WO2004065167A1

WO2004065167A1 - Folding caravan

Info

Publication number: WO2004065167A1
Application number: PCT/AU2003/001704
Authority: WO
Inventors: Allan Roy Rainbow
Original assignee: Allan Roy Rainbow
Priority date: 2003-01-23
Filing date: 2003-12-22
Publication date: 2004-08-05
Also published as: AU2003900309A0

Abstract

A folding caravan wherein there is a plurality of floor sections that when the foldable caravan is erected provide a greater floor plan dimension than when the caravan is stowed, wherein the foldable caravan includes: a fixed floor section adapted to be attached to a chassis or sub frame, at least one movable floor section pivotally connected to the fixed floor section, chassis or sub frame; wherein the moveable floor section is adapted to pivot between a stowed position and an erected position such that foldable caravan in the erected position has a floor plan dimension that is greater than the floor plan dimension of the foldable caravan in the stowed position and further wherein floor sections are adapted to be substantially aligned in a side by side relationship horizontally when the foldable caravan is in the erected position.

Description

FOLDING CARAVAN

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to folding caravans in particular but not exclusively to folding caravans that provide an increased floor area when erected.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A caravan is an enclosed trailer, which is used as a mobile home, or living quarters when stationary and provides the facilities found in a home such as cooking and sleeping facilities. The caravan may also include toilet and bathing facilities etc.

Caravans come in a range of shapes and sizes to suit the needs of the occupiers. They may be of a fixed construction or have folding and stowable features such as in camper trailers, which are also known as campervans. These units have a rigid body and a roof which raises to expose extendible tent sections on the sides and ends. Pop-top caravans have rigid floors and walls with a roof which may be lowered during transportation.

One of the problems with current caravans is the large frontal area which causes aerodynamic drag during transportation thereby increasing fuel costs. Also, the large lateral cross section makes them susceptible to buffeting from

cross winds and thereby causing directional control problems to the towing

vehicle. Camper trailers and pop-top type caravans try to address these

problems by reducing both frontal and lateral cross sectional area during the

transportation phase. Camper trailers have the further problem in that the

extendible space is usually constructed of canvas or similar type materials which

flap in the breeze, are poor insulators and afford little security. Pop-tops

generally do not have these problems but generally the floor area of the caravan

is fixed and therefore restricted because of the difficulties of towing larger

caravans.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a foldable caravan that

ameliorates some of the disadvantages and limitations of the known art or at

least provide the public with a useful choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect the invention resides in a foldable caravan having a plurality of floor sections and roof that when the foldable caravan is erected provide a

greater floor plan dimension and height than when the caravan is stowed,

wherein the foldable caravan includes: (i) a fixed floor section adapted to be attached to a chassis or sub frame, typically a trailer chassis; (ii) at least one moveable floor section pivotally connected to the fixed floor section, chassis or sub frame; wherein the moveable floor section is adapted to pivot between a stowed position and an erected position such that foldable caravan in the erected position has a floor plan dimension and height that is greater than the floor plan dimension and height of the foldable caravan in the stowed position and further wherein floor sections are adapted to be substantially aligned in a side by side relationship horizontally when the foldable caravan is in the erected position.

Preferably the foldable caravan has at least two moveable floor sections, a first moveable floor section and a second moveable floor section, said first moveable floor section is pivotally connected to the fixed floor section, chassis or sub frame and said second moveable floor section is pivotally connected to the fixed floor section, chassis or sub frame opposite to where said first moveable floor section is connected.

Preferably the foldable caravan has a third moveable floor pivotally connected to the fixed floor section, chassis or sub frame.

Preferably the foldable caravan has a fourth moveable floor pivotally connected to the fixed floor section, chassis or sub frame. Preferably the moveable floor sections are pivotally connected to the fixed floor section, chassis or sub frame by pivot means, preferably hinges or other similarly suitable attachments or fixings.

Preferably each moveable floor section has an upwardly extending wall section positioned along and fixed to the moveable floor sections that are not connected to the fixed floor section, chassis or sub frame, wherein the wall sections form the outer walls of the foldable caravan when in the erected position and further wherein said wall sections are adapted to support a roof section.

Preferably each wall section of the first and second moveable floor sections has a side wall panel connected to front and rear wall panels wherein each wall panel has a length and height so that the wall sections of the first and second moveable floor sections are adapted to be nested within one another when the foldable caravan is in the stowed position.

Preferably the length of the side wall panel of the wall section for the second moveable floor section is slightly less than the length of the side wall of the wall section for the first moveable floor section so that the wall section of the second floor section can be nested within the wall section of the first moveable floor section. Preferably the wall section of the third moveable wall section has two side wall panels connected to a rear wall panel wherein each wall panel has a length and height so that the wall section of the third moveable floor is adapted to be nested within either one or both of the wall sections of the first and second floor sections when the foldable caravan is in the stowed position.

