shown in Figure 2. In addition the hinges 15 may be covered by a waterproof flexible material, preferably synthetic, to weatherproof this connection.

@000 00 The floor module 50 features a bed 20 on top of a base 51 which acts as a storage cupboard. When the extensible portion of the caravan is in its closed position (Fig. 4) the bed is stored vertically, and located internally to the rear of the

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caravan, and access to the storage space 51 is provided through face 52.

It can be seen also in Figure 2 that when the bed and storage cupboard are in this upright position the edge 52 of the cupboard effectively forms the inner rear face of the caravan.

In the preferred embodiment bedside storage cabinets 300 are provided on either side of the bed 20 and storage cupboard base 51.

WP51/SPEC/LEIGH.CAP/BV/6 May, 1996 When the rear portion is fully extended access to the storage space 51 can still be obtained through an opening or door in face 53.

When the rear portion is fully extended it can be stored by lifting handle 70 near the base of the bed which causes the inside edge of floor module 50 to rise and pivot about pivot point 62 on pivoting support member 60 with the aid of gas 0 strut 80. In the preferred embodiment of the invention there are pivoting support members 60 on either side of the 0000 extension base 50 with a gas strut 80 on each side however any effective number and combination of such members and struts can be used.

The side walls 100 of the extension (as shown in Figures 5 and 0000 0000 6) are hinged so that they fold out from the lower sides 250 of the floor module and when in the storage position lie above the surface of the bed 20 and side storage cupboards 300 (Fig.

When the extension is fully extended the diagonal edges 102 of the two sides can abut the complementary sides 16 of module and in this embodiment of the invention are fastened thereto with metal clips, however any appropriate method of attachment may be used.

WP51/SPEC/LEIGH.CAP/BV/6 May, 1996 The side walls 100 in this embodiment are constructed with a polystyrene sandwich between an aluminium outer skin and timber panelling on the inside. Once again any appropriate materials could be chosen including plastic however the materials used in this embodiment provide walls which have both rigidity and good insulation properties.

In practice any desired material could be used and in other S embodiments of the invention it is envisaged that if the sides were constructed of some flexible material they could be 600* permanently affixed between the caravan rear edges 101 and edge 16 of rear module The side members 100 when erected are covered at their top edges by waterproof flexible membrane 90. They are also 0S e 0o0o provided with operable windows 150.

When the extension is in its closed position (Fig. 4) the edges 16 of the rear module 10 firmly abut the caravan rear edge 101 and may be affixed thereto using overcentre fasteners or other effective attachment methods if desired however the extension of gas struts 80 helps to lock the rear module 19 against the rear face of the caravan.

In this embodiment further weatherproofing for the sides is provided by a collapsible reinforced plastic membrane 90 which WP51/SPEC/LEIGH.CAP/BV/6 May, 1996 is permanently affixed to the upper caravan edge 101 and upper edge 16 of module The main body of the caravan or motorhome may be considered to be effectively conventional, a caravan having a chassis with a forwardly extending draw bar and road wheels located on the chassis.

0 In the specific embodiment of the caravan discussed here there may be tandem road wheels and they may be fitted close to the

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rear of the normal body portion.

The location of these wheels at this relatively rearward positioned ensures that the caravan tows effectively and well S. and, that at the same time, enables relatively easy general *006 •6 handling of the caravan as when reverse parking or the like.

Where a smaller base caravan assembly is to be used there may be only a single pair of road wheels.

In order to support the rear extension when in use the caravan may be provided with conventional caravan wind down jack assemblies 200 which are basically vertically located when in operation and which can lie against, or in recesses in, the member when in the travelling position. Alternatively these could be in the form of feet like members which can be rotated around and arc from a position in which they are adjacent the WP51/SPEC/LEIGH.CAP/BV/6 May, 1996 surface of the portion to a position at which they are in contact with the ground at an angle from the rear caravan portion.

Such assemblies are widely used in the caravan industry and will not be described further. It is also a feature of the invention that the extensible rear module of the invention could be readily adapted to most caravan or motorhome designs.

