GB2328908A - Vehicle displays - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for the display of vehicles comprises a trailer base 10, an arch 22 which can be raised and lowered on support towers 12, a pair of lower side sections 14,16 which can be slid out sideways from the base 10 to form the floor and lower part of the walls of a building structure, and a pair of upper side sections mounted on the arch 22 which can be slid out sideways from it to form part of the roof and the upper part of the walls of the building. The roof is transparent so that people can watch from beneath the roof and see vehicles being driven over the arch 22.

Description

Vehicle Displays The present invention relates to transportable buildings and to transportable structures for the display and demonstration of vehicles.

The present invention provides a transportable building having a base comprising two base portions, two side walls each comprising upper and lower wall portions, and a roof comprising two roof portions, wherein the roof and the upper wall portions are movably supported so that they can be raised relative to the base to increase the height of the building and one of the walls, one of the roof portions and one of the base portions are movably supported so that they can be moved sideways relative to the other wall to increase the width of the building.

The building is preferably formed as a trailer so that, when in a collapsed condition, it can be towed on the roads.

The present invention further provides transportable apparatus for displaying vehicles, the apparatus comprising vehicle support means including track means along which a vehicle can be driven, the track means including a viewing portion and a ramp portion which can be arranged in use to be inclined to the horizontal and have its upper end connected to the viewing portion, a viewing platform arranged in use beneath the viewing portion of the track, and transparent roofing means extending over at least a part of the viewing platform and beneath the viewing portion of the track such that a vehicle on the viewing portion of the track can be viewed through the roofing means.

The apparatus is preferably formed as a trailer so that, in its collapsed state, it can be transported on the roads. The viewing platform can then comprise either the trailer base itself or a seprate platform erected above the trailer base.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a trailer according to the invention in a transportable state, Figure 2 is a section through the trailer of Figure 1 in the transportable state, Figure 3 is a side view of the trailer of Figure 1 in an expanded state, Figure 4 is a section through the trailer of Figure 1 in the expanded state, Figure 5 is a plan view of the trailer of Figure 1 in the expanded state Figure 6 is a side view of a display support forming part of the trailer of Figure 1, and Figure 7 is a perspective view of the trailer of Figure 1 showing, in its expanded state with its end ramps erected.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a display trailer comprises a nat rectangular base 10, with a support tower 12 in each corner, left and right lower side sections 14, 16, left and right upper side sections 18, 20, and an arch 22.

Each of the lower side sections 14, 16 comprises a horizontal base portion 24 which is parallel to the trailer base 10, and a vertical side portion 26 extending upwards from the outer edge of the base portion 24 at right angles to it. The length of the lower side sections 14, 16 is such that they each fit between the two support towers 12 on their side of the trailer. The base portions 24 and side portions 26 are formed from a number of rectangular section tubes 28, those of the base portions being steel and those of the side portions being alloy. The side portions 26 are glazed with glazing panels which fit onto the tubing framework.

The tubes of the base portion 24 are substantially as long as the trailer base 10 is wide, extend across the trailer, and are slidably supported in the trailer base 10 so that the lower side sections 14, 16 can slide in and out.

The arch 22 extends along the trailer having each end supported on a support beam 30. Each of the support beams 30 fits between the two towers 12 at a respective end of the trailer base 10, and is supported on a pair of screw jacks 32, each of which is provided in a respective one of the support towers 12. The arch 22 is symmetrically curved, having its highest point half way between its two ends. It is formed from steel tubing forming an oblong section 34 with a pair of tracks 36 extending from its sides for supporting the wheels 37 of a vehicle, and a glazed under section 39 which extends beneath the oblong section and the tracks 36.

Each of the upper side sections 18, 20 comprises a horizontally extending roof portion 38 which is glazed over and curved to fit under the arch 22, and a vertical side portion 40 depending from the roof portion which is also glazed and has a horizontal lower edge 42. Each of the upper side sections 18, 20 is slidably mounted on a pair of horizontal tracks 44, which are mounted on the inner sides of the support towers 12 and extend across the trailer, so that it can be slid horizontally in and out.

Referring additionally to Figure 6, on the outside of each of the lower side sections 14, 16 is mounted of a pair of screw jacks 48 on which is mounted a support frame 46. The support frames 46 each carry an oval display board 50 on which advertising material or logos can be displayed. The screw jacks 48 are operable to raise and lower the support frames 46, and the display boards 50, relative to the lower side sections 14, 16 between a lowered position, shown in dashed lines in Figure 6, and a raised position, shown in solid lines in Figure 6.

The apparatus further comprises two sets of three ramp sections 52 which can be attached to the ends of the arch as shown in Figure 7 and supported by ramp support struts 54. The ramp sections 52 each include two tracks spaced apart by the same amount as those 36 on the arch 22 so that, when erected, they form a pair of ramps from the ground to the ends of the arch 22 enabling vehicles to be driven up onto the arch.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, when the trailer is in its collapsed condition ready for towing, the arch 22 is in its lowered position supported at the bottom of the support towers 12 and the upper side sections 18, 20 are slid inwards. One of them 20 is slightly higher than the other 18 so their curved roof portions 38 overlap over a significant proportion of their width. The lower side portions 14, 16 are also slid inwards towards each other so that the tubes 28 making up their base portions are inside the trailer base 10, the base portions 24 overlapping each other. The vertical side portions 26 therefore extend upwards from about the edges of the trailer base 10. The support frames 46 are lowered to their lowest position as shown in Figure 1. Therefore in the collapsed condition, the whole apparatus is about as wide as the trailer base 10 and as high as the support towers 12, and as the arch 22.

