GB2092076A - Estate-car to "Caravanette" Conversion - Google Patents

Abstract

Set of panels/fitments/equipment that when applied (only using a screw- driver) to a suitable standard "unmodified" Estate Car, will convert it to a practical 2-berth "Caravanette", within the vehicles overall width/height. The equipment includes a main roof extension (A), fixed side panels (B), extension side panels (C), and a lower skirt assembly D and a roof hood (2). The equipment can be partly left on vehicle (Fig. 2) enabling rear lighting/number plate to be visible, driven on road, and facilities quickly available when required. The vehicle can also, in the latter condition (2), tow a caravan, with probable reduced overall air-drag/fuel consumption. The conversion equipment can be completely/securely stowed in vehicle whilst maintaining driver's rear view, or stored in garage/shed etc. when not required. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A Set of Interlocking Panels, Fitments, and Equipment to Convert a Standard Production Estate Car (e.g. Ford Cortina (Registered Trade Marks)) into a Practical "Caravanette" Without any Modification to Basic Vehicle Description of Invention The above invention is in the field of "small" Motor Caravans or "Caravanettes" as they are generally known (e.g. British Leyland "Suntor" (Registered Trade Mark) Marina/Ford Escort "Nimbus") which are costly, professional (and non-reversible) conversion/modifications to existing vehicles usually involving cutting out most of existing roof and installing reinforcements, complex elevating fibreglass/fabric roof, special reversible front seats, abnormally low sink, cooker, cupboards and table heights, and a generally ungainly appearance when in use.

Whereas we claim that this invention eliminates all of the abovementioned disadvantages in that: 1. It does not require any modification to the vehicle, but uses existing available locating/securing points in the rear door and its opening for the main roof extension and fixed side panels, (see figs. 1 8 2) and "lift-off" hinges for cabin door and its side panels, (see fig. 3) coupled with simple cam action lock plates for securing side extension and rear panels (see figs. 1 8 2) (thereby forming a weatherproof rear compartment or cabin), which means that it can be transferred to a new/replacement car, or loaned/shared/hired or sold to others with the same basic model.

2. It can be attached or removed easily and quickly (proto-type tests indicate 30 to 60 minutes), and can alternatively all be stowed securely inside vehicle when fast touring or ferry-crossing etc. or stored in garage/shed/loft when not required.

3. Also it can be left (in part) on vehicle with side extension panels and lower skirt assembly removed and the rear door/side panels assembly swung forward and locked to the fixed side panels with the aforementioned cam action lock plates (see fig. 2) in this mode all rear lighting is clearly visible and the rear door incorporates its own (near vertical) index/registration number plate illuminated by the existing lamps (see fig. 3). The advantages of this arrangement are that: (A) when leisurely touring, the facilities are quickly available for meals/snacks/sleeping etc. en-route. (B) if also towing a Trailer Caravan (which could quite logically arise) it would act as an air deflector to the comparativeiy large frontal area of Caravan and most probably reduce the overall air drag factor and consequent fuel consumption.

4. All the existing seating is retained and available for use at most times (see fig. 4) and sink, cooker, cupboards and table heights are approximately normal with 6 ft. plus headroom in cabin.

5, This invention is from a commercial aspect aimed at the rapidly expanding leisure market, and the obviously increasing popularity of Estate Cars (e.g. Ford Cortina/Granada, Volvo, Puegeot, (Registered Trade Marks) etc.) and, subject to suitable rear floor/door configuration and available fixing points the kits would be tailored to, and interchangeable to, the individual basic model types.

General It is anticipated that the panels forming the rear compartment or cabin would be made of 6 m/m marine quality plywood with stiffener framing (or other suitable material), rear window in clear acrylic sheet, (for safety) top hood in vinyl (similar to sports car hoods) clamped tightly in front with Pirelli (Registered Trade Mark) webbing to the car roof and side gutters to form weatherseal, and in caravan type awning channel on roof extension and the fixed side panels, thereby eliminating the need for special weather strips/seals to suit each model type rear door and opening configuration (see figs. 1 a 2).Floor of cabin (approx. 4'6"x2'3") would be in heavy duty ground sheet attached (sewn/bonded) to the lower skirt assembly of vinyl to match top hood (see fig. 1 ) the front of which extending up and into the car rear floor under carpet/mattress to retain it, and fixed to side panels "C" (see fig. 1 ) and lower cross bar "H" (see fig. 3) by turn buttons/press-studs/Veicro (Registered Trade Mark) as required.

