US3572810A

US3572810A - Automobile operator{3 s cabin

Info

Publication number: US3572810A
Application number: US786018A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter W Arakelian
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1968-12-23
Filing date: 1968-12-23
Publication date: 1971-03-30
Anticipated expiration: 1988-03-30

Abstract

An elevated cabin is provided at the rear of a passenger automobile to separate the operator from the passenger space and to provide him with an all-around view. The cabin may be part of the original construction of the automobile or may be made to be attached to the rear of a completed automobile.

Description

EXPANSIBLE MOBILE HOME AND FITTINGS THEREFORE In the past, various mobile home structures have been provided with compact arrangements therein to facilitate proper housing of the users. One of the basic problems with these units is their size limitation.

Applicant has provided herein a unit which is illustrated as a portion of a self-propelled mobile home, but which obviously may be included in any mobile home structure which unit includes a pair of extensible compartment devices normally arranged for transportation in collapsed position within the main carrier body of the home structure and which are laterally extensible therefrom when the home structure is parked to provide an increased living space area within the mobile home.

In order to accomplish applicant's laterally extensible portion a means must be provided for easily shifting the compartment areas into and out of retracted or collapsed position. Applicant accomplishes this retraction and expansion through a connecting device which moves the expandable unit from the main body. Naturally during this moving and during the expansion situation it is necessary to properly seal theexpansive section to the main body unit and applicant accomplishes this through sealing means provided in the main body unit which are designed to seal about the exterior of the expansion section.

It is therefore an object of applicants invention to provide a mobile home unit or the like having laterally extensible portions thereon which when expanded position will provide an area of increased width within the mobile unit.

It is a further object of appliants invention to provide a mobile home unit or the like having a laterally extensible compartmented area arranged on at least one side thereof which will, when shifted into extended position provide a unit which is completely sealed about the exterior thereof and with the mating surfaces of the main body of the unit.

It is a further object of the applicants invention to provide fittings for a mobile home unit or the like which will be adaptable and shiftable to permit shifting and modification of the same from a seating arrangement to a bed arrangement.

It is a further object of the applicants invention to provide fittings for a mobile home unit which in a first position will provide a seating arrangement and which in another of the variable positions will provide a plurality of bedding positions.

These and other objects and advantages of may invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like references characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a mobile home incorporating the concepts of the applicant's invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken substantially along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 illustrating the unit in expanded position;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken through one of the expanded sections of applicants expandable compartment;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the floor section of the unit in expanded position with portions removed to. illustrate the substructure thereof;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal section taken substantially along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a horizontal section taken substantially along line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7is a view similar to FIG. 5 but illustrating the sleeping accommodations in one particular form;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 illustrating a second form of the sleeping accommodations; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the expandable portion of the unit in laterally expanded position.

In accordance'iwith the accompanying drawings a mobile home generally designated 10 is illustrated embodying the concepts of the applicant's invention and the mobile home as illustrated includes. a self-powered vehicle having a lower frame section 11 supported by ground engaging wheels 12-12. The laterally extending and extendable section provided by applicant is generally designated 13 and as illustrated is arranged intermediate the ends of the vehicle although it should be obvious that the extendable unit could be arranged at any point along the length of the vehicle Jill.

The main vehicle 10 is provided with a framework section including a base portion 14 which base includes longitudinally extending stringers 15-15 arranged in parallel relation along the length of the unit and these stringers are provided on the chassis 11 of the unit 10. Upstanding sidewalls 17 extend the length of the unit and normally, as should be well understood, the walls, along with front and rear walls, will provide a complete enclosure for the unit. The expandable device provided by applicant 13 is arranged to be received into an aperture 18 defined in the sidewalls 17 and a framed opening which includes an upper stringer member 19 and proper side supports to thoroughly frame the aperture 18 are provided with a bottom framing member 20 completing the aperture. A seal member 21 to completely circumscn'be the passage 18 is provided and this seal is obviously arranged to seal against the exterior surfaces of the extendable portion 13.

In the particular form shown and as best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 the body unit 10 is provided with a top 22 and a base or floor 23. The interior of the unit 10 is lined at the top 22 and the floor 23 with a fibrous material 24 which is particularly illustrated in FIG. 3 extends across the ceiling 22 and floor 23 extends respectively upwardly and downwardly across and about the portions 19-2ll which frame the aperture 18. This extension is illustrated as 24a and 25a respectively. This resilient material may be a carpeting material although it should be obvious that many other suitable fibers would provide this same function.

As previously mentioned the frame structure includes the longitudinal stringers 15-16 and a plurality of transversely arranged joists 27-27 are provided laterally across the frame of the unit for sufficient strength. The base for the extensible members 13 includes laterally extending frame elements 28-28 which are captured for sliding relation between the chassis or lower support frame 11 and the flooring portion 23. These members are tied at their end sections with a longitudinally extending stringer 29 and a positioning device such as a telescoping screw section 30 is provided with a first stationary portion 31 and a threaded extendable portion 32 which engages the longitudinal stringer 29 with means on the outer end 33 thereof to afford the attachment of a lever or crank thereto. It should be obvious that many means may be provided to attain thev rotation of the threaded element 32 such as a power driven drill or a simple bell crank device which is manually operated. Allof the positioning power for the extensions 13 then is located in the lower most section of the extensible portion 13 and as particularly illustrated in FIG. 3 the stationary telescoping portion 31 may include a threaded portion 34 with the remainder thereof 35 being a simple housing tube to properly retain the threaded element 32 therein when the same is inserted through the threaded portion 34. The means for shifting this device naturally may take many forms and applicant has illustrated the form which he has found to be most successful in properly and simply shifting the unit 13 into the laterally extended position.

The unit 13 includes a base section 40 having one end thereof 40a secured to the longitudinally extending stringer 29 with the other end thereof mounted upon a floor engaging wheel 42 such that as the section 13 is moved inwardly and outwardly a first point of contact will be provided interiorly of the unit 10 through the floor wheel 42. Unit 13 is provided with upstanding sidewalls 43 and a top portion 44. Naturally windows or the like 65 may be provided'through any of the sidewalls as desired. A second point of contact is provided against the ceiling 22 and this point of contact is provided through a support strut 45 engaging the inner end of the top supporting beam 44 with a ceiling contacting wheel -17 pivotally mounted thereon to engage with the ceiling 22 and more particularly tb ride against the aforementioned fibrous surface 24 covering the ceiling 22.

PATENIEU MARSOIBTI 3,572,810

IN'VENTOR WALTER W ARAKELIAN BY ATTORNEYS AUTOMOBILE OPERATORS CABIN This invention relates to a cabin to'be constructed at the rear of an automobile of a type having a closed body, or to be attached at the rear of a closed car body so as to extend above the roof of the body, separating the operator in the cabin from the occupants of the passenger space in the body, and providing an all-around view for the operator.

The invention is chiefly for the benefit of the operators of taxicabs. There have been frequent instances of holdups of taxi drivers by passengers. By providing a separate compartment for the operator, he is given protection from the occupants of the passenger space. By elevating the cabin so that it extends somewhat above the roof level of the vehicle, the driver is given a more commanding view of traffic which helps in guiding the car through traffic and avoiding collisions. It also may serve as a conspicuous indication that the vehicle offers transportation for hire.

For a more complete understanding of the invention reference may be had to the following description of an embodiment thereof, and to the drawing, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an. automobile embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cabin as a separate unit before being attached to an automobile body; and

H6. 3 is a partial elevational view of a vehicle embodying the invention, a portion of the cabin wall being broken away to show the interior.

in FIG. 1 a cabin is shown as mounted on and secured to the body 11 of a four-door sedan 12 but it can be made to fit on other types of closed bodies of automobiles. In the case of automobiles having a trunk in the rear, as many models do, the cover of the trunk is removed and the cabin is mounted over the trunk cavity the bottom of which can serve as the floor of the cabin. Access to the cabin is had through a door 14 at the rear thereof. For convenience a suitable seat 16 for the operator may be mounted on the interior of the door 14. A steering wheel 18 and motor controls are built into the forward wall of the cabin and are connected operatively to the customary control mechanisms by hydraulic or electric means (not shown). For collecting fares an opening through the rear wall of the car body and the forward wall of the cabin is provided, suitable closure means 20 being mounted in the opening. Voice communication between the compartments may be had by a simple intercom (not shown). Means (not shown) may also be provided for opening, closing, locking and unlocking the vehicle doors 22 under the control of the operator in the cabin 110.

The cabin extends above the level of the top of the body H, the upper portion of the cabin being provided with front, side and

rear windows

24, 26, 28, giving the operator an all-around view over the top of the body. This vantage point enables the operator to guide the vehicle more easily through traffic and to spot prospective fares. The separation of the operator from the passenger space protects him from attempted holdups, and provides additional seating for passengers in the body 11.

I claim:

1. A compartment for an operator of an automobile of the type having a closed body comprising a cabin adapted to be inserted within the trunk cavity of the automobile and secured to the body, said cabin including a forward wall, a rearward wall, sidewalls and a roof, said forward wall having upper and lower portions, said upper portion being inclined in a downward and forward direction with respect to the forward edge of said roof, said lower portion being inclined in a downward and rearward direction with respect to the forward edge of said roof, the upper edge of said lower portion being rearward of the lower edge of said upper portion, a member operatively connected between the upper edge of said lower portion and the lower edge of said upper portion, said member defining flange means adapted for engagement with the rearward margin of the roof of the automobile, said cabin extending above the roof of the automobile.

2. The compartment as claimed in claim 1 including steering wheel and motor controls mounted to said forward wall and operatively connected to the controls for operating the automobile.

3. The compartment as claimed in claim 2 including a door, said rear wall formed with an opening defining an entrance way for access to said cabin, said door hinged to one side of said opening, said cabin defining an enclosed compartment when said door is closed.

4. The compartment as claimed in claim 3 including a seat for the operator mounted to said door.

5. The compartment as claimed in claim 2 including means for communication between the automobile interior and the interior of said cabin.

6. The compartment as claimed in claim 2 wherein windows are provided in the forward, rear, and sidewalls of said cabin.