Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60P—VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS
  • B60P3/00—Vehicles adapted to transport, to carry or to comprise special loads or objects
  • B60P3/32—Vehicles adapted to transport, to carry or to comprise special loads or objects comprising living accommodation for people, e.g. caravans, camping, or like vehicles
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
  • B62D35/00—Vehicle bodies characterised by streamlining
  • B62D35/001—For commercial vehicles or tractor-trailer combinations, e.g. caravans
  • B62D35/002—For commercial vehicles or tractor-trailer combinations, e.g. caravans for caravans

Definitions

• This invention relates to caravans or trailers for accommodation purposes and more particularly to caravans which can be built to be of a lighter weight and to be of lesser wind resistance than existing caravans.
• German Patent No. DE3217970 provides a flexible cover with aerodynamic shaping to be placed at the front end of a caravan. This arrangement does not provide any extra useable space in the caravan nor does it provide any reduction in overall weight.
• United Kingdom Patent Specification No. GB 2 023 512 A provides aerodynamic shaping for trailers but does not give any indication of any reduction in weight of such a construction.
• German Patent Specification No. DE3321 306 provides an extension at the front of a caravan which can be used to store articles and provides reduced aerodynamic drag. This arrangement does not provide increased accommodation within the module nor is there any reduction in weight of the caravan as a whole.
• United States Patent No. US 4,629,241 suggests a wedge shaped arrangement that can be placed above the cabin of a truck mainly for reduced wind resistance but there is a suggestion that such a arrangement can be used for accommodation.
• a liftable top is provided but this is for the purpose a aligning the top with the top of any load towed by the truck.
• the teaching here is of reduction of wind resistance but certainly no reduction in weight of the vehicle.
• the principles are also nor directly related to towable vehicles.
• European Patent No. EP 025 320 provides an add-on section which can be placed on the front of an existing caravan to provide increased accommodation space or a storage region. There is no reduction in the overall length or weight of a caravan using such an arrangement suggested and there is no reduction in height of the forward portion or of the entire caravan to give aerodynamic efficiency.
• this present invention is directed so that a more efficient towable vehicle is produced or at least a vehicle which gives the public some reasonable choice is produced or one that can be towed with a smaller vehicle.
• the invention is said to reside in a caravan comprising an accommodation module, ground engaging wheels on the accommodation module and a forwardly extending and tapering portion, the forwardly extending and tapering portion including at its apex a connection means to enable connection to a towing vehicle to enable towing of the caravan, characterised by the accommodation module including a forward portion extending along substantially the length of the forwardly extending and tapering portion and tapering in width and height towards the apex of the forwardly extending and tapering portion.
• a caravan in which the accommodation module extends along the length of the forwardly extending and tapering portion.
• the region of the forwardly extending and tapering portion has been outside the accommodation module and has been wasted space and by extending the accommodation module further forward and tapering so that is does not restrict the turning ability of a towing vehicle and caravan combination a caravan of overall less length may be produced.
• the caravan as a whole will also have less weight and hence be a lighter proposition to tow.
• the tapering of the forward portion will give a better wind efficiency which will enable improved towing characteristics.
• a chassis underneath the accommodation module with the forwardly extending and tapering portion being provided by an A-frame connected rigidly to the chassis and the accommodation module mounted to both the A-frame and to the chassis.
• the accommodation module may have substantially the same taper in width as the forwardly extending and tapering portion or A-frame so that it narrows as it extends to the connection means such as a towing connection.
• the portion within the accommodation module which tapers from both side to side and from top to bottom may be a portion of the accommodation module in which there is at least one bed.
• the other fixed furniture within the accommodation module such as stove, refrigerator, cupboards, sink and table and associated seating may be provided in the main full height part of the accommodation module.
• the roof portion of the main part of the accommodation module may be adapted to be lifted to provide more head room within that portion of the accommodation module.
• At least one window in the accommodation module and in one preferred embodiment there may be a window in the tapered portion at the front of the caravan.
• Accessories for the caravan such as a spare tyre and gas bottle which may in some prior art caravans be stored on the forwardly extending and tapering portion or A-frame portion may be placed in other places.
