GB2062047A - Improvements in or relating to caravans or portable buildings - Google Patents
Improvements in or relating to caravans or portable buildings Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2062047A GB2062047A GB7933269A GB7933269A GB2062047A GB 2062047 A GB2062047 A GB 2062047A GB 7933269 A GB7933269 A GB 7933269A GB 7933269 A GB7933269 A GB 7933269A GB 2062047 A GB2062047 A GB 2062047A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- unit
- hinged
- caravan
- portable building
- side wall
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 229920001084 poly(chloroprene) Polymers 0.000 claims description 4
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000004411 aluminium Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims 3
- 229920001971 elastomer Polymers 0.000 claims 2
- 230000004308 accommodation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
- E04B1/00—Constructions in general; Structures which are not restricted either to walls, e.g. partitions, or floors or ceilings or roofs
- E04B1/343—Structures characterised by movable, separable, or collapsible parts, e.g. for transport
- E04B1/344—Structures characterised by movable, separable, or collapsible parts, e.g. for transport with hinged parts
- E04B1/3442—Structures characterised by movable, separable, or collapsible parts, e.g. for transport with hinged parts folding out from a core cell
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60P—VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS
- B60P3/00—Vehicles adapted to transport, to carry or to comprise special loads or objects
- B60P3/32—Vehicles adapted to transport, to carry or to comprise special loads or objects comprising living accommodation for people, e.g. caravans, camping, or like vehicles
- B60P3/34—Vehicles adapted to transport, to carry or to comprise special loads or objects comprising living accommodation for people, e.g. caravans, camping, or like vehicles the living accommodation being expansible, collapsible or capable of rearrangement
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
- E04B1/00—Constructions in general; Structures which are not restricted either to walls, e.g. partitions, or floors or ceilings or roofs
- E04B1/343—Structures characterised by movable, separable, or collapsible parts, e.g. for transport
- E04B1/34336—Structures movable as a whole, e.g. mobile home structures
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Architecture (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Electromagnetism (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Buildings Adapted To Withstand Abnormal External Influences (AREA)
Abstract
A caravan or portable building comprises a base unit A including a floor portion 10, a hinged unit C including a wall portion 17 which is hinged to said floor portion and in the erected position forms an extension of said floor portion, and a sliding unit B which, on rotation of said hinged unit about said base unit, is elevated to form an enclosed space in conjunction with said base and hinged units. The arrangement of said units is such that, in the collapsed condition said sliding unit B is housed between the base unit A and the hinged unit C, while, in the erected condition unit B is superimposed on unit A and unit C forms a lateral extension thereof, see Fig. 4 (not shown). Unit C is linked to unit B so that as unit C is rotated, unit B is elevated. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATIONS
Improvements in or relating to caravans or portable buildings
This invention relates to caravans or portable buildings.
Because of its bulk, the conventional trailer caravan is inconvenient for towing on the road, extravagant in the use of fuel, costly to ship in relation to the living space provided, and cannot be stored in the average domestic garage. Motor caravans, either coachbuilt or converted from standard commercial vehicles, suffer from similar disadvantages, being either excessively large and expensive to operate or cramped in accommodation. Portable buildings designed for temporary accommodation are also bulky and if dismantled for transport involve substantial costs for re-erection at site and dismantling again after use.
Trailer caravans are known with folding walls which provide more compact units for towing on the road and shipment while retaining most of the characteristics of space and equipment of conventional caravans. However, they have the following disadvantages:
(a) The plan area of the unit when erected is the same as in the folded condition.
(b) Erection and dismantling is difficult in bad weather conditions and the interior is exposed to the eiements during these operations.
The present invention seeks to overcome these disadvantages by providing a caravan or portable building having one or more folding or sliding parts such that the plan area can be substantially increased when erected while retaining all the essential characteristics of space, headroom, installation and equipment of a rigid caravan or portable building.
According to the invention, a caravan or portable building essentially comprises a base unit including a floor portion, a hinged unit including a wall portion which is hinged to said floor portion and in the erected position forms an extension of said floor portion, and a sliding unit which, on rotation of said hinged unit about said base unit, is elevated to form an enclosed space in conjunction with said base and hinged units.
According to one embodiment, the base unit additionally comprises one side wall and two end walls, the hinged unit additionally comprises a top portion, a side wall hinged to said top portion, and two end walls, and the sliding unit comprises a roof portion, one side wall and two end walls, the dimensions and arrangement of said units being such that, in the collapsed condition, said sliding unit is housed between the base unit and the hinged unit, while, in the extended or erected condition of the caravan or building, the ends thereof are constituted by the end walls of the three units, one side thereof is constituted by the side walls of the base unit and the sliding unit, the other side thereof is constituted by the top portion of the hinged unit, and the roof thereof is constituted by the hinged side wall of the hinged unit, and the roof thereof is constituted by the hinged side wall of the hinged unit and the roof portion of the sliding unit.
