NZ717800B2 - Transportable body - Google Patents
Transportable body Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- NZ717800B2 NZ717800B2 NZ717800A NZ71780014A NZ717800B2 NZ 717800 B2 NZ717800 B2 NZ 717800B2 NZ 717800 A NZ717800 A NZ 717800A NZ 71780014 A NZ71780014 A NZ 71780014A NZ 717800 B2 NZ717800 B2 NZ 717800B2
- Authority
- NZ
- New Zealand
- Prior art keywords
- floor
- edge
- projection
- wall
- projections
- Prior art date
Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 23
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000011810 insulating material Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 abstract description 38
- 238000012360 testing method Methods 0.000 description 17
- 210000001503 joint Anatomy 0.000 description 10
- 239000011152 fibreglass Substances 0.000 description 8
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 8
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 7
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 7
- 239000004411 aluminium Substances 0.000 description 7
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 description 5
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 description 5
- 238000005253 cladding Methods 0.000 description 5
- 238000007796 conventional method Methods 0.000 description 5
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- 239000005020 polyethylene terephthalate Substances 0.000 description 4
- 230000035939 shock Effects 0.000 description 4
- 241001465754 Metazoa Species 0.000 description 3
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 230000004308 accommodation Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000000356 contaminant Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000006260 foam Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000005192 partition Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 3
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 238000010521 absorption reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000010866 blackwater Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000005520 cutting process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000002498 deadly effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000013505 freshwater Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000010797 grey water Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000004793 Polystyrene Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004026 adhesive bonding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000956 alloy Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910045601 alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000002131 composite material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010411 cooking Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002283 diesel fuel Substances 0.000 description 1
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- 230000005611 electricity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000007717 exclusion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000009970 fire resistant effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002828 fuel tank Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000003292 glue Substances 0.000 description 1
- 231100001261 hazardous Toxicity 0.000 description 1
- 235000015243 ice cream Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000003698 laser cutting Methods 0.000 description 1
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- 238000005065 mining Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000465 moulding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011120 plywood Substances 0.000 description 1
- -1 polyethylene terephthalate Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920002223 polystyrene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920002635 polyurethane Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004814 polyurethane Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001681 protective effect Effects 0.000 description 1
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Classifications
-
- 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
- B60P3/36—Auxiliary arrangements; Arrangements of living accommodation; Details
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
- B62D25/00—Superstructure or monocoque structure sub-units; Parts or details thereof not otherwise provided for
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
- B62D25/00—Superstructure or monocoque structure sub-units; Parts or details thereof not otherwise provided for
- B62D25/02—Side panels
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
- B62D25/00—Superstructure or monocoque structure sub-units; Parts or details thereof not otherwise provided for
- B62D25/20—Floors or bottom sub-units
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
- B62D27/00—Connections between superstructure or understructure sub-units
- B62D27/02—Connections between superstructure or understructure sub-units rigid
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
- B62D27/00—Connections between superstructure or understructure sub-units
- B62D27/02—Connections between superstructure or understructure sub-units rigid
- B62D27/023—Assembly of structural joints
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
- B62D29/00—Superstructures, understructures, or sub-units thereof, characterised by the material thereof
- B62D29/04—Superstructures, understructures, or sub-units thereof, characterised by the material thereof predominantly of synthetic material
- B62D29/043—Superstructures
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
- B62D33/00—Superstructures for load-carrying vehicles
- B62D33/04—Enclosed load compartments ; Frameworks for movable panels, tarpaulins or side curtains
- B62D33/046—Enclosed load compartments ; Frameworks for movable panels, tarpaulins or side curtains built up with flat self-supporting panels; Fixed connections between panels
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
- B62D65/00—Designing, manufacturing, e.g. assembling, facilitating disassembly, or structurally modifying motor vehicles or trailers, not otherwise provided for
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T29/00—Metal working
- Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
- Y10T29/49616—Structural member making
- Y10T29/49622—Vehicular structural member making
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T29/00—Metal working
- Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
- Y10T29/49826—Assembling or joining
Abstract
The present invention relates to a mobile transportable body of an improved construction that does not require mechanical fasteners. The mobile or transportable body has a floor (12) and opposing side walls (14). The floor has opposing side edges having an edge profile defining a plurality of laterally extending projections (36). Each side wall lower edge has a plurality of spaced projection receiving sections (50) and the floor side edge projections (36) are received within the projection receiving sections (50) of the side walls (14). The body further includes a fixture (120) installed adjacent an inner surface of at least one side wall (14). The fixture (120) has at least one wall member (76) having a rear edge and a forward edge, and at least one projection (80) extending from the rear edge. The inner surface of an adjacent side wall (14) has a recess (82) complimentary to the projection (80) and the projection (80) is received and secured within the recess (82). erally extending projections (36). Each side wall lower edge has a plurality of spaced projection receiving sections (50) and the floor side edge projections (36) are received within the projection receiving sections (50) of the side walls (14). The body further includes a fixture (120) installed adjacent an inner surface of at least one side wall (14). The fixture (120) has at least one wall member (76) having a rear edge and a forward edge, and at least one projection (80) extending from the rear edge. The inner surface of an adjacent side wall (14) has a recess (82) complimentary to the projection (80) and the projection (80) is received and secured within the recess (82).
Description
TRANSPORTABLE BODY
FIELD
The present disclosure relates to a body that can transported on or by a motive vehicle.
