FR2635302A1 - Caravan of the rigid folding type, comprising one or more roof storage units - Google Patents

Abstract

Caravan of the rigid folding type, comprising a chassis provided with wheels 1, a hitch 2, a box structure 3 fixed to the chassis, made up of a floor 4 and four vertical and lower panels 5, 6 and 7; four upper panels 8, 9 and 10 articulated 11 so that they can pivot via their lower horizontal edges at the respective free upper horizontal edges of the panels 5, 6, 7; and a roof 12 forming a flattened upper box structure 16 open downwards and associated, permanently by virtue of sliding mechanical association means 13 with the upper horizontal edges 14 of the panels 8, 9, characterised in that the roof storage units 26 are fixed to the roof 12 and linkage means connect the two upper panels 8, 9 to provide and permanently to maintain their synchronous displacement and their symmetry with respect to a plane Q.

Description

FOLDING-RIGID CARAVAN. INCLUDING ONE OR MORE FURNITURE
ROOF STORAGE
The invention relates to a folding-rigid caravan, comprising one or more roof storage units.

We already know a folding-rigid caravan (see documents
FR-2 284 480 and EP-O 036 817) comprising a trenches provided with wheels and a coupling; a lower box open upwards fixed to the chassis, consisting of a floor and four vertical and lower panels, respectively front, rear and side; four upper panels, respectively front, rear and side pivotally articulated by their lower horizontal edges to the respective free upper horizontal edges of the lower panels; and a roof forming a flattened upper box open at the bottom associated, permanently, by means of mechanical association, sliding at the upper horizontal edges of the upper front and rear panels, so that the roof is supported and moved thanks to so-called upper front and rear panels.

Such a caravan is either in the folded state or in the unfolded state.

In the folded state, the four upper panels are placed horizontally, practically in the same plane, and the roof rests on the lower box. This folded state corresponds to that used for the garage of the caravan or its displacement. In the unfolded state, the four upper panels are placed vertically, in the extension of the four vertical and lower panels of the lower box. In this case, the roof is moved away from the lower box and is in its extreme upper position. The caravan is built in volume and can be used for accommodation.

According to well known embodiments (see document FR-2 284 480), the sliding of the upper horizontal edges of the upper front and rear panels on the roof is carried out for example by means of rollers carried by the upper front and rear panels in the vicinity from their upper horizontal edges and on their lateral edges, which rollers roll while being guided in guide profiles fixed to the vertical and longitudinal drooping faces of the roof.

Various improvements have been proposed to such basic caravan structures. n first improvement concerned the installation of unidirectional elastic means such as compressed air jacks between the lower casing and the upper front and rear panels, which unidirectional elastic means urge these upper front and rear panels in a vertical position and therefore the components mobile of the caravan in their position corresponding to the unfolded state thereof. Such unidirectional elastic means constitute an aid for the deployment of the caravan, given the weight represented by the upper front and rear panels and the roof. Various alternative embodiments as to the location of such undirectional elastic means have been proposed and are well known to those skilled in the art (outside, inside or even in the thickness of the walls of the caravan).

According to another improvement (document EP-0 036 817), specific arrangements have been proposed for such a rigid-folding caravan, foldable arrangements but nevertheless capable of allowing efficient use when the caravan is in the unfolded state.

It has also been proposed, for a long time, to include storage elements in the roof (see in particular document EP-O 206 302).

According to another improvement (document FR-2 412 440), it has also been proposed to include in such a caravan motor means capable of motorizing the folding and unfolding of the caravan (document FR-2 412 440).

Numerous other folding caravan construction projects have been proposed, but most have not known significant and / or lasting commercial success (see for example document FR-2 049 376).

The embodiment which has become commercially imposed is that in accordance with the structure mentioned above in which the unfolding of the caravan to make it pass from the folded state to the unfolded state is that shown in the document FR-2 284 480 : we start by pivoting one of the upper end panels upwards, the roof resting at the opposite end on the lower box. Then, when this upper end panel is in the vertical position, the other upper end panel is pivoted until it in turn brings it to the vertical position. Thus, in a first step, the roof is tilted and then brought back in a second step in a horizontal position. This operating principle is also that described in document EP-O 206 302.