Preferably the wall section of the fourth moveable wall section has two side wall panels and a front wall panel wherein each wall panel has a length and height so that the wall section of the fourth moveable floor is adapted to be nested within either one or both of the wall sections of the first and second floor sections when the foldable caravan is in the stowed position.

Preferably the wall panels of the wall sections for the third and fourth moveable floor sections have a length and width that is less than the length and width of fixed floor section and also have a height no greater than the height of the wall panels of the wall sections for the first and second moveable floor sections to allow the wall sections of the third and fourth moveable floor sections to be nested within the wall sections of the first and second moveable floor sections.

Preferably when the foldable caravan has only first and second moveable floor sections, the fixed floor section has front and rear upwardly extending wall panels positioned and fixed to the fixed floor section that are not connected to the first and second moveable floor sections form part of the outer walls of the foldable caravan.

Preferably the roof section has a top panel connected to front and rear panels wherein the front and rear panels of the roof section are spaced apart from one another at distance such that the top portions of the front and rear panels of the wall sections of the moveable floor sections are at least partially encompassed by the front and rear panels of the roof section.

Preferably when the foldable caravan has only first and second moveable floor sections, the front and rear panels of the roof section partially encompass the top portions of the front and rear panels of the fixed floor sections.

Preferably the foldable caravan includes roof raising and lowering means to allow the roof section to be raised, before or as the moveable floor sections are moved from the stowed position to the erected position and to be lowered after or as the moveable floor sections are moved from the erected position to the stowed position.

Preferably the roof raising and lowering means includes a roller track system wherein the rollers are connected to the internal surface of the roof section and a cooperating track is connected an outer surface wall section of the both the first and second moveable floor sections. Preferably the wall sections of the moveable floor sections include locking/latching means so that when either in the stowed or erected positions the wall sections are adapted to held firmly in either position.

Preferably the locking/latching means are over centre locking devices or electromagnetic locking devices or straps hook and loop fasteners and any other suitable locking/latching adapted to hold firmly the wall sections in either position.

Preferably the foldable caravan can be folded and unfolded between the erected and stowed positions by manually rotating the hinged floor sections one at a time or by rotating the hinged floor sections either one by one or simultaneously with the assistance of pneumatic or hydraulic rams, pulleys, lever systems, electrical or electronic devices or other suitable known devices.

In a second aspect the invention resides in a method of folding a foldable caravan as hereinbefore described from an erected position to a stowed position including the steps of: i. moving at least one of two side movable floor sections towards the vertical which in turn allows the roof section to lower as it rides along the outward profile of the side wall section of the side movable floor section; ii. moving other side movable floor sections towards the vertical which in turn allows the roof section to lower further as it rides along the outward profile δ

and wherein the wall section the at least one moveable floor section fits within the wall section of the other moveable floor section and further wherein the roof section is fully lowered so that the cross sectional areas both frontally and laterally have been substantially decreased for transportation or storage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a floor plan view of the foldable caravan in the erected position in accordance to a first embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a floor plan view of the foldable caravan in the erected position in accordance to a second embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 is a floor plan view of the foldable caravan in the erected position in accordance to a third embodiment of the invention.

Figures 4a to 4d are perspective views of each major portion of the foldable caravan position in accordance to a first embodiment of the invention. Figure 5 is a perspective view of an erected foldable caravan position in accordance to a first embodiment of the invention.

Figure 6a to 6d are end views of the foldable caravan showing fully erected and stowed and stages therebetween in accordance to a first embodiment of the invention

Figures 7 and 8 show end views of the foldable caravan in accordance to fourth and fifth embodiments, respectively, of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiment of the invention is a folding caravan where the floor is comprised of several sections, some of which are hinged or otherwise attached by other forms of flexible fittings to that part of the floor which is fixed to the chassis (or sub frame) or are fixed to the chassis (or sub frame) itself either directly or indirectly through fittings or attachments. These hinges or flexible fittings allow that part of the floor which they attach to the main floor, chassis or sub frame to be raised towards the vertical to reduce the plan dimensions and height of the caravan when required for towing or other forms of transportation or for storage. Figure 1 shows a floor plan of the foldable caravan with a fixed floor section (1) attached to a chassis or sub frame (6) with wheels 5c & 5d. A moveable floor section (2) is attached to the chassis (6) or the fixed floor (1) by pivot means 7(a), 7(b), preferably hinges or flexible attachments or fixings. Similarly, another moveable floor section (4) is attached by similar pivot means of (7e) and (7f).