The present disclosure is further directed towards a kit of panels for constructing the body
and a method of constructing the body.
The present disclosure is also directed towards an internal furniture fixture for a body that
can be transported on or by motive power, a body containing the fixture and a method of
installing the fixture.
BACKGROUND
The present disclosure will be described with particular reference to a body that can be
transported on or by motive power and that has a living and/or work space such as a
caravan or motorhome. However, it will be appreciated that no limitation is intended thereby
and the present disclosure is relevant to any suitable body that can be transported on or by
motive power.
Bodies that can be transported by motive power include those that may be referred to as
passive vehicles, self-powered vehicles or those that can be mounted and demounted from
a wheeled platform such as a truck or trailer bed.
Passive vehicles are typically mounted on a chassis with a drawbar that is used to attach
the chassis to a towing vehicle. The type of body that is built upon the chassis depends
upon the end use of the vehicle. Examples of chassis mounted bodies that can be towed
include but are not limited to caravans, food supply trailers, cold room trailers, mobile
homes, mobile accommodation barracks, site offices, site kitchens, horse floats, food
vending vans and the like.
Caravans are one of the most common towed vehicle on the roads. Caravans and other
towed vehicles can only legally be towed by vehicles having a specified towing capacity. It
is generally not possible to tow caravans with small to medium 2WD passenger vehicles.
Large 6 or 8 cylinder passenger cars and preferably 4WD vehicles are generally required
to tow caravans. It will be appreciated that in some cases, a person wishing to buy a
caravan must also have to purchase a suitable towing vehicle. This can be prohibitively
expensive or otherwise undesirable.
Towing large caravans requires a degree of skill as well as adding significantly to fuel
consumption. It is therefore desirable for caravans to have a minimum weight so that they
may be towed by less experienced drivers, experience better breaking, may be towed by
smaller vehicles and may reduce fuel consumption. Further, decreasing the weight of the
body can make available a greater amount of the payload for equipment and possessions.
However, caravans having such minimal weight are small in size with few amenities whilst
customers are demanding more comfortable caravan accommodation with more amenities,
which generally equates to larger and heavier vehicles. Caravan manufacturers,
salespersons and users understand that there is a compromise between size and comfort
and weight. There is therefore a wide spread and long felt need in the caravan industry to
reduce the weight of caravans without significantly sacrificing size and comfort.
The desirability of reducing weight for passive vehicle bodies is not limited to caravans and
is generally considered desirable for a wide range of passive vehicles including, trailer
mounted mobile offices, mobile barracks such as those used for mining camps, mobile
kitchens, mobile libraries, mobile research facilities, mobile cold rooms, mobile doctor
surgeries, mobile field hospitals, trailer homes and the like.
Self-powered vehicles have their own engine and motive power and do not need to be
towed. They typically comprise a commercial base vehicle such as a cab chassis truck
upon which a vehicle body is built or otherwise mounted. The vehicle body is suitably built
according to the end use of the vehicle. For example, a 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 and which communicates with the front seat space. The rear living
space of the motor home is fitted out with the usual living amenities that enable it to be lived
Other types of self-powered vehicles include food transport trucks and vans, prisoner
transport vehicles, refrigerated trucks and vans, ice cream vans, animal transport trucks
and utility vehicles such as fire service vehicles and ambulances.
The engines of cab chassis vehicles are designed to be able to easily carry the maximum
load carrying capacity defined by the manufacturers’ specifications. This maximum weight
is known as the Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM). The weight of the body that is built on the
chassis must be deducted from the specified pay load. It is therefore desirable to keep the
weight of the vehicle body as low as possible.
For example in many countries a truck license is required to drive a vehicle over a certain
GVM. In Australia, a light rigid truck license is required in order to drive vehicles with a
GVM over 4.5 tonne. It will be appreciated that in the motorhome industry in particular,
many motorhome drivers do not have a truck license and must obtain one before they are
able to drive a motorhome. This can be inconvenient and some drivers may not be able to
comply with stricter truck license requirements.
A very popular size of motorhome has a length of between about 24 to about 28ft (about
7.3m to about 8.5m) 26ft or about 8m. Motorhomes of this length that are conventionally
constructed have a GVM of about 5 to 5.5 tonne or more.
It has been considered a long felt but unobtainable desire in the motorhome industry to be
able to manufacture a 24 to 28ft motorhome that has a GVM of less than 4.5 tonne that
does not compromise body strength, safety, quality of fittings, comfort and maximum
loading. Maximum loading includes the full fresh water tank capacity (generally about 125
L), grey water tank capacity (about 100 L), black water tank capacity (about 38 L), hot water
service tank capacity (about 23 L), gas bottles, generator petrol tank, and fuel tank (about
75 L) plus passengers, luggage and personal effects.
Still further types of transportable bodies are those that can be removeably mounted on a
wheeled base that may be a truck or trailer bed. Transportable buildings such as those
used for remote workers’ camps or disaster relief and the like may be mounted on steel
frames known in the industry as skids. The buildings are transported to the desired site and
slid off the truck or trailer bed.
Other types of removeably mounted bodies are demountable camping bodies that can be
mounted on the trailer of a utility vehicle. The bodies may be removed when not required
for camping so that the utility vehicle can be used for other purposes.
