GB2352253A

GB2352253A - Protective casing

Info

Publication number: GB2352253A
Application number: GB0009864A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith Share
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-04-30
Filing date: 2000-04-25
Publication date: 2001-01-24
Anticipated expiration: 2020-04-25
Also published as: GB9909948D0; GB2352253B; GB0009864D0

Abstract

A protective casing for surrounding concrete blocks supporting a leg of a caravan is formed from a plurality of hinged sections. Preferably four end side sections 2, 3, 5 and 7 are attached to one another by means of hinges 4, 6, and 8. The free ends of side section 2 and side section 7 include clips 9 so that the four side sections can be fixed in a rectangular configuration. Sets of side sections can be fitted on top of each other to obtain a desired height. The side sections are placed around the caravan support, forming a box-shape with open ends. Further sections 14 can be placed on top of the box-shaped tube to form a partial cover. The surfaces of the casing can have a decorative effect, e.g. simulated wood, brick or stone.

Description

SHA. I 2352253 Protective Casing The present invention relates to a casing

for a support aid of a stationary vehicle or structure.

When caravans are permanently on site they have to be secured to the ground and connected to services, including gas, electric and water. For safety and comfort, the caravan should be level. Support aids in the form of front and/or back legs provided on the caravans are intended to support it in a level position. The ground upon which the caravan is based can be concrete or earth, but as such ground surfaces are not always level materials sometimes have to be placed underneath the support legs to compensate. Typically, concrete blocks are stacked until the suitable height is reached and placed under the legs.

These blocks are open to wear and tear, erosion, weathering, breakage, discoloration and other damage which can occur from being left unprotected outdoors. The integrity and safety of these supports can be damaged and they also look unsightly.

An aim of the present invention is to provide casing which can protect support aids, such as blocks placed beneath the legs of caravans, from damage and wear. The reduction in wear means that the support aids have to be discarded and replaced less often, making the casing environmentally friendly. The cas' ing can also itself provide some support for a stationary vehicle or structure. Furthermore, embodiments of the invention can have moulded 2 relief on their surfaces, thereby making the support aid appear more attractive.

According to the present invention there is provided a casing for a support aid of a stationary vehicle or structure, the casing including:

a plurality of side sections, interconnectable in use to at least substantially form a tube with two at least partially open ends.

The side sections preferably include substantially flat lengths of material, and are preferably substantially rectangular in shape. Thus, the tube can form an open ended box.

At least two of the side sections may be hinged together, In a preferred embodiment four side sections are is hinged together, with the free end of one side section including means for fastening to the free end of the remote side section. The means for fastening may be formed of a deformable material.

In a preferred embodiment the tube includes a plurality of sets of side sections located one above the other. Thus, the height of the tube is selectable by stacking side sections of appropriate widths.

The lower edges of the side sections may be provided with means for attaching to the upper edges of underlying side sections. Preferably, the attaching means on the lower edges include male members and the upper edges of the side sections include female members.

3 In a preferred embodiment, two male and female members are arranged along the respective edges of each said side section. The male members may be formed of deformable material.

The surfaces of the side sections may include means for maintaining a gap between the side sections and the support aid. The gap maintaining means may include male members (protrusions). The protrusions may be formed of a deformable material such as rubber. The gap maintaining means is intended to provide further support for the support aid and can help keep the casing in position. The gap can also assist with drainage, thereby mitigating erosion. The gap can be filled with material, e.g.

chippings, to further assist drainage.

In a preferred embodiment, the casing further includes one or more cover section, in use the end section being used to at least partially close one of the open ends of the tube, normally the upper end. The cover sections preferably include substantially flat lengths of material.

The cover sections may be used to cover the periphery of the tube end, leaving a substantially central aperture.

one surface of the cover sections may include male members for fitting into the female members on the upper edges of the side sections. The edges of one of the cover sections may include means for attaching to the edge of other cover sections.

4 Preferably, decorative patterns may be formed on or fitted onto all or some of the external surfaces of the casing. The decorative pattern may include a moulded relief simulating a brick, stone or wood surface. The surfaces of the casing sections can also be of various colours.

Preferably, the side sections are formed of plastic.

Preferably, the cover sections are formed of plastic.

The support aid surrounded by the casing can be a supporting leg of a caravan, although the casing could be fitted around a wheel of a vehicle or a support of an above ground building structure, e.g. a park home and the invention is not intended to be limited to caravans only.

The vehicle or structure can rest on the casing itself for additional support.

Whilst the invention has been described above, it extends to any inventive combination of the features set out above or in the following description.

The invention may be performed various ways, and, by way of example only, an embodiment thereof will now be described, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a side view of the side sections of a preferred embodiment of the casing in a partially assembled form; Figure 2 illustrates a plan view of a partially assembled casing; Figure 3 illustrates an exploded view of the components of the casing, and Figure 4 illustrates the casing in its assembled configuration.

