GB2363593A

GB2363593A - Caravan with tilting body and staged floor

Info

Publication number: GB2363593A
Application number: GB0027802A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Kirtley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-11-14
Filing date: 2000-11-14
Publication date: 2002-01-02
Anticipated expiration: 2020-11-14
Also published as: GB2363593B; GB0027802D0

Abstract

A caravan comprises a body 2 that can be orientated around axis 7 for reduced height when being towed, or re-orientated for additional height when camping. An underside extension 3 can be extended towards the ground, this coupled with the tilted body allows for standing height to be achieved.

Description

2363593 "TILT BODY, STAGED FLOOR CARAVAN" This invention relates to a

"Tilt body, staged floor caravan".

Caravans towed by motor vehicles, comprise of a rigid body-shell, over a single, level floor area, and adequate standing height for occupants is provided for, between the floor and ceiling of the rigid body-shell The orientation of the caravan is essentially level when in camping use, and when being towed.

Other types of caravan have a function, which may allow them to be reduced in height when being towed Such caravans are of two types.

One type being, a folding caravan, and referring to the sides being able to be folded flat Another caravan type, whereby the roof may be raised either parallel or hinged from the main body-shell, to achieve the frull occupant standing height, and lowered for towing.

According to the present invention, there is a caravan with a rigid bodyshell, which provides for occupant standing height only within a selected and limited zone within the caravan, by means of an extension from the underside of the body-shell The extension will enclose the standing occupant by either rigid, or non-rigid walls, extending down to a floor at, or sufficiently clear of ground so as to avoid unevenness of ground, or to use exposed ground as a floor The extension may be freely carried inside the caravan when being towed, and either manually located or guided by powered, or non-powered mechanical geometry, into desired position.

Additional head-room or height for the standing occupant is provided by re-orientating the rigid body shell by tipping on an axis parallel to the road axles, such that the ceiling height is greater at the occupant standing zone.

Continued A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:Figure 1 shows in diagrammatic side-view, the caravan orientated for motor tow, and without underside extension.

Figure 2 shows in diagrammatic side-view, the caravan orientated for motor tow, and with underside extension This may be a configuration, for temporary caravan usage while stationary, and still coupled to the tow vehicle on a journey's break In this configuration, full occupant standing height is not achieved.

Figure 3 shows in diagrammatic side-view, the caravan either coupled to a stationary tow vehicle, or de-coupled and with the caravan body-shell tilted relative to the tow coupling, and with underside extension In this configuration, full occupant standing height is achieved.

Figure 4 shows in diagrammatic side-view, an alternative arrangement whereby, the tow coupling position relative to the caravan body-shell, is as one, and the caravan is in tow configuration without underside extension.

Figure 5 shows in diagrammatic side-view, an alternative arrangement whereby, the tow coupling position relative to the caravan body-shell is as one, and the caravan is tilted for camping configuration and with underside extension.

Referring to the drawings, the caravan comprises a wheeled chassis 1, and a body-shell 2, and a means of tilt adjustment 4, of the body-shell relative to chassis, through pivot point 7 An underside extension 3, may have a floor raised clear of undulating ground, or may utilise the ground for occupant standing A cover 8, may seal against ingress, when underside extension is not fitted.

Continued Camping configuration of the caravan, requires that the body-shell be tilted relative to the ground, so as to increase the ceiling height at the occupant standing zone This may be achieved by means of the tilt adjustment 4, which may be operated while the caravan is either, coupled or de-coupled from the tow vehicle.

With an alternative arrangement, indicated in figures 4 and 5, to provide for the camping configuration of the caravan, the caravan must be decoupled from the tow vehicle, and the tow coupling 6, lowered toward the ground, thereby tilting the caravan The caravan will then be stabilised in the tilted orientation by an unspecified number of stabilisers, typically shown as 5 The tow coupling 6, may be included as a suitable ground stabiliser for the arrangement shown in figures 4 and 5 The arrangement shown in figures 4 and 5, specifically shows the tow configuration in figure 4, and the camping configuration in figure 5.

Claims

1 A "Tilt body, staged floor caravan", with a rigid body-shell, which provides occupant standing height only within a selected and limited zone within the caravan, by means of an extension from the underside of the body-shell at that zone, and encloses the standing occupant by either, rigid, or non-rigid walls, extending down to a floor at, or sufficiently clear of ground so as to avoid unevenness of ground, or to use exposed ground as a floor.

Additional headroom, or height for the standing occupant is provided by re-orientating the rigid body-shell by tipping on an axis parallel to the road axles, such that the ceiling height is greater at the occupant standing zone.

