GB2196583A

GB2196583A - Caravans with roof top accommodation

Info

Publication number: GB2196583A
Application number: GB08625380A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Moira Patricia Day
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-10-23
Filing date: 1986-10-23
Publication date: 1988-05-05
Also published as: GB8625380D0

Abstract

A reinforced roof (12) is provided which is sufficiently strong to bear the weight of at least one person, and a guard-rail (18) extends around the periphery of the roof. A detachable ladder (22) which hooks into recesses (24) provided in an edge (12) of the roof provides access to the roof. Alternatively, access to the roof may be through an aperture in the roof, from the inside of the caravan. In Fig. 2, a separate support assembly 110 is provided to support a surface 124, which as in Fig. 1, may be used for "outdoor" activities such as sunbathing, and may be provided with an access ladder, guard rail, and/or steps from the living area of the caravan. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in and for caravans The present invention relates to improvements in, and for, caravans.

Heretofore when people using caravans of either the motor caravan type, the static type or the towable type desired to carry out outdoor activities such as sunbathing, these activities had to take place outside of the caravan.

This had disadvantages, especially on a caravan site, that little privacy was afforded and that much of the area around a caravan was often in shadow due to adjacent caravans.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a caravan comprising a surface located substantially above the living area of the caravan, the surface being sufficiently strong to bear the weight of at least one person and means enabling access to the surface.

Preferably support means for the surface is formed integrally with the caravan.

Preferably the access means leads from within the caravan to the surface and may be in the form of steps. Alternatively the access means may be located externally of the caravan and may comprise a ladder which may be detachable.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a support assembly for a caravan, the assembly comprising a surface sufficiently strong to bear the weight of at least one person, means adapted to support the surface in a location substantially above the living area of the caravan, and means enabling access to the surface.

Preferably the support means comprises a frame adapted to locate adjacent to opposite sides of the caravan.

Preferably the support frame is collapsible; Alternatively the frame may comprise a plurality of detachable components, or the components may be rigidly connected together.

Preferably the access means comprises a ladder which may be detachable.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a side and front view of a caravan according to the invention; and Fig. 2 is a side and front view of a support assembly according to a further aspect of the invention and a conventional caravan.

Fig. 1 shows a conventional caravan 10 fitted with a reinforced roof 12. If necessary the walls 14 and chassis 16 of the caravan 10 may be strengthened to provide support for the roof 12. The roof 12 is substantially flat with a slight downward slope on all sides away from the centre thereof for drainage purposes. The roof 12 may be made from any suitable material such as glass reinforced plastics. A guard rail 18 extends around the periphery of the roof 12 being carried on a plurality of support bars 20. The support bars 20 may be collapsible or removable for transportation of the caravan.

Access to the roof 12 is provided by a ladder 22 which hooks into recesses 24 provided in an edge of the roof 12, but can be detached for storage. Access to the roof 12 may alternatively or in addition be provided from within the caravan 10 by steps leading through a suitable trap door (not shown). The steps could be in the form of a movable ladder, or a spiral staircase.

Various modifications may be made. For example the ladder could be attached to the caravan in a different manner, or a ladder that is capable of being rolled up may be used.

Collapsible furniture could be provided attached to the roof. The roof may be reinforced only over a part thereof.

Fig. 2 shows a support assembly 110 for a conventional caravan 112. The assembly comprises a frame 114 consisting of four upright ground engaging members 116 connected at upper ends 118 to a pair of first ridge members 120 and a pair of second ridge members 122, the first ridge members 120 being shorter than the second ridge members 122. The first and second ridge members 120,122 are joined in a rectangular configuration such that when the caravan 112 is located therebelow each of the upright members 114 is substantially adjacent to a corner of the caravan 112.

A suitable floor surface 124 is mounted across the top of the frame 114. This floor surface 124 may be made for example of glass reinforced plastic or a metallic mesh, and may be made in sections for ease of fitting to the frame 114. The frame 114 is connected together and the floor surface 124 connected thereto by nuts and bolts (not shown) through aligned holes, and may be disassembied for removal or storage. The frame 114 is made from steel tubing, though any other suitable materials could be used. Access to the floor surface 124 is provided by a detachable ladder (not shown) adapted to hook into a pair of inverted U-shaped brackets 126 provided on the floor surface 124. A guide rail such as shown in Fig. 1 may be provided around the periphery of the floor 124.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example the first and/or second ridge members may be telescopic to accommodate different sizes of caravans. The uprights may be telescopic or alternatively adapted such that the ridge members, and thus the floor surface, may be located at selected locations along the uprights, thus accommodating different heights of caravan. The frame may be permanently fixed together or may be collapsible. For extra strength more than four uprights may be used and strengthening bars extending across the frame may be provided.

The above examples thus describe apparatus that permits use of the area above caravans. This area provides for privacy and is ideally suited for sunbathing and other activities. The use of removable ladders, ladders that roll up, or steps from the living area prevent unauthorised access to this area.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

CLAiMS

1. A caravan comprising a surface located substantially above the living area of the caravan, the surface being sufficiently strong to bear the weight of at least one person and means enabling access to the surface.

2. A caravan according to Claim 1, in which said surface is formed integrally with the roof of the caravan.

3. A caravan according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the roof is reinforced.

4. A caravan according to Claim 3, in which the roof is made of a glass reinforced plastics material.

5. A caravan according to any of the preceding Claims, in which a guard rail extends around said surface.

6. A caravan according to Claim 5, in which the guard rail is collapsible.

7. A caravan according to Claim 5 or 6, in which the guard rail is detachably mounted on said surface.

8. A caravan according to any of the preceding Claims, in which the access means leads from within the caravan to the surface.

9. A caravan according to Claim 8, in which the access means is in the form of steps.

10. A caravan according to any of Claims 1 to 7, in which the access means is located externally of the caravan.

11. A caravan according to Claim 10, in which the access means comprises a ladder.

12. A caravan according to Claim 11, in which the ladder is detachable.

13. A support assembly for a caravan, the assembly comprising a surface sufficiently strong to bear the weight of at least one person, means adapted to support the surface in a location substantially above the living area of the caravan, and means enabling access to the surface.

14. An assembly according to Claim 13, in which said surface is made of a glass reinforced plastics material.

15. An assembly according to Claim 13, in which said surface is made of a metallic mesh material.

16. An assembly according to any of Claims 13 to 15, in which a guard rail is provided around said surface.

17. An assembly according to any of Claims 13 to 16, in which the support means comprises a frame adapted to locate adjacent to opposite sides of the caravan.

18. An assembly according to Claim 17, in which the support frame is collapsible.

19. An assembly according to Claim 17, in which the frame comprises a plurality of detachable components.

20. An assembly according to Claim 17, in which the frame comprises a plurality of rigidly connected components.

21. An assembly according to any of Claims 13 to 20, in which the access means comprises a ladder.

22. An assembly according to Claim 21, in which the ladder is detachable.

23. A caravan substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

24. A support assembly for a caravan substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

25. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed in the foregoing specification or claims and/or shown in the drawings, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.