Caravan folding-unfolding operations have also been described in which the roof remains in a horizontal position between the folded state and the unfolded state or vice versa. This is the case of document FR-2 509 674. However, this document relates to a caravan structure totally different from that mentioned above, in which the upper front and rear panels are mounted to slide vertically and not to be pivoted. This is also the case with document FR-2 412 440, the main purpose of which is to reduce the effort required to lift the upper front and rear panels.

A caravan such as that described in document EP-0 206 902 is of conventional structure and operation, as has been described above and it is simply associated with roof storage furniture known per se. However, such a structure has the disadvantage that when folding or unfolding the caravan, the roof is inclined which has the consequence that the contents of the roof cupboards can be moved, overturned, upset, broken, etc. remedy this drawback, it is possible either to partition the roof cupboards transversely, or else to empty them for the folding and unfolding operations. The partitioning of the roof cupboards is on the one hand impractical and on the other hand increases the cost and the weight of the roof which is rather a disadvantage. As for the solution which consists in emptying the roof cupboards for the folding operations and unfolding, it is obviously inconvenient.

The invention therefore aims to solve the problem of the stability of the contents of roof cupboards of a folding-rigid caravan which would be of the type mentioned above, that is to say with a lower box and four hinged upper panels including two support the roof forming a box.

For this purpose, a caravan of the type mentioned above is such that, in combination, on the one hand, one or more roof storage units are fixed rigidly in a non-removable manner to the roof and, on the other hand, connecting means connect , directly or indirectly, the two upper front and rear panels to ensure and maintain permanently in the first place their synchronous movement and, secondly, their symmetry with respect to a transverse vertical median plane.

Thanks to the constituent means of the invention, the roof storage units are permanently horizontal, whether the caravan is unfolded or folded or in any intermediate situation. This has the advantage of preventing the contents of these roof storage units from being overturned, moved, broken, etc.

The other characteristics of the invention will emerge from the description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which - Figures la, lb, lc, îd, le, If and 1g are schematic views,
side view of a caravan according to the invention, showing various stages
unfolding and folding.

- Figure 2 is a schematic view, on a larger scale, in section
by a transverse vertical plane of a caravan according to the invention.

- Figure 3 is a partial view, only schematic, illustrating
an alternative embodiment of the invention in which the means
only provide the functional link between the
upper front and rear panels to ensure their
synchronism and their symmetry.

- Figure 4 is a schematic sectional view through a plane
transverse, on a larger scale, illustrating another variant of
the invention in which the connecting means and the means
mechanical associations are combined.

- Figure 5 is a partial view in longitudinal direction of the
variant of Figure 4, according to arrow F.

The invention relates to a folding-rigid caravan. Such a caravan comprises, in a manner known per se, a chassis provided with wheels 1 and a coupling 2; a lower box limited by an at least substantially parallelepipedic outline, open upwards, fixed to the chassis, consisting of a floor 4 and four vertical (or substantially) and lower panels respectively front 5, rear 6 and side 7; four upper panels respectively front 8, rear 9 and side 10, pivotally articulated by their lower horizontal edges to the respective free upper horizontal edges of the lower panels 5, 6, 7, by hinges of axis 11; and a roof 12 forming a flattened upper box, open downwards, permanently associated, by means of sliding mechanical association means 13, with the upper horizontal edges 14 of the upper front and rear panels 8, 9 so that the roof 12 is supported and moved thanks to the upper front and rear panels 8, 9.

The lower box 3 has an upper opening 15 limited by the hinges of axis li placed at least substantially in a plane
P at least substantially horizontal. The roof 12 has a lower opening 16 allowing the passage of the upper panels 8, 9, 10.