The occupants would normally sit on the rear-most mattress with an adjustable and easily removed back-rest board located on the "in car" side cabinets, with a further mattress leaning against it forming comfortable seating (for 2 persons,lfor meals/relaxing etc. then remove back-rest board and re-arrange mattresses for sleeping or other mode as required. In conclusion we claim that this invention would make the Estate Cars (it is applicable to) the most versatile and complete vehicles available.

Schedule of items of textual matter which were present on the originally-filed drawings but which were replaced by reference characters to provide the formal copies reproduced here:

Fig. No. Character ltem A main roof extension B R/LH fixed side panels C R/LH extension side panels D Vinyl lower skirt assembly with heavy duty ground sheet trough attached 1 Outline of estate car (e.g. Ford Cortina (Registered Trade Marks)) 2 Vinyl roof hood (covering area within dotted lines) 13 Pirelli (Registered Trade Mark) webbing to gutter clamps 4 Car floor line 5 Lift off fitments 6 Ground line A Main roof extension B R/LH fixed side panels Note: the following text also appeared with Fig. 2: 2 "lift off fitments stowed in car (see Fig. 4) side panels C and skirt assembly D removed and rear panels/door assembly swung forward and iocked/secured to panels B" D Vinyl lower skirt assembly (fixed to upper panels C/E/F with press studs or turn buttonsNelcro (Registered Trade Mark) E L.H. rear panel F F R.H. rear panel G rear door assembly (stable type shown) H Coach bolts 7 Acrylic sheet rear window 8 Index no. 9 (8) "lift off" pin hinges 10 In-car cabinets 3 11 Lift off dowels fitments (see Fig. 4) 12 Lower cross bar Note: the following text also appeared with Fig.- 2: "door" lifts off "rear panels" slide to remove" towards centre Note: "the top panei hinges are covered by 2" Pirelli strip which seals gap from draught/weather across whole width of cabin" "rear panels E and F secured to full width lower cross bar with (4) coach bolts H" 13 Front/rear seats available (if required) 14 Water pump 15 In-car cabinets 16 Table area 17 Backrest board (adjustable) 4 18 Day settee 19 Sink 20 These fitments lift off dowels and stow/clamp beside in-car cabinets in travel 21 Sleeping bags (2) on (4) foam mattresses approximately 42" x 1 8"x4" 22 Stove 23 Outer body form line

Claims (7)

Claims

1. A set of interlocking panels, fitments and equipment, that when applied to a suitable rear floor/door configuration Estate Car (e.g. Ford Cortina (Registered Trade Marks)) using existing available locating and securing points in the rear door and its body opening, will quickly convert (only using a screw-driver) the said Estate Car, "without requiring any modification" into a rigid and practical "Caravanette", providing full weather protection, privacy, standing, seating, cooking, eating, washing, sleeping, storage, lighting, (and if required) toilet facilities for (2) adult persons, without exceeding the overall width of vehicle or the full opened height of its rear door.

2. It can also be left in part on vehicle by removing side extension panels, and lower skirt and floor, and swinging the rear side panels and door assembly forward, and locking it to the fixed side panels, and the existing rear door central locking point. In this condition vehicle can be driven on the road, as the number plate, and all the existing rear lighting is fully visible and effective, and also the facilities for snacks, meals, washing, resting etc., are quickly available, when required en-route.

3. It can also be used in condition (2) above (if required) to tow a trailer caravan, when its profile would act as an air-deflector to the comparatively large frontal area of caravan, and probably reduce the overall "air-drag" factor and consequent fuel consumption.

4. It can also be completely and securely located and stowed inside vehicle (all panels being flat and stackable) for fast touring, ferry-crossings etc., without impairing driver's rear view. Or can be stored in garage, loft, shed, etc. when not required.

5. All existing seating is retained and available for use (except in condition (4) above), and sink, cooker, cupboard and table heights are near normal, with approximately 6 ft. headroom in rear cabin.

6. It can also be transferred to a new/replacement vehicle, or loaned, shared, hired, or sold to others, providing it is to be applied to the same type vehicle.

7. It is the combination of all the aforementioned features, which give it the overall versatility that we respectfully submit merits its consideration as an "original" invention.