Other transportable bodies that may be deployed to remote locations may be transported
by helicopter. Weight is a clear advantage in such applications.
Further important considerations in addition to weight for transportable bodies include
durability, strength and resistance to ingress of moisture, dust and other contaminants.
Caravans and other passive vehicles have conventionally been constructed by providing a
steel chassis, fixing a floor to the chassis and then fixing furniture cabinets to the floor.
Timber or aluminium wall frames are screwed or otherwise fixed to the rear walls of the
cabinets. Aluminium cladding is placed on the outside of the frame to form the outer side
of the wall and a cladding such as vinyl is placed on the inner side of the wall to form the
interior walls. Insulation is placed between the cladding skins. The furniture cabinets
provide some limited structural integrity to the caravan.
There are many disadvantages with this conventional type of construction. Cladding joints
and places where screws or rivets pass through the cladding allow moisture to enter the
walls. Moisture can cause a timber frame to rot and an aluminium frame to corrode.
The rivets, screws and glue are the only places where the walls are held together and which
holds the furniture and cabinets to the walls. These points are subject to constant,
vibrational, side to side and torsional forces when travelling a road and can loosen. Further,
the screws and rivets are subjected to considerable sheer forces in a collision which in many
cases causes the walls and roof to become separated. The result is at best that the contents
of the caravan are strewn over the road or at worst become hazardous projectiles.
Such disadvantages are not limited to caravans. Vehicle bodies, including self-powered
vehicles such as motorhomes that are joined together using screws and/or rivets all suffer
from the same disadvantages to varying degrees.
An alternative method of body construction suitable for passive and self-powered vehicles
such as motorhomes that addresses these disadvantages and provides considerable
advantages in terms of structural strength over conventional construction techniques is
monocoque construction. In this case, the body is formed from a single piece of fibreglass
that is self-supporting.
The monocoque construction has a number of advantages with regard to durability and
strength. There are no joints, screws, rivets or other fasteners that can work loose when
travelling on rough roads or other surfaces. The lack of joints also prevents ingress of
moisture, dust and other contaminants and also provides for distribution of shock forces
that may be experienced during a collision or accident. There are also no joints that can
shear when subject to impact forces.
However, there are a number of industry recognised drawbacks with monocoque
construction. Monocoque construction is labour intensive and expensive. Moulds must be
custom made for each body configuration. The fibreglass materials are layered onto the
interior of the moulds and resinated by hand. Generally two or more moulds are joined to
form a single piece shell and the fibreglass is then allowed to cure before being removed
from the shell.
Monocoque shells typically have rounded corners as dictated by the method of construction.
This can make it more difficult, and expensive to fit out the shell. The lack of structural
frame can also make fit out more difficult.
An alternative to monocoque construction that addresses some of the problems of
conventional motorhomes caravans and other types of transportable body construction as
discussed above is to construct the body from panels having foam insulation sandwiched
between fibreglass skins. Such panels are known in the art as sandwich panels. The
panels are lightweight, strong and provide good insulation. The panels are provided in pre-
formed lengths that can be accurately cut to size and shape thereby doing away with
conventional, labour intensive fibreglass moulding techniques.
Sandwich panels may be conveniently and accurately cut using saws, routers or drills.
Windows and doorways can also be accurately cut into the panels.
Methods of constructing vehicle bodies from sandwich panels use mechanical fasters,
adhesives or a combination of both to join the panels together. Such construction methods
may suffer from the same disadvantages as discussed above in relation to conventional
body building. Screws, rivets, adhesives or other fasteners are subject to vibratory forces
during use and can become loose. Loose joints are also subject to forces experienced by
screws and/or rivets during normal use and during an accident that may subsequently lead
to structural failure. Corner joints where walls are joined to the floor are butt joints that are
glued together and inherently have low strength. Further it is also difficult to make butt joints
square.
Further, conventional methods of joinery can allow ingress of moisture and dirt and dust.
This is exacerbated as joints loosen during use and in particular on rough and uneven roads.
Periodical maintenance and servicing is necessary.
It is therefore desirable to provide an alternative method of construction of a body that can
be transported on or by a motive vehicle.
SUMMARY
According to a broad aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a body that can be
transported on or by a motive vehicle, the body having a floor, a front, a rear end, opposing
side walls and a roof:
wherein the floor and each side wall are each formed from at least one panel;
the floor has opposing side edges, each side edge having an edge profile defining a plurality
of laterally extending projections;
each side wall has an upper edge and a lower edge and each side wall lower edge has a
plurality of spaced projection receiving sections that are complimentary to and receive the
floor side edge projections so as to engage the side walls with the floor.
In another aspect there is provided a mobile or transportable body that has a living and/or
work space and can be moved or transported by motive power, the body having a floor,
front and rear ends, opposing side walls and a roof. The floor and each side wall are each
formed from at least one panel. The floor has opposing side edges, each side edge having
an edge profile defining a plurality of laterally extending projections. Each side wall has an
upper edge and a lower edge and each side wall lower edge has a plurality of spaced
projection receiving sections located towards the lower edge, the floor side edge projections
are received within the projection receiving sections of the side walls so as to engage the
side walls with the floor. The body further includes a fixture installed adjacent an inner
surface of at least one side wall, wherein the fixture has at least one wall member having a
rear edge and a forward edge, and at least one projection extending from the rear edge,
the inner surface of an adjacent side wall has a recess complimentary to the projection and
the projection is received and secured within the recess.
The body may be mounted or built upon a wheeled base. The wheeled base may be a
vehicle of the cab chassis type that is self-powered. The body mounted on the wheeled
base may include a motorhome, delivery van, animal transport vehicle, mobile shop,
ambulance or the like.
Vehicles of the cab chassis type suitably include a front cabin that includes a driver’s seat.
The front cabin may be open to the interior of the body to allow internal access between the
cabin area and the body. Alternatively, there may be a rear cabin wall that closes off access
between the front cabin and the body. In this case, the body may further include a front wall
at the front end that sits behind the rear wall of the cabin.
The wheeled base may also be a chassis of a passive vehicle that may be towed. The body
may include a front wall that may be contoured or otherwise shaped so as to provide an
aerodynamic shape in the direction of travel.
The transportable body may also be removeably mounted onto a truck or trailer bed and
transported between sites where it may be deployed on site. The floor may be supported
on a steel frame known as a skid.
The body of the present disclosure may be moved or transported by motive power. Motive
power is generally automotive power such as a car or truck motor. However, other types of
power such as train engine power, helicopter or other air transport are not excluded.
The wall and floor panels may be formed from any material or materials that are suitable for
the intended purpose of the body and which can be cut or otherwise formed with the desired
floor edge profile or projection receiving sections in the side walls.
In many applications such as caravans, motorhomes, refrigeration vehicles, food trucks,
classrooms or any application that may house humans, animals, or refrigerated vans, it is
desired that the body is insulated. Suitable insulated panels are of the sandwich type in
which an insulating foam is housed within opposed skins or webs. The skins may be of any
suitable material such as fibreglass, aluminium, wood or the like.
Suitable insulating foam includes polystyrene, polyurethane and polyethylene terephthalate
(PET). Of these PET is preferred as it is fire resistant and when it does burn does not
release toxic gasses.
Alternative panel materials include solid timber or composites such as plywood. In one
aspect, the floor may be made from a timber material and the walls from a sandwich panel
material.
Suitably, each wall and floor are formed from a single panel. This would generally be the
case for applications such as caravans, motorhomes, food vans and the like. However, for
some applications, where it is desired to have longer side walls, the walls and/or floor may
be comprised of more than one panel. Examples of such applications include classrooms
and mobile accommodation trailers. In these cases, the adjoining edges of panels in the
same plan, i.e. adjacent floor panel or adjacent side wall panels may have complimentary
interlocking profiles.
The body also includes a roof. Suitably the roof is also formed from at least one panel. The
roof may have recesses that may receive vertically extending locating projections or tabs
on the upper edge of the side walls.
The floor panels have a series of projections spaced along the opposed side edges that are
received by the projection receiving sections that are located towards the lower edges of
the opposing side walls. The floor panel side profile may be cut using known automated
cutting techniques.
The projection receiving sections may be in any suitable configuration or size relative to the
projections so that the wall and floor may be joined together.
In one aspect of the disclosure, the projection receiving sections are apertures that extend
fully through the side walls. In this case, the projections in the floor are suitably dimensioned
such that their length substantially corresponds to the width of the side walls. In this way,
the ends of the projections are flush with the outside of the side walls and the interior surface
of the side walls abuts the recessed edges of the floor between the projections. The bottom
edge of the side walls may therefore extend below the level of the floor.
In this arrangement, the ends of the projections may be visible from the outside of the body.
If desired, a cover may be placed along the lower edges of the side walls so as to hide the
projections. The cover may also provide an additional structural strength to lower part of
the body and/or assist in protecting the lower part of the body from abuse from stone chips,
scratches and minor collisions. The cover plate may be formed from a material that can
protect the wall panel from such abuse such as aluminium plate known in the art as checker
plate.
The projection receiving sections may be also form part of a lower edge profile of the side
walls. In this case the profile suitably has a neck portion adjacent the projection receiving
section for engaging the side walls relative to the floor against vertical forces. Depending
upon the manner in which the projection receiving portions are cut or otherwise formed, it
may be more efficient or otherwise desirable to form an edge profile rather than discrete
apertures.
In a further aspect, the projection receiving sections of the side walls may be in the form of
grooves, slots or recesses that do not extend fully through the side walls. In this case, the
projections are suitably dimensioned such that their length corresponds to the depth of the
recess so as to provide a snug fit within the recess. Further, the ends of the projections are
not visible from the outside surface of the side walls. A protective cover as discussed above
may also be provided to protect the lower part of the wall against damage.
The projections and projection receiving sections are suitably configured so as to provide a
snug fit. The side walls are engaged with the floor by moving the walls laterally so that the
projections are engaged by the side walls. When so engaged, it will be appreciated that the
side walls are restricted from movement in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the body
and in particular the forward direction. Such movement is restricted without the application
of any external or additional fixing means such as screws or rivets. It will be appreciated
that in the event of a collision, the walls are securely held to the floor by the engagement
between the floor projections and the projection receiving apertures of the walls against
movement in all directions except for laterally outwards away from the floor. In practice, in
a collision or roll over, caravan walls are seldom subjected to an outward force.
The body suitably also has a rear end wall. Depending upon the use of the body, the end
wall may be fixed to the floor in the same or similar manner to that in which the side walls
are engaged with the floor. Suitably in this case, the rear edge of the floor also has a profile
having a series of laterally extending spaced projections and the rear wall has a lower edge
with spaced apertures towards the edge thereof and the apertures or recesses receive the
projections so as to join the rear wall to the rear end of the floor. Alternatively for other
applications, the rear wall may be pivotally connected to the floor so as to provide a rear
ramp to the body or pivotally connected to the side walls so as to provide an entrance door
or doors.
For motorhome construction, each side wall (or rear wall) may also include a slide out. Slide
outs are understood to mean a portion of a vehicle that can be displaced outwardly when
the vehicle is in a camping mode and is not being driven around whereby to create a larger
interior space within the vehicle. The slide out may be mounted on a side wall or a front
rear wall of the vehicle and the vehicle may have more than one slide out.
According to a further aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a kit for assembling a body
that can be transported by or on motive power, the body having a floor, a front end, a rear
end opposing side walls and a roof:
wherein the kit comprises at least one floor panel, at least one side wall panel and at least
one other side wall panel;
wherein the or each floor panel has opposing side edges, each side edge having a profile
with a plurality of laterally extending spaced projections;
each side wall panel has an upper edge and a lower edge and a series of spaced projection
receiving sections located towards the lower edge;
wherein the spaced projections receiving sections are configured to receive the projections
such that the walls are engageable with the floor.
The present inventor has surprisingly and unexpectedly discovered that a motorhome body
constructed according to the present disclosure enables a significant weight reduction when
compared to conventionally constructed motorhomes without compromising on strength
and in fact improved structural strength is observed.
Suitably a motorhome so constructed with a length of between about 324ft and about 28ft
(about 7.3m to about 8.5m) will have a GVM of 4.5 tonne or less.
According to a further aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a method of assembly of
a transportable body that can be transported by motive power, the body having a floor,
opposing side walls and a roof, the method comprising providing at least one floor panel, at
least one side wall panel and at least one other side wall panel:
wherein the or each floor panel has opposing side edges, each side edge having a profile
with a series of spaced projections;
each side wall panel has an upper edge and a lower edge and a series of spaced projection
receiving sections located towards the lower edge;
wherein the projections on the floor edges are complimentary to the projection receiving
sections;
mounting said wall panels to said side edges of the floor panel(s) by inserting the projections
into the projection receiving sections.
Vehicle bodies as broadly disclosed herein are generally fitted with cabinets, appliances,
furniture or other fittings, depending upon the end use of the vehicle. It is important that
these fittings are firmly secured to the vehicle body to resist coming loose as a result of
normal travelling on roads, heavy braking or collision.
As explained in the background section, in conventional caravan construction, the cabinets
are fixed to the floor and frame. With sandwich panels, there is no frame to fix the cabinets
to. Cabinets are mounted to the walls by conventional joinery techniques. This requires
skilled labour and accurate measurements in the confined space. Conventional joinery
techniques are subject to the same stresses caused by vibration when travelling on roads,
and in the event of collision or accident.
In many cases, cabinets and cupboards hold heavy items. Examples include kitchen
cupboards in caravans, mobile kitchens and motorhomes that may carry or hold saucepans,
microwaves and other heavy cooking items. The fixtures are subject to constant forces
when the body is moving. Forward forces are experienced when braking, rear force when
accelerating and sideways forces when cornering, and forces experienced on undulating,
rough and/or cambered roads. These forces can weaken or loosen the attachments of
fixtures to the body.
In the event of a sudden brake or accident, the effective weight of an object can increase
to 20 times or more as a result of the G forces that are experienced. This can result in
cabinets and fixtures becoming disengaged with subsequent damage of the fixtures and
contents. Still further, disengaged cabinets, fixtures and/or other cabinet contents can
become extremely dangerous projectiles in the event of an accident.
Still further, appliances such as televisions, microwaves and refrigerators are fixed to the
cabinets. The added weight of these appliances means that the effective weight in the
event of an incident may be many hundreds of kilos.
It is generally accepted by safety authorities that fittings in a vehicle such as a motorhome
must be capable of withstanding a force of 20 times their weight without being detached.
The force is measured by a test known as a static pull test in which the fitting is attached to
a cable or chain and subjected to an applied force. The pull test is designed to simulate the
forces experienced in a crash and does not require destruction of the vehicle. Pull tests are
standard in the vehicle industry for testing seat belts and seat anchor points.
In practice, it has been observed that it is not practically possible to construct a transportable
body with fittings that meet the 20 times their weight criteria. The present inventor has
observed that for many motorhomes currently on the roads the fittings fail when subjected
to a force of much less than 20 times their weight. The net result of this is that appliances
such as microwaves, televisions and the like may become deadly projectiles in the event of
a collision or other incident.
The present inventor has also addressed this problem by providing an arrangement in which
a fixture may be mounted or fitted to an interior wall of a body of sandwich panel construction
such that the fixture is more resistant to coming loose and/or shearing away from the wall
in an accident.
According to a further aspect of the disclosure there is provided a body of sandwich panel
construction, the body comprising a floor and opposed side walls and at least one fixture
adjacent to one interior side wall; wherein the fixture has at least one wall member having
a rear edge and at least one projection extending from the rear edge, and the internal wall
has a recess complimentary to the projection such that the projection is received and
secured within the recess in the interior side wall.
The body of this aspect of the disclosure may be any suitable body of sandwich panel
construction. Suitably, the body is one that is constructed according to the first aspect of
the disclosure, although this is not essential.
However, it has also been surprisingly discovered that by combining the presently disclosed
methods of installing and constructing fixtures with the method of forming the body as
described above, the fixtures assist in further strengthening the body.
The recess in the interior wall can suitably be accurately cut using conventional techniques
such as a lathe, laser cutting, water cutting and the like, prior to construction of the body. It
will be appreciated that it is not possible to use such techniques to cut recesses into the
walls of a single shell monocoque body.
The fixture may be any suitable fixture having a wall member that is suitably fitted to a body
of a mobile vehicle. Such fixtures include but are not limited to kitchen cabinets, cabinets
to which kitchen appliances such as ovens, stove tops, microwaves and refrigerators are
mounted, pantries, cupboards, bed bases, bedside tables, bookcases, shelving, wardrobes,
bathroom cabinets, cabinets to which laundry appliances are mounted such as dryers and
washing machines, and the like.
The term wall member refers to any vertical structural member of the fixture and includes
an outer wall, or inner partition walls. Suitably the wall member is an outer wall.
The wall member has a rear edge with a projection that is received within a corresponding
recess in the adjacent interior wall. The advantages of this arrangement include that the
wall member is positively engaged with the wall itself. In order for the fixture to break free
from the wall and move forwards during an accident when travelling, the projection would
need to shear from the main wall member body.
The projection may be of any suitable size or configuration. There may be more than one
projection received by one or more than one recess.
Suitably, there is a single projection that extends along the rear edge of the wall member
with a length that is between about 20% to about 80%, suitably between about 30% to about
70%, suitably between about 40% to about 60% of the length of the wall member.
Another advantage of this aspect is that the recess in the internal wall, provides an accurate
means of aligning the fixtures with respect to the internal wall during installation. It will be
appreciated that in vehicle bodies, such as motorhomes and caravans, space is at a
premium and it is important that all fixtures are installed and fitted in correct alignment with
respect to each other. Accurately measuring and aligning of fixtures along an internal wall
takes time, requires skilled personnel and adds to construction costs.
Suitably the wall member of the fixture has a bottom edge that is also configured to be
engaged by the floor of the body in which case the bottom edge of the wall member has a
downwardly extending projection that is received by a corresponding recess in the floor.
This arrangement provides still further support in the event of forces generated during an
abrupt stop or collision. It will be appreciated that fixtures to which heavy items such as an
oven or refrigerator are mounted can considerably increase their effective weight when
subject to G forces generated during a sudden brake or upon impact.
A wall mounted fixture such as an overhead cupboard having a top edge that abuts a ceiling
or roof may further include an upwardly extending projection that is received by a
corresponding recess in the roof.
The fixture may have one or more internal partition walls which may or may not include
projections as per the outer walls.
The fixtures may suitably be able to withstand a force of twenty times their weight without
becoming detached from the walls. More suitably, the fixtures will not become detached
when articles of heavy weight such as microwaves, refrigerators, microwaves, washing
machines are fixed thereto or heavy items are stored therein.
According to a further broad aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a kit for use in the
construction of a mobile or transportable body having a floor and opposing side walls, the
kit including at least one body side wall that in use has an inner and an outer wall surface,
at least one fixture wall member having a rear edge and a front edge and a projection
extending from the rear edge, wherein the inner wall surface has a recess complimentary
with the projection such that the projection is receivable within the recess so as to engage
the fixture wall member with the inner wall surface.
According to a further broad aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a method of installing
a fixture in body having an inner wall surface, the method including providing a fixture with
at least one wall member having a rear edge and a front edge and a projection extending
from the rear edge, providing the inner wall with a recess complimentary with the projection
and placing the projection of the wall member into the recess in the inner wall surface so as
to engage the fixture wall member with the inner wall surface.
According to yet a further aspect there is disclosed a mobile or transportable body that can
be moved or transported by motive power, the body having a floor, front and rear ends,
opposing side walls and a roof;
wherein the floor and each side wall are each formed from at least one panel;
the floor has opposing side edges, each side edge having an edge profile defining a plurality
of laterally extending projections;
each side wall has an upper edge and a lower edge and each side wall lower edge has a
plurality of spaced projection receiving sections located towards the lower edge, the floor
side edge projections are received within the projection receiving sections of the side walls
so as to engage the side walls with the floor and which further includes fixture installed
adjacent an inner surface of the or each side wall, wherein the fixture has at least one wall
member having a rear edge and a forward edge, and at least one projection extending from
the rear edge, the inner surface of the adjacent side wall has a recess complimentary to the
projection and the projection is received and secured within the recess.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a view of a kit of parts for the assembly of one embodiment of vehicle body of
the present disclosure;
Figure 2 is a schematic perspective open in line for assembly view of the vehicle body of
Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a view of a further kit of parts for the assembly of a further embodiment of vehicle
body of the present disclosure;
Figure 4 is a schematic open in line for assembly view of a further preferred vehicle body of
the present disclosure;
Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of a section of a preferred body showing the
method of mounting a fixture to an internal wall according to an alternative embodiment of
the disclosure;
Figure 6 is a top plan view of the fixture shown in Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a front view of the fixture shown in Figure 5; and
Figure 8 shows an exploded perspective view of the fixture shown in Figure 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
Figure 1 shows a kit 10 of parts for a preferred caravan body of the present invention. The
kit 10 has a floor 12, a driver’s side wall 14, a passenger side wall 16, a rear end wall 18
and a roof 20. (The front end wall is not shown).
Each of the floor 12, side walls 14, 16 and roof 20 are formed from a single insulated
sandwich panel having fibreglass outer skins and an inner insulation layer of PET.
The floor 12 has opposed side edges being a driver’s side edge 22 and a passenger side
edge 24. Each side edge 22, 24 has a cut out 26 for receiving a wheel arch. The passenger
side edge 24 has an additional cut out 28 for receiving steps that lead up to a doorway 32
in the passenger side wall 16. The floor 12 also has a rear edge 34.
Each side edge 22, 24 and rear edge 34 of the floor 12 has a series of spaced projections
36. Between the projections 36 are recesses 51. The width of the recesses 51 is about the
same width as the projections 36.
The driver’s side wall 14, passenger side wall 16 and rear wall 18 each have a lower edge
and an upper edge, respectively 38, 40, 42, 44, 46 48. Each lower edge, 38, 42, 46 has a
series of spaced apertures 50, separated by land portions 49. The apertures 50 are
dimensioned to be complimentary to and be able to snugly receive projections 36 on the
floor.
The land portions 49 between the apertures 50 are also complimentary to the recesses 51
in the floor edge profile.
Some of the recesses 51a have a vertical slot 52 in the rear thereof. The slot 52 may allow
the passage of electrical wires or other suitable service connections to pass up or down
through the floor.
During construction of the body 10, the walls 14, 16 are vertically aligned with the floor and
pushed towards the floor side edges so that the projections 36 are snuggly received within
apertures 50. The side walls 14, 16 are secured in place on the floor using a suitable
adhesive and/or screws. It may be appreciated that the physical engagement between the
floor and walls provides a positive engagement. Further there is intimate contact between
the floor and the wall along the full length of the floor and wall.
The rear wall 18 is similarly joined to the rear edge 34 of the floor 12.
It may be appreciated that the walls are securely held in place along their full length with
respect to the floor. There is intimate and positive contact between the floors and the walls
along the full length thereof. This has led to a number of surprising advantages.
First, it will be appreciated that the vibrational forces that are experienced during road travel
can cause loosening of screws and other conventional methods of attachment. The
vibrational stresses are borne by the connectors. However, in the arrangement as shown
in the figures, vibrational forces are transmitted between the floor and the side walls and
absorbed thereby. Such shock absorption may be found in fibreglass monocoque
construction. However, the disclosed panels and construction method is significantly less
labour intensive, and more cost effective than monocoque construction.
Further, the projections and apertures provide for extremely accurate alignment during
construction. This can also reduce construction time and thus lead to a decrease in labour
costs.
Still further, in the event of an accident or collision, in order for the walls to separate from
the floor, each one of the floor projections must be sheared. It will be appreciated that the
likelihood of this happening is extremely low.
After the walls have been joined to the floor, the roof is placed on the walls and adhered
thereto. An aluminium bracket corner that extends along the full length of the wall is used
to further secure the roof to the walls.
Figure 2 is a schematic view of the body showing how the projections 36 on the floor 12
align with the apertures 50 in the side walls 14, 16. It may be seen that the apertures 36
are visible from the outer side of the side wall 16. This may be covered by an aluminium
cover plate or the like. The cover plate may also serve to protect the lower part of the outer
wall from damage.
Figure 3 shows a kit of parts for another embodiment of a vehicle body. The same reference
numerals will be used to refer to the same items as shown in Figures 1 and 2. In Figure 3
the side walls 14, 16 have an alternative arrangement for the shape of projection receiving
sections 54. In this case, the sections 54 form part of the lower edge profile of the walls 14,
16. The profile has a neck portion 55 below a projection receiving section 54. The neck 55
serves to retain the projections in place within sections 54.
The upper edges 40, 44 of the side walls 14, 16 have vertically extending projections 56
and the rear edges have rearwardly extending projections 60. The roof 20 sits on the upper
edges 40, 44 of the side walls 14, 16 as per a conventional butt joint arrangement. The
recesses 58 however receive projections 56 which serve to locate the roof 20 on the walls
14, 16 during construction. The rear projections 59 serve a similar purpose to locate the
rear wall (not shown).
Figure 4 shows a schematic view of a still further body 9 of the disclosure. In this case, the
projection receiving portions 50 are recesses rather than through apertures and do not fully
extend through the walls 14, 16. The outside of the walls are flush and there is a clean line
to the lower section of the outer side walls.
The manner in which the side walls are fixed to the floor makes the join and thus the body
significantly stronger than when simply screwed together according to traditional methods.
This means that the body does not rely upon the chassis for structural strength, an
advantage previously found only in monocoque construction. This allows the chassis to be
built with less strength and therefore less weight.
Further, the body does not rely upon mechanical fasteners to hold the panels together.
Mechanical fasteners are subject to loosening when subject to vibration and other stresses.