In order to expand the apparatus into its expanded in-use condition, the support frames 46 carrying the display boards 50 are raised to their highest position, as shown in Figure 2, by means of the screw jacks 48. The arch 22 is then raised by means of the screw jacks 32 so that it is supported in its highest position at the tops of the support towers 12 as can best be seen in Figure 3. The lower side sections 14, 16 are then each slid out sideways by a distance approximately equal to the width of the trailer base 10 to the position shown in Figure 4. The upper side sections 18, 20 are then slid out sideways on the tracks 44 by about the same distance until their vertical side portions 40 are aligned with those 26 of the lower side sections 14, 16. The ramp sections 52 are then erected to form a ramp from each end of the arch 22 to the ground, and a viewing platform 54 with a spiral staircase 56 for access is erected in the middle of the trailer base 10 beneath the centre of the arch 22.

In this expanded condition a large open volume is provided beneath the arch 22 having a floor made up from the trailer base 10 in the centre and the two base portions 24 on either side on which floor boards can be laid, side walls made up from the glazed side portions 26, 40 of the upper and lower side sections 14, 16, 18, 20, and a roof made up from the glazed under section 39 of the arch and the roof portions 38 of the upper side sections 18, 20.

In use, vehicles can be driven up one of the ramps 52, over the arch 22 and down the other ramp 52. People standing on the viewing platform 54 can watch through the under section 39 of the arch and see the underside of the vehicles being driven over the arch 22. This provides a display of the underside of the vehicles.

It will be appreciated from Figures 2 and 4 that the arrangement of the apparatus described enables the volume beneath the arch 22 to expanded to a width approximately three times that of the trailer base 10, and approximately twice the height of either the upper or lower side sections 14, 16, 18 ,20 and therefore approximately twice the height of the apparatus in its collapsed state.

It will be appreciated that the arrangement of expanding walls, floor and roof included in the display trailer is generally applicable and could be used in transportable buildings having purposes other than displaying vehicles. For example it could be used for transportable workshops, or caravans.

Claims (22)

1. A transportable building having a base comprising two base portions, two side walls each comprising upper and lower wall portions, and a roof comprising two roof portions, wherein the roof and the upper wall portions are movably supported so that they can be raised relative to the base to increase the height of the building and one of the walls, one of the roof portions and one of the base portions are movably supported so that they can be moved sideways relative to the other wall to increase the width of the building.

2. A building according to claim 1 wherein said one roof portion is attached to the upper portion of said one wall so that it can only move horizontally or vertically with it.

3. A building according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said one base portion is attached to the lower portion of said one wall so that it can only move horizontally with it.

4. A building according to any foregoing claim further comprising a central base portion, said two base portions being movable sideways in opposite directions relative to the central base portion to increase the width of the building.

5. A building according to any foregoing claim further comprising a central roof portion, said two roof portions being movable sideways in opposite directions relative to the central roof portion to increase the width of the building.

6. A building according to claim 5 wherein said two roof portions are mounted on the central roof portion such that they can be raised and lowered by raising and lowering of the central roof portion.

7. A building according to any foregoing claim including a vehicle support means extending over the building and arranged so that a vehicle can be driven onto it.

8. A building according to claim 7 wherein the vehicle support means is mounted on the roof.

9. A building according to claim 8 when dependent on claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the vehicle support means is mounted on the central roof section.

10. A building according to any one of claims 7 to 9 wherein the vehicle support means is arched.

11. A building according to claim 8 or claim 9 further comprising a ramp which can be arranged to extend from the vehicle support means to the ground to enable a vehicle to be driven onto the vehicle support means.

12. A building according to any one of claims 7 to 11 wherein at least a portion of the roof is transparent to enable vehicles on the vehicle support means to be viewed from underneath from inside the building.

13. A building according to any foregoing claim further comprising wheels to enable it to be transported when in a collapsed condition.

14. Transportable apparatus for displaying vehicles, the apparatus comprising vehicle support means including track means along which a vehicle can be driven, the track means including a viewing portion and a ramp portion which can be arranged in use to be inclined to the horizontal and have its upper end connected to the viewing portion, a viewing platform arranged in use beneath the viewing portion of the track, and transparent roofing means extending over at least a part of the viewing platform and beneath the viewing portion of the track such that a vehicle on the viewing portion of the track can be viewed through the roofing means.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the viewing portion of the track can be raised and lowered between a lower transporting position and a higher viewing position.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 further comprising a side wall on one side of the viewing platform, the side wall comprising a lower portion and an upper portion which can be raised and lowered to increase and decrease the height of the side wall.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the upper portion of the side wall is connected to the track so that it can be raised and lowered therewith.

18. Apparatus according to any one of claims 14 to 17 further comprising an extension ramp which can be releasably connected to the vehicle supporting means to enable vehicles to be driven onto the vehicle supporting means.

19. Apparatus according to any one of claims 14 to 18 wherein the vehicle supporting means is in the shape of an arch.

20. Apparatus according to any one of claims 14 to 19 further comprising a towable trailer on which the vehicle supporting means is mounted.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the viewing platform is also mounted on the trailer.

22. Transportable apparatus for displaying vehicles substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.