According to a further feature of the invention, a flap may be hinged to the top portion of the hinged unit such that when said hinged unit is brought into the position in which it constitutes a side wall, the flap may be lifted to form an awning.
Said flap would be additionally useful in that, in the collapsed condition of the caravan or building, it would -protect windows or the like located in said top portion.
One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the three essential units of the caravan or building,
Figure 2 shows the caravan or building in the collapsed or closed condition,
Figure 3 shows the movements involved in the erecting or extending operation, and
Figure 4 shows the caravan or building in the erected or extended condition.
The base unit A comprises a floor portion 10, end walls 11 and a side wall 12.
The sliding unit B comprises a roof portion 13, end walls 14 and a side wall 15, the dimensions being such that unit B may make a sliding fit over
Unit A.
The hinged unit C comprises a top portion 16, end walls 17, a fixed side wall 18, and a side wall 19 hinged to a side edge of the top portion 16, the unit C being hinged to the unit A by means of a hinge connecting the edge 20 of the wall portion 1 8 with the free edge 21 of the floor portion 10 of unit A. The provision of the hinged side wall is necessary to permit unit C to be rotated about the unit A. The dimensions of the unit C are such that it may make a sliding fit over units A and B.
Figure 2 shows the caravan or building in the collapsed or closed condition in which unit A is enclosed within unit B and units A and B are enclosed within unit C.
Figure 3 shows the caravan or building in the course of being erected. The unit C is counterbalanced by means of springs so that it is more or less in equilibrium in the position shown in
Figure 2. To initiate the erecting operation, the hinged side 19 of unit C is raised and unit C rotated about unit A. The unit C is suitably linked to the unit B so that as unit C is rotated, unit B is raised.
The fully extended or open position of the caravan or building is illustrated in Figure 4. Unit C has been rotated through 900 with respect to unit
A. The fixed side wall 18 of unit C forms an extension of the floor portion 10 of unit A, the roof portion 13 of unit B and the hinged side wall 19 of unit C together constitute the roof, one side wall is constituted by the top portion 16 of unit C and the other side wall by the side wall 12 of unit A and the side wall 1 5 of unit B, while the end walls are constituted by the end walls 11, 14 and 17 of units A, B and C respectively.
Suitable means are provided for locking the units in position in the extended or open postion.
The hinged unit may be protected against the weather in both the open and closed positions, for example by means of soft neoprene face seals compressed between aluminium flanges, and the sliding unit may be equipped with sliding edge seals also advantageously of neoprene.
A caravan or portable building according to the invention has the following advantages in addition to those already mentioned.
(a) Structural strength in relation to weight is greater than in known folding caravans.
(b) The unit can be used as a trailer, as a motorised vehicle or as a portable building.
(c) The closure of the unit ensures security when it is left unattended.
Claims (10)
1. A caravan or portable building comprising a base unit including a floor portion, a hinged unit including a wall portion which is hinged to said floor portion and in the erected position forms an extension of said floor portion, and a sliding unit which, on rotation of said hinged unit about said base unit, is elevated to form an enclosed space in conjunction with said base and hinged units.
2. A caravan or portable building according to claim 1, wherein the base unit additionally comprises one side wall and two end walls, the hinged unit additionally comprises a top portion, a side wall hinged to said top portion, and two end walls, and the sliding unit comprises a roof portion, one side wall and two end walls, the dimensions and arrangement of said units being such that, in the collapsed condition, said sliding unit is housed between the base unit and the hinged unit, while, in the extended or erected condition of the caravan or building, the ends thereof are constituted by the end walls of the three units, one side thereof is constituted by the side walls of the base unit and the sliding unit, the other side thereof is constituted by the top portion of the hinged unit, and the roof thereof is constituted by the hinged side wall of the hinged unit, and the roof thereof is constituted by the hinged side wall of the hinged unit and the roof portion of the sliding unit.
3. A caravan or portable building according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a flap is hinged to the top portion of the hinged unit such that when said hinged unit is brought into a position in which it constitutes a side wall, the flap may be lifted to form an awning.
4. A caravan or portable building according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the hinged unit is counter-balanced by means of springs such that it is more or less in equilibrium both in the collapsed condition and in the fully open position of the caravan or portable building.