It will be appreciated that when the caravan is in its towing configuration all the basic features of the caravan not S. included in the extensible portion these can all be fully useable even though the caravan is in its towing position.

Thus if the user is simply wishes to stop to have a rest, to cook a meal, or to use the toilet these are completely accessible.

It is to be appreciated that the internal layout is not in itself part of the invention but is simply ancillary thereto.

Also there can be many variations in the actual interconnection of the various components which enable the caravan or motorhome to adopt its two positions, the main matter being that it is essential that the various components are sealed both when the caravan is being driven and when it WP51/SPEC/LEIGH.CAP/BV/6 May, 1996 is in its extended position to enable the comfort of the users to be fully maintained.

The extensible body portion need not necessarily be constrained to the rear only of a caravan or motorhome however, if its size was to be in any way substantial, problems of windage would arise if it were not located at the rear.

0S 0 In any event it is envisaged that other embodiments of the invention will exhibit any number of and any combination of the features previously described.

Whilst we have described herein one specific embodiment of the invention it is to be understood that variations and modifications in this can be made without departing from the S. spirit and scope thereof and that all such variations and modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the invention.

invention.

WP51/SPEC/LEIGH.CAP/BV/6 May, 1996 1 ~16 The claims defining the invention are as follows: 1. A caravan or motorhome having a body portion connected by hinges to an upper edge thereof, said body portion including a first body member connected by hinges to a second body member, said body portion being adapted to be moved from a first position at which it is close to the main body of the caravan or motorhome, with both body members substantially vertical, to a second position such that the first body member extends diagonally outwards from the caravan or motorhome and the second body member forms a base of an extension to the caravan or motorhome.

a.

2. A caravan or motorhome as claimed in claim 1 wherein the a.* body portion is at the rear of the caravan or motorhome and the first body member acts as its rear wall when in the first position.

3. A caravan or motorhome as claimed in claim 2 having a body portion in which the second body member comprises a floor module which is located internally to the caravan or motorhome which floor module has a base which constitutes the inner rear wall of the caravan or motorhome when the body portion is in its first position.

motorhome when the body portion is in its first position.

Claims (6)

1. 4. A caravan or motorhome having as claimed in claim 3 in which the floor module includes a bed overlying a storage component. A caravan or motorhome having a body portion as claimed in claim 3 in which the floor module is connected to the caravan or motorhome by a pivoting support member on at least one side thereof.
2. 6. A caravan or motorhome having a body portion as claimed in claim 5 the movement of which body portion is assisted by at least one gas strut connected between the base of a. i the caravan or motorhome and the floor module.
3. 7. A caravan or motorhome having a body portion as claimed .in any preceding claim which includes side members which can be attached between the caravan or motorhome and the body portion on either side.
4. 8. A caravan or motorhome having a body portion as claimed in claim 7 in which the sides members are relatively rigid.
5. 9. A caravan or motorhome having a body portion as claimed in claim 2 in which the hinges are covered by some flexible waterproof material. hr Il1 =i 13 A caravan or motorhome having a body portion as claimed in claim 1 in which the body portion in its second position provides an effectively triangularly shaped extension to the caravan or motorhome.
6. 11. A caravan or motorhome substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 4@ I I. a. a. a I a a I I DATED THIS 6th DAY OF MAY 1996 ARTHUR DONALD LEIGH By his Patent Attorneys A. TATLOCK ASSOCIATES 1111 14 ABSTRACT A caravan or motorhome having a body portion adapted to be moved from a first position at which it is close to the main body of the caravan or motorhome to a second position where its base is moved outwardly therefrom, the portion having a floor sub-assembly such that when the body portion is in the second position it forms an effectively triangularly shaped extension to the caravan or motorhome. This floor assembly can comprise a bed overlying a cupboard such that when the caravan or motorhome is in its towing or moving position the base of the floor assembly is vertical and forms the rear of the inside of the caravan or motorhome. e S a** a WP51/SPEC/LEIGH.CAP/BV/6 May, 1996