Figure 4c shows the chassis or sub frame (6) with the fixed floor section (1) having permanently fixed front and rear sections ( 0) and (11). Figure 4b shows movable floor section (2) with a wall section including fixed and rigid front (16) and rear (15) panels and side wall panels (17). Figure 4d shows the other movable floor section (4) with a wall section including fixed rigid front (12) and rear (13) panels and side panel (14). Figure 4a shows a rigid roof section (19) with rigid front and rear panels (20) and (18) respectively. The roof section 19 has runners, preferably wheels 21a, 21b, 21c & 21 d on its internal surface for cooperating with tracks (not shown) on the outer surface of the wall sections of the moveable floor sections 2 & 4 so as to assist the roof section to be raised and lowered. Figure 5 shows the caravan in the erected position with all of the main sections assembled.

Figure 6a shows a front or rear elevation of the caravan in the erected position. For the caravan to be folded, the two side movable floor sections (2), and (4) are rotated towards the vertical. Figure 6b shows the right hand side floor section (4) moving towards the vertical with the roof section (19) riding, via the runners 21a, 21b, 21c & 21 d along the curved outward profile, via tracks (not shown), of the side floor section (4) and therefore, slowly lowering the roof section (19). Figure 6c shows the right hand side floor section (4) moved as far towards the vertical as is possible and the left hand side floor section (2) also starting to move towards the vertical and the roof section (19) slowly moving along the outward profile of the left hand side floor section (2). In Figure 6d, both moveable floor sections (2) (4) have been moved as close to the vertical as desired and the roof section (19) has fully lowered. This is the fully stowed position for transportation or storage. As can be seen from 6a and 6d, the cross sectional areas both frontally and laterally have been dramatically decreased.

In order to return the caravan to the fully open position, the reverse occurs. The process can be achieved by manually rotating the hinged floor sections one at a time or by rotating the hinged floor sections simultaneously with the assistance of pneumatic or hydraulic rams, pulleys, lever systems, electrical or electronic devices or other suitable known devices.

Figure 2 shows a further embodiment similar to that of the invention shown in Figure 1, however having two moveable floor sections (3), (4) in which one moveable floor section (4) is pivotally connected to a longitudinal side edge of the fixed floor (1) chassis or sub frame (6) and the other moveable floor section (3) is pivotally connected to a rear edge of the fixed floor (1) chassis or sub frame (6). Figure 3 shows a caravan having three moveable floor sections (2), (3), and (4) pivotally connected to the fixed floor (1) chassis or sub frame (6). Figures 2 and 3 provide the option of extending the floor length as well the floor width.

The caravan may be constructed in various shapes. Figure 8 shows a rectangular central section with floor section (39) fixed to the chassis or sub frame and left hand movable floor section (38) with rigid side wall panel (36) and a movable roof section (35) which slides into a central roof section (34). On the right hand side, movable floor section (31) has rigid side panel (32) and roof section (33) which also slides into central roof section (34). Figure 7 shows a rectangular central section with floor section (30) fixed to the chassis or sub frame and fixed front panel (28) and on the left hand side, movable floor section (29) with fixed side panel (27)). The roof section (26) is rotated in an anti- clockwise direction until hanging vertically downwards against the outer wall of side panel (27). Roof panel (26), should preferably be placed in this position before the folding process begins. Similarly, on the right hand side, movable floor section (22) has attached fixed rigid side panel (23) and a rotatable roof section (24). The roof section (24), should preferably be rotated clockwise to be vertically downwards before the folding process beings. VARIATIONS

It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.

Throughout the description and claims this specification the word "comprise" and variations of that word such as "comprises" and "comprising", are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

Claims

1. A folding caravan wherein there is a plurality of floor sections and roof that when the foldable caravan is erected provide a greater floor plan dimension and height than when the caravan is stowed, wherein the foldable caravan includes: a fixed floor section adapted to be attached to a chassis or sub frame, at least one moveable floor section pivotally connected to the fixed floor section, chassis or sub frame; wherein the moveable floor section is adapted to pivot between a stowed position and an erected position such that foldable caravan in the erected position has a floor plan dimension that is greater than the floor plan dimension of the foldable caravan in the stowed position and further wherein floor sections are adapted to be substantially aligned in a side by side relationship horizontally when the foldable caravan is in the erected position.

2. A folding caravan as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the caravan has at least two

moveable floor sections, a first moveable floor section and a second moveable floor section, said first moveable floor section is pivotally connected

to the fixed floor section, chassis or sub frame and said second moveable floor section is pivotally connected to the fixed floor section, chassis or sub

frame opposite to where said first moveable floor section is connected.

3. A folding caravan as claimed in claim 2 wherein, the caravan has a third moveable floor pivotally connected to the fixed floor section, chassis or sub frame.

4. A folding caravan as claimed in claim 3 wherein, the caravan has a fourth moveable floor pivotally connected to the fixed floor section, chassis or sub frame.

5. A folding caravan as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 wherein, the moveable floor sections are pivotally connected to the fixed floor section, chassis or sub frame by pivot means, preferably hinges or other similarly suitable attachments or fixings.

6. A folding caravan as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 wherein, each moveable floor section has an upwardly extending wall section positioned along and fixed to the moveable floor sections that are not connected to the fixed floor section, chassis or sub frame, wherein the wall sections form the outer walls of the foldable caravan when in the erected position and further wherein said wall sections are adapted to support a roof section.

7. A folding caravan as claimed in any of claims 2 to 6 wherein, each wall section of the first and second moveable floor sections has a side wall panel connected to front and rear wall panels wherein each wall panel has a length and height so that the wall sections of the first and second moveable floor sections are adapted to be nested within one another when the foldable caravan is in the stowed position.

8. A folding caravan as claimed in claim 2 wherein, the length of the side wall panel of the wall section for the second moveable floor section is slightly less than the length of the side wall of the wall section for the first moveable floor section so that the wall section of the second floor section can be nested within the wall section of the first moveable floor section.

9. A folding caravan as claimed in claim 3 wherein, the wall section of the third moveable wall section has two side wall panels connected to a rear wall panel wherein each wall panel has a length and height so that the wall section of the third moveable floor is adapted to be nested within either one or both of the wall sections of the first and second floor sections when the foldable caravan is in the stowed position.

10. A folding caravan as claimed in claim 4 wherein, the wall section of the fourth

moveable wall section has two side wall panels and a front wall panel wherein

each wall panel has a length and height so that the wall section of the fourth

moveable floor is adapted to be nested within either one or both of the wall

sections of the first and second floor sections when the foldable caravan is in

the stowed position.

11. A folding caravan as claimed in claim 4 wherein, the wall panels of the wall sections for the third and fourth moveable floor sections have a length and width that is less than the length and width of fixed floor section and also have a height no greater than the height of the wall panels of the wall sections for the first and second moveable floor sections to allow the wall sections of the third and fourth moveable floor sections to be nested within the wall sections of the first and second moveable floor sections.

12. A folding caravan as claimed in claim 2 wherein, when the foldable caravan has only first and second moveable floor sections, the fixed floor section has front and rear upwardly extending wall panels positioned and fixed to the fixed floor section that are not connected to the first and second moveable floor sections form part of the outer walls of the foldable caravan.

13. A folding caravan as claimed in any of claims 6 to 12 wherein, the roof section

has a top panel connected to front and rear panels wherein the front and rear

panels of the roof section are spaced apart from one another at distance such that the top portions of the front and rear panels of the wall sections of the

moveable floor sections are at least partially encompassed by the front and rear panels of the roof section.

14. A folding caravan as claimed in claim 13 wherein, when the foldable caravan has only first and second moveable floor sections, the front and rear panels of the roof section partially encompass the top portions of the front and rear panels of the fixed floor sections.

15. A folding caravan as claimed in claims 13 or 14 wherein, the foldable caravan includes roof raising and lowering means to allow the roof section to be raised before or as the moveable floor sections are moved from the stowed position to the erected position and to be lowered after or as the moveable floor sections are moved from the erected position to the stowed position.

16. A folding caravan as claimed in claim 15 wherein, the roof raising and lowering means includes a roller track system wherein the rollers are connected to the internal surface of the roof section and a cooperating track is connected an outer surface wall section of the both the first and second moveable floor sections.

17. A folding caravan as claimed in any of the above claims wherein, the wall sections of the moveable floor sections include locking/latching means so that

when either in the stowed or erected positions the wall sections are adapted to held firmly in either position.

18. A folding caravan as claimed in claim 17 wherein, the locking/latching means are over centre locking devices or electro-magnetic locking devices or straps hook and loop fasteners and any other suitable locking/latching adapted to hold firmly the wall sections in either position.

19. A folding caravan as claimed in any of the above claims wherein, the foldable caravan can be folded and unfolded between the erected and stowed positions by manually rotating the hinged floor sections one at a time or simultaneously by rotating the hinged floor sections either one by one or simultaneously with the assistance of pneumatic or hydraulic rams, pulleys, lever systems, electrical or electronic devices or other suitable known devices.

20. A method of folding a foldable caravan as hereinbefore described from an

erected position to a stowed position including the steps of: i. moving at least one of two side movable floor sections towards the vertical

which in turn allows the roof section to lower as it rides along the outward

profile of the side wall section of the side movable floor section;

ii. moving other side movable floor sections towards the vertical which in turn

allows the roof section to lower further as it rides along the outward profile

and wherein the wall section the at least one moveable floor section fits within the wall section of the other moveable floor section and further

wherein the roof section is fully lowered so that the cross sectional areas both frontally and laterally have been substantially decreased for transportation or storage.

21. A folding caravan as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the chassis is a trailer chassis.

22. A folding caravan as claim in claim 1 wherein the chassis is a utility or light truck chassis.

23. A folding caravan as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sub frame is a vehicle sub frame.