• the spare tyre may be placed underneath the caravan for instance at the rear and the gas bottle may be placed in a hatch which is accessible from outside the caravan at the sides or rear.
• a weight reduction of a caravan of the present invention over caravans of comparable accommodation size of about 10 to 15% may be obtained.
• a double bed model to sleep two in prior art caravans would weigh approximately 700 kg whereas a caravan of the present invention of this size would weigh about 600 kg.
• FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of a caravan of the invention
• FIG.2 shows a plan view of a caravan according to one embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 3 shows a side view of a caravan according to the embodiment shown in FIG.2
• FIG. 4 shows the side view of a caravan according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 with the roof portion extended
• FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the caravan according to an alternative embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 6 shows a plan view of the caravan according to an alternative embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 7 shows a plan view of the caravan according an alternative embodiment of the invention.
• the caravan generally comprises a body 1 mounted on a chassis 2 from which chassis 2 extends an A-frame 3 forwardly to a towing connection 4.
• the body 1 defines an accommodation module which has a main portion over the chassis 2 and a tapering portion 6 over the A-frame 3.
• the tapering portion 6 tapers from side to side as it extends towards the apex of the A-frame where the towing connection 4 is mounted and also tapers from the top down towards the A-frame 3.
• the caravan is supported by a pair of ground engaging wheels 7 affixed to the chassis 2.
• each of the beds actually meet at the narrowest part of the tapered portion of the accommodation module.
• a double bed may be built into the tapered portion as shown in other embodiments.
• cupboads or storage areas may be placed under each of the beds as is usual in caravans where space is at a premium.
• a refrigerator 11, a sink 12 and a stove 13 may be provided within the accommodation module.
• a table 14 and seats 15 may also be provided.
• a door 20 and a curved window 21 which extends around the front of the tapered portion of the accommodation module.
• Further windows 22 may also be provided in the sides and back of the accommodation module.
• a roof portion 23 may be designed to be lifted up from the main portion of the accommodation module as particularly shown in FIG. 4 so that more roof height is provided in the accommodation module.
• Suitable flexible sides 25 including mesh windows 26 between the roof 23 and the top 27 of the sides of the caravan may be provided.
• FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of the invention.
• two single beds 30 and 31 are provided in the forward tapering portion of the accommodation module of the caravan.
• the forward tapering portion 33 extends over the A-frame 34 of the caravan.
• a filler piece 32 may be added between the sides of the single bed to provide a full width and full length bed although the foot end of the bed is somewhat tapered. It will be realised that the height is somewhat reduced at the foot end of the bed owing to the tapering of the forward portion of the accommodation module from the top down but this is at the foot end of the bed where minimum height is required.
• FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of a caravan according to this invention.
• a very short and light caravan is provided. More than half the length of the accommodation portion of the caravan is taken up by the bed 40 which extends out over the A-frame 41 of the caravan.
• a doorway 42 is provided at the rear of the caravan.
• a dining table 43 and seats 44 and 45 and along the other side of the caravan is provided a sink 46 with a refrigerator underneath it, a stove 47 and a cupboard 48.
• FIG. 7 shows a further embodiment of a caravan according to this invention.
• the tapering portion 50 extending over the A-frame 51 includes a large double bed 52 which is tapered at its foot end 53.
• Storage cupboards 54 are provided beside each side of the bed.
• the rest of the accommodation module of the caravan includes a dining table 55 and seats 56 and 57 either side of the dining table.
• a sink 58 is provided as well as a stove 59.
• a storage cupboard 60 and refrigerator 61 are provided opposite the stove and sink.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Transportation (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Combinations Of Kitchen Furniture (AREA)
• Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)
• Tents Or Canopies (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=3775909

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Families Citing this family (6)

Citations (3)

Family Cites Families (9)

• 1992
  • 1992-12-22 CA CA002126568A patent/CA2126568A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1992-12-22 EP EP93901063A patent/EP0617677A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1992-12-22 ZA ZA929953A patent/ZA929953B/xx unknown
  • 1992-12-22 NZ NZ246313A patent/NZ246313A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1992-12-22 WO PCT/AU1992/000678 patent/WO1993012953A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation

Patent Citations (3)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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