GB2131752A

GB2131752A - Vehicle extensions

Info

Publication number: GB2131752A
Application number: GB08330068A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Smith Norman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-10-06
Filing date: 1983-11-10
Publication date: 1984-06-27
Also published as: GB2131752B; GB8330068D0

Abstract

A panel van, has an opening in a side or end wall thereof, the opening being provided with two members 4, 5 adapted to move from inoperative positions to operative positions in which they are deployed as at least part of the floor and roof member of an extension to the vehicle, one member 4 being mounted at or adjacent to the lower lip of the opening so that it moves about an axis substantially parallel to the lip of the opening to lie substantially horizontal when in the deployed position; the second member 5 being mounted at or adjacent the upper lip of the opening so that it moves about an axis substantially parallel to that lip to lie, when in the deployed position, with its free end located at a level above that of the upper lip of the opening. The arrangement is intended to provide increased headroom in the extension. Also provided are one or more other members which co-operate with the above two members to form the rear and side walls of an extension to the vehicle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Means for extending a vehicle The present invention relates to a means for extending the useable floor area of a vehicle.

It is known to provide vehicles, such as caravans and motor caravans, with means for extending the height of the vehicle so that the headroom can be increased when the vehicle is stationary. However, such proposals have been directed towards increasing the headroom of the vehicle and not to extending the useable floor area of the vehicle. As a result, some feature which would be desirable in motor caravans, e.g. a separate wash/toilet room, has had to be omitted from the smaller vehicles due to space and height restrictions. Alternatively, a bigger vehicle chassis with a higher roof has had to be used to incorporate the desired features.However, this increases the cost of the motor caravan and, often, due to their greater height these larger vehicles can not be accommodated in conventional car parks or in the average household car-port or garage, thus further restricting the possible market for these vehicles. Despite the existence of a number of designs of folding our extending roof, noone has considered attempting to form an extension to the side or end wall of a vehicle using such a construction. The maximum headroom of such an extension would normally correspond to the height of the opening in the vehicle wall at which they are fitted and this would be of limited use. Furthermore, with a conventional extension, the extension mechanism would occupy an unacceptably large amount of the internal space of the vehicle.

I have now devised a simple extension to a side or end wall of a vehicle which can be used to provide useful extra floor area to the vehicle without altering the basic dimensions or structural integrity of the vehicle when the extension is closed for travel, yet achieves a headroom within the extension which is up to 100% greater than the height of the opening in the vehicle wall onto which it is mounted.

With the extensions of the prior art, the apex of the extension extends longitudinally of the opening in the vehicle roof onto which it is mounted. I have found that by having the apex orientated transversely to the opening, the extension can be formed so that it diverges, rather than converges, towards the outermost wall of the extension and thus enables one to achieve a greater headroom in the extension than at the opening in the vehicle wall. Furthermore, the extension of my invention can be readily designed so as to be mounted into an existing opening of the vehicle with only minor modifications. Thus, it will have little effect on the structural strength of the vehicle. The extension can be provided with windows or clear portions therein and thus need not cause any restriction of view, particularly the driver's rear view when the extension is mounted at the rear of the vehicle.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a vehicle having an opening in a side or end wall thereof, the opening being provided with two members adapted to move from inoperative positions to operative positions in which they are deployed as at least part of the floor and roof members of an extension to the vehicle, one member being mounted at or adjacent to the lower lip of the opening so that it moves about an axis substantially parallel to the lip of the opening to lie substantially horizontal when in the deployed position; the second member being mounted at or adjacent the upper lip of the opening so that it moves about an axis substantially parallel to that lip to lie, when in the deployed position, with its free end located at a level above that of the upper lip of the opening; there also being provided one or more other members which co-operate with the above two members to form the side walls of an enclosed space as an extension to the vehicle.

For convenience, the invention will be described with respect to the preferred form thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic vertical sectional view through a vehicle of the invention; Figures 2, 3 and 4 are views of alternative forms of lifting mechanisms for the device shown in Figure 1; and Figure 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the extension of Figure 1 in the deployed position.

