NZ561693A - Vehicle body with slide out having plural sanitary fixtures displaceable with the slide out - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a vehicle body with a slide out having plural sanitary fixtures displaceable with the slide out.

Description

10054693409* 56 1 6 ^ 3 ;VlrTOj-fc'4^ ;■ 4 , vi-7 ;Offsce oi ;, 9 SEP 2007 -aECEAVEj ;Patents Act 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION A VEHICLE BODY AND A VEHICLE ;We, Paradise Motor Homes Pty Ltd, an Australian company of 17 Kamholtz Court, Ashmore, Queensland 4214, Australia, hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: ;1 ;(to be followed by 1a) ;561693 ;10 ;15 ;20 ;25 ;A VEHICLE BODY AND A VEHICLE ;FIELD OF THE INVENTION ;This invention relates to a vehicle body. It also extends to a vehicle having the vehicle body and also to a method of increasing the size of a bathroom within a vehicle. ;This invention relates particularly but not exclusively to a recreational vehicle that is a motor home and it will therefore be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention with reference to this example application. However it is to be clearly understood that the invention is capable of broader application. For example the invention could equally be applied to a recreational vehicle that is a caravan or a fifth wheeler. ;BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION ;Powered recreational vehicles such as motor homes and passive towed recreational vehicles such as caravans and motor homes are widely used in many countries around the world. ;A motor home has its own engine and motive power and does not need to be towed. It typically comprises a commercial base vehicle such as a cab chassis truck or a van that is built up so that it is adapted to be lived in. The motor home defines an interior space made up of a front seat space with a driver's seat and a passenger seat and a rear living region behind the front seat space. The rear living space of the motor home is fitted out with the usual amenities of a home that enable it to be lived in. ;A caravan by contrast is a passive vehicle that is towed by a powered vehicle that defines an interior space that is fitted out to be lived in. Typically it has a lounge and a dining area, a kitchen area, a bedroom area and often also a bathroom as well. ;A fifth wheeler is a passive vehicle that is a semi-trailer that is mounted on a tray of a tow vehicle such that it can pivot and articulate relative thereto. Like the caravan it has an interior space that is fitted out to be lived in. ;1a ;561693 ;It will readily be appreciated that space is at a premium in the interior space of a motor home, caravan and fifth wheeler. This is particularly so in a rear living region of a motor home. ;5 Each amenity or fitting such as a bed, a cupboard, a table, a kitchen appliance or a shower, is generally fitted or mounted against a wall extending along the sides of the living space of the vehicle. The length of these two side walls is limited by the length of the vehicle and very often there are practical limitations on the length of a recreational vehicle, Usually the length of a recreational vehicle is limited 10 considerations such as drivability, manoeuvrability and parking to a length of about 8m to 9m. The width of a road going vehicle is limited to enable it to be safely received within a vehicle lane on a road. Effectively the road use regulations limit the total width of such vehicles to 2.5 m to enable the vehicle to travel within a single lane of a road. ;15 Accordingly it is a constant challenge for designers of recreational vehicles to provide a comfortable home in the rear living region of a motor home with these length and width limitations. There is therefore an ongoing need for innovations that enable the interior space of a recreational vehicle to be increased or to be used more effectively or efficiently. ;20 ;Fig. 1 illustrates a motor home in accordance with the prior art. As can clearly be seen the motor home has an interior space that is very cramped and has very limited space particularly in a lateral direction across the width of the motor home. The motor home has a small and compact bathroom positioned along the right side of the vehicle. The 25 bathroom has a toilet and a shower that occupy the same space and a vanity adjacent the toilet/shower. However it is immediately obvious that the bathroom is very small. For example it would not be practical for more than one person to use the bathroom at the same time. Further a person using the bathroom has limited space to move around in the bathroom and to towel themselves or arrange their hair. However it is 30 not a simple matter to simply increase the size of the bathroom because it would then be extremely difficult to fit all the other amenities such as bed and kitchen area into the living space. ;Clearly therefore there is an ongoing need for innovations that enable the interior 35 space of a recreational vehicle to be increased or to be used more effectively or ;561693 ;efficiently. In particular it would be advantageous if a more spacious bathroom could be provided in a motor home without appropriating space required for other amenities. ;SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION ;According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a vehicle body for forming part of a vehicle or being mountable on a vehicle, the body including: ;body walls defining a body interior; and a slide out defining a slide out interior, that is displaceable between a retracted 10 position in which the slide out is at least partly received within the body interior and an extended position in which the slide out projects away from the body interior, wherein the slide out includes a plurality of sanitary bathroom fixtures mounted on the slide out so that the bathroom fixtures are displaceable with the slide out. ;15 The slide out may include slide out walls defining the slide out interior, and in which the interior space define substantially entirely a bathroom space for the vehicle, so that the entire bathroom space of the vehicle is displaceable between the retracted and extended positions. ;20 Preferably the slide out walls are substantially rigid and remain in their relative arrangement when the slide out is displaced between its retracted and extended positions, so that the slide out interior remains substantially unchanged when the slide out is displaced between said positions. ;25 In a preferred embodiment, the slide out defines an inner opening for the bathroom space that opens into the body interior for permitting access into the bathroom space. More preferably the vehicle body includes an inner wall mounted on the slide out across the inner opening of the slide out, the inner wall defining a door opening for permitting access into the bathroom space, and a door mounted on the inner wall for 30 opening and closing the door opening. More preferably still, the vehicle body includes a collapsible wall that can be pulled closed or pushed open in concertina fashion for permitting access to the bathroom space. ;The slide out may include slide out walls defining the slide out interior, and in which 35 the slide out interior defines substantially the entire bathroom space when it is in the retracted position, and in which the slide out interior together with at least part of the ;5 ;3 ;561693 ;space it occupies when in the retracted position define the bathroom space when the slide out is in the extended position. Preferably the slide out defines an inner opening for the bathroom space that opens into the body interior for permitting access into the slide out interior. More preferably the vehicle body includes a partition wall extending 5 around the space the slide out occupies when in the retracted position, the partition wall defining a door opening for permitting access to the bathroom space. The vehicle body may also include a door for opening and closing the door opening defined by the partition wall. ;10 In a preferred embodiment, the bathroom fixtures are functionally operative when the slide out is in its retracted and extended positions. ;Preferably the body walls include an upright body side wall defining an opening within which the slide out is received, and the slide out walls include a face wall that extends 15 substantially parallel to the body side wall defining the opening, so that the face wall is substantially flush aligned with the body side wall when the slide out is in its retracted position and spaced away from the body side wall when the slide out is in its extended position. More preferably the slide out includes a roof wall opposite a floor wall and opposing upright side walls, and the plurality of bathroom sanitary fixtures being 20 mounted on the walls of the slide out. ;The body walls may comprise a front body wall and a rear body wall and two side body walls extending between the front and rear body walls. The slide out may either: be positioned such that it extends across at least part of the rear body wall; extend across 25 substantially all of the rear body wall or be positioned such that it extends across at least part of a said side body wall. ;In a preferred embodiment, the interior of the slide out has a depth in the direction in which the slide out is displaced to the extended position between 0.5m and 3.0m. ;30 ;Preferably the interior of the slide out has a width extending orthogonally to the direction in which the slide out is moved between the retracted and extended conditions of 2.0m to 3.0m. ;561693 ;Preferably the bathroom sanitary fixtures include at least one item selected from the list consisting of: a shower, a vanity (which may be a double vanity with two hand basins side by side) and a toilet. ;5 Preferably a shower is mounted towards one end of the face wall and a toilet is mounted towards the other end of the face wall. A double vanity may be mounted against the face wall intermediate the ends of the face wall. ;The vehicle body may include a water service connector extending from a water 10 service supply on the vehicle to any one of the bathroom sanitary fixtures. It may further include a waste water connector extending from any one of the bathroom sanitary fixtures to a waste water disposal unit on the vehicle. ;The slide out may be directly or indirectly mounted on the body. Preferably the body 15 comprises a support and the slide out is mounted on the support. More preferably the support includes a substantially horizontally extending chassis frame. ;Preferably the vehicle body is a motor home body or a caravan body or a fifth wheeler body. ;20 ;The present invention further provides a motor home including a vehicle body as described above. ;The present invention further provides a firth wheeler including a vehicle body as 25 described above. ;The present invention further provides a caravan including a vehicle body as described ;30 The present invention provides a vehicle body for forming part of a vehicle or being mountable on a vehicle, the body including: ;a body shell arrangement having body walls defining an interior space; ;a slide out defining a slide out interior space, that is movable between a retracted position in which the slide out is at least partly received within the body shell 35 and an extended position in which the slide out projects away from the body shell, wherein the slide out has at least one bathroom fitting mounted thereon. ;above. ;5 ;561693 ;The interior space of the body shell arrangement may include a stowing zone, and the slide out may occupy the stowing zone when the slide out is in the retracted condition. The slide out may be displaced away from the stowing zone when the slide out is 5 moved to the extended condition. ;The vehicle body may include a bathroom, and the slide out interior space may form at least part of the bathroom. ;10 The body walls may comprise a front body wall and a rear body wall, and two side body walls extending between the front and rear body walls. ;In some forms of the invention the bathroom comprises the slide out interior space and also at least part of the stowing zone within the interior space of the body, e.g. the 15 bathroom may comprise the slide out interior space and also substantially the entire stowing zone. ;In these forms the vehicle body may further include an internal partition for closing off the bathroom from the rest of the interior space of the body shell arrangement. In one 20 form the partition may include a wall mounted on the body shell arrangement having an access opening therein and a closable door mounted in the door opening. In another form the partition may be in the form of a collapsible wall that can be pulled closed or pushed open in a concertina fashion. ;25 The slide out may be positioned such that it extends across at least part of the rear body wall, e.g. the slide out may extend across substantially all of the rear body wall. ;Instead the slide out may be positioned such that it extends across at least part of a said side body wail. ;30 ;The interior space of the slide out may have a depth in the direction in which the slide out is moved to the extended position of 0.5m to 2.0m, e.g. a depth in the direction in which the slide out is moved of 1,0m to 1,5m. ;35 The bathroom may have a depth in the direction in which the slide out is moved of 2.0m to 3.0m, e.g. the stowing zone forming part of the bathroom may have a depth of ;6 ;561693 ;10 ;15 ;20 ;25 ;30 ;1.0 to 1.5m and the depth of the slide out may be 1.0m to 1.5m. Conveniently the slide out and the stowing zone may be substantially the same size and the slide out may fill the stowing zone in the retracted position. Consequently when the slide out is moved to the extended position the stowing zone and the slide out may each contribute about 1/3 to 2/3 of the size of the bathroom. ;This depth in the bathroom enables two people to use the bathroom at the same time. For example if one person is using a vanity then another person can walk behind the person at the vanity without having to bump them or deliberately squeeze past them. Further a person can get out of the shower and dry themselves while another person is standing over the vanity. ;The interior space of the slide out may have a width, extending orthogonally to the direction in which the slide out is moved between the retracted and extended conditions, of 2.0m to 3.0m, e.g. a width extending orthogonally to the direction in which the slide out is moved to the extended condition of 2.3m to 2.5m. ;In other forms of the invention the slide out interior space forms substantially all the bathroom and the stowing zone does not form part of the bathroom when the slide out is in the extended condition. This is therefore different to the forms above where the stowing zone does form part of the bathroom when the slide out is in the extended position. ;In these other forms the body may further include an internal partition for closing off the bathroom from the interior space of the body shell arrangement. The partition may be in the form of a wall mounted on the slide out having an access opening therein and a closable door mounted in the door opening. Instead the partition may be in the form of a collapsible wall which can be pulled closed or pushed open in a concertina fashion. ;In these other forms of the invention the slide out may be positioned such that it extends across at least part of a said side body wall, e.g. intermediate the front and rear body walls. The slide out may be positioned in a very broad sense about 1/3 to 2/3 of the way along the length of a said side body wall. ;7 ;561693 ;Instead the slide out may be positioned such that it extends across at least part of the rear body wall, e.g. across substantially all of the rear body wall. ;The interior space of the slide out may have a depth in the direction in which the slide 5 out is moved to the extended position of 0.5m to 3.0m, e.g. 1.0m to 3.0m. Further the interior space of the slide out may have a width extending orthogonally to the direction in which the interior space of the slide out is moved between the retracted and extended conditions of 2.0m to 2.5m. ;10 In many forms of the invention the bathroom may include a plurality of bathroom fittings, e.g. mounted on the slide outs. The bathroom fittings may include a shower, and/or a vanity, and/or a shower. The vanity may be a double vanity with two hand basins side by side. ;15 The slide out may include a primary slide out wall extending along the length of the slide out, and the bathroom may include a shower towards one end of the primary slide out wall and a toilet towards the other end of the primary slide out wall. The slide out may include a double vanity mounted against the primary slide out wall intermediate the ends of the primary slide out wall, e.g. alone or in combination with 20 one or both of the toilet and shower described in the preceding statement. ;The vehicle body may further include a water service connector extending from a water service supply on the body shell arrangement to the shower and/or vanity on the slide out. The body may further include a waste water connector extending from the 25 shower and/or vanity to a waste water disposal unit on the body shell arrangement. ;In addition to the primary wall of the slide out described above, the slide out may further include a slide out side wall extending transversely away from the primary wall around the periphery thereof. The slide out side wall may conveniently comprise top 30 and bottom side wall portions and left and right side wall portions. The slide out may have a substantially box shaped arrangement of unitary construction facing into the interior space of the body shell arrangement with the side walls extending between the slide out primary wall and the body shell arrangement in the extended condition. ;35 The slide out may be directly or indirectly mounted on the body shell arrangement. The body shell arrangement may comprise a support and a body superstructure ;8 ;561693 ;10 ;15 ;20 ;25 ;30 ;mounted on the support, and the slide out may be mounted on the support. The superstructure may be made of steel from a plurality of sections that are joined together permanently, e.g. by welding and define the basic shape and configuration of the body shell arrangement. ;In particular the support may include a substantially horizontally extending chassis frame. Instead the body may be of monocoque construction in which case the body is made out of a sheet material having structural strength, e.g. a composite material, and will not include a chassis frame. ;The vehicle body may include a further slide out, e.g. that is free of bathroom fittings and does not form part of a bathroom, on one body side wall of the body shell arrangement, e.g. a left side wall of the body shell arrangement. ;The vehicle body may also include a yet further side slide out, e.g. that is free of bathroom fittings and does not form part of a bathroom, on the other body side wall of the body shell arrangement, e.g. the right side wall of the body shell arrangement. ;Where the bathroom slide out is positioned on a side wall of the body shell arrangement then the vehicle body may include a further slide out, e.g. that is free of bathroom fittings and does not form part of a bathroom, on the rear body wall of the body shell arrangement. In this form the vehicle body may include a yet further slide out, e.g. that is free of bathroom fittings and does not form part of a bathroom, on the side wall of the body shell arrangement opposed to that having the bathroom slide out. ;Each slide out may be mounted on the body shell arrangement by means of complementary engagement formations that engage each other and are displaced relative to each other by means of a linear translational sliding movement. ;The complementary engagement formations that slidably support each slide out on the body shell arrangement may comprise a female member on one of the body shell arrangement and the slide out, and a male member on the other of the body shell arrangement and the slide out. The male formation may be received within the female formation and may slide relative to the female formation to move the slide out between the extended and retracted conditions. ;9 ;561693 ;Conveniently the female member may be mounted on the body shell arrangement and the male member may be mounted on the slide out. ;The male member may be snugly received within the female member with a small 5 tolerance so that the only movement of the male member relative to the female member is an axial sliding movement. The male and female members may have low friction surfaces that enable smooth sliding of the male and female members relative to each other with little or no rattling and associated noise. A surface of the female member may be metallic and the surface of the male member may be non metallic, 10 e.g. plastic, so reduce rattling sounds in use. ;The slide out may further include a drive means for driving each rear slide out between the extended and retracted positions. The drive means may be in the form of a linear actuator. The linear actuator may include limit switches for stopping movement of the 15 slide out, e.g. precisely in each of the extended and retracted positions. ;The vehicle body may be a motor home body or a caravan body or a fifth wheeler body. ;20 In this specification the term room shall be construed broadly and shall be defined to include a space or zone within which certain amenities are contained. For example a bedroom may not necessarily be a closed off bedroom. It could be a space or zone that is open to the remainder of the interior space of the body shell arrangement. The same applies to a bathroom or a kitchen or a living room. ;According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a vehicle body for forming part of a vehicle or being mountable on a vehicle, the body including: ;a body shell arrangement having walls defining an interior space; ;a slide out defining a slide out zone that is movable between a retracted position in which the slide out is at least partly received within the body shell and an extended position in which the slide out projects out of the body shell; ;25 ;10 ;561693 ;wherein the slide out forms at least part of a bathroom, and at least one of the body shell arrangement and the slide out has at least one bathroom fitting within the bathroom. ;5 The vehicle body may include any one or more of the features of the vehicle body defined above according to the first aspect of the invention. ;According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a motor home including a vehicle body as defined above in the first or second aspects of the invention. ;10 ;In particular the body may include any one or more of the optional features of the vehicle body defined in the first aspect of the invention above. ;The motor home may be a vehicle that has a total weight of less than 4.5 ton and may 15 therefore be able to be registered on a car license. The motor home may be built from a base vehicle that is a cab chassis truck, e.g. a MERCEDES SPRINTER™ cab chassis truck. ;According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a fifth wheeler including 20 a vehicle body as defined above in the first or second aspects of the invention. ;In particular the body may include any one or more of the optional features of the vehicle body defined in the first aspect of the invention above. ;25 According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a caravan including a vehicle body as defined above in the first or second aspects of the invention. ;In particular the body may include any one or more of the optional features of the vehicle body defined in the first aspect of the invention above. ;30 ;The slide out with the bathroom fittings mounted thereon can also be positioned on the front wall of the caravan. ;Further the bathroom slide out may be positioned on the rear wall of the caravan body 35 or one of the side walls of the body and the vehicle body may include a further slide out that is positioned on the front wall of the caravan. ;11 ;561693 ;The present invention further provides a method of providing a bathroom for a recreational vehicle having a vehicle body including body walls defining an interior , the method including: ;5 mounting a slide out defining a slide out interior on the body, so that the side out is displaceable between a retracted position in which the slide out is at least partly received within the body interior and an extended position in which the slide out projects away from the body interior; and mounting a plurality of bathroom sanitary fixtures on the slide out so that the 10 bathroom fixtures are displaceable with the slide out. ;The method may further include mounting an inner wall across an inner opening of the slide out, the inner wall defining a door opening for permitting access into the bathroom space, and a door mounted on the inner wall for opening and closing the 15 door opening. ;The method may further include mounting a partition wall that surrounds a space of the body interior that is occupied by the slide out when it is in the retracted position, so that the when the slide out is displaced to its extended position the bathroom is 20 defined by the interior of the slide out and the space surrounded by the partition wall. ;According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a method of increasing the space of a bathroom within a vehicle body, comprising: ;25 providing a body shell arrangement having an interior space defining a bathroom zone; ;providing a slide out defining a slide out interior space on the body shell arrangement that is stowed in the bathroom zone in a retracted condition; and ;30 ;displacing the slide out at least partly out of the bathroom zone to an extended condition to form an enlarged bathroom comprising the slide out interior space and that part of the bathroom zone that is not occupied by the slide out in the extended condition. ;561693 ;The bathroom zone in the body shell arrangement may be the same as the stowing zone defined in the first aspect of the invention. ;The slide out may be displaced substantially fully out of the bathroom zone in the 5 extended condition; the bathroom may comprise substantially the slide out interior space and also the bathroom zone within the interior space. ;Displacing may comprise displacing the slide out by a translational sliding displacement, e.g. by means of a drive means such as a linear actuator. ;10 ;Mounting may include mounting the slide out on the body shell arrangement. ;The method may include partitioning the bathroom zone off from the remainder of the interior space. The method may include providing access to the bathroom zone 15 through the partition from the rest of the interior space. ;According to yet another aspect of this invention there is provided a vehicle body comprising: ;20 a body shell arrangement mounted on the chassis, the body shell arrangement having a front body wall and a rear body wall and left and right body walls and defining an interior space, the body shell arrangement defining a bathroom in the interior space; and ;25 a slide out on the body shell arrangement, the slide out being movable by means of a linear translational displacement between a retracted position in which it is received within the body shell arrangement and an extended position in which it projects away from the rear body wall of the body shell arrangement, the slide out forming part of the bathroom and opening into the bathroom whereby to increase the 30 depth of the bathroom in the longitudinal direction of the body when the slide out is in the extended position. ;The slide out may increase the depth of the bathroom in the fore and aft direction of the vehicle body by 1,5m to 2.0m when the slide out is in the extended position. ;561693 ;A vehicle that is a motor home or a caravan or a fifth wheeler in accordance with this invention may manifest itself in a variety of forms. It will therefore be convenient to hereinafter provide a detailed description of the invention with reference to several 5 example embodiments. The purpose of providing this detailed description is to instruct persons having an interest in the subject matter of the invention how to put the invention into practical effect. It is to be clearly understood however that the specific nature of this detailed description does not supersede the generality of the preceding broad description. In the drawings: ;10 ;Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of a prior art motor home body showing the internal layout of the motor home; ;Fig. 2 is a three dimensional view of a motor home body having slide outs in ;15 accordance with one embodiment of this invention with the slide outs shown in an extended position; ;Fig. 3 is a schematic plan view of the motor home body of Fig. 2 showing the internal layout thereof; ;20 ;Fig. 4 is a schematic plan view of a motor home body having a different internal layout in the bathroom to that in Fig. 3; ;Fig. 5 is a three dimensional view of the bathroom on the motor home body ;25 shown in Fig. 4; ;Fig. 6 is a schematic plan view of a motor home body having a different layout to the motor home body shown in Figs. 2 and 3; ;30 Fig. 7 is a schematic plan view of a motor home body having a different bathroom and bathroom layout to that shown in Fig. 6, with the slide outs shown in the retracted positions; ;Fig. 8 is a schematic plan view of the motor home body shown in Fig. 7 with ;561693 ;Fig. 9 is a three dimensional view showing a support for supporting the slide outs on the vehicle body of Fig. 2 such that the slide outs can slide relative thereto; and ;5 Fig. 10 is a sectional end view of the support shown in Fig. 9; ;Fig. 11 is a schematic plan view of a caravan body in accordance with the invention showing the interior layout of a vehicle with the slide outs in the extended condition; ;10 ;Fig. 12 is a schematic plan view of a caravan body in accordance with another embodiment of the invention with the slide outs shown in the extended condition; ;Fig. 13 is a schematic plan view of a caravan body in accordance with another 15 embodiment of the invention with the slide outs shown in the extended condition; and ;Fig. 14 is a schematic three dimensional view of a vehicle that is a fifth wheeler having a fifth wheeler body with a slide out at the rear end shown in its extended condition. ;20 ;Fig. 1 is a prior art motor home and is discussed in the preamble to the invention described above. It will not be discussed further in the detailed description which focuses on embodiments of the invention that is disclosed in this application. ;25 In Figs. 2 and 3 a reference numeral 1 refers to a vehicle body 1 that is a motor home body in accordance with the invention. ;The vehicle body 1 includes a body shell arrangement 3 having body walls defining an interior space. The body walls comprise a front body wall 5 and a rear body wall 7, 30 and two side body walls 9, and 11 extending between the front and rear body walls 5, and 7. ;The front body wall 5 and the rear wall 7 together with the side body walls 9 and 11 extending there between define an interior space within the body shell arrangement 3. 35 In turn this interior space is divided up into a front seat region shown very generally by ;561693 ;the numeral 13 and a living region rearward of the front seat region 13 shown very generally by the numeral 15. ;The front seat region 13 comprises a forward most portion of the interior space. 5 Typically this contains a driver's seat 17 on one side in proximity to the usual set of driver's controls and a passenger seat 19 alongside the driver's seat for a front seat passenger. Typically the driver's seat 17 and the passenger's seat 19 are comfortable padded chairs that are suitable for long distance driving. Further they are often swivel seats that can be swivelled around when the vehicle 1 is not in driving use to face 10 rearward into the rear living region 15 of the interior space. ;The body 1 includes a bathroom slide out 25 defining a slide out interior space, that is movable between a retracted position in which the slide out 25 is at least partly received within the body shell 3 and an extended position in which the slide out 25 15 projects away from the body shell 3. ;The interior space of the body shell arrangement 3 includes a stowing zone 27 for the slide out 25. The slide out 25 is received within the stowing zone 27 when the slide out 25 is in the retracted condition. The slide out 25 may be displaced away from the 20 stowing zone 27 when the slide out 25 is moved to the extended condition. The stowing zone 27 is formed by a rear region of the interior space of the body shell arrangement 3 adjacent the rear body wall 9. ;The slide out 25 forms at least part of a bathroom 23. The bathroom 23 is made up of 25 the interior space of the slide out 25 and also the entire stowing zone 27 within the interior space of the body shell arrangement 3. ;The vehicle body 1 further includes an internal partition 35 for closing off the bathroom 23 from the rest of the interior space of the body shell arrangement 3. In the 30 illustrated form the partition 35 includes a wall having an access opening therein and a closable door 37 mounted in the access opening. In another form that has not been shown in the drawings the partition is in the form of a collapsible wall that can be pulled closed or pushed open in a concertina fashion. ;35 The bathroom slide out 25 has a plurality of bathroom fittings or bathroom fixtures mounted thereon. The bathroom fittings comprise a shower 43, a toilet 45 and a ;16 ;561693 ;vanity 47 all of which are mounted on the slide out 25 up against the main wall portion thereof. In the illustrated embodiment the shower 43 is in one corner and a toilet 45 is positioned adjacent to the shower 43. A vanity 47 is located in the other corner of the bathroom 51. The vanity 47 has a single basin mounted in a vanity counter and a 5 cupboard beneath the counter and a mirror mounted on the wall adjacent the vanity. ;In the embodiment shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the slide out 25 is positioned such that it extends across substantially all of the rear body wall 9 and has a width of 2.4m to 2.5m. ;10 ;The interior space of the slide out 25 has a depth in the direction in which the slide out 25 is moved to the extended position (which is the same as the fore and aft direction of the vehicle body) of 1.0m to 1.5m. Similarly the stowing zone 27 has a depth of 1.0m to 1.5m. Overall the bathroom 31 has a depth in the direction in which is the slide out 25 is moved of 2.0m to 3.0m made up of the interior space of the slide out 25 and also the stowing zone 27 within the body shell arrangement 3. ;The resultant depth in the bathroom 23 when the slide out 25 is in the extended position enables two people to use the bathroom 23 at the same time. For example if 20 one person is using the vanity 47 then another person can walk behind the person at the vanity 47 without having to bump them or deliberately squeeze past them. Further a person can get out of the shower 43 and dry themselves while another person is standing in front of the vanity 47. ;25 As shown in Figs. 3 to 5 the vehicle body 1 also has a one side slide out 51, e.g. a left slide out, on the left side of the body shell arrangement 3. The left slide out 51 has a corresponding stowing zone 55 within the interior space towards the left body side wall 9 of the body shell arrangement 3 for receiving the slide out 21 in its retracted position. ;30 ;The left slide out 51 has a length of 2.0 to 3.0m with the direction of length being orthogonal to the direction in which the slide out 51 is moved to the extended position. The left slide out 51 has a width or depth in the direction in which the slide out 51 is moved to the extended position of 1.0 to 1.5m. Further the left slide out 51 may be a 35 full height slide out and may extend up substantially the full height of the body shell arrangements. ;17 ;( ;0/"> ;1 2 FEB 2009 ;561693 ;The left slide out 51 may form part of a bedroom 71. The bedroom 71 may have a double bed 21 mounted on the slide out 51 with an east west configuration with the head of the bed 21 against the slide out 51 and the bed 21 also extending into the 5 interior space of the body shell arrangement 3. The double bed 21 extends across the stowing zone of the left slide out 55. The bed 21 also extends across part of the interior space of the body shell arrangement inward of the stowing zone 55. ;When the left slide out 55 is moved to the extended position the foot of the bed 21 is 10 spaced a reasonable distance in from the side wall 7 of the body shell arrangement 3. This provides space to walk around the foot of the bed 71 to gain access one side of the bed 71 and also to gain access to the bathroom 23 in the rear slide out 25. ;The left slide out 51 also includes storage fixtures or fittings 73, 75 in the form of bed 15 side tables on each side of the bed 71. These fixtures 73, 75 typically do not extend up to a height that is higher than the height of the bed 71, The bed side tables 73, 75 include a plurality of drawers which may be used for storing personal items. In the illustrated embodiment the storage fixture 73 forward of the bed 71 has a greater length than the storage fixture 75 rearward of the bed. ;The vehicle body 1 also includes another side slide out 53 (hereinafter called a right slide out) on the right side of the body shell arrangement 3. ;The right slide out 23 also has a corresponding stowing zone 57 adjacent the right 25 body side wall 11 of the interior space for receiving the slide out 23 in its retracted ;The right slide out 53 is also a full height slide out and extends up substantially the full height of the body shell arrangement 3. The right slide out 53 has a length of 3.0m to 30 4.0m, in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the slide out 53. Further the right slide out 53 may have a depth in the direction of extension of the slide out 53 of 1.0m to 1.5m. ;The right slide out 53 includes a kitchen arrangement 77 mounted thereto having a 35 length of 1.0m to 1.6m. The kitchen arrangement 77 may include a basin or sink, and a cook top, and a bench top. The right slide out 53 also includes a seat ;20 ;position. ;18 ;561693 ;arrangement 79 having a length of 1.2m to 2.0m in the form of a lounge seating arrangement. The seat arrangement 79 is positioned forward of the kitchen arrangement 77. ;5 The right slide 53 out further includes a storage arrangement 80 having a length of 1.5m to 2.5m extending from floor to ceiling of the slide out 53. The storage arrangement is in the form of a wardrobe 80 and includes wardrobe hanging space and one or more drawers. The wardrobe 80 is adjacent to and rearward of the kitchen arrangement 77. As the wardrobe 80 is received within the interior space of the slide 10 out 53 it does not encroach on the space within the shell arrangement 3. In the illustrated embodiment the wardrobe 80 is broadly laterally aligned with the bed 21. ;The interior space of the body shell arrangement 3 further includes a dinette arrangement 82, comprising a small dining table and at least two dining table seats 15 arranged next to the dining table. The dinette arrangement 82 is positioned towards the left side body wall 5 and is substantially laterally aligned with the kitchen arrangement 77 or the seating arrangement 79 on the right slide out 53. ;Thus the illustrated motor home body has three slide outs 25, 51 and 53. The general 20 purpose of the slide outs 51, and 53 to increase the interior space within the motor home body 1 when all the slide outs are extended. The left and right slide outs 51 and 53 overlap each other in a longitudinal direction. The overlapping slide outs 51, 53 increase the lateral width of the body 1 of the motor home body 1 making it feel a lot more spacious. ;Each slide out 25, 51 and 53 resembles a cup shaped receptacle or container. The open side of the receptacle or container faces into a corresponding opening defined in the body shell arrangement 3 corresponding to the particular slide out. Thus the container opens into the interior space of the body shell arrangement 3 of the vehicle 30 body 1 and communicates therewith. ;At a structural level each slide out 25, 51 and 53 comprises a primary slide out wall portion 61 for covering the surface area of the slide out opening in the associated wall of the motor home body shell arrangement 3. Each slide out 25, 51 and 53 also has a 35 side wall portion 63 extending transverse to the primary wall portion 61. The side wall portion 63 in turn comprises end wall portions at each end of the primary wall ;25 ;19 ;561693 ;portion 61 extending from the associated body wall of the body shell arrangement 3 to the primary wall portion 61 of the slide out. The side wall portion 63 also includes a bottom portion and a roof portion. The side wall portion 63 extends transverse to the primary wall portion 61 and act to close off the slide out 25, 51 or 53 from the outside, 5 particularly when the slide out is in the extended configuration. Thus the space defined by the slide out in the extended position opens into the living region 15 of the motor home body 1. ;Each slide out 25, 51 and 53 is mounted on the body shell arrangement 3, and 10 particularly the chassis 2 thereof, by means of a female member 65 on the body shell arrangement 3 engaging and receiving a male member 67 on the slide out 25, 51 or 53. The female member 65 is sized to receive the male member 67 snugly and with little clearance so as to provide a guide mechanism that is very accurate and precise and is not prone to rattling when the 1 is being driven on the road. This structure is 15 shown in some detail in Figs. 9 and 10 of the drawings. ;In an example embodiment two linear actuators that are longitudinally spaced from each other are used to drive each slide out 25, 51 or 53 between the contracted and retracted conditions. The linear actuators are driven by an electric motor associated 20 with the actuator and the motor in turn is energized or powered by electrical power from the battery of the motor home body 1. Further each linear actuator is fitted with limit switches for stopping displacement of the actuator when the slide out reaches each of the extended and retracted positions. ;25 The linear actuators are particularly suitable for this application because they produce fine motor movements and are able to guide the slide outs 25, 51 and 53 very precisely into their retracted and extended positions. Further the linear actuators 45 are able to repeatedly move the slide outs 25, 51 and 53 into exactly the same position each time they move them into the retracted or extended positions. A further 30 advantage of the linear actuators is that they occupy very limited space in the motor home body 1 and this is advantageous. ;In use the slide outs 25, 51 and 53 are positioned in their retracted positions on the body 1 when the vehicle is being stored or being driven on the road. Each of the slide 35 outs 25, 51 and 53 is received within its stowing zone 27, 55, or 57 within the body shell arrangement 3. This compact arrangement provides a vehicle that can ;561693 ;comfortably and easily be driven on the road and can be received within a normal vehicle lane on a road. ;In this configuration a user can move around in the interior space and can use the 5 bathroom 23 in the rear region of the body shell arrangement 3. While the bathroom 23 is small and compact in this configuration it can still be used in the normal way. Each of the toilet 45 and shower 43 and vanity 47 can be used. ;When the motor home body 1 is to be used for being lived in it is transformed into its 10 camping configuration. Each of the slide outs 25, 51 and 53 is moved to its extended configuration and this drastically increases the interior space within the body 1. The bathroom 23 is significantly increased in size and can be used by a user with freedom of movement. In particular two people can comfortably use the bathroom 23 at the same time. ;Figs. 4 and 5 show a variation on the motor home body 1 shown in Figs. 2 and 3. ;As the motor home body in Fig. 4 is similar to that described above and shown in Fig. 3 the same reference numerals will be used to refer to the same components. ;The description above applies generally to the motor home body shown in Fig. 4. The following description will focus on the differences between this embodiment and the Fig. 3 embodiment. ;25 The differences between the motor home body 1 in Fig. 3 and that in Figs. 4 and 5 reside solely in the internal layout of the fittings and units in the bathroom slide out 25. ;In Fig. 4 a vanity 47 having two hand basins 68 and 69 side by side is positioned next to the shower 43. A toilet 45 is then positioned in the corner remote from the 30 shower 43. A feature of this layout is that the bathroom 23 is able to accommodate a vanity with two hand basins and the vanity is centrally positioned in the bathroom 23. ;As shown in Fig. 5 the bathroom 23 has sufficient depth to comfortably accommodate and receive two people at one time. In the drawing one person is beautifying 35 themselves in front of a mirror. The other person can have a shower and then also get ;15 ;20 ;21 ;561693 ;out of the shower and towel themselves in comfort in the space within the bathroom. The increased depth afforded by the slide out 25 is important to achieve this effect. ;In Fig. 6 a motor home body in accordance with another embodiment of the invention 5 is shown. ;The Fig. 6 embodiment has the same basic outline as the embodiment in Figs. 3 and 4 with left and right slide outs 51, 53 and a rear slide out 25. As the Fig. 6 motor home body is similar in many ways to the Figs. 3 and 4 motor home bodies the same 10 reference numerals will be used to refer to the same components unless otherwise indicated. ;The internal layout in the Fig. 6 embodiment is different to that in the Fig. 3 embodiment and the following description will focus on these differences in internal 15 layout. ;This body 1 has a rear slide out 25 and left and right slide outs 51, 53 like those in Fig. 3. However the usage of the different slide outs is somewhat different. ;20 The bathroom 23 is positioned in the left slide out 51. The space within the bathroom 23 is formed partly by the stowing zone 55 in the body shell arrangement 3 that receives the slide out 51 in the stowed configuration and the remainder is formed by the interior space of the left slide out 21. ;25 In its fully extended condition the slide out 51 projects fully out of the stowing zone 53 in the interior space of the vehicle body 1. Fig. 6 shows the slide out 51 displaced only part of the way to the fully extended position. ;The body 1 also includes a right slide out 53 of considerable length that includes a 30 kitchen arrangement 77 and a lounge seat arrangement 79. Further the right slide out 23 overlaps with the left slide out 21 in a longitudinal direction. ;The rear slide out 25 typically forms part of a bedroom, a bedroom region or a bedroom zone 71, and the slide out 25 acts to increase the depth of the bedroom 71 35 when in the extended position. The movement of the rear slide out 25 to the extended ;22 ;561693 ;position increases the space around the foot of the bed 21 and thereby increases the amenity in the bedroom 71. ;Figs. 7 and 8 show a plan view of a motor home body in accordance with yet another 5 embodiment of the invention. ;As the Fig. 7 motor home body has some similarities to the motor home body 3 described above with reference to Fig. 6 the same reference numerals will be used to refer to the same components unless otherwise indicated. ;10 ;The following description will focus on the differences between this embodiment and the earlier embodiments above. ;The left slide out 51 has a bathroom 23 which is substantially fully contained within the 15 slide out 51. In the retracted position shown in Fig 7 the slide out 51 and the bathroom 23 are fully received within the body shell arrangement 3. ;The partition 35 is mounted on the slide out 51 and moves out with the slide out 51 when it is moved to the extended position. In Fig. 8 with the slide out 51 in the 20 extended position the stowing zone 55 forms part of the general interior space and does not form part of the bathroom 23. The bathroom 51 thus does not encroach or intrude into the interior space of the body shell arrangement 3 when the slide out 51 is extended. By contrast in Fig. 6 the bathroom 23 is formed by a combination of the stowing zone 55 of the slide out 51 and partly by the interior space of the left slide 25 out 51. ;Fig. 11 shows the interior layout of a caravan body in accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention. In the drawing the caravan body is indicated generally by reference numeral 61. ;30 ;As the caravan body 61 shares many structural and functional similarities with the motor home body described above with reference to Fig. 3 the same reference numerals will be used to refer to the same components unless otherwise illustrated. Further the description above of the motor home applies mutatis mutandis to the 35 caravan body. ;561693 ;The caravan body 61 has a rear slide out 25 forming part of the bathroom 23 to expand the space within the bathroom 23 during use as in the Figs. 3 and 4 embodiments. The caravan body 61 also has left and right slide outs 51 and 53 to increase the living region or living space 15 within the motor home body 1. Fig. 11 in 5 particular shows how the interior space is significantly increased in three different directions. ;Further the caravan body 61 also has a draw pole 63 and hitch 65 for hitching it to a towing vehicle at the front wall 5 of the caravan body 61. ;10 ;Fig. 12 illustrates a caravan body in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. ;As this caravan embodiment has many structural and functional similarities to the is caravan embodiment shown in Fig. 11 the same reference numerals will be used to refer to the same components unless otherwise illustrated. ;The following description will focus on the difference between this embodiment and the Fig. 11 embodiment. ;20 ;In Fig. 12 the caravan body has a forward slide out 81 on the front wall 5 of the caravan body 61 in addition to the rear slide out 25. The front slide out 81 thus increases the interior space defined by the interior space of the body 1 by expanding out forward over the draw pole 63 of the caravan body 61. The front slide out 81 can 25 be used as a dinette area 82 with a table and a couple of seats. ;Fig. 13 illustrates a caravan body 61 in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. ;30 As this caravan body embodiment has many structural and functional similarities to the caravan body embodiment shown in Fig 12 the same reference numerals will be used to refer to the same components unless otherwise illustrated. ;The following description will focus on the difference between this embodiment and the 35 Fig. 12 embodiment. ;24 J0r m ;/jff If ;I '12&EB4H * 561693 The caravan body 61 shown in Fig. 13 has a front slide out 81 as well as a rear slide out 25. The front slide out 81 however receives a double bed 21 and thus forms a bedroom or bed region 71 that is extended when the slide out 81 is extended.

Another difference in Fig 13 is that the caravan body 61 has a left slide out 51 but not a right side slide out 53 like that in Fig. 12. The kitchen arrangement 77 and wardrobe 80 are mounted against the body side wall 11 of the body shell arrangement 3.

Fig. 14 illustrates a fifth wheeler for mounting to a towing vehicle with a rear tray which is indicated generally by reference numeral 83.

As this fifth wheeler 83 has many structural and functional similarities to the caravan body 61 shown in Fig. 11 the same reference numerals will be used to refer to the 15 same components unless otherwise illustrated.

The fifth wheeler body 83 comprises a rear slide out 25 that forms part of a bathroom 23. When the slide out 25 is moved to the extended position the depth of the bathroom 23 is increased making it much more spacious and thereby increasing 20 the amenity thereof.

The fifth wheeler body 83 also includes a bed 21 in a bedroom region 71 towards the front body wall 5 of the fifth wheeler body 73. The body 73 has a raised region 75 towards its front body wall 5 and the bed 21 which would ordinarily be spaced above 25 the ground is conveniently mounted on the raised front region 75.

An advantage of the motor home body described above with reference to Figs. 2 to 8 is that it provides a bathroom of generous size that has quite separate spaces for the shower and the toilet. In particular the bathrooms have a generous amount of depth 30 such that they are not long and thin. Apart from conveying a feeling of spaciousness at a practical level this increased depth enables two people to use the bathroom at the same time. Another advantage is that several embodiments of the bathroom described above have two side by side basins in the vanity.

Another advantage is that the Figs. 2 to 5 embodiments have the bathroom slide out at the rear of the body. This way the floor to ceiling obstruction caused by the bathroom 561693 is positioned at the rear of the body and does not create a floor to ceiling obstruction intermediate the ends of the motor home.

A further advantage of the Figs. 7 and 8 embodiment is that the bathroom is fully 5 received within the left slide out and as a result the bathroom does not encroach on the interior space within the body shell arrangement when the slide out is in the extended position. This preserves an interior space free of floor to wall obstructions from the front wall to the rear wall on that side of the body.

A further advantage of the Figs. 2 to 5 embodiments described above is the double bed has a walk around region at the foot of the bed. It also has floor to ceiling wardrobes that are received within the right slide out in line with the bed. Consequently the wardrobe does not intrude on and encroach on the interior space within the body shell arrangement.

A further advantage of the motor homes and caravans and fifth wheelers is that the three sizeable slide outs significantly increase the space within the body of the motor home when parked at a site with the slide outs expanded into their expanded positions. The vehicle still has a compact form when being driven on the road and is 20 fairly easy to drive. It only becomes large when it is in a camping mode.

Consequently a recreational vehicle is provided that has a high level of amenity and comfort. This is particularly advantageous for affluent users of motor homes such as baby boomers who are used to living in a comfortable home. They find it particularly 25 desirable that the motor home provides a well appointed and comfortably sized bathroom.

Another advantage of the motor home described above with reference to the drawings is that it can have a manufactured weight of less than 4.5 ton consequently can be 30 licensed to be driven on a car license in Australia.

A further advantage of the rear slide out described above is that it can be easily and quickly changed from the contracted to the expanded positions. A user simply activates the linear actuators which then drive the slide outs very precisely and 35 smoothly into the desired position. 561693 It will of course be realized that the above has been given only by way of illustrative example of the invention and that all such 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 the invention as herein set forth. 561693

Claims (42)

1. CLAIMS: 5 10
2. 2. 15
3. 3. 20 25
4. 4.
5. 5. 30
6. 6. 35 A vehicle body for forming part of a vehicle or being mountable on a vehicle, the body including: body walls defining a body interior; and a slide out defining a slide out interior, that is displaceable between a retracted position in which the slide out is at least partly received within the body interior and an extended position in which the slide out projects away from the body interior, wherein the slide out includes a plurality of sanitary bathroom fixtures mounted on the slide out so that the bathroom fixtures are displaceable with the slide out. A vehicle body as claimed in claim 1, in which the slide out includes slide out walls defining the slide out interior, and in which the interior space define substantially entirely a bathroom space for the vehicle, so that the entire bathroom space of the vehicle is displaceable between the retracted and extended positions. A vehicle body as claimed in either one of claims 1 or 2, in which the slide out walls are substantially rigid and remain in their relative arrangement when the slide out is displaced between its retracted and extended positions, so that the slide out interior remains substantially unchanged when the slide out is displaced between said positions. A vehicle body as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the slide out defines an inner opening for the bathroom space that opens into the body interior for permitting access into the bathroom space. A vehicle body as claimed in claim 4, which includes an inner wall mounted on the slide out across the inner opening of the slide out, the inner wall defining a door opening for permitting access into the bathroom space, and a door mounted on the inner wall for opening and closing the door opening. A vehicle body according to claim 5, which includes a collapsible wall that can be pulled closed or pushed open in concertina fashion for permitting access to the bathroom space. 28 561693
7. 7. A vehicle body as claimed in claim 1, in which the slide out includes slide out walls defining the slide out interior, and in which the slide out interior defines substantially the entire bathroom space when it is in the retracted position, and 5 in which the slide out interior together with at least part of the space it occupies when in the retracted position define the bathroom space when the slide out is in the extended position,
8. 8. A vehicle body as claimed in claim 7, in which the slide out defines an inner 10 opening for the bathroom space that opens into the body interior for permitting access into the slide out interior.
9. 9. A vehicle body as claimed in claim 8, which includes a partition wall extending around the space the slide out occupies when in the retracted position, the 15 partition wall defining a door opening for permitting access to the bathroom space.
10. 10. A vehicle body as claimed in claim 9, which includes a door for opening and closing the door opening defined by the partition wall. 20
11. 11. A vehicle body as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, in which the bathroom fixtures are functionally operative when the slide out is in its retracted and extended positions. 25
12. 12. A vehicle body as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 11, in which the body walls include an upright body side wall defining an opening within which the slide out is received, and the slide out walls include a face wall that extends substantially parallel to the body side wall defining the opening, so that the face wall is substantially flush aligned with the body side wall when the slide out is in its 30 retracted position and spaced away from the body side wall when the slide out is in its extended position.
13. 13. A vehicle body as claimed in claim 12, in which the slide out includes a roof wall opposite a floor wall and opposing upright side walls, and the plurality of 35 bathroom sanitary fixtures being mounted on the walls of the slide out. 29 561693 10 15 20 25
14. 14. A vehicle body according to any one claims 3 to 8, in which the body walls comprise a front body wall and a rear body wall and two side body walls extending between the front and rear body walls.
15. 15. A vehicle bodyas claimed in claim 14, in which the slide out is positioned such that it extends across at least part of the rear body wall.
16. 16. A vehicle bodyas claimed in claim 14, in which the slide out extends across substantially all of the rear body wall.
17. 17. A vehicle body as claimed in claim 14, in which the slide out is positioned such that it extends across at least part of a said side body wall.
18. 18. A vehicle body as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the interior of the slide out has a depth in the direction in which the slide out is displaced to the extended position between 0.5m and 2.0m.
19. 19. A vehicle body as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the interior of the slide out has a width extending orthogonally to the direction in which the slide out is moved between the retracted and extended conditions of 2.0m to 3.0m.
20. 20. A vehicle body as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the bathroom sanitary fixtures include a shower.
21. 21. A vehicle body as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the bathroom sanitary fixtures include a vanity.
22. 22. A vehicle body as claimed in claim 21, in which the vanity is a double vanity with two hand basins side by side.
23. 23. A vehicle body as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the bathroom sanitary fixtures include a toilet. 30 69:
24. 24
25. 25
26. 26
27. 27.
28. 28.
29. 29.
30. 30.
31. 31.
32. 32.
33. 33.
34. 34.
35. 35. A vehicle body as claimed in claim 23 when dependent on claim 20, in which the shower is mounted towards one end of the face wall and the toilet is mounted towards the other end of the face wall. A vehicle body as claimed in claim 22, in which the double vanity is mounted against the face wall intermediate the ends of the face wall. A vehicle body as claimed in claim 25, which includes a water service connector extending from a water service supply on the vehicle to any one of the bathroom sanitary fixtures. A vehicle body as claimed in claim 26, further including a waste water connector extending from any one of the bathroom sanitary fixtures to a waste water disposal unit on the vehicle. A vehicle body as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 27, in which the slide out is directly or indirectly mounted on the body. A vehicle body as claimed in claim 28, in which the body comprises a support and the slide out is mounted on the support. A vehicle body as claimed in claim 29, in which the support includes a substantially horizontally extending chassis frame. A vehicle body as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the vehicle body is a motor home body or a caravan body or a fifth wheeler body. A motor home including a vehicle body as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 31. A fifth wheeler including a vehicle body as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 31. A caravan including a vehicle body as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 31. A method of providing a bathroom for a recreational vehicle having a vehicle body including body walls defining an interior, the method including: I 561693
36. 36. 10
37. 37. 15
38. 38. 20
39. 39. 25
40. 40.
41. 41. 30
42. 42. mounting a slide out defining a slide out interior on the body, so that the side out is displaceable between a retracted position in which the slide out is at least partly received within the body interior and an extended position in which the slide out projects away from the body interior; and mounting a plurality of bathroom sanitary fixtures on the slide out so that the bathroom fixtures are displaceable with the slide out. The method as claimed in claim 35, which includes mounting an inner wall across an inner opening of the slide out, the inner wall defining a door opening for permitting access into the bathroom space, and a door mounted on the inner wall for opening and closing the door opening. A method as claimed in claim 36, which includes mounting a partition wall that surrounds a space of the body interior that is occupied by the slide out when it is in the retracted position, so that the when the slide out is displaced to its extended position the bathroom is defined by the interior of the slide out and the space surrounded by the partition wall. A vehicle body substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to Figures 3 and 4. A vehicle body substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to Figure 6. A vehicle body substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to Figures 7 and 8. A vehicle body substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to Figures 11 and 12. A vehicle body substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to Figure 13. 32