Such a caravan can be in two extreme states, namely the fully folded state (Figures 1a and 1G) and the fully unfolded state (Figure Nest). In the folded state, the upper panels 8, 9, 10 are substantially horizontal and coplanar in the plane P, the roof 12 resting on the lower box 3, the openings 15 and 16 then being practically combined. In the unfolded state, the upper panels 8, 9, 10 are placed vertically in the respective extensions of the corresponding lower panels 5, 6, 7. And, the roof 12 rests on the panels 8, 9, 10, being then the further away from the lower case 3.

The caravan also has a door 17; one or generally several windows 18; and an interior arrangement 19 generally comprising several pieces of furniture such as a piece of furniture forming a base, a piece of furniture forming a wardrobe, a piece of furniture forming a bench, piece of furniture forming a table, etc.

In this application, the front side of the caravan is understood to mean the side of the caravan where the hitch 2 is located. The rear side of the caravan is then the side opposite to that where the hitch 2 is located.

The side faces defined by the side panels 7, 10 generally have a length in the horizontal direction greater than that of the transverse faces defined by the panels 5, 8 on the one hand, 6, 9 on the other hand. The door 17 is generally located on one of the side faces. The axis of the wheels 1 is transverse, that is to say it extends substantially perpendicular to the direction of the coupling 2 and perpendicular to the lower side panels 7.

The sliding mechanical association means 13 may comprise, for example, rollers 20, carried by the front and rear panels 8, 9 in the vicinity of the junction of their upper horizontal edges 14 and their lateral edges, which rollers 20 cooperate with support and guide rails 21 fixed to the falling side faces 22 of the roof 12.

Finally, the roof 12 has a ceiling 23, the two falling side faces 22 and two falling front and rear faces 24, 25.

Such a caravan structure is known to those skilled in the art and for this reason need not be described in more detail.

According to the invention, a folding-rigid caravan, as just described, is such that, in combination, on the one hand, one or more roof storage units 26 are rigidly fixed to the roof 12. And, on the other hand, this caravan comprises connecting means 27 connecting, directly or indirectly, the two upper front and rear panels 8, 9 to ensure and permanently maintain, firstly their synchronous movement and, secondly, their symmetry with respect to a median transverse vertical plane
Q (passing substantially through the axis of the wheels 1).

Preferably, such a caravan also comprises roof balancing compasses 12a, articulated to the roof 12 and to the upper front, rear panels 8, 9.

The constructional arrangement according to the invention has the effect that such a folding-rigid caravan comprises roof storage units 26, which are permanently horizontal, as is the roof 12, whether the caravan is in the unfolded state or in the folded state or in any intermediate situation. The advantage which results from this effect is that the contents of the roof storage units 26 are not moved, overturned, broken, etc.

The roof storage units 26 are, once mounted in the roof 12, in the form of boxes fixed to all or some of the drooping faces 22, 24, 25 of the roof 12 in particular by being adjacent to the ceiling 23. To allow cooperation of the roof 12 with the upper panels 8, 9, 10, the roof storage units 26 are spaced from the lower opening 16 of the roof 12 leaving on the corresponding drooping faces 22, 24, 25 free areas 28 adjacent to the lower opening 16.

The roof storage units 26 can be the subject of numerous variant embodiments: They can be irremovable or, on the contrary, be removable. They can be fixed on the entire periphery of the roof 12 or, on the contrary, be sectored in certain parts of the roof. They can have sliding or pivoting doors or, on the contrary, have no door.

They may include shelves or other storage accessories. Finally, they may include internal transverse partitions although these are not strictly essential for maintaining the content of the furniture 26, the latter remaining horizontal.

The connecting means 27 are preferably associated with or near the upper edges 14 of the upper front and rear panels 8, 9, and housed in the roof 12 in particular along its drooping faces 22, 24, 25.

