AU755587B1 - Improvements to caravans - Google Patents

Description

53264 HKS:ZS P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: Name of inventor(s): HERMAN KOOPMAN HERMAN KOOPMAN Address for Service: COLLISON CO.,117 King William Street, Adelaide, S.A. 5000 Invention Title: IMPROVEMENTS TO CARAVANS Details of Associated Provisional Applications: The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: This invention relates to caravans.

FIELD OF INVENTION It is known to provide caravans which provide living accommodation for persons, where the caravan is drawn behind a towing vehicle from place to place.

The reference in this specification to the word "caravan" means a vehicle adapted to provide accommodation for persons and to be intended to be drawn behind a towing vehicle from time to time.

Such caravans are often used spasmodically by users and it is convenient to have a caravan which can be expanded for use, but shifted into a compact state for storage and for transport.

In the case of transport, there is advantage if the external dimensions of a caravan are reduced in that this will provide less wind resistance and, depending upon the overall dimensions chosen, the ability to bring the caravan for transport into a size range acceptable for use on public roads and again, the caravan in a stored position takes up considerably less room if in a compacted state.

A number of attempts have been made hitherto to provide caravans which can have a compact state for transport or storage and an expanded state for use for accommodation.

OBJECT OF THIS INVENTION An object of this invention is to propose a further arrangement to provide for a caravan that can be brought into a compact state when not being used for accommodation purposes, or at the least, it is provided that the public has a useful alternative.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one form of this invention, it can be said to reside in a caravan of a type adapted to be drawn by a vehicle, and including a first part and a second part, a first of these parts being a base part and the second of the parts being an upper part including a roof and downwardly depending sides, adapted when in a compact state to have positioned therein a substantive portion at least of the base part, and in an extended position, to define with the base part, at the least, side walls and a roof of a caravan, and there being at least at one end of the second part, an extension part which includes a further roof portion and downwardly depending sides these being such that together with the said second part, this extension part can be positioned so as to be extended for accommodation purposes, or to be nested within the said second part further characterized in that there is a floor portion which, in the compact state, is positioned within the compact caravan and is supported by the said first part, and in an extended state provides a floor for said extension part.

In preference the floor portion is supported by a slidable support with respect to the said first part in a position fully within but at the top of the said first part and when in an extended position, which can be achieved subsequent to the said second part being raised and the extension part being extended, then extending to be in a position below a respective extension part and provide a floor.

In preference the caravan is further characterized in that the floor is a substantially planar member that in both the compact and extended states of the caravan, is arranged and supported so that it will be kept substantially horizontal. In preference, there are two extension parts there being an extension part for each end of the said second part.

In preference, there is an extendible floor portion which, in a compact state, is positioned within the compact caravan and is supported by the said first part, and in an extended state provides a floor for each respective extension part.

In preference, at least one of the extension parts has a roof, two side walls depending from the roof, and an end wall extending from an end of the roof .k .defining thereby a substantially rectilinear space.

In preference, at least one of the extension parts is adapted to be moved from a storage position with relation to the second part to an extended position, by being slidably supported by the said second part and such that its roof and walls are dimensioned so that they will, together, fit between the walls and roof of the said second part.

In preference, each of the extension parts when in a compacted state with respect to the second part, will be supported by the said second part and such thereby that when the second part is raised or lowered with respect to the base part, then the said extension parts will be moved with the said second part.

In preference, there are means to effect a lifting or lowering of the said second part with respect to the said first part and while such an arrangement can be varied, this can include lifting jacks located between the respective parts.

In preference, the extension floor is supported by the base part and is adapted to be moved into an extended position beneath its respective extension part when the second part is in an elevated position and when the respective extension part is in an extended position.

In preference, appropriate openings including doors and windows are located in respective walls in accordance with conventional techniques.

For a better understanding of this invention it will now be described with the assistance of drawings wherein: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the caravan of this embodiment in a compact state; FIG. 2 illustrates the same caravan as in FIG. 1 in which the caravan is shown in perspective in a first extended position; FIG 3 is a perspective view of the caravan in a fully extended state; FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the caravan when in the compact state as shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a caravan when in its extended state as shown in FIG. 2; FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along the lines 5-5 as shown in FIG. 1; and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view along the lines 6-6 as shown in FIG. 2, and FIG 8 is a cross sectional view along the lines 8-8 in FIG 3.

Now referring to the drawings in detail, the caravan 1 is of a type intended to be drawn behind a conventional motor vehicle and therefore includes conventional chassis with wheels 2 and a draft frame 3.

In this embodiment, the construction is conventional which includes a frame with appropriate cladding such as external aluminium and internal board.

The caravan 1 has a first part 5 which includes two side walls 6 and 7 and two end walls 8 and 9 each of which project from a floor 10 to a height that is approximately half the full height that might be expected to be provided within a caravan for accommodation purposes.

A second part which is an upper part 11 has a roof 12 and side walls depending from the roof at 13 and 14. The position of each of these side walls which depend from the roof is such that they are located to be positioned further out from the upwardly extending walls of the first part so that when they are lowered, they encompass and are outside of the walls of the said first part Further, however, there are extension parts 15 and 16 which are slidably held within the said second part. The said extension parts 15 and 16 each have a roof portion in the one case 17 and in the other 18, and each have downwardly depending sides in the one case 19 and 20, and in the other case 21 and 22.

Also, each extension part has an end wall 23 in the one case and 24 in the other.

Such extension parts are intended to be slidably held within the upper part so that in the compacted state, they are located fully within the defining space between the side walls and roof of the upper part and in an extended position, are positioned by sliding into the extended position with, however, sufficient engagement with any sliding arrangement so as to be stably supported when in such an extended position as shown, for instance, in FIG. 2.

There are two floor extensions (or floors) shown at 25, in one case and 26 in the other, which are supported by the said first part but in an elevated position with respect to the floor extension of the said first part so that when in the compacted position each respective floor extension is supported by a slidable support with respect to the said first part in a position fully within but at the top of the said first part and when in an extended position, which can be achieved subsequent to the said second part being raised and the extension part being extended, then extending to be in a position below a respective extension part and provide a floor. As can now be seen from the drawings the floors 25 and 26 are each a substantially planar member that in both the compact and extended states of the caravan, are arranged and supported so that it will be kept substantially horizontal.

It would be expected that the extension part would provide for a space within a caravan once extended that would be useful for sleeping accommodation.

Further, the area beneath the floor extensions would allow for cupboards, sinks, refrigerators and other appliances to be positioned as well as seats and tables so that all of these conventional facilities can remain in a position even though the caravan is in a compacted state and, of course, would then be useful once the caravan is expanded or extended to its accommodation position.

While not specifically described it is understood that appropriate struts can be used to provide additional strengthening support when an extension part is in an extended position. Also, pneumatic, hydraulic or screw based lifting devices can be options to assist in lifting the second part with respect to the first part.

The arrangement described has significant advantage in providing especially the extension parts which can now be provided as parts having substantially solid walls and roof.

This has significant value, both insofar that if the caravan is wet during its accommodation usage, and is to be stored while still wet, then there is no difficulty that might otherwise be caused, for instance, to canvas parts.

Further, the extent to which the caravan can be now compacted is very substantial indeed and it makes for spacious accommodation when in an accommodation state but a very compact shape when compacted for transport or for storage.

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