GB1566487A

GB1566487A - Caravan

Info

Publication number: GB1566487A
Application number: GB3034477A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: WESTFALIA WERKE KNOEBEL
Current assignee: WESTFALIA WERKE KNOEBEL
Priority date: 1976-07-19
Filing date: 1977-07-19
Publication date: 1980-04-30
Also published as: DE7622769U1; NL7707905A; IT1077330B; FR2359009B3; FR2359009A1; BE856828A

Description

(54) CARAVAN (71) We WESTFALIA-WERKE FRANZ KNÖBEL & SÖHNE KG, of Am Sandberg 45, 4832 Rheda-Wiedenbruck, Germany, a Kommandit Gesellschaft organised under the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to a caravan, especially a motor caravan, which, prior to the mounting of internal fittings, has standing-room within at least the area in which front seats and possibly other service members are to be located.

In the case of motor caravans, which were developed from small trucks or small buses, the conventional roof is generally replaced by a raised roof in the form of a plastics canopy in order to provide sufficient standingheight at least in the area behind the front seats. The interior is generally so constructed that one group of seats can be converted into two beds.

The object of the present invention is to provide additional beds which serve at least as children's beds and which do not occupy any additional space during the day.

In accordance with the present invention, we provide a caravan, especially a motor caravan, providing, prior to the mounting of internal fittings, standing room at least in the area in which front seats are to be located, in which longitudinal rails approximately 180 cm long are mounted at a certain distance beneath the roof above head-height of occupants of the front seats and extend over and behind the front seats, on both sides of the caravan interior, said rails serving as supports for a fixed board covering approximately the front half of the trea and for a movable board, which is movable between a stowed position directly above the front seats and the fixed board, and an in-use position behind but higher than tht front seats and on a level with the fixed board.

Preferably, in the front half of the area, there are fitted on the guide rails at both sides of the support surfaces, raised guide rails which have a small ramp at the end of this half, and the movable board is provided at its front corners with laterally projecting rollers which rest on said guide rails. The rollers are preferably mounted on the movable board by means of trunnions. The height of the trunnions is preferably less than the difference in height between the guide rails and the support rails. At the rear edge of the front board there is preferably fitted a narrow board, the width of which is less than the interval between the front board and the roof. The movable board may be shorter than the front fixed board and is preferably provided with handles on its rear edge. A stop member is preferably provided for the movable board at the rear end of the each support rail.The boards mounted over the front seats above head-height of occupants of the front seats do not hamper movement in that area since standing-room is not necessary here and represents lost space.

On the other hand, standing-room is required directly behind the front seats since this area generally accommodates the kitchen equipment and cupboards. The standing area remains unobstructed when the rear board is pushed forward over the front board. When the boards are pulled apart, they form a single surface suitable as a double bed for at least two persons but preferably, lengthwise, or even crosswise, as a children's bed.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described in more detail by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view from above of the arrangement of the rails and boards in the extended position: Fig. 2 is a like view of the arrangement of the rails and boards in the closed position: and Fig. j shows a motor caravan, indicating the position uf tht boards. l e. of the t()p bed.

In a motor caravan an area of standingroom is obtained by replacing the conventional roof, the lateral edge of which is indicated at 1 in Fig. 3, with a raised canopy 2. Longitudinal rails 3 are mounted in the forward portion of the canopy 2. The rails 3 are located above head-height of occupants of the front seats but at a certain distance beneath the actual roof. The rails 3 are of Z-shaped cross-section, the lower flange 4 projecting inwards at each side into the interior of the vehicle. Raised guide rails 6 are fitted on the forward portion of the upper flange 5, which projects outwardly.

The inwardly-projecting parts 4 of the longitudinal rails serve as supports for a fixed board 7 located at the front and the forward edge 8 of which is in contact with the inside of the front wall 9 (shown only diagrammatically) of the canopy. The board 7 is secured to the supports 4 of the longitudinal rails 3. A narrow swivel board 12 is mounted by means of hinges 11 at the rear edge 10 of the fixed board - 7, the board 12 being of the same breadth as the fixed board 7 and having both sides also resting on the supporting flanges 4 of the rails 3. The longitudinal dimensions of the swivel board 12 is so calculated that it is smaller than the distance between the board 7 (or 12) and the lower roof edge.

The rear extremity of the guide rails 6 lies on the same level as the rear edge 13 of the swivel board 12. There is provided at said rear extremity of the guide rails 6 a small ramp 14 which leads on to the upper part or flange 5 of the longitudinal rails. A board 15 of the same breadth as the board 7 but shorter than the board 7 is provided at its front corners 16 with trunnions 17 on which laterally projecting rollers 18 are rotatably mounted. The rollers 18 rest upon the guide rails 6.