Reference is now made to FIGS. A to ig which illustrate, schematically, the passage of a caravan as it has just been described from the folded state to the unfolded state and vice versa from this latter state to the folded state. Initially (Figure la), the caravan is in the folded state, as it was defined previously. Manually, with or without assistance of unidirectional elastic means as will be described later or in a motorized manner, the two upper front, rear 8, 9 panels are pivoted from their horizontal position (figure la) to the vertical position (figure 1c) passing through the required oblique intermediate positions (figure tub). Thanks to the presence of the connecting means 27, the upper front and rear panels 8, 9 are moved in synchronism and remain symmetrical with respect to the transverse plane of symmetry Q. it follows that the roof 12 remains horizontal not only in the folded states and unfolded from the caravan but also in any intermediate situation (figure 1b) Once, after a quarter turn, the front and rear panels 8, 9 are placed vertically in line with the corresponding 'lower panels 5, 6, the roof 12 then being in its final position in the unfolded state furthest from the lower box 3 (FIG. 1c) it is possible to pivot the upper side panels 10, one after the other, by a quarter turn , to make them pass from their horizontal position to their vertical position (figure 1d). .

If necessary, the interior arrangement 19 is put in place in a satisfactory manner. As a variant, the arrangement 19 is designed to deploy automatically, simultaneously with the deployment of the caravan, as described in document EP-O 036 817.

From this unfolded state, the caravan can be brought back to the folded state by the same operations as described above, carried out in reverse order. Thus, the lateral upper panels 10 are folded down one after the other from their vertical position to their horizontal position (FIG. Le) and then the front and rear upper panels 8, 9 are also pivoted from their vertical position to their horizontal position. , the displacement of the panels 8, 9 being synchronous and the panels 8, 9 then remaining symmetrical with respect to the transverse plane of symmetry Q (FIG. 1f). Finally, the roof 12 is left to rest on the lower box 3 (figure zig).

In a first variant of the invention (FIG. 3), the mechanical association means 13 of the roller type 20 and rails 21, as has been described, and the connection means 27 are structurally and functionally separate. each other.

The mechanical association means 13 only provide the sliding function. The connecting means 27 only provide the function of maintaining the movement synchronism and position symmetry of the panels 8, 9. For example, in this variant embodiment, the means link 27 may include one or more inextensible endless links (such as chains, belts, etc.) 29 stretched between two end pulleys 30 with transverse axes close to the front and rear drooping faces 24, 25 of the roof 12 The upper front and rear panels 8, 9 are associated with two strands of the link 29 moving in opposite directions. For example, the link 29 is rotated in the form of "and the panels 8, 9 are associated with the two upper or preferably lower strands of the link 29 (case). Or, the link 29 is simply stretched in the shape of an inverted O between the two pulleys 30, one of the panels 8, 9 being associated with one of the upper or lower strands while the other panel 9, 8 is associated with the other lower or upper strand. In this first variant, the means connecting 27 are carried by the roof 12 below the roof storage furniture 26 that is to say in the free areas 28 of the falling faces 22, 24, 25. And, for example, the connecting means 27 are placed just above the sliding mechanical association means 13 which are practically adjacent to the opening 16.

In a second variant (FIGS. 4 and 5), the mechanical sliding association means 13 and the connecting means 27 form one or more unique combined sliding and connecting assemblies.

For example, there may be provided one or more threaded shafts 31 placed horizontally and longitudinally, carried by bearings 32, 33 of the front and rear drooping faces 24, 25 of the roof 12 in the vicinity of the opening 16 and, optionally by a bearing intermediate 34. The threaded shaft 31 has on its two axially separated halves two threads of opposite directions respectively 35 and 36. Two pieces 37, 38, tapped, are mounted on the threads 35, 36 respectively and are arranged to be prevented from pivoting on the threads 35, 36. For example, the parts 37, 38 are slidably mounted in rails such as the rails 21.

