GB2177979A

GB2177979A - An accommodation structure for attachment to a traction vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2177979A
Application number: GB08518799A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Johann Negutz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-02-09
Filing date: 1985-07-25
Publication date: 1987-02-04
Also published as: GB8518799D0; DE3404582A1

Abstract

The generally L-shaped accommodation structure (4) is attachable to at least three points on a traction vehicle (1) and has a living and/or sleeping area which is extendable. When attached to the vehicle (1) the longer arm of the L-shape is situated above and the shorter arm of the L-shape is situated behind the vehicle (1). The structure (4) is extendable rearwardly and in a generally longitudinal direction to increase the size of the living and/or sleeping area. The invention enables the living space to be increased quite simply and without the need to separate the vehicle (1) and the structure (4) and remove the vehicle (1) from the structure (4). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An accommodation structure for attachment to a traction vehicle The present invention relates to a structure intended to serve as living accommodation and to be attached to a traction vehicle during travel, the said structure being of a general L-shape and having means for attachment to at least three points of a traction vehicle and having a living and/or sleeping area which is extendable.

In a car-drawn mobile home described in German Unexamined Specification 29 01 435, a living compartment detachable from a traction vehicle and mounted on a supporting axle is fully equipped for living accommodation. By means of hinged walls in the living compartment the space occupied by the traction vehicle when they are fastened together can be increased to form additional living space when they are separated with the use of floor units. To enable the living space to be enlarged, therefore, the traction vehicle has to be driven away from the living compartment.

This method of increasing the living space is, in practice, complicated and time-consuming and also calls for skilful handling.

An object of the invention is to improve a structure of the kind mentioned at the beginning in such a way that the space can be increased by a few manual operations within a very short time and without any great exertion.

According to this invention there is provided a structure intended to serve as living accommodation and to be attached to a traction vehicle during travel, the said structure being of a general Lshape and having means for attachment to at least three points on a traction vehicle and having a living and/or sleeping area which is extendable, the said structure when attached to a traction vehicle being arranged so that the longer arm of the Lshape is situated above and the shorter arm of the L-shape is situated substantially behind the traction vehicle, wherein the said structure is extendable rearwardly and in a generally longitudinal direction to increase the size of the living and/or sleeping area.

The invention enables the living space to be increased with ease and without the necessity of separating the traction vehicle and the attachable accommodation structure and removing the traction vehicle. The accommodation structure may comprise two co-operating parts movable, preferably displaceable, relative to each other When out of use or during travel the accommodation structure will normally be in the retracted position, the traction vehicle and the attachable accommodation structure thus forming a particularly compact system. This is a particular advantage over narrow stretches of road involving numous bends.

In the retracted position the inside of the attachable structure is normally inaccessible and thus cannot be occupied by anybody during travel, for example.

The accommodation structure is particularly compact and easy to handie if one co-operating part is adapted to be rigidly fixed to the traction vehicle and the other co-operating part is adapted to be movably fixed to the traction vehicle and so arranged that when the accommodation structure occupies a retracted position, the said other co-operating part extends in the manner of a box-like cover over the said co-operating part. This other co-operating part to some extent forms a protective covering for the first mentioned co-operating part and is preferably provided with a facing resistant to all weather conditions and normal mechanical stresses and consisting, for example, of plywood glued to render it weatherproof, with GFK mats and resin.The surface of the facing, of which the construction is naturally heat-insulating, can be treated with coloured or transparent paint or spar varnish, etc.

The space in the said other co-operating part may contain a storage unit for supplies.

The accommodation structure preferably includes slide rails arranged in such a manner that when attached to the traction vehicle there are longitudinally extending slide rails situated above the traction vehicle and longitudinally extending slide rails behind the traction vehicle. Usually an operating means to effect relative displacement of the said two co-operating parts will be provided. Preferably the said operating means is coupled to a pivotally mounted floor via a system of rods.

The said operating means may be coupled via a second system of rods to pivotable rear support means for supporting the accommodation structure. Conveniently the pivotable rear support means are fitted with a locking device for their end position. Desirably such rear support means are adjustable in height and include supporting wheels. Expediently the said operating means are hand operable, for instance by means of a crank and threaded rod.

By way of example, a preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a side view of a traction vehicle with an accommodation structure in its retracted position and mounted thereon, Figure 2 is a corresponding front view of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a corresponding rear view of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a side view similar to Figure 1 and to an enlarged scale and showing details of the attachable accommodation structure.

Figure 5 is a side view similar to Figure 4 but showing the accommodation structure in its rearwardly extended position.

Figure 1 shows a cross-country traction vehicle 1, preferably with an all-wheel drive and with a roof support 2 and fixed coupling 3. A generally Lshaped accommodation structure 4 is detachably supported at three or more points via the roof support 2 and the coupling 3. The longer arm of the structure 4 is situated above the traction vehicle 1 and the shorter arm is situated substantially be hind the traction vehicle 1. At the top of the structure 4 is a roof hatch 5, an electric fan 6 and holders 7, e.g. for surf boards. On the bottom of the longer arm of the structure 4 are front support holders 8 into which front supports, not shown in the drawing, can be inserted. As may be seen from Figure 2, the front of the structure 4 is provided with two front windows 9, while Figure 3 shows that the rear part of the structure 4 is fitted with a door 11, a step 12 and bicycle holders 13.Rear windows 14 are provided in the door 11 and in the rear side of the structure 4. The items marked 15 and 16 are a bumper bar and rear lights respectively.