Handles 20 which extend to the rear are mounted on the rear edge 19 of the movable board 15.

The mattresses, preferably of foam material and not illustrated, are of a form suited to the shape of the boards, that is to say they are of the same breadth as these boards 7, 12 and 15 and at most the same length as the board 7 and correspondingly subdivided. When the device is in the closed (pushed in) position, these mattresses are placed one on top of the other on the upper board 15, in the position shown in Fig. 2.

One of the two mattresses, preferably the lower one, may be secured with tapes or the like to suitably arranged anchor points on the front wall 9 and the other mattress may be secured, for example with tapes, at the opposite edge to the handles 20 of the upper board.

From the closed position, as shown in Fig.

2, the swivel board 12 is firstly collapsed towards the rear, so that it rests on the supporting flanges 4, that is to say on the same plane as the forward fixed board 7.

The narrow swivel board 12, in the "day" position, prevents movement of the movable board 15 and bedding placed thereon. After the swivel board 12 has been turned down, the upper movable board 15 can be drawn towards the rear by the handles 20. It moves on rollers along the guide rails 6, down the ramps 14, and on to the upper flanges 5 of the longitudinal rails 3. When the rollers have passed down the ramps 14 on to the flanges 5 of the guide rails, the forward edge of the upper board 15 is now positioned directly behind the rear edge 13 of the swivel board 12 to assume the position illustrated in Fig. 1.

As the board 15 is pulled out the mattress piece covering the front board 7 remains in position since it is secured to the front wall 9 and thus is deposited on said fixed front board 7, so that it is now in the position for use.

Since the other mattress piece which adjoins that covering the front board is secured, for example, to the handles 20, it is drawn with the movable board 15, as the latter is pulled out, and is also lowered with the board 15 until it assumes a position exactly behind the rear edge of the mattress.

piece on the board 7. After the board 15 has been pulled out and lowered, it may however be necessary to push the mattress piece on the board 15 slightly forward since, of course, it must now cover the swivel board 12 and since, in the closed position, it previously occupied the entire space between the upturned swivel board 12 and the front wall 9.

When the rear board 15 is pulled out, it is secured in position either by stops (not illustrated) at the ends of the longitudinal rails 3 or by suitably arranged pins which may also pass through holes in the board 15 so that it cannot move in the position of use, as shown in Fig. 1. The arrangement thus provides a sleeping surface for at least two persons lengthwise, or possibly for several small children crosswise.

When putting the bed away, the rear movable board 15 is pushed forward over the fixed board 7 after the mattresses lying on the boards are suitably raised. Once the board 15 has reached the front wall 9, the swivel board 12 is raised and is possibly locked in position so that the bedding on the superimposed boards 7 and 15 cannot fall out to the rear.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A caravan, especially a motor caravan, providing, prior to the mounting of internal fittings, standing-room at least in the area in which the front seats are to be located, in