The panels 8, 9 are fixed to the parts 37, 38 which are symmetrical with respect to the transverse vertical plane of symmetry Q. It is understood, under these conditions, that the pivoting of the threaded shaft 31 around its axis results in displacement parts 37, 38 in two directions opposite to each other, the two parts 37, 38 moving in synchronism and remaining symmetrical to each other with respect to the plane Q. The parts 37, 38 being linked the panels 8, 9 there also follows a synchronous movement and a symmetrical position of the panels 8, 9. In this embodiment, the threaded shaft 31 carried by the bearings 32, 33, 34, comprising the threads 35, 36 supporting the parts 37, 38 themselves linked to the panels 8, 9 together constitute both mechanical sliding means 13 and connecting means 27.

In a preferred embodiment, applicable to the first as to the second variant mentioned above, the caravan comprises, in combination, means intended to facilitate the unfolding movements of the constituent parts of the caravan. The presence of such means is particularly desired, in such a caravan, taking into account that, compared with a caravan of the folding-rigid type of the known state of the art without roof cupboards, the caravan according to the invention has the following specifics: the roof 12 is in itself a little heavier since its height can be greater than that of a roof of the known state of the art to allow the fixing of the roof storage units 26; during the unfolding movement of the caravan, it is necessary to support the weight of the roof storage units 26 and their contents; and, finally during the unfolding movement, the roof 12 rests on the front and rear panels 8, 9 whereas in caravans of the folding-rigid type of the known state of the art, - the roof does not rest, during the unfolding movement, only on a single upper front or rear panel in movement.

In a first preferred embodiment, the means intended to facilitate the unfolding movements are means elastically urging the pivoting of the upper front and / or rear panels 8, 9, in the direction of unfolding of the caravan and of raising the roof. This first embodiment is not shown. Such means are more particularly compressed air jacks interposed between the lower box 3 and the front and / or rear panels 8, 9. These jacks are placed either outside the caravan, either inside or even in the very thickness of its walls defined by the panels constituting the caravan. Such jacks are permanently fixed or, on the contrary, are removable. The known state of the art teaching constructive provisions for the mounting of such jacks, there is no need to describe them here, the person skilled in the art can refer to this state of the art (see in particular document FR- 2,284,480).

In a second embodiment, the means intended to facilitate the unfolding movements are means ensuring positively the pivoting of the upper front and / or rear panels 8, 9, in the direction of unfolding of the caravan and therefore the elevation of the roof 12. Such motorization means can act either directly on the panels 8, 9 by being interposed between them and the lower box 3, or on the sliding mechanical association means 13, or even on the connecting means 27 Thus, if one refers to the first variant of FIG. 3, the motorization means can be associated with the links 29 or with the pulleys 30 to ensure their displacement in the proper direction. If one refers to the second variant of Figures 4 and 5, the motor means can act on the threaded shaft 31 to drive it in the proper direction.

In a possible embodiment, which can be combined with one or both of the two variants as well as one and / or the other of the two embodiments described above, the caravan also comprises, in combination , means intended to facilitate the folding movements of the caravan. Such means may indeed be desirable taking into account the weight of the roof and of the storage units 26 as well as their content and the fact that the roof rests on the two panels 8, 9 during the folding maneuvers.

In a first possible embodiment, these means consist of members resiliently braking the pivoting of the upper front and / or rear panels 8, 9 in the direction of folding the caravan and lowering the roof 12. In a second embodiment, these means positively pivot the upper front and / or rear panels 8, 9 in the direction of folding the caravan and lowering the roof 12. it goes without saying that. means to which we refer here can be of the same general type as those described in the preceding preferred embodiment as regards the means intended to facilitate the unfolding movements. However, the means intended to facilitate the folding movements operate, obviously, in the opposite direction to the means intended to facilitate the unfolding movements.

It is also understood that the same means can be active (positively or negatively) in folding and unfolding. This is the case with pneumatic cylinders in particular.

The drive means which have been discussed with regard to the second embodiment and the second embodiment previously mentioned can be the subject of different designs. In a first possible design, these means are completely manual. They then consist, for example, of allowing a reduction in manual effort as well as the convenience of applying this effort. For example, such manual means comprise a control crank located so as to be accessible by the user.