Referring Figure 1, it can be seen that the casing is assembled from a set of connectable side sections, an example of which is indicated at 1. One end of a side section 2 is attached to one end of a side section 3 by means of a hinge 4. The other end of side section 3 is attached to another side section 5 by means of a hinge 6, with the other end of the side section 5 being attached to a side section 7 by means of a hinge 8. All four side sections 2, 3, 5 and 7, have the same width, but the lengths of side sections 2 and 5 are substantially longer is than those of side sections 3 and 7 such that when the hinges are folded to a substantially perpendicular position, the four side sections form a rectangular box shape with two open ends (as shown in Figure 2). The free ends of side section 2 and side section 7 include clips 9 so that the side sections can be fixed in the rectangular box configuration.

The lower edges of the side sections include protruding studs 11. The upper edges of the side sections include recesses 12 suitable for receiving the studs ii.

In order that the height of the casing formed by the box shape can be altered, a first set of side sections (e.g.

side sections 1) is attached on top of another set of side 6 sections (e.g. side section set 10) using the studs 11 and recesses 12. Thus, a "wall" of side sections is formed and when the hinges are used to bring the free ends of the side sections together, a box-shape of the desired height is formed. It will be appreciated that the side sections can be fitted on top of each other before or after attaching the free ends together using the clips 9.

The surfaces of the side sections which form the interior of the box-shape include protrusions 13 which form spacers suitable for being in contact with the concrete blocks which the casing surrounds. The spacers 13 help prevent the inner surfaces of the casing being scratched by the blocks and help keep it in place. The resulting gap formed between the interior surfaces of the side sections and the concrete block can be filled with chippings to help drain water.

Referring now to Figure 3, the casing further includes a plurality of upper end sections generally indicated at 14 for providing a partial cover for the upper end of the box.

The end sections include two substantially flat rectangular pieces 15, which have the same length as the side sections 3 and 7. The two end sections 15 are placed on top of opposite sides of the box-shape. The end sections 14 also include two substantially flat square shapes 18. The square end sections 18 are intended to be f itted on top of the box-shape between the two rectangular end sections 15, and so a rectangular cover of substantially the same 7 dimensions as the open end of the box is formed, but having an aperture substantially in its centre. The end sections and 17 include studs 16 on their lower surfaces which can fit onto the upper edges of the side sections. Studs 17 project from two opposite edges of the square end sections 18 which fit into corresponding recesses on the edges of the rectangular end sections 15.

Figure 4 shows the casing of Figure 3 in its assembled state. To assemble the casing, the appropriate number of side section sets necessary to provide the desired height are f itted on top of each other. The side sections are then placed around the base of the support leg 19 of the caravan, as well as the concrete blocks 20. The clips 9 are then used to fix the casing in position and the end is sections 15 and 18 are fitted on top. The caravan leg 19 resting on the concrete blocks 20 passes through the substantially central aperture of the end sections.

The side and end sections of the casing are formed from engineered plastic moulding and so can be of any colour desirable. Furthermore, the plastic moulding can have patterns (partial example indicted at 21) formed on its surfaces to simulate brick, stone, wood or other possible relief effects. In an alternative embodiment, the - decorative effect may be attached, e.g. by glue, onto the surfaces of the casing.

8

Claims

1 A casing for a support aid of a stationary vehicle or structure, the casing including:

2. A casing according to Claim 1, wherein the side sections preferably include substantially flat lengths of material.

3. A casing according to Claim 2, wherein the side sections are substantially rectangular.

4. A casing according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the side sections are connected together by hinges.

S. A casing according to Claim 4, wherein four side is sections are hinged together, with the free end of one side section including means for fastening to the free end of the remote side section.

6. A casing according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the tube includes a plurality of sets of side sections located one above the other.

7. A casing according to Claim 6, wherein the lower edges of a first set of side sections are provided with means for attaching to the upper edges of underlying side sections.

8. A casing according to Claim 7, wherein the attaching means on the lower edges include male members and the attaching means on the upper edges include female members.

9 9. A casing according to Claim 8, wherein the male members are formed of a deformable material.

10. A casing according to Claim 8 or 9, wherein two male and female members are arranged along the respective edges of each said side section.

11. A casing according to any one of the preceding Claims, further including one or more cover elements for at least partially closing one of the open ends of the tube.

12. A casing according to Claims 11, wherein the cover section or sections cover the periphery of the tube end, leaving a substantially central aperture.

13. A casing according to any one of Claims 11 to 12, wherein the lower surface of the cover sections include male members for fitting into the "female members on the upper edges of the side sections.

14. A casing according to any one of Claims 11 to 13, wherein the edges of one of the cover sections includes means for attaching to the edge of another cover section.

15. A casing according to any one of the preceding Claims, further including means for maintaining a gap between the side sections and the support aid.

16. A casing according to Claim 15, wherein the gap maintaining means includes a male member formed of a deformable material.

17. A casing according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein decorative patterns are formed on external surfaces of the casing.

18. A casing according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein decorative patterns are f itted onto the external surfaces of the casing.

19. A casing according to Claim 17 or 18, wherein the decorative pattern includes simulated brick, simulated stone or simulated wood.

20. A casing according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the side sections are formed of plastics.

21. A casing according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the stationary vehicle is a caravan.

22. A casing substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.