5. A caravan or portable building according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein means are provided to lock the units in position in the extended or open position.
6. A caravan or portable building according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the hinged unit is protected against the weather in both the open and closed positions by means of face seals compressed between flanges of aluminium or other suitable material.
7. A caravan or portable building according to claim 6, wherein said face seals are made of neoprene, sponge rubber or other similar material.
8. A caravan or portable building according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the sliding unit is equipped with sliding edge seals.
9. A caravan or portable building according to claim & wherein said edge seals are made of neoprene, sponge rubber or other compressible material.
10. A caravan or portable building substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB7933269A GB2062047A (en) | 1979-09-26 | 1979-09-26 | Improvements in or relating to caravans or portable buildings |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB7933269A GB2062047A (en) | 1979-09-26 | 1979-09-26 | Improvements in or relating to caravans or portable buildings |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB2062047A true GB2062047A (en) | 1981-05-20 |
Family
ID=10508065
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB7933269A Withdrawn GB2062047A (en) | 1979-09-26 | 1979-09-26 | Improvements in or relating to caravans or portable buildings |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2062047A (en) |
Cited By (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2573706A1 (en) * | 1984-11-26 | 1986-05-30 | Graillat Alain | Living compartment of the foldable and/or dismantlable type, for example a caravan |
| FR2585746A1 (en) * | 1985-07-31 | 1987-02-06 | Giovanni Bruno | Collapsible dwelling unit, particularly for the erection of transportable structures |
| EP0334822A2 (en) * | 1988-03-25 | 1989-09-27 | Vincenzo Bifulco | A caravan, or similar vehicle, or a mobile home having a variable and/or enlargeable volume |
| WO1997047832A1 (en) * | 1996-06-13 | 1997-12-18 | Redi-Bilt Homes, Inc. | Expandable retractable portable structure |
| WO2004065167A1 (en) * | 2003-01-23 | 2004-08-05 | Allan Roy Rainbow | Folding caravan |
| FR3050473A1 (en) * | 2016-04-22 | 2017-10-27 | Bms | SHELTER WITH A MODULAR HOME VOLUME |
| CN111894137A (en) * | 2019-08-31 | 2020-11-06 | 范拓 | Construction method of fabricated building |
| EP3842329A1 (en) * | 2019-12-23 | 2021-06-30 | Peter Hartz Marketing GmbH | Trailer, in particular for a bicycle for providing a utility space |
| US11794832B2 (en) | 2021-03-24 | 2023-10-24 | Peter Hartz Marketing Gmbh | Trailer, in particular for a bicycle, for providing a usable space |
-
1979
- 1979-09-26 GB GB7933269A patent/GB2062047A/en not_active Withdrawn
Cited By (11)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2573706A1 (en) * | 1984-11-26 | 1986-05-30 | Graillat Alain | Living compartment of the foldable and/or dismantlable type, for example a caravan |
| FR2585746A1 (en) * | 1985-07-31 | 1987-02-06 | Giovanni Bruno | Collapsible dwelling unit, particularly for the erection of transportable structures |
| EP0334822A2 (en) * | 1988-03-25 | 1989-09-27 | Vincenzo Bifulco | A caravan, or similar vehicle, or a mobile home having a variable and/or enlargeable volume |
| EP0334822A3 (en) * | 1988-03-25 | 1990-08-16 | Vincenzo Bifulco | A caravan, or similar vehicle, or a mobile home having a variable and/or enlargeable volume |
| WO1997047832A1 (en) * | 1996-06-13 | 1997-12-18 | Redi-Bilt Homes, Inc. | Expandable retractable portable structure |
| WO2004065167A1 (en) * | 2003-01-23 | 2004-08-05 | Allan Roy Rainbow | Folding caravan |
| FR3050473A1 (en) * | 2016-04-22 | 2017-10-27 | Bms | SHELTER WITH A MODULAR HOME VOLUME |
| CN111894137A (en) * | 2019-08-31 | 2020-11-06 | 范拓 | Construction method of fabricated building |
| CN111894137B (en) * | 2019-08-31 | 2022-01-11 | 上海电子工程设计研究院有限公司 | Construction method of fabricated building |
| EP3842329A1 (en) * | 2019-12-23 | 2021-06-30 | Peter Hartz Marketing GmbH | Trailer, in particular for a bicycle for providing a utility space |
| US11794832B2 (en) | 2021-03-24 | 2023-10-24 | Peter Hartz Marketing Gmbh | Trailer, in particular for a bicycle, for providing a usable space |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |