WO1982004383A1

WO1982004383A1 - Portable lodging space

Info

Publication number: WO1982004383A1
Application number: PCT/FI1981/000049
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tauno Hentilae
Original assignee: Tauno Hentilae
Priority date: 1981-06-18
Filing date: 1981-06-18
Publication date: 1982-12-23
Also published as: SE8300814D0; EP0081483A1; SE8300814L

Abstract

A portable, openable and collapsible lodging space, which consists of a folding top portion comprising two gable walls (6), two side walls (7), and two roof slopes (8) placed in an inclined position when opened, as well as possibly of a frame portion supporting the folding top and consisting of support bars, said frame portion including support bars (10) at the connection points between the side walls and the gable walls as well as, as extensions of the said support bars (10), support bars (11) at the connection points between the roof slopes (8) and the gable walls (6). When collapsed, the lodging space is folded into a transport case consisting of two halves (1) connected to each other by means of hinges, which case, when opened, can be used as the bottom of the lodging space. The side walls (7) and the roof slopes (8) together with support bars (10, 11), if any, are, when the lodging space is folded together, folded towards the middle part of the lodging space at the connection point (19) between the side walls (7) and the roof slopes (8). Thereby the inside faces of the side walls (7) are turned towards the inside faces of the transport case halves (1), and the inside faces of the roof slopes (8) turn towards one another.

Description

Portable lodging space

The present invention is concerned with a portable, openable and collapsible lodging space, which consists of a folding top portion comprising two gable walls, two side walls, and two roof slopes placed in an inclined position when opened, as well as possibly of a frame portion supporting the folding top and consisting of support bars, said frame portion including support bars at the connection points between the side walls and the gable walls as well as, as extensions of the said support bars, support bars at the connection points between the roof slopes and the gable walls, which lodging space, when collapsed, is folded into a transport case consis¬ ting of two halves connected to each other by means of hinges, which case, when opened, can be used as the bottom of the lodging space. The lodging space collapsible into the case can be transported on the roof of an automobile, and hauled behind a snow-scooter or a boat. As solutions of lodging problems _a various types of tents and camping trailers are previously known.

Drawbacks of the prior-art tent solutions include, above all, the troublesome erecting. Problems may also be caused by the cold bottom part as well as by the transportation of adequate mattresses, and by the heat insulation, which is also defective in other respects.

The lodging space solution in accordance with the invention is characterized in that the side walls and the roof slopes together with support bars, if any, are, when the lodging space is folded together, folded towards the middle part of the lodging space at the connection points between the side walls and the roof slopes so that the inside faces of the side walls are turned towards the inside faces cf the transport case halves, and the inside faces of the roof slopes turn towards one another. The lodging space in accordance with the invention can be used so that the lodging space as collapsed forms a transport

OMPI case, which, having been opened, functions as a heat- insulated bottom of the lodging space and as a soft sleeping bed. The case may be hauled, e.g., behind a snow-scooter in the snow, or hauled behind a beat in water. Since the case can be hauled easily in the snow and since the lodging space can be erected very rapidly, the lodging space can be pulled onto the ice and erected, e.g., for the time of fishing to give protection. It can be pushed along a glide ramp onto the roof rack of a car, in v ich case the glide ramp can be folded so as to constitute a fastening and locking device for the case. hen the case is opened, the frame construction, provided with folding joints and lifting springs, and, together with the frame, the heat-insulated folding top are autc- matically opened together with the case.

It can be considered as the most important advantage of the invention that, owing to the articulated construction of the frame portion, it is possible to use a rigid or semirigid material for the folding top part, e.g. a material heat-insulated by means of foam plastics. The joint construction of the frame portion is collapsed so that the roof slopes and the side walls can be folded almost as plane faces and that they need not be compacted or wrinkled. Further advantages are the heat-insulated case portion functioning as sleeping bed and at the same time as a versatile transport box, as well as the frame construction, which can be connected to the case, which opens itself automatically and can be collapsed, all of these features making the settling down faster and easier. At the same time, that also permits camping of even short duration. The gable portions of the frame construction have one vertical pipe only, so that the passage in and out via the gable is unhindered.

The porous multi-layer insulation of the folding top portion together with the hea -insulated bottom part and with possible heater makes the tent-type outdoor lodging healthier and is also suitable for wildernis and

BAD ORIGINAL - ^OMH winter use. As compared with camping trailers, one should mention, e.g., the economies obtained on car ferries, because there is no additional charge for a case transpor¬ ted on the roof. The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the attached drawings, wherein

Figure 1 is a side view of a lodging space in accordance with the invention as opened,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the same space,

Figure 3 is a perspective view⁷ illustrating the opening or closing of the case and of the frame construction,

Figure 4 is an end view of a partly collapsed frame construction, broken lines denoting different stages of opening,

Figure 5 is an end view of the closing of the case.

Figure 6 is a sectional end view of an opened lodging space,

Figure 7 shows a detail from Figure 6 on an enlarged scale,

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a detail of an opened case, Figure 9 shows the lodging space as collapsed and as fastened by means of a fastening rack onto the car roof, as viewed from the side of the car,

Figure 10 shows the same as viewed from behind ^• the car, Figure 11 shows a tensioning device to be used for closing the case, and

Figure 12 shows a second alternative for the tensioning device.

The transport case of the lodging space in accordance with the invention consists of two halves 1, which are hinged together by means of hinges 2. In the opened position the case forms the bottom of the lodging space. The bottom part of the case is provided with a fixed or loose heat insulation 3, which at the same time functions as the sleeping mattresses. The edges of case halves placed against one another in the closed position of the case are provided with seal grooves and seal tapes 4. The edges of the case are provided with fixed or detachable closing or tensioning means 32, by means of which the seals at the edges of the case halves are, in the closed position, pressed against one another. The tensioning means may be of any construction in itself known, e.g. closable by means of a spring or screw mecha¬ nism (Figures 11 and 12).

The case portion may be made as a rigid dual- layer solution, whereby there is insulating foam between the layers, or as a flexible single-layer solution, in which case the case aligns itself with the ground. In such a case it is possible to use loose mattresses as insulation and cushioning. Pressurized air may also be used in the case portion as insulation and cushioning. The hinges 2 of the case portion preferably consist of two or more hinges, each of them provided with four pivot shafts 5 parallel to the hinge axis (Fig. 8). The three components of the hinge are connected as a chain to each other and to the ease halves by means of the pivot shafts so that, in the opened position, the ease halves can align themselves with the ground. The hinging permits positioning of the case halves so that their adjoining edges are not necessarily completely parallel to each other. The vertical support 12 at the gable is fastened to the middle component of the hinge. The alignment with the ground is also aided by the runner- type projections 30 and grooves 31 cn the outer face of the case.

The folding top portion consists of two gable wails β, two side walls 7, and of two inclined roof slopes S. The lower edge of the material of the folding top portion is turned tc below the cuter edges of the

OMPI case, e.g., by means of tightening hooks 29 (Fig. 7)- As the material of the folding top portion, it is possible to use a fabric or artificial leather. Alternatively, the roof components 8 and the side walls 7 may also be made of semirigid sheet. The insulation layer 9 of the folding top consists of a porous multi-layer material and, together with the layers of air remaining in between, it functions as the heat insulation of the folding top.

The folding top portion is supported by a frame portion of tubular construction, vmich includes support bars 10 at the connection points between the side walls 7 and gable walls 6 as well as, at the connection points between the roof slopes 8 and the gable walls 7₃ support bars 11, by means of articulated joints 19 connected as extensions of the said bars 10. At the middle of the gables there are vertical support bars 12, whose telescopic upper ends are pushed outwards by springs 13 to the posi¬ tion shown in Figure 6. The upper ends of the vertical bars 12 are connected to one another by means of a hori- zontal support bar l placed at the ridge of the top.

Moreover, the connection points between the support bars 10 and 11 are connected to each other by means of support bars or pairs of support bars 15 parallel to the ridge, the said latter support bars functioning as supports of the eaves. Also, at the lower ends of the support bars 10 there are support bars 16 parallel to the ridge.

The lower ends of the support bars 10 are fixed tc the case components 1 by means of articulated joints 17- A Spring 18 is connected to the articulated joint 17 (Fig. 7), which spring attempts to pivot the support bar 10 around the joint 17 in the direction away from the case portion 1. Figure 7 also shows that the articulated joints 17 and the lower ends of the support bars 10 can be detached from the case portion 1. A connecting piece 20 is fastened to the lower end of the support bar 10 by the intermediate of the articulated joint 17. At the upper end of the connecting piece 20 there is a joint foot,

BAD ORIGINAL ( ^OMPI which can be pushed into a pocket 22 placed on the sur¬ face of the case portion 1. The joint foot remains in its position, e.g., with the aid of pins 23 placed in the surface of the case portion and fitting into the holes in the joint foot.