The invention can be applied to a wide range of types of vehicle having a generally planar side or end wall through which an opening has been provided or through which such an opening can be formed. However, the invention is of especial use with closed vans, typically of the 900 Kg to 1800 Kg payload panel van type.

The opening can be in one of the side walls or in the rear wall of the van body and is preferably provided by the side or rear door opening formed in the body by the manufacturer. Thus, as shown in Figure 1, a van body 1 has a rear door opening 2 from which the doors are removed and which is provided with the extension of the invention. The members forming the extension are mounted directly into the opening 2. However, if desired, an intermediate framework can be mounted into the door opening 2 to accept a standard sized extension assembly, so that one or two basic sizes of assembly can be provided to fit a large range a vehicles.

The members forming the extension comprise a lower panel 4, an upper panel 5 and members forming the side walls of the extension when panels 4 and 5 are deployed from their closed positions within opening 2.

Panel 4 is mounted onto the van body by means of a hinge 41 or other pivotal mounting at its base, so that panel 4 can be swung down about an axis substantially parallel to the lower lip of the opening. Preferably, the lower lip of the opening is substantially at the level of the floor of the van, so that panel 4 forms an extension of the floor of the van when in the deployed position.

When swung down, panel 4 preferably lies generally horizontal and thus forms the base to the extension to the van body. If desired, hinge 41 can be cranked or otherwise designed so that the panel 4 not only pivots about the hinge but is lowered as it is pivotted. For example, hinge 41 can be provided by a series of interlinked bars mounted on the sides of panel 4 and of opening 2 which act not only to pivot panel 4 from a generally vertical position to a generally horizontal position, but also lower the panel to or towards ground level.

Panel 4 is typically of the full width of the opening to provide the maximum width for the extension. However, the panel can be narrower, if desired, or can have fold down side sections which are let down when the panel 4 has been lowered, so as to increase the width of the base to the extension.

Panel 4 extends up opening 2 to the extent desired to give the length required for the extension. Typically, panel 4 will extend upwardly to half the height of the opening and will, with the upper panel 5, form a rear closure to the van body when the panels are in their closed positions.

However, if desired, the panel 4 can extend to a higher level and can overlap the upper panel to give greater length to the extension when the panels are deployed.

Panel 4 can be made from a wide variety of materials, e.g., as a pressed steel shape or a plastics or reinforced plastics moulding.

Preferably, panel 4 conforms to the external shape of the wall of the van into which it is mounted, or nests with the upper panel where the panels overlap to form the closure to the van wall. Where panel 4 forms part of the rear wall to the van, it may be necessary to provide therein a window or other clear portion so that the panel does not obstruct the rear view of the driver of the vehicle.

The upper panel 5 can be formed from a number of types of construction. Thus, panel 5 can be in the form of a fabric wall which is deployed as the extension is deployed, e.g. upon a frame or by the extension of two or more struts extending from the vehicle body into the outer corners formed at the intersection of panel 5 and the side walls of the extension. However, it is preferred that panel 5 be a substantially rigid panel of basically the same design and construction as lower panel 4, except that it is pivotted at or near the upper lip of the opening in the vehicle wall so as to swing upwardly and to form at least part of the roof of the extension or to form an upward extension to the rear wall of the vehicle which supports the roof and/or rear wall of the extension.

Panel 5 preferably pivots through at least 900, e.g. through 1 800 or more. Where it pivots through about 1 800 it forms an upstanding wall which is an extension of the rear wall of the vehicle and the front wall of the upper part of the extension. This wall acts as the support for the roof and/or rear wall of the extension formed by the members 6 described below. Alternatively, panel 4 is pivotted through, say 110 to 1 500 to form one pitch of the roof to the extension as shown in Figure 5. The term roof member is therefore used herein to denote a member which forms or supports part of the roof surface.

The free end of panel 5 is at above the level of the opening 2 when panel 5 is in the deployed position. Thus, the headroom within much of the extension is greater than the height of the opening 2. Alternatively, the pivot mounting for panel 5 can be by means of a cranked hinge or other mechanism as for panel 4, so that panel 5 is raised as it pivots to increase the headroom of the extension.