2 A "Tilt body, staged floor caravan", as claimed in Claim 1, wherein mechanical geometry adjustment may be provided, together with means of securing the variable geometry, to provide a variable angular relationship between chassis or chassis tow coupling, and caravan body-shell.

3 A "Tilt body, staged floor caravan", as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2, wherein an alternative arrangement to that described specifically in Claim 1, may provide for camping orientation of the caravan by de-coupling from the tow vehicle and lowering the tow coupling toward the ground.

4 A "Tilt body, staged floor caravan", as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 3, may include the suitably protected tow coupling as a contributing stabiliser when the caravan is in camping configuration.

A "Tilt body, staged floor caravan", as claimed in Claim 1, Claim 2, Claim 3, and Claim 4, may include one or more adjustable independent stabilisers to provide firm orientation in camping configuration.

Continued Claims, continued 6 A "Tilt body, staged floor caravan", as claimed in all and any preceding claim, wherein the caravan is provided with an underside extension of rigid or non-rigid material, as an enclosure with a floor covering the ground, or utilising the ground as a floor.

Such an enclosure may be guided by mechanical geometry, of either, powered, semi-powered or manual means, or manually positioned without means of mechanical geometry guides.

7 A "Tilt body, staged floor caravan", as claimed in all and any preceding claim, and with specific reference to Claim 6, wherein the caravan may have means of providing effective seal against weather ingress at joints between body-shell and underside extension, when positioned at partial or full extension.

8 A "Tilt body, staged floor caravan", as claimed in all and any preceding claim, and with specific reference to Claim 6 and Claim 7, wherein the caravan may have means of direct anchorage of the underside extension, to the ground, by means of pegs or spikes, or any such ground penetrating device.

9 A "Tilt body, staged floor caravan", as claimed in all and any preceding claim, and with specific reference to Claim 6, and Claim 7, and Claim 8, wherein the caravan may have an underside extension as one or more separate, occupant standing zones.

Amended claims have been filed as follows A caravan with a rigid body-shell, which provides occupant standing headroom only within a selected and limited zone within, by means of an extension from the underside of the body-shell at that zone, and encloses the standing occupant by either, rigid, or non-rigid walls, extending down to an adjustable floor, positioned at ground level, or sufficiently clear of ground so as to avoid unevenness, or where the underside extension does not have a floor, the occupant stands directly onto exposed ground, and essential headroom, or height for the standing occupant being provided by re-orientating the rigid body-shell relative to the ground, by tilting the caravan body on an axis parallel to the axis of the road axles, such that the ceiling height is greater at the occupant standing zone.

2 A caravan, as claimed in Claim 1, may take the form of one of either two distinctively different mechanical arrangement of chassis connection to the caravan body, whereby one mechanical arrangement has the chassis rigidly fixed to the caravan body such that the combined chassis and caravan body are tilting to increase the occupant standing headroom, and therefore requiring the tow coupling to be lowered to the ground, whereas an alternative different mechanical arrangement includes a pivot connection between the chassis and the caravan body, such that the tow coupling remains clear of the ground and in towing orientation while the caravan body is independently tilted to increase the occupant standing headroom, and the addition of a mechanical facility to lock the tilt position of caravan body relative to the chassis.

3 A caravan, as claimed in Claim 1, Claim 2, includes a suitably protected tow coupling which contributes as a stabiliser when the caravan tow coupling is lowered to the ground.

4 A caravan, as claimed in Claim 1, Claim 2, and Claim 3, includes one or more adjustable stabilisers to provide firm orientation in camping configuration.

Continued -7 Claims continued.

A caravan, as claimed in all preceding claims, wherein the caravan is provided with an underside extension comprising walls of either rigid or fabric material, as an enclosure with a floor covering the ground, or utilising the ground as a floor for direct occupant standing when a floor is not provided, and such an enclosure being guided by mechanical geometry, of either, powered, semi-powered or manual means, or manually positioned without means of mechanical geometry guides.

6 A caravan, as claimed in all preceding claim, and with specific reference to Claim 5, wherein the caravan may have means of providing effective seal against weather ingress at joints between body-shell and underside extension, when positioned at partial or full extension 7 A caravan, as claimed in all preceding claim, and with specific reference to Claim 5, and Claim 6, wherein the caravan may have an underside extension as one or more separate, occupant standing zones.

8 A caravan, as claimed in all preceding claims, and with specific reference to Claim 5, Claim 6, and Claim 7, wherein the caravan may have means of direct anchorage of the underside extension, to the ground, by means of pegs or spikes, or any such ground penetrating device.