GB1598603A - Trailer tents - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO TRAILER TENTS (71) We, CABBY CARAVAN AB, a Swedish Company, of P.O. Box 145, 68101 Kristineham, Sweden, 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: This invention relates to trailer tents, otherwise known as tent campers or folding caravans.

A trailer tent is normally taken to mean a trailer vehicle which has framing and cover material, such as canvas, for a tent stowed therein, and readily assemblable to form a tent structure which uses the trailer vehicle, and normally a cover or lid thereof, as flooring or foundation. Such a trailer tent will hereinafter be referred to as a trailer tent of the kind described.

The vehicle normally consists of a body mounted on a chassis.

According to the present invention, in a trailer tent comprising a trailer vehicle having a body mounted on a chassis and a lid hinged to the body, a tent frame being mounted in the vehicle and adapted to open when the lid is hinged to an open position relative to the body, the body is formed of inner and outer skins of moulded tough plastics material, such as acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), of which the outer skin is formed with corrugations in one direction and the inner skin is formed with corrugations crossing and abutting with the corrugations in the outer skin.

The corrugations thus cooperate by abutment where they cross mutually to reinforce one another.

Preferably, the corrugations in the outer skin run longitudinally of the vehicle and those in the inner skin run laterally.

The lid may also be formed of inner and outer askins of tough moulded plastics material with crossing corrugations.

The lid may also have a reinforcing rail thereon of generally U-shape with the ends of the area of the U turned down at the rear of the vehicle so as to protect and reinforce the lid and also to act as a rack whereby loads may be carried on the lid.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of trailer tent according to the invention in closed position; Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the trailer tent of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the trailer tent of Figures 1 and 2 in an open position, omitting the tent cover; Figure 4a and 4b taken together are a section on the line IV-IV of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a section on the line V-V of Figure 2; Figure 6 shows a modified form of part of the structure shown in Figure 4a; and Figure 7 shows a modified form of attachment of a tow-bar to an axle tube.

As illustrated in the drawings, the trailer tent is shown as comprising a body 1 and lid 2 pivoted together by hinges 3, one of which is shown in Figure 4a, at the rear portion of the vehicle so that the lid may be swung from the position of Figure 1 wherein the trailer vehicle is closed and the contained tent folded, to the open position of Figure 3 wherein the vehicle is open and the tent frame 4, which consists of a series of U-shape frame members 5 pivotally mounted on vertical struts 6, is automatically opened as the lid 2 is swung back. In use, the frame 4 would carry a tent cover so that the tent would itself be automatically opened for use as the lid is swung back. Adjustments would be provided for tensioning the tent cover. For transport purposes, the body is mounted on a trailer chassis comprising an axle tube 7, a tow-bar 8 extending forwardly from the axial tube along the centre line of the trailer and terminating in a hitch 9, a pair of longitudinal frame members 10 extending rearwardly from the axle tube 7 and connected at their rear ends by a transverse frame member 11, and a forward frame member 12 of box section extending transversely of the trailer and secured to the tow-bar. The axle tube 7 carries axle supports 14 and torsion springing for them, and these axle supports carry stub axles 15 for wheels 16.

Static rests to support the body are provided, and consist of a forward static rest 17 mounted on the tow-bar 8 near the trailer hitch, and a pair of rear static rests 18 secured to the rear transverse frame member 11.

Transverse frame member 11 also carries the vertical struts 6 for the frame members 5.

The lid, as may be best seen from Figures 4a, 4b and 5, consists of inner and outer skins 21 and 22 of a tough plastics material such as acrylic butadiene stryrene (ABS) and it will be seen that the lid 2 is essentially a rectangular box having a base and side walls.

The base of the lid is reinforced by the inner skin 22 having longitudinally extending ribs 24 which abut the outer skin 21, while the outer skin 21 has transversely extending ribs 25. In use, the lid 2 forms a floor, and the ribs 24 are spanned by a plywood or like flooring member 26 secured by a suitable adhesive in a peripheral rebate 27 and to the inner skin 22 where it touches. The side walls of the box shaped lid 2 are reinforced by downward extensions 25a of the ribs 25 formed by the outer skin 23, while the end walls are reinforced by ribs 28 formed on the inner skin 22.

The rim of the lid is reinforced by timber battens 31 accommodated between the skins 21 and 22.

The lid is further reinforced by the provision of a generally U-shaped rail 33 which has its arms running longitudinally of the lid and engaged in suitable recesses 34 formed in the ribs 25 near the outer edges of the lid. At the rear of the vehicle, the arms are turned downwardly and the ends thereof are terminated in an L-shaped metal reinforcement 35 secured to the batten 31 running across the rear end of the lid 2 and this reinforcing member 35 carries the hinges 3. This Ushaped rail 33 is useful in providing a firm basis for the lid when acting as a floor in the Figure 3 position, and it also can be used as a form of roof rack for the carrying of baggage or other goods when the trailer is in the closed off Figure 1 position.

Turning now to the body 1 of the vehicle, it can be seen from Figures 4a and 4b and 5 that this also consists of inner and outer skins of tough plastics material, such as ABS, which are indicated at 41 and 42 respectively.