In a second possible design, these means include one or more drive members such as a motor, in particular an electric motor 39 with a control member, in particular a manual control 40 (push button, lever, etc.).

Furthermore, still with regard to these drive means and for both of the possible designs described above, provision may be made for either a first embodiment in which the drive means are fixed, that is to say carried permanently by the caravan, a second embodiment in which als are removable, that is to say removed from the caravan when not in use.

In combination with the first and second designs as well as the first and second embodiments described above, the drive means can also be the subject of a first embodiment in which they are located rather in the upper part of the caravan, in particular associated with the roof 12 or a second execution in which they are located rather partly at the base of the caravan, particularly in the vicinity of the plane P.

Finally, in combination with the first and second designs, first and second embodiments, first and second executions previously mentioned, the drive means can also be the subject of a first variant in which they are one-way operation as well as a second variant in which they are bidirectional or reversible. In the first variant, the motor means only provide assistance with unfolding or folding. And, if assistance is desired during folding and unfolding, two separate motor means are provided. On the contrary, in the second variant, the same means can operate to facilitate folding and unfolding, and this simply according to the direction of their operation, this direction can be controlled by the control member 40 which has two operating positions, in addition to the stop position.

Finally, it goes without saying that the various variants, embodiments, embodiments, designs, embodiments, executions, previously described can be combined, as far as possible, with each other.

Reference is now made more specifically to FIGS. 4 and 5 which illustrate a possibility of such a combination, this possibility being in no way limiting and simply given for information.

In this case, there is provided a combined assembly of mechanical sliding association and connecting means 13, 27 of the type with threaded shaft 31, bearings 32, 33, 34, threads 35, 36, and parts 37, 38 mounted in a rail 21. This assembly is located for example on one of the lateral faces of the caravan, namely the face 41 (FIG. 4). On the other side face of the caravan, 42, only conventional means of sliding mechanical association 13 of the roller 20 and rail 21 type can be provided. The threaded shaft 31 is designed to be protruding from the exterior of the caravan on one of the falling front or rear faces 24, 25 and preferably on the falling front face 24. This projecting part is referenced 43. On the projecting part 43 can be mounted a gimbal type joint 44 or equivalent able to return the movement of the shaft 31 around its axis in the vertical direction, in particular to a removable pole 45 removably attached to the joint 44 in the upper part. In the lower part, the pole 45 is provided with a motor 39 with manual control member 40. Such a motor associated with such a pole making it possible to transmit the movement itself associated with a joint is known to those skilled in the art in particular in the technical field of ordering roller shutters or other. For this reason, it is not necessary to describe in more detail the construction of these elements. In the construction which has just been described, it is understood that the caravan is not perfectly symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal median plane and vertical R (Figure 4) but, on the contrary, has an asymmetry. Indeed, on its side faces the caravan has drive means which is not the case on the other opposite face. This is why one or both of the following two improvements can then be provided on the one hand, one or more reinforcements of the upper front and / or rear panels 8, 9 capable of preventing warping of these resulting panels. localized training action. Such reinforcements can be formed by ribs, side members, etc., within the reach of those skilled in the art seeking to produce panels such as those used in such caravans. On the other hand, there may be provided unidirectional elastic members, in particular facilitating unfolding, located on the face 42 of the caravan devoid of drive means and opposite to the face 41 provided with drive means.