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. In a motor caravan an area of standingroom is obtained by replacing the conventional roof, the lateral edge of which is indicated at 1 in Fig. 3, with a raised canopy 2. Longitudinal rails 3 are mounted in the forward portion of the canopy 2. The rails 3 are located above head-height of occupants of the front seats but at a certain distance beneath the actual roof. The rails 3 are of Z-shaped cross-section, the lower flange 4 projecting inwards at each side into the interior of the vehicle. Raised guide rails 6 are fitted on the forward portion of the upper flange 5, which projects outwardly. The inwardly-projecting parts 4 of the longitudinal rails serve as supports for a fixed board 7 located at the front and the forward edge 8 of which is in contact with the inside of the front wall 9 (shown only diagrammatically) of the canopy. The board 7 is secured to the supports 4 of the longitudinal rails 3. A narrow swivel board 12 is mounted by means of hinges 11 at the rear edge 10 of the fixed board - 7, the board 12 being of the same breadth as the fixed board 7 and having both sides also resting on the supporting flanges 4 of the rails 3. The longitudinal dimensions of the swivel board 12 is so calculated that it is smaller than the distance between the board 7 (or 12) and the lower roof edge. The rear extremity of the guide rails 6 lies on the same level as the rear edge 13 of the swivel board 12. There is provided at said rear extremity of the guide rails 6 a small ramp 14 which leads on to the upper part or flange 5 of the longitudinal rails. A board 15 of the same breadth as the board 7 but shorter than the board 7 is provided at its front corners 16 with trunnions 17 on which laterally projecting rollers 18 are rotatably mounted. The rollers 18 rest upon the guide rails 6. Handles 20 which extend to the rear are mounted on the rear edge 19 of the movable board 15. The mattresses, preferably of foam material and not illustrated, are of a form suited to the shape of the boards, that is to say they are of the same breadth as these boards 7, 12 and 15 and at most the same length as the board 7 and correspondingly subdivided. When the device is in the closed (pushed in) position, these mattresses are placed one on top of the other on the upper board 15, in the position shown in Fig. 2. One of the two mattresses, preferably the lower one, may be secured with tapes or the like to suitably arranged anchor points on the front wall 9 and the other mattress may be secured, for example with tapes, at the opposite edge to the handles 20 of the upper board. From the closed position, as shown in Fig. 2, the swivel board 12 is firstly collapsed towards the rear, so that it rests on the supporting flanges 4, that is to say on the same plane as the forward fixed board 7. The narrow swivel board 12, in the "day" position, prevents movement of the movable board 15 and bedding placed thereon. After the swivel board 12 has been turned down, the upper movable board 15 can be drawn towards the rear by the handles 20. It moves on rollers along the guide rails 6, down the ramps 14, and on to the upper flanges 5 of the longitudinal rails 3. When the rollers have passed down the ramps 14 on to the flanges 5 of the guide rails, the forward edge of the upper board 15 is now positioned directly behind the rear edge 13 of the swivel board 12 to assume the position illustrated in Fig. 1. As the board 15 is pulled out the mattress piece covering the front board 7 remains in position since it is secured to the front wall 9 and thus is deposited on said fixed front board 7, so that it is now in the position for use. Since the other mattress piece which adjoins that covering the front board is secured, for example, to the handles 20, it is drawn with the movable board 15, as the latter is pulled out, and is also lowered with the board 15 until it assumes a position exactly behind the rear edge of the mattress. piece on the board 7. After the board 15 has been pulled out and lowered, it may however be necessary to push the mattress piece on the board 15 slightly forward since, of course, it must now cover the swivel board 12 and since, in the closed position, it previously occupied the entire space between the upturned swivel board 12 and the front wall 9. When the rear board 15 is pulled out, it is secured in position either by stops (not illustrated) at the ends of the longitudinal rails 3 or by suitably arranged pins which may also pass through holes in the board 15 so that it cannot move in the position of use, as shown in Fig. 1. The arrangement thus provides a sleeping surface for at least two persons lengthwise, or possibly for several small children crosswise. When putting the bed away, the rear movable board 15 is pushed forward over the fixed board 7 after the mattresses lying on the boards are suitably raised. Once the board 15 has reached the front wall 9, the swivel board 12 is raised and is possibly locked in position so that the bedding on the superimposed boards 7 and 15 cannot fall out to the rear. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A caravan, especially a motor caravan, providing, prior to the mounting of internal fittings, standing-room at least in the area in which the front seats are to be located, in

which longitudinal rails approximately 180 cm long are mounted at a certain distance beneath the roof above head-height of occupants of the front seats and extend over and behind the front seats on both sides of the caravan interior, said rails serving as supports for a fixed board covering approximately the front half of the area and for a movable board, which is movable between a stowed position directly above the front seats and the fixed board and an in-use position behind but higher than the front seats and on a level with the fixed board.

2. A caravan according to Claim 1, in which in the front half of the area there are fitted on the guide rails at both sides of the support surfaces raised guide rails which have a small ramp at the end of this half, and the movable board is provided at its front corners with laterally projecting rollers which rest on said guide rails.

3. A caravan according to Claim 2, in which the rollers are mounted on the movable board by means of trunnions.

4. A caravan according to Claim 3, in which the height of the trunnions is less than the difference in height between the guide rails and the support rails.

5. A caravan according to Claim 1, in which a narrow board is pivotally attached to the rear edge of the front board, the longitudinal dimension of said narrow board being less than the interval between the front board and the roof.

6. A caravan according to Claims 1 and 5, in which the movable board is shorter than the front fixed board.

7. A caravan according to Claim 6, in which the movable board has handles fitted to its rear edge.

8. A caravan according to Claim 1, in which a stop member for the movable board is provided at the rear end of the support rails.

9. A caravan, especially a motor caravan, providing, prior to the mounting of internal fittings, standing-room at least in the area in which the front seats are to be located, and fitted below roof level in said area with a rails and board arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.