GB2209999A

GB2209999A - Vehicle extension unit

Info

Publication number: GB2209999A
Application number: GB8821733A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ronald George
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-09-24
Filing date: 1988-09-16
Publication date: 1989-06-01
Also published as: GB8722476D0; GB8821733D0

Abstract

An extension unit, particularly for motor caravans, comprises a shell, for example a fibre-glass moulding, which is displaceable between a first position in which it is housed substantially completely within the vehicle and a second position in which it extends at least partly outwardly of the normal vehicle body shell, thereby to increase the effective internal volume of the vehicle. The unit may have rollers or wheels to run in tracks (30) Fig 1, which may be extensible outwardly of the vehicle to act as support rails. The unit may be movable to a second position within the vehicle to allow access to an engine hatch 32. The rear door of the vehicle may be part of the extension unit instead of as shown in Fig 2. The unit may be movable sideways through a side door of the vehicle instead of longitudinally of the vehicle. <IMAGE>

Description

VEHICLE EXTENSION UNIT SPECIFICATION This invention relates to extension units for vehicles, and is particularly concerned with an extension unit which is adapted to be used with motor caravans and like vehicles.

Motor caravans are converted from basic commercial vehicles such as are produced by the major motor manufacturers, the conversions involving raising of the roof level and fitting out the interior with beds, seating, cupboards, etc. Conventionally, in motor caravans, it is the practice to fit a double bed at the rear of the vehicle. Normally, the bed is folded away to form a daytime seat and can be unfolded into the body of the vehicle for sleeping. However, with existing vehicles, when the bed is folded out for sleeping purposes, this greatly restricts the amount of space which is left within the vehicle in front of the bed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle extension unit which is normally housed within the vehicle body but which can be extended outwardly of the vehicle in use in order to enlarge the effective internal volume of the vehicle.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a vehicle extension unit which is arranged to be displaceable between a first position in which it is housed substantially completely within the vehicle and a second position in which it extends at least partly outwardly of the normal vehicle body shell.

Preferably, the unit is arranged to slide to and fro between the first and second positions. With the unit in the "extended" position the effective internal volume of the vehicles is substantially increased. This then enables one to position a bed within the extension unit so that the bed then does not occupy a substantial amount of the floor space available within the vehicle.

According to a preferred feature of the present invention, the extension unit is movable between said first position, said second position and a third position in which it is positioned further into the vehicle than in said first position, thereby to enable access to be gained to an engine hatch for example, if the vehicle is a rear-engined vehicle.

It is to be understood that the extension unit of the present invention, although particularly appropriate for use with motor caravans, is not limited to such vehicles. The extension unit of the present invention is appropriate for use in any situation where one has a need occasionally, or regularly, to adapt a given vehicle for use as a long-load carrier. For example, the vehicle extension unit has particular application for use in the transportation of rolls of carpet, ladders, etc.

It is also within the scope of the present invention, in the case of vehicles which have side doors, to adapt the extension unit to be displaceable outwardly to the side of the vehicle.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, one presently preferred embodiment of vehicle extension unit in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of the vehicle extension unit; and Fig. 2 shows the vehicle extension unit fitted in place within a vehicle, the unit being shown in solid outline in its extended position.

As shown in the drawings, the vehicle extension unit, which is indicated generally at 10, comprises a shell which is preferably formed as a moulding and which is preferably made of glass-reinforced plastics construction. The shell comprises a base 12, a pair of side walls 14, a rear wall 16 and a top 18 which is formed in two parts. The forward part of the shell top 18 is designed as a hinged lid 20 which is arranged to run in side tracks (not shown) within the body of the vehicle so that the lid 20 will automatically be raised when the extension unit is pushed into the vehicle, in order thereby to avoid reducing the available headroom within the vehicle.

The rear wall 16 of the extension unit is fitted with a window 22, which is preferably a double-glazed, opening window, as indicated in broken lines in Fig 2.

The rear wall 16 of the shell is shaped in order substantially to match the configuration and shape of the rear end of the vehicle itself, both for aesthetic purposes and so that when the extension unit is housed within the vehicle the rear wall 16 conforms generally to the contours of the rear door of the vehicle. The shell may be provided with a moulding 23 around the unit to match the body moulding of the vehicle itself.

