GB2131753A - Trailer caravans - Google Patents

Abstract

A convertible trailer-caravan has a wheeled chassis (1) surmounted by a body assembly (2) comprising at least one hingedly mounted component (2a, 2b) which is rotatable into a position in which it rests upon an extension (5) from the chassis (1) and forms a co-planar extension of the floor of the base of the body assembly. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Convertible trailer-caravan This invention relates to a trailer vehicle which is convertible into a caravan and hereinafter referred to for convenience as a convertible trailercaravan.

The underlying object of the invention is to provide a lightweight compact trailer which can be converted with a minimum expenditure of time and energy into a static caravan having a level total floor area which considerably exceeds the top plan area of the trailer when it is in trailing condition.

In accordance with the invention therefore a convertible trailer-caravan has a wheeled chassis surmounted by a body assembly comprising at least one hingedly mounted component which is rotatable into a position in which it rests upon an extension from the chassis and forms a co-planar extension of the floor of the base of the body assembly.

Preferably one or more such hinged components, which may also have side and end wall-forming parts is or are unfoldable from each end of the chassis which is provided with an extension as aforesaid.

Normally the body assembly comprises further flat components which are hingedly movable into erect positions to form caravan side and end frames or panels and intermediate partition frames or panels which may be retained in such positions by a cable.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is hereinafter described by reference to the accompanying drawings.

In these drawings: Fig. 1 shows the convertible trailer-caravan in its compact trailer state; Figs. 2 to 7 show successive stages in conversion to a caravan; Fig. 8 is a simplified side elevation of the caravan; Fig. 9 is an end section on line IX-IX of Fig. 8; and Fig. 10 is a simplified end view of the caravan body.

In Figs. 1 to 7 the curved arrows indicate the swinging path through which components have been moved.

Referring now to Fig. 1 there is shown a two wheeled compacted trailer-caravan comprising a chassis 1 on which there is mounted a multicomponent superstructure or body 2. The chassis has a tow-bar 3 at the front and jacks 4 at each side by which it can be raised, levelled and stabilised.

Fig. 2 shows a first conversion stage in which the tow bar 3 has been dropped down, a chassis extension 5 has been drawn out from one end, and a body end cover 6 has been hinged downwards.

Fig. 3 shows a second conversion stage in which two body side sections 2a which are hingedly attached half-way down the base of the body have been folded outwardly and caused to rest on the chassis extension 5. The similarly hinged central section 2b is then folded outwardly in similar fashion and caused to rest on the chassis extension 5 (Fig. 4). There is thus provided an extended caravan floor area which is co-planar with the floor of the body as well as the lower parts of the side and end walls at one end of the caravan.

Hingedly attached near the free end of the central section 2b is an end wall frame 7 which is unfolded into an erected position resting against the sloping parts of the sections 2a 2b as shown in Fig. 4.

Beneath the frame 7 there was stored in the body assembly a partition frame 8 which overlies two side wall panels 9 one only of which, having a door and window opening, is shown. These panels are all hinged horizontally to the base of the body and in the next conversion stage are unfolded upwardly into erect positions as indicated in Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 also illustrates the subsequent fitting at the two bar end of the chassis of a chassis extension 10 which had been stored beneath the chassis 1.

This chassis extension 10 is inserted into openings in the end of the main chassis 1 and lowered into contact with the ground as indicated by the small arrows in Fig. 5.

As shown in Fig. 6, hinged side sections 1 a and central section 1 b similar to the already unfolded hinged side sections 2a and central section 2b at the other end of the chassis are unfolded in like manner thereto and caused to rest on the chassis extension 1 0. Then, as shown in Fig. 7, an end frame 12 which is hingedly attached to, and previously lay beneath the centre section 1 b is raised into an erect position in like manner to the end frame 7. Then a second partition frame 13 resembling the frame 8 is hinged upwardly into an erect position.

As shown in Fig. 8 the two end frames 7, 12, and the two partition frames 8, 13 are held in their erect positions by engagement of at least one stretched cable 14 attached at each end to the chassis and tensioned by struts 1 5 attached to the end frames.

After attaining the stage illustrated in Fig. 7 a wire network (not shown) is deployed across the erected frames and tensioned to support a roof or canopy 16 made of canvas or other suitable waterproof fabric. This canopy, as well as forming the roof of the caravan has a skirt which is anchored to the central body structure and to the end sections, and is apertured or provided with removable inserts to define windows 17 and door openings as required.

The internal furnishings of the caravan do not constitute any part of the invention, except possibly as concerns the positioning of cooking and storage units, and accordingly are not described. It is to be noted that when in unfolded or extended position all floors are level with each other.

To restore the caravan to its compact trailer condition for towing behind a vehicle the various components are folded inwardly in reverse order to that described above.

Instead of being hingedly attached to the bottom of the base of the body, some of the components could alternatively be slidably extendable or retractable relative thereto if desired within the scope of the invention.

Claims (10)

1. A convertible trailer-caravan having a wheeled chassis surmounted by a body assembly comprising at least one hingedly mounted component which is rotatable into a position in which it rests upon an extension from the chassis and forms a co-planar extension of the floor of the base of the body assembly.

2. A convertible trailer-caravan as claimed in claim 1 in which a said hingedly mounted component is longitudinally divided into individually revolvable sections.

3. A convertible trailer-caravan as claimed in claim 2 in which there are three of said individually revolvable sections.

4. A convertible trailer-caravan as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 in which there is hingedly attached to a said component or component section a caravan end frame which is revolvable into an erect position relative thereto.

5. A convertible trailer-caravan as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 in which a said component or component section also forms a part of a caravan side wall.

6. A convertible trailer-caravan as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the body assembly comprises at least one partition frame which is hingedly mounted therein and is revolvable into an erect operative position transversely thereof.

7. A convertible trailer-caravan as claimed in claim 4 in which the said caravan end frame is partly supported in its erect position by an end wall part of the hingedly mounted component upon which it rests.

8. A convertible trailer-caravan as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the body assembly comprises hingedly mounted side wall panels.

9. A convertible trailer-caravan as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8 wherein hingedly mounted end frames and partitions are maintained in their erected positions by engagement of a stretched cable which is anchored at each end to the caravan chassis and tensioned by struts.

10. A convertible trailer-caravan constructed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.