The inner skin 41 is provided with corrugations which run transversely of the trailer, and the upper surfaces or crests of these corrugations support a floor panel 43 while the lower surfaces or troughs contact, over most of their length, the outer skin 42. The outer skin 42 itself is formed with a number of longitudinal corrugations, the arrangement of which can be best seen in Figure 2. A central corrugation 44 tapers in both directions from the centre, and its forward portions engages the tow-bar 8 until this corrugation terminates adjacent the forward transverse frame member 12. Extending rearwardly from the region of the axial tube 7 and cooperating with the longitudinal frame member 10 are a pair of further ribs 45 and somewhat inboard of these ribs are a'pair of forwardly extending ribs 46. The skins 41 and 42 come together in the region of the axle tube 7 to provide a pair of wheel arches 47.

It will be appreciated that the ribs on the inner and outer skins each provide reinforcement of their respective skins, and by crossing and abutting they also provide mutual support for the skins so that the body 1 and lid 2 are of fairly rigid construction whereby the provision of additional framing for the trailer tent is kept to a minimum.

The rim of the body is reinforced by timber battens 48 housed in return bends formed on both the skins 41 and 42.

Referring now to Figure 6, the structure shown is a modification of part of Figure 4a, and where appropriate similar reference numerals are used.

The transverse frame member 11 has been replaced by a square section frame member I la at the rear edge of the body rather than somewhat forward thereof. Although not shown, it may be assumed that the rear static rests 18 are secured to the frame member 11 a. The longitudinal frame members 10 are shown as being of T-section and terminate in a generally horizontal rear portion 10a connected to the frame member 1 la.

In order to provide support for the vertical struts 6, a transverse wooden support 51 is built in between the skins so as to be supported on the rear portions 10a of the longitudinal frame members. Steel mounting plates 52 for the struts 6 are secured by both extending through the support 51 and the skins 41 and 42. The struts 6 are not shown but are welded to the plates 52.

Figure 7 shows a modified connection between the tow-bar 8 and the axle tube 7.

The connection is achieved by means of two pre-formed plates 53 and 54. The upper plate 53 is anchored to the axle tube 7 and the matching lower plate 54 is welded to the tow bar 8. The plates are secured together by four bolts, with washer and lock nuts, passing through holes indicated at 55. The assembly and disassembling is thus simple and the connection is secure.

It will be appreciated that while a trailer tent is described and shown in preferred embodiments of the invention, various other modifications and variations may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, the particular layout of ribs could be varied within quite wide limits and it is not strictly necessary for the ribs to extend transversely and longitudi wally nor necessarily at right angles to each other. An oblique arrangement could be quite feasible.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A trailer tent of the kind comprising a trailer vehicle having a body mounted on a chassis and a lid hinged to the body, a tent frame being mounted in the vehicle and adapted to open when the lid is hinged to an open position relative to the body, in which the body is formed of inner and outer skins of moulded tough plastics material, of which the outer skin is formed with corrugations in one direction and the inner skin if formed with corrugations crossing and abutting with the corrugations in the outer skin.

2. A trailer tent as claimed in claim 1, in which the corrugations in the outer skin run longitudinally of the vehicle and those in the inner skin run laterally.

3. A trailer tent as claimed in claim I or 2, in which the body skins are formed of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene.

4. A trailer tent as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, in which the lid is formed of inner and outer skins of tough moulded plastics material with crossing and abutting corrugations.

5. A trailer tent as claimed in claim 4, in which the corrugations in the outer skin of the lid run laterally of the vehicle, while those in the inner skin run longitudinally.

6. A trailer tent as claimed in claim 4 or 5, in which the inner skins are formed of acrylic butadiene styrene.

7. A trailer tent as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the lid and body are of generally box shape and at least some of the free edges are reinforced.

8. A trailer tent as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the lid has a reinforcing rail thereon of generally U-shape with the ends of the area of the U turned down at the rear of the vehicle so as to protect and reinforce the lid and also to act as a rack whereby loads may be carried on the lid.

9. A trailer tent substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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

Claims (9)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. the ribs to extend transversely and longitudi wally nor necessarily at right angles to each other. An oblique arrangement could be quite feasible. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A trailer tent of the kind comprising a trailer vehicle having a body mounted on a chassis and a lid hinged to the body, a tent frame being mounted in the vehicle and adapted to open when the lid is hinged to an open position relative to the body, in which the body is formed of inner and outer skins of moulded tough plastics material, of which the outer skin is formed with corrugations in one direction and the inner skin if formed with corrugations crossing and abutting with the corrugations in the outer skin.

2. A trailer tent as claimed in claim 1, in which the corrugations in the outer skin run longitudinally of the vehicle and those in the inner skin run laterally.

3. A trailer tent as claimed in claim I or 2, in which the body skins are formed of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene.

4. A trailer tent as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, in which the lid is formed of inner and outer skins of tough moulded plastics material with crossing and abutting corrugations.

5. A trailer tent as claimed in claim 4, in which the corrugations in the outer skin of the lid run laterally of the vehicle, while those in the inner skin run longitudinally.

6. A trailer tent as claimed in claim 4 or 5, in which the inner skins are formed of acrylic butadiene styrene.

7. A trailer tent as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the lid and body are of generally box shape and at least some of the free edges are reinforced.

8. A trailer tent as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the lid has a reinforcing rail thereon of generally U-shape with the ends of the area of the U turned down at the rear of the vehicle so as to protect and reinforce the lid and also to act as a rack whereby loads may be carried on the lid.

9. A trailer tent substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.