For fastening the lodging space onto the car roof, it is possible to use a tubular roof rack of tubular construction and pivotable around articulated joints. The lower part 26 of the roof rack is fixed to the roof of the car. In the position pivoted down

(shown with broken lines in Figure 9), the other end 24 of the roof rack forms a glide track, along which the closed case with the lodging space can be easily pushed onto and off the car roof. When the case has been pushed onto the car roof, the other part 24 of the roof rack is pivoted around the two articulated joints 25 onto the case and its end is locked with the end of the lower part 26 of the roof rack, whereby the case remains firmly in its position between the parts 24 and 26. If desired, the other part 24 of the roof rack may be designed as detachable from the part 26, and in its pivoted-down position a pair of wheels 27 may be fixed to the end placed against the ground. In such a case it is easy to transport the case from the car park to the tent site, which may be placed mere distant from the car. The roof rack may also be used for fastening some other object of appropriate size onto the car roof. Even in the glide track position the car may be carefully driven forwards or back¬ wards. The lodging space in accordance with the inven¬ tion may be erected very easily and quickly. ^τ.hen the case halves are opened by pivoting them around the hinges 2 (Fig. 5), the springs 18 tend to pivot the support bars 10 away from the case components around the articulated joints 17- At the same time the springs 13 push the telescopic upper ends of the gable bars 12 outwards until the support bars 10 and 11 have reached the position A-_j_

OMPI denoted with broken lines in Figure 4. The springs 18 push the bars 10 further outwards into the position A_?, in which position the upper ends of the gable bars 12 are in the outermost position. Finally, the bars 10 pivot into their fully opened position A-,, in which the upper ends of the gable bars 12 are pressed to some extent inwards. The springs 13 prevent the gable bars from collapsing more, and the support construction with the folding top remains in the position A^. The rigidity may be increased by means of support yarns 33 (Fig. 8) and/or by means of stops. If necessary, the opening may be facilitated manually, but in addition to the spring force only little manual pivoting forces are required. If one desires to detach the folding top part from the case portion, this can be accomplished easily by lifting the connection pieces 20 apart from the case. The horizontal hem tubes 16 support the lower part of the frame construction when it is detached from the folding top. Correspondingly, the frame construction is fixed again to the folding top by pushing the joint foots of the connection pieces 20 into the case pockets 23•

When the lodging space is collapsed and packed for transportation, the ridge bar 14 is raised somewhat so that the bars 10 can be pressed beyond the position A_? into the position A-, and from there further against the case components. For the stretching taking place when the ridge is raised, an appropriate tolerance for stretching is provided at the hems of the gable parts 6, e.g. by means of rubber loops. The collapsing takes place so that the side walls 7 and the roof slopes 8 need not be folded at all but they remain as planes. Finally, the case parts 1 are pivoted against one another., and the lodging space is in the position of transportation.

The lodging space is used as erected on the ground like a wall tent. For use in cold weather, the space is provided with a removable, e.g., L?G-operated heating, cooking and lighting equipment.

BAD ORI For the transportation, the space can be folded so as to form a case, whereby inside the case there is useful space for bed etc. camping equipment. The case can be pushed conveniently along the glide ramp onto the car roof, whereupon the glide ramp can be folded to form a locking device for the case. The case is provided with longitudinal low runner-like projections, which help the case in maintaining its direction on the glide ramp and in the snow during hauling. One end or both ends of the case are curved and rising, in a way resembling a Lapp's sled (Fig. 1), vmereby it is easy to haul the case in snow and in water. Since the case is watertight, it can be hauled behind a boat, e.g. onto an island. If necessary, it can also be used as a liferaft of a boat. As the folding top and the frame portion can be detached from the case, the watertightly closed case may also be used separately, e.g., for various games in water. Without the folding top, the case may also be used as a transport container for, other goods. If desired, the ridge bar 14 and^" the eaves bars 15 may be, at one end, provided with telescopic extensions. Thereby more living space is obtained for the daytime use by means of an extension part forming a vestibule of the tent at one end (Fig. 2). The eaves and the bottom edge of the lodging space may be provided with flexible eaves hems 28 (Fig. 6), and the bottom edge additionally with tensioning hooks 29 (Fig. 7), which guide the rain water further away from the lodging space, away from the articulated joints. Depending on the dimensional proportions of the lodging space, the tubes 10 may also be designed as telescopic, in which case they may be pulled to their extreme positions when the lodging space is erected.

The spring arrangement of the articulated joint 17 may also differ from that described above. It is possible tc use tensile springs fitted inside the tube construction, which springs tend to pull the frame part

OMPI into the position A^ by the intermediate of cords or wires placed inside the tube. The solution may be, e.g., of a type similar to that used in the support tubes of sunshades for windows. Besides at the ends of the space, combinations of support tubes 10 and 11 may also be used at the middle of the sides. The support bars may be either of hollow tube or solid. Their cross-sectional form may be any form whatsoever, e.g. circular or angular. The material of the bars may be, e.g., metal or plastics.

The hinging 2 of the case may also be arranged by using two or three shafts 5 of articulated joints. The constructional solution involved in the invention may also be applied to a camping trailer. The folding top portion may also be accomplished as a self-supporting body of similar folding principle, without a separate tubular frame. In such a case the frame part is made of rigid sheet.

The gables of the folding top are made of fabric or of any other flexible material.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A portable, openable and collapsible lodging space, which consists of a folding top portion comprising two gable walls (6), two side walls (7)_a and

5 two roof slopes (8) placed in an inclined position when opened, as well as possibly of a frame portion supporting the folding top and consisting of support bars, said frame portion including support bars (10) at the con¬ nection points between the side walls and the gable walls

10 as well as, as extensions of the said support bars (10), support bars (11) at the connection points between the roof slopes (8) and the gable walls (6), which lodging space, when collapsed, is folded into a transport case consisting of two halves (1) connected to each other by

±5 means of hinges, vmich case, when opened, can be used as the bottom of the lodging space, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the side walls (7) and the roof slopes (8) together with, support bars (10, 11), if any, are, when*the lodging space is folded together, folded towards the

20 middle part of the lodging space at the connection point (19) between the side walls (7) and the roof slopes (8) so that the inside faces of the side walls (7) are turned towards the inside faces of the transport case halves (1), and the inside faces of the roof slopes (8) turn towards

25 one another.

2. A lodging space as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the side walls (7) and the roof slopes (8) are made of a rigid or semirigid material, e.g. of board or of a fabric or film heat-

30 insulated by means of foam plastic.

3- A lodging space as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the lower ends of the support bars (12) placed at the connection points between the side and gable walls (6, 7) are connected to the transport case, c h a r a c -

33 t e r i z e d in that, when the transport case is being opened, the support bars (10) placed at the connection

^OMH points between the side and gable walls (6, 7) rise to the vertical position by the effect of spring force (18).

4. A lodging space as claimed in any of the above claims, whose gables are provided with telescopic support bars (12) supporting the ridge, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that, when the transport case is opened, the ends of the gable support bars (12) are pushed out by the effect of the pushing springs (13).

5. A lodging space as claimed in any of the above claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the lower ends of the support bars (10) placed at the connection points between the gable walls (6, 7) are fixed to the transport case detachably, whereby the opened lodging space can be lifted off from the case and the case can be used separately for other purposes.

6. A lodging space as claimed in claim 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the bottom ends of the support bars (10) placed at the connection points between the side and gable walls (6, 7) are connected to one another by means of horizontal support bars (16) parallel to the side walls.

7. A lodging space as claimed in any of the above claims, wherein the hinging (2) of the transport case consists of two or more hinges placed in a line one after the other, c h a a c t e r i z e d in that each hinge is provided with at least two, preferably four shafts (5) of articulated joints.

8. A lodging space as claimed in any of the above claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the edges of one or both of the halves (1) of the transport case that are placed against one another in the closed position of the case are provided with a seal (4), whereby the case can be closed 'water-tightly by means of one or several tensioning devices.

9- A lodging space as claimed in any of the above claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the end of the case portion (1) is shaped as curved so that it

BAD ORIGINAL

OMPI rises upwards in a way resembling a Lapp's sled and that the bottom of the case portion is provided with runner¬ like projections (30) lying against the ground.

10. A lodging space as claimed in any of the above claims, to which a transportation rack to be fastened onto the roof of a car is related, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that one end (24) of the transport rack can be pivoted around pivot shafts (25) so that it forms a glide ramp from the car roof to the ground, and that the end (24) to be pivoted down to the ground is possibly provided with wheels (27), in which ease it can be detached and used as a barrow.

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