In its position in use, as shown in Fig. 2, the extension unit 10 is positioned externally of the normal vehicle body shell after upward lifting of the rear door 24 of the vehicle. In order to take the weight of the extension unit a pair of supports or stays or legs 26 are provided beneath the extension unit. These supports 26 are connected at one end to the bumper 28 of the vehicle and at the other end to the underside of the extension unit. They may be removable supports or legs which fold down from the underside of the extension unit for example.

The extension unit is provided with rollers or wheels (not shown) at the lower side edges, these being adapted to run in tracks 30 fitted within the vehicle.

Preferably, each track 30 comprises an L-shaped track having a horizontal channel and a side channel. The extension unit 10 is slidable on the tracks 30 between the fully extended position, as shown in solid outline in Fig. 2, and a second position where the rear wall 16 of the shell is positioned just inside the rear door 24 of the vehicle when the rear door is closed. In the case of a rear-engined vehicle, where the engine is fitted beneath the floor at the rear of the vehicle, an engine access hatch 32 may be provided as a standard fitting in the original vehicle. In order to maintain access to this hatch 32 it is necessary that the extension unit 10 should also be displaceable further into the interior of the vehicle, to a position as shown in broken lines in Fig. 2. In this fully forward position the engine hatch 32 is accessible.

The extension unit 10 is fitted so that it is completely waterproof and draught-proof. This involves the provision of suitable seals and draught-proofing materials around the periphery of the unit. For example, draught-proofing material can be located on a flange 34 at the front of the shell. The extension unit is also fully insulated and is provided internally with lighting and power points. The latter can be achieved by the use of an extensible cable for example.

As modifications of the basic vehicle, one can arrange for the tracks 30 to be made extensible outwardly of the vehicle when the extension unit is housed within the vehicle, so that they can then serve as support rails for a table top at the rear of the vehicle. As a further modification, instead of having a raisable rear door 24 to the vehicle, the rear door can be part of the extension unit itself, and be movable outwardly with the extension unit as it is extended from the vehicle. The extension unit of the present invention can also be used with vehicles having a side-hinged rear door rather than a top-hinged rear door.

The main advantage of the extension unit in the case of a motor caravan is that a double bed can be positioned within the unit when extended in order to reduce the amount of floor space taken up by the bed within the vehicle proper. Also, by being able to position the double bed further back, space is created for an additional single bed within the body of the vehicle forwardly of the double bed. In the case of the extension unit being used for other purposes, for example as a long-load carrier, for example for rolls of carpet, one can thereby fit long loads within the vehicle in a manner which is waterproof and secure.

With a unit adapted to be used in this way it is necessary that the rear wall 16 of the extension unit be fitted with or designed as an opening door.

As mentioned above, although the extension unit of the present invention is particularly designed for forward and rearward displacement at the rear end of a vehicle, one could alternatively provide such a unit for sideways movement through a side door of a vehicle, in order to provide an extended space at the side of the vehicle.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A vehicle extension unit which is arranged to be displaceable between a first position in which it is housed substantially completely within the vehicle and a second position in which it extends at least partly outwardly of the normal vehicle body shell.

2. A vehicle extension unit as claimed in claim 1, which is arranged to slide to and fro between said first and second positions.

3. A vehicle extension unit as claimed in claim 1 or 2, which is movable between said first position, said second position and a third position in which it is positioned further into the vehicle than in said first position.

4. A vehicle extension unit as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a moulded open-fronted shell having a base, a pair of side walls, a rear wall and a top.

5. A vehicle extension unit as claimed in claim 4, in which the shell top comprises a hinged lid portion which is automatically raised when the unit is moved into said first position.

6. A vehicle extension unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

7. A motor vehicle fitted with an extension unit as claimed in any preceding claim, the unit being arranged for forward and rearward displacement at the rear end of the vehicle.

8. A motor vehicle fitted with an extension unit as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, the unit being arranged for lateral displacement through a side door of the vehicle.

9. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 7 or 8, in which the extension unit is displaceable on tracks fitted within the vehicle, said tracks being extensible outwardly of the vehicle when the unit is housed within the vehicle, to serve as support rails.

10. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 7, 8 or 9, in which the outward wall of the extension unit is provided with or as an opening door.

11. A motor vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.