Claims (17)

REVENOICA TIONS 1. Folding-rigid type caravan, comprising a chassis provided with wheels (1) and a coupling (2); an open lower box (3)  upwards (15) fixed to the frame, consisting of a floor (4) and  of four vertical and lower panels, respectively before  (5), rear (6) and lateral (7); four upper panels,  hinged front (8), rear (9) and side (10) respectively  (11) pivoted by their horizontal edges below the edges  respective upper free horizontal of lower panels  (5, 6, 7); and a roof (12) forming a flattened upper box  open (16) downwards associated, permanently by means  (13) mechanical sliding association with horizontal edges  upper (14) upper front and rear panels (8, 9) of  so that the roof (12) is supported and moved thanks to said  upper front and rear panels (8, 9), characterized in  that in combination on the one hand one or more storage units  roof (26) are rigidly fixed to the roof (12) and, on the other hand,  connecting means (27) connect the two upper front panels  and rear (8, 9) to ensure and maintain permanently in  first their synchronous displacement and second their  symmetry with respect to a transverse vertical median plane Q, this  which has the effect that with a caravan of this type the furniture of  roof storage (26) are permanently horizontal as the  caravan either unfolded or folded or in any situation  advantage of avoiding that the content of these  furniture (26) is knocked over, moved, broken, without the need to  specific means of maintaining the content. 2. Caravan according to claim 1, characterized in that a  share the means (13) of mechanical sliding association  only perform this sliding function and include  one or more guide rails (21) integral with the roof (12) with  which cooperate one or more rollers (20) or equivalent carried  by the upper front and / or rear panels (8, 9); and,  on the other hand, the connecting means (27) are distinct from the means  mechanical assignment (13) and only perform this function  maintaining synchronism of movement and symmetry of  position. 3. Caravan according to claim 1, characterized in that the  sliding mechanical association means (13) and the means  link (27) form one or more unique combined sets  sliding and binding. 4. Caravan according to any one of claims 1 to 3,  characterized in that it comprises, in combination, means  intended to facilitate unfolding movements, namely  means positively ensuring or elastically stressing the  pivoting of the upper front and / or rear panels (8, 9) in  the direction of unfolding of the caravan and the elevation of the roof (12). 5. Caravan according to any one of claims 1 to 4,  characterized in that it comprises, in combination, means  intended to facilitate unfolding movements, namely  means ensuring positively or elastically braking the  pivoting of the upper front and / or rear panels (8, 9) in  the direction of folding of the caravan and the lowering of the roof (12). 6. Caravan according to any one of claims 1 and 3,  characterized in that the sliding and connecting assembly  (13, 27) comprises at least one threaded shaft (31) with two threads  (35, 36) in opposite directions carried by the roof (12) and two parts  (37, 38) blocked in rotation carried by the front panels and  rear (8, 9) and cooperating with the two threads (35, 36). 7. Caravan according to any one of claims 1, 3 to 6,  characterized in that it includes a drive motor (39)  at least unidirectional associated with the shaft (31) to ensure its  pivoting, a control member (40) being associated with the motor. 8. Caravan according to claim 7, characterized in that it  comprises one or more reversible drive motors (39). 9. Caravan according to any one of claims 7, 8,  characterized in that the shaft (31) has a projecting part  (43), with which the motor (39) is associated. 10. Caravan according to any one of claims 7, 9,  characterized in that the projection t43) is associated with a  joint (44) with which is associated a pole t45) in  lower part of which is the motor (39). 11. Caravan according to any one of claims 7 to 10,  characterized in that the drive motor (39) is partly  high of the caravan, in particular by the roof or at the bottom. 12. Caravan according to any one of claims 7 to 11,  characterized in that the drive motor (39) is fixed or  is removable. 13. Caravan according to any one of claims 7 to 12,  characterized in that the positive drive means are  manual operation. 14. Caravan according to any one of claims 4, 5,  characterized in that the unidirectional elastic means are  compressed air cylinders notably interposed between the box  (3) and the panels (8) or / and (9). 15. Caravan according to any one of claims 1 to 14,  characterized in that it presents a plane asymmetry  longitudinal median R, comprising on one face only (41)  connecting means (27). 16. Caravan according to claim 15, characterized in that its  front and / or rear panels (8, 9) have one or more  reinforcements capable of preventing their warping. 17. Caravan according to any one of claims 15, 16,  characterized in that the unidirectional elastic means are  located on only one of the faces (42) devoid of means for  link (27).