Figure 4 shows the structure 4 with its principal parts. It consists of a supporting body 17 rigidly affixed by the coupling 3 to the traction vehicle 1 and of a slide-in body 18 displaceable in relation to the said supporting body 17. The sliding movement is assisted by slide rails 19, 21, and 22,23, while the slide rails 19,22 consisting of metal sections, are affixed to the slide-in body 18, the slide rails 21,23, consisting of plastic sections, being secured to the fixed supporting body 17.

The slide rails 21 extend as far as the roof support 2, thus providing a connection to the traction vehicle 1.

The main contents of the supporting body 17 consist of a storage section 24, while the slide-in body 18 mainly consists of a sleeping area 25 and a living area 26. When the structure is in its retracted position the living area 16 is inaccessible.

The sleeping area 25 is delimited by a front portion 27 serving to accommodate readiny lamps, fans, heaters, rests, etc. and by a central portion 28 for clothes, a radio, a TV set, etc. with a sleeping space between the said portions.

The living area 26 contains a pivotably mounted floor 29 which, when the structure 4 is in the retractsd state, assumes a mainly vertical position.

Furthermore, a table 31 and two seats 32 are pivot ably mounted on the inside of the rear wall of the structure, so that they can be tilted into their position for use when required, (Figure 5). As a means of supporting the structure 4 tiltable rear supports 33, with a locking device for their end position, are mounted on the lower side of the supporting body 17, and these may be made adjustable in height and pivoted into their concealed position when the structure 4 is in the retracted state.

The slide-in body 18 is moved by means of an operating mechanism 34 provided with a threaded bar 35 situated between the said slide-in body 18 and the supporting body 17 and also with a hand crank 36 and coupled to the floor 29 and to the rear support 33 via a system of rods 37 and an ad ditional system of rods 38. The operation of retracting or extending the structure 4 can thus be accompanied by that of moving the floor 29 and the rear support 33 into their inoperative or operative position respectively.

In the extended state (Figure 5) those surfaces of the central section 18 and of the storage unit 24 accommodated in the supporting body 17 which face towards the living area 26 form a vertical wall. An opening provided in the latter gives access from the living area 26 to the sleeping area 25. The fully extended structure 4 leaves the sides and the floor of the supporting body 17 free. This gives easy access to any necessary connections, such as filling sockets for the water supply, suction intakes and waste-gas vents for a heating system, plug sockets for the electricity supply, a cor.nection for an operating device for emptying a drainage tank, etc. Finally, the supporting body may contain storage compartments for front supports to be inserted into the front support holders 8.

The structure 4 and the system for connecting it to and disconnecting it from the traction vehicle 1 is manipulated as follows: During travel the traction vehicle 1 and the structure 4 are interconnected via the roof support 2 and the coupling 3 and occupies its retracted position, as shown in Figure 4.

When the structure 4 is to be used the slide-in body 18 is moved backwards in relation to the supporting body 17 by means of the hand crank 36.

This extension movement is accompanied by the pivoting of the floor 29 and the rear supports 33, via the system of rods 27 and the additional system of rods 38 respectively, into the position for use, shown in Figure 5. The front supports are then inserted into the front support holders 8, the structure 4 then being released from the coupling 3 and the roof support 2. The traction vehicle is then driven out and is available for use by itself. The structure 4 can now be entered via the door 11 and the hinged step 12.

The operation of coupling the structure 4 to the traction vehicle 1 is carried out in the reverse order.

Claims

1. A structure intended to serve as living accommodation and to be attached to a traction vehicle during travel, the said structure being of a general L-shape and having means for attachment to at least three points on a traction vehicle and having a living and/ or sleeping area which is extendable, the said structure when attached to a traction vehicle being arranged so that the longer arm of the L-shape is situated above and the shorter arm of the L-shape is situated substantially behind the traction vehicle, wherein the said structure is extendable rearwardly and in a generally longitudinal direction to increase the size of the living and/or sleeping area.

2. Accommodation structure in accordance with Claim 1, which comprises two co-operating parts movable relative to one another.

3. Accommodation structure in accordance with Claim 1 or Claim 2, which comprises two co-operating parts displaceable relative to one another.

4. Accommodation structure in accordance with Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein one co-operating part is adapted to be rigidly fixed to the traction vehicle and the other co operating part is adapted to be movably fixed to the traction vehicle and so arranged that when the said structure occupies a re tracted position the said other co-operating part extends in the manner of a box-like cover over the said one co-operating part.

5. Accommodation structure in accordance with Claim 4, which includes slide rails arranged in such a manner that when attached to the traction vehicle there are longitudinally extending slide rails situated above the traction vehicle and longitudinally extending slide rails behind the traction vehicle.

6. Accommodation structure in accordance with Claim 4 or Claim 5, which includes an operating means to effect relative displacement of the said two co-operating parts.

7. Accommodation structure in accordance with Claim 6, wherein the said operating means is coupled to a pivotally mounted floor via a system of rods.

8. Accommodation structure in accordance with Claim 7, wherein the said operating means is coupled via a second system of rods to pivotable rear support means for supporting the accommodation structure.

9. Accommodation structure in accordance with Claim 8, wherein the pivotable rear support means are fitted with a locking device for their end position.

10. Accommodation structure in accordance with Claim 8 or Claim 9, wherein the pivotable rear support means are adjustable in height and include supporting wheels.

11. Accommodation structure in accordance with any one of Claims 6 to 10, wherein the said operating means is hand operable.

12. Accommodation structure in accordance with Claim 11, wherein the said operating means is hand operated by means of a crank and threaded rod.

13. A structure intended to serve as living accommodation and to be attached to a traction ve hicle during travel, substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.