GB2411155A

GB2411155A - A multi-purpose trailer

Info

Publication number: GB2411155A
Application number: GB0502188A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kelvin Halloran
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-02-20
Filing date: 2005-02-03
Publication date: 2005-08-24
Anticipated expiration: 2025-02-03
Also published as: GB2411155B; GB0502188D0; GB0403928D0

Abstract

A trailer comprising a wheeled chassis (20) on which a trailer body (21) is mounted, the trailer body (21) including a rear door (25, 26) that is hingedly mounted for movement about a substantially vertical axis and a cooking appliance or other facility (27, 28) disposed on the inside face of the rear door (25, 26). The trailer may have a roof (30) pivotally attached to a front wall, and canvas side portions (36) so that the space within the trailer may be increased for sleeping, sitting etc. An awning (37, figure 5) and a canopy (39, figure 7) may also be provided.

Description

A MULTI-PURPOSE TRAILER

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a multi-purpose trailer.

Outdoor pursuits are becoming increasingly popular and, as a result, many people use a camping vehicle of some kind.

Some camping vehicles can be extremely costly to purchase and maintain. Some camping vehicles suffer from restrictive usage and/or have lengthy set-up times while some camping vehicles have the disadvantage that all the cooking facilities, the sleeping compartment and so forth are combined in a single unit, compromising the versatility of such vehicles.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved form of multi-purpose trailer that can be used for camping.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a trailer comprising a wheeled chassis on which a trailer body is mounted, the trailer body including a rear door that is hingedly mounted for movement about a substantially vertical axis and a cooking appliance or other facility disposed on the inside face of the rear door.

The trailer body preferably includes two rear doors each of which is hingedly mounted for movement about a substantially vertical axis. A compartment is preferably disposed on the inside face of each rear door, each compartment containing a cooking appliance or other facility.

The trailer body preferably includes a front wall to which a roof is pivotally connected for movement relative thereto about a substantially horizontal axis. One or more gas struts preferably act on the roof and canvas side portions are preferably connected to the roof and to side walls of the trailer body.

A stabilising device may be mounted beneath the rear of the trailer body.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a side view of a multi-purpose trailer, Figure 2 is a transparent plan view of the multi-purpose trailer of Figure 1, Figure 3 is an isometric view of the multi-purpose trailer with the rear doors open, but with the roof omitted, Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showing the roof of the trailer in its raised position, Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, but showing the addition of an awning to form an enclosed sleeping compartment, Figure 6 is an isometric view of the trailer in its closed condition, and Figure 7 is an isometric view of a multi-purpose trailer with an attached canopy.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments

The multi-purpose trailer shown in the drawings includes a wheeled chassis 20 on which a trailer body 21 is mounted. The trailer body 21 is made of durable, weather-resistant materials and there is a compartment 22 at the front of the trailer body 21 for the reception of equipment such as a battery, a gas bottle and/or a refrigerator. The trailer has a substantially flat floor 23 and lights 24 and a number plate are fitted to the rear of the trailer in order to comply with the relevant statutory regulations.

The trailer has two hingedly mounted rear doors 25 and 26 that are movable between closed positions, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 6, and open positions, as shown in Figures 3, 4, 5 and 7.

The floor area 23 is for storage when on the move, with the rear doors 25 and 26 closed. For sitting, sleeping and for other purposes, the rear doors 25 and 26 are open. Extended compartments 27 and 28 are mounted on the inside faces of the rear doors 25 and 26. The compartments 27 and 28 are completely waterproof and contain cooking appliances and/or other facilities. The rear doors 25 and 26 can be swung outwardly to their fullest possible about their vertical hinge axes, into the positions shown in Figure 3, to increase the amount of space (indicated by the arrows 29) available within the trailer for seating, sleeping and other purposes. The sizes and shapes of the compartments 27 and 28 will depend on the sizes and shapes of the cooking appliances and/or other facilities that they contain.

The trailer has a roof 30 and the arrangement is such that, when the rear doors 25 and 26 are closed and the roof 30 is in its closed position, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, a good seal is obtained to prevent weather infiltration as well as forming a secure and stable structure. The roof 30 is pivotally connected to the front wall 31 of the trailer body for pivotal movement relative thereto about a substantially horizontal axis between its open and closed positions.

The front and side walls 31, 32 and 33 are made from durable materials and are lined to prevent condensation and to minimise heat losses. An electric pack 34 can be mounted at any convenient location within the trailer body. One or more gas struts act between the roof 30 and the side walls 32 and 33 of the trailer. The or each gas strut 35 acts in such manner as to assist opening and closing of the roof 30 by reducing the effort required to effect movement of the roof 30. Means may also be provided to maintain the roof 30 in its open position.

Canvas side portions 36 may be attached, as shown in Figure 4, to the roof 30 and to the side walls 32 and 33 to act as a windbreak and protect those within the trailer. A larger canvas awning 37 can also be attached to the roof 30 and to the canvas side portions 36 to produce an enclosed sleeping unit and the awning 37 may include a transparent or translucent flexible plastic window 38.

A canopy 39 may alternatively (or additionally) be provided for attachment to the roof 30 and seating 40 may be adjustably mounted on the floor 23 of the trailer. Other facilities (not shown) may also be provided.

A standard hitch formation 41 is provided at the front of the trailer for connection of the trailer to a towing vehicle and a stabilising device 42 may be mounted beneath the rear of the vehicle, the stabilising device 42 being pivotable between an operating position, as shown in Figures 4, 5 and 7, and a storage position in which it lies against the underside of the trailer.

Claims

Claims: 1. A trailer comprising a wheeled chassis on which a trailer body

is mounted, the trailer body including a rear door that is hingedly mounted for movement about a substantially vertical axis and a cooking appliance or other facility disposed on the inside face of the rear door.
2. A trailer as claimed in Claim 1, in which the trailer body includes two rear doors each of which is hingedly mounted for movement about a substantially vertical axis.
3. A trailer as claimed in Claim 2, in which a compartment is disposed on the inside face of each rear door, each compartment containing a cooking appliance or other facility.
4. A trailer as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the trailer body includes a front wall to which a roof is pivotally connected for movement relative thereto about a substantially horizontal axis.
5. A trailer as claimed in Claim 4, in which one or more gas struts act on the roof.
6. A trailer as claimed in Claim 4, in which canvas side portions are connected to the roof and to side walls of the trailer body.
7. A trailer as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which a stabilising device is mounted beneath the rear of the trailer body.
8. A multi-purpose trailer constructed and arranged for use substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.