It will usually be necessary to provide a window or other clear portion 51 in panel 5 to permit rearwards view for a driver of the vehicle when the extension is in the closed position and natural lighting into the extension when it is in the deployed position. Where panel 4 overlaps panel 5 in the closed position, it is desirable that the windows or other clear portions in both panels are in register to give the maximum rearward view for a driver of the vehicle.

As stated above, panel 4 is pivotted drom its closed position to its deployed position where it forms the floor of the extension. Where hinge 41 is cranked, the panel may rest directly on the ground when deployed. However, the panel can be supported in its deployed position by providing the outer face of the panel with support members; e.g.

the spare wheel cradle, or legs or other members which fold or swing down to contact the ground and thus support the panel in the substantially horizontal position. The supports can also be provided by pull out lateral bearers housed within suitable channels within the van body or chassis.

A particularly preferred form of support comprises one or more struts or stays attached to the door frame at the opening 2 and to the panel 4. If desired, the strut or stay can be attached to the upper panel 5 or its support system, e.g. via a pulley system, so that the weight of the lower panel aids deployment of the upper panel. An example of such an arrangement is shown in Figure 2 and comprises a wire, chain or other flexible stay 20 connected to the lower panel 4 and passing over a pulley or roller 21 mounted at the head of the opening 2 in the van. The stay 20 is connected to slideably mounted strut 22 sliding in a guide channel up the side of the opening 2.

Strut 22 is connected to the upper panel 5.

When the panels 4 and 5 are released from their closed positions, panel 4 pivots downwardly.

This causes the foot of strut 22 to be drawn up its guide channel by the tension in stay 20. Strut 22 thrusts panel 5 outwardly, thus aiding its deployment. If desired, gas struts, springs or other means can be provided for aiding deployment of the panels. It is also preferred to provide locking means, e.g. a bolt or pin which engages a suitable socket or recess in the frame of opening 2 to retain the foot of strut 22 in the deployed position.

As shown in Figure 3, it is preferred to mount the pulley 21 and the slide for the foot of strut 22 on a generally vertical bar 24 pivotted at its foot and to pass stay 20 under a first pulley 25 on bar 24 before it passes over pulley 21 at the free end of bar 24. Initially, bar 24 is inclined slightly, e.g.

up to 100, off the vertical, e.g. into the body of the van. When panel 4 is released from its closed position and allowed to pivot downwards, tension is applied via stay 20 to the foot of strut 22 and panel 5 is raised as described above. When strut 22 reaches the upward limit of its travel on bar 24, a spring catch, bolt, pin or other locking mechanism on the strut or on bar 24 is actuated to retain the foot of strut 22 in that position.

However, although panel 4 may be at or near the end of its travel, panel 5 may not. In order to carry panel 5 through that last portion, e.g. 5 to 300, of its travel, bar 24 is pulled, e.g. by the tension in stay 20 as panel 4 completes its travel or by any other suitable means, so as to bring the longitudinal axes of strut 22 and bar 24 parallel.

This will achieve the maximum combined length for these two and will thrust panel 5 through the past portion of its travel.

If desired, means can be provided for locking strut 22 and bar 24 in their straightened configuration, or the free end of bar 24 can travel beyond the straightened position to adopt an overcentre position in which it rests against a stop. The weight of panel 5 retains the bar bearing against the stop and thus prevents the panel from being allowed to pivot downwardly.

Another, preferred, form of support employs a pair of folding substantially rigid stays 14 and 1 6 to provide a support to each side of panel 4. Such an arrangement is shown in Figure 4. The upper end of stay 1 6 is pivotally mounted at or adjacent the upper end of the opening 2 in the vehicle by pivot 1 5. The foot of stay 16 is pivotally linked to the upper end of stay 14 by pivot 12. The foot of stay 14 is pivotally linked to panel 4 by pivot 13.

Preferably, the stays 14 and 1 6 are formed from flat metal strips or the like and are formed with means for locking the stays in the extended position so that the two stays then form a single substantially linear stay.

By virtue of the pivot 12, the stays 14 and 16 can fold as panel 4 is pivotted into the closed position so that the folded stays 14 and 16 adopt a generally vertical position and lie adjacent the frame of the opening 2. In the deployed position, the stays unfold to form a substantially straight stay which supports the weight of the panel 4.

As with the construction shown in Figure 3, the weight of panel 4 can be employed to assist in the lifting of panel 5 by connecting one end of the flexible stay 20 to pivot 1 2 linking the stays 14 and 16 or to some other point on stay 14 or 16.

Stay 20 passes over pulleys 25 and 21 on the side frame of opening 2 and is attached to the foot of the strut 22. Preferably, pulleys 21 and 25 and the stay 20 are housed in the channel section commonly formed around the rear door opening of the vehicle which provides part of the weather seal to the rear doors of the vehicle.

The construction shown in Figure 4 operates by allowing panel 4 to pivot downwardly. This causes stays 14 and 1 6 to unfold and adopt the dotted configuration in which they form a substantially linear stay. This causes stay 20 to be drawn over pulley 25 and hence to lift the foot of strut 22 and thus raise panel 5. By pulling on stays 14 and 16 whilst they are still in a dog-legged configuration so as to straighten them, further tension is applied to stay 20 to raise panel 5 to its full extent. By locking stays 14 and 1 6 in the substantially straight configuration, e.g. by slightly overcentring them on pivot 12 or by forming the overlapping portion of the stays with a catch mechanism, the panels 4 and 5 can be locked in the extended position.

The panels 4 and 5 co-operate with one or more other members 6 forming the side walls of the extension, or where panel 5 pivots through substantially 1 800 part of the roof to the extension. Members 6 can take the form of rigid panels which are hinged or otherwise connected to panels 4 and 5 for deployment when the panels are in position; or can be separate panels which are bolted, clipped or otherwise fitted into position after panels 4 and 5 have been deployed.

However, a preferred form of these other members 6 is shown in Figure 5 and comprises a fabric, plastics or similar sheet which forms a flexible wall linking the periphery of panels 4 and 5 and the sides of opening 2.

Member 6 can be made from any suitable material, e.g. a plastics coated natural or synthetic woven material which is preferably substantially wind- and water-proof or is rendered so by a suitable treatment. Preferably, member 6 is fixedly attached to the van and panels 4 and 5, e.g. by adhesive, welding or other means so as to provide a seal between the member 6 and the other sections of the extension. However, if desired, the attachment can be by means of detachable fixings, e.g. by zip fasteners, Velcro type material etc.

Member 6 canihus be detachable wholly or in part so that part or all of a wall of the extension can be detached or opened, e.g. to form a door opening into the extension from outside.

If desired, the member 6 can be supported by pole-like struts or U shaped hoops 7 and the like extending from the sides of opening 2 so as to impart a measure of rigidity to the wall of the extension. To aid collapsing of the wall during collapsing of the extension, the free ends of the hoops 7 can be pivotted from a common point so that the hoops can be swung up or down to form a more compact assembly for storage. Alternatively, the free ends can be journalled in slides travelling up and down each side of opening 2 so that the free ends of the hoops 7 can be collected at the bottom or top of the opening 2 and the hoops collapsed into a suitable recess in the van body or one of panels 4 or 5.

The extension assembly of the invention can be formed as an add-on unit for existing vans, in which case it may be desired to mount the panels 4 and 5 and member 6 on a sub-frame which can be bolted or otherwise fixed directly into the door opening after removal of the doors. Alternatively, the extension assembly can be built into a van as part of the original equipment of that van. In either case it may be desired to provide direct access into the extension from the interior of the van, e.g.

by not providing any wall across the opening 2.

Alternatively, it may be desired to isolate the extension from the main body of the van to prevent thermal losses through the extension or an interchange of air and/or to provide added security. This can be achieved by any suitable means, e.g. by providing a partition between the van and the extension. This partition should not obstruct the driver's rear view and is therefore preferably provided with a window which registers with any window in panels 4 and 5. The partition can also be provided as a door, preferably with a separate upper and lower section, to the extension. The door or the upper part thereof can be held open during driving of the vehicle to reduce restriction of the driver's rearward view.

The presence of the partition also provides means for preventing access into the main body of the van, even though the fabric of member 6 can be readily penetrated by an intruder.

Panel 4 can be provided with an access door or hatch which is available for use when panel 4 is in the closed position. This door or hatch can give access to the space between the panel 4 and the partition or to the interior of the vehicle for storage, e.g. of gas and/or water bottles.

The extension assembly of the invention provides a simple means for increasing the internal floor area of the van without the need to make major structural alterations to the van and without the need to use a larger size of van than can be accommodated in a household garage.

Where windows are provided in panel 5, these will provide natural lighting into the extension and, since they are directed upwardly, will retain the privacy of the extension when in the extended position.

The invention has been described above in terms of an extension to a van. However, the invention can be applied to other forms of vehicle where it is desired to increase the internal capacity of the vehicle, usually on a temporary basis. Thus, for example, it can be applied to a commercial vehicle to provide an extension to the cab accommodation, notably to provide sleeping accommodation for drivers of trucks on over night journeys or where the journey exceeds the legally permitted driving time.

Claims

1. A vehicle having an opening in a side or end wall thereof, the opening being provided with two members adapted to move from inoperative positions to operative positions in which they are deployed as at least part of the floor and roof members of an extension to the vehicle, one member being mounted at or adjacent to the lower lip of the opening so that it moves about an axis substantially parallel to the lip of the opening to lie substantially horizontal when in the deployed position; the second member being mounted at or adjacent the upper lip of the opening so that it moves about an axis substantially parallel to that lip to lie, when in the deployed position, with its free end located at a level above that of the upper lip of the opening; there also being provided one or more other members which co-operate with the above two members to form the side walls of an enclosed space as an extension to the vehicle.

2. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the two upper and lower members are substantially rigid body panel members which co-operate to form at least part of the rear wall of the vehicle when in the closed position.

3. A vehicle as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2 wherein the upper and lower members are interlinked whereby the weight of the lower member aids deployment of the upper member.

4. A vehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the upper and lower members are provided with struts or stays adapted to retain them in the deployed position.

5. A vehicle as claimed in claim 4 wherein the upper member is retained in the deployed position by a strut whose foot is slidably engaged with a member at the side of the opening in the vehicle wall, the foot being linked by a flexible stay to the lower member or to a member actuated by the lower member whereby lowering of the lower member applies tension to the stay and thus draws the foot of the slidable member upwards to deploy the upper member.

6. A vehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the upper and lower members co-operate with a flexible sheet member forming the side and rear walls of the extension.

7. A vehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the upper member pivots through substantially 1 800 to form an upward extension to the vehicle wall and acts to support the roof of the extension to the vehicle formed by the other members.

8. An assembly for mounting in an opening in the wall of a vehicle to form an extension to that vehicle, which assembly comprises upper and lower substantially rigid body panel members, the members being adapted to be pivotably mounted at or adjacent the upper or lower lips of the opening respectively and to pivot about axes substantially parallel to those lips from a closed position in which the members co-operate to form at least part of the wall of the vehicle to a deployed position in which the lower member adopts a substantially horizontal position to act as the floor to the extension and the upper member adopts a position inclined upwardly away from the vehicle to act as a roof member for the extension; there being provided struts or stays to support the lower panel member and the upper panel member in the deployed position, the struts or stays being interlinked whereby the weight of the lower panel member aids deployment of the upper panel member; and a flexible wall member carried adjacent the periphery of the panel members to form the side and rear walls of the extension when the panel members are in the deployed position and adapted to be affixed to the vehicle adjacent the sides of the opening in the wall thereof.

9. An assembly as claimed in claim 8 mounted upon a sub-frame adapted to be mounted as a unit into the rear door opening of the vehicle.

10. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 or an assembly as claimed in claim 8 substantially as hereinbefore described with respect to any one of the accompanying drawings.