On the other hand, in the body constructed as shown in the Figures, there are no fasteners
to loosen. Further, because of the intimate contact between the projections and the
apertures in the walls, vibrational forces are transferred, distributed away from the point of
contact and are absorbed by the panels. This is similar to the transfer of shock, stress and
the like through a single monocoque shell but without the disadvantages and expense of
monocoque construction.
Further still, because of the intimate contact between the panels, there are no traditional
types of joins that allow for ingress of moisture, dust or other contaminants.
In other words, the present inventor has developed a solution to the problems of monocoque
construction without significantly compromising the advantages thereof.
A further advantage of this method of construction is that the walls can be joined to the floor
in square alignment with the floor. This can lead to a considerable decrease in construction
time together with higher levels of accuracy.
The panels may be manufactured remote from the assembly site and transported thereto.
Figure 5 shows a wall and fixture in the form of a base cabinet assembly 120 ready for
installation into the vehicle body 10 as shown in Figure 1. The base cabinet assembly 120
is a base for a kitchen cabinet.
The front and plan views of the finished, installed and completed kitchen cabinet are shown
in Figures 6 and 7. The kitchen cabinet 122 has a top bench 62 into which is installed a
cook top 64 and a kitchen sink 66 according to conventional kitchen installation. A bench
work area 65 is located between the cooktop 64 and sink 66. An oven 68 is mounted below
the cooktop and below the oven is a drawer 70. Four drawers 72 are mounted below the
work bench 65. A storage area 74 is located beneath the sink 66 that includes two wire
baskets that are slidably mounted on rails. The storage area is closed by a door that is
mounted on the base cabinet 60 (not shown).
Returning to Figure 5, the base cabinet assembly 120 has two outer walls 76, 78 and two
inner partition walls 90, 92. The outer walls 76, 78 each have a projection 80 extending
from the rear edge of the walls 76, 78. The rear edge of wall 78 cannot be seen, but it has
the same rear edge profile as wall 76.
The interior of the caravan side wall 14 has a pair of vertical recesses or slots 82. The
projections 80 and slots 82 are dimensioned such that the projections 80 can be comfortably
and snugly received within slots 82. This secures the wall members against vibration
relative to the wall and provides for a transfer of energy and shock absorption between the
wall members and the caravan walls.
Further, it will be appreciated that any slidable movement of the base cabinet assembly 120
in the direction of forward travel shown by arrow A is resisted by the engagement of the
projections 80 in the slots 82. In the case of a collision where significant forces are
generated (in the order of 10 to 20G) in order for the base cabinet to break free, the
projections would have to shear from the main body portion of the sidewall that it forms part
thereof.
The lower edges of each outer wall 76, 78 also have a projection 84 extending downwardly
therefrom. These projections are received within complimentary recesses or slots 86
located in the body floor 12. In this way, the walls 76, 78 of the cabinet base are further
secured in place against sliding in the direction of forward travel indicated by arrow A. They
are also secured against sideways movement in the direction of arrow B. Sideways forces
may occur in a collision, jack-knifing or if the caravan overturns.
The projections 80 and 86 are glued into place within the respective slots 80, 86. It will be
appreciated that the surface area of end walls 76, 78 available for adhesive contact is more
than conventionally gluing the edges to the face of the wall or floor as per conventional
method of installation.
The lower part of the rear edges of walls 76, 78 have a scalloped section 88. This section
88 provides for service duct access through which services such as electricity, gas and
water may pass or flow.
Figure 8 shows the base cabinet 120 in an exploded view. It may be seen that the walls
90. 92 do not extend fully back so as to abut the wall 14 of the body. It is not necessary to
the operation of the cabinet that they do so and reducing the size of the walls where possible
can reduce the overall weight of the finished cabinet. Further the walls 90, 92 have
apertures 93, which may further reduce the weight.
Outer wall 76 and inner wall 90 define the space that receives the oven 68. A shelf 94 upon
which the oven is mounted is supported between the walls 76, 90. The side walls of shelf
94 have two outwardly extending tabs 96 that are received within complimentary recesses
98 in the walls, thereby securing the shelf in place.
The space defined between the inner walls 90, 92 contains the four drawers 72 that are
mounted on rails as per known means.
The space between walls 92 and 78 support the sliding wire baskets. A door (not shown)
is hingedly attached to end wall 78.
The fixture includes two upper support rails 100, 102. The rails hold the walls in position
with respect to each other and support the bench top 65. The support rails and upper edges
of the walls are configured for interlocking engagement. The support rails add still further
to the strength of the overall structure.
A 26ft (8m) motorhome constructed in accordance with the above was determined to have
a GVM of 4.5 tonne. This is the maximum laden mass of the vehicle. The GVM takes into
consideration the maximum capacity of the fresh water tank (125L, grey water tank (100L),
black water tank (38L), LPG gas bottles, diesel fuel tank (75L), luggage, personal effects
and occupants.
A motorhome having the same length and manufactured according to conventional
techniques with conventional cabinetry and fittings has a GVM in the order of 5.5 tonne.
Pull tests
Pull tests are used to simulate a crash, with the pull simulating the forward force that would
be experienced in a crash. The fixture to be tested is subjected to a pulling force applied at
a certain rate of pull and force. The pull force may be applied to a pre-set limit or to failure.
In a motorhome, appliances such as televisions, microwaves, washing machines and the
like may become deadly projectiles in the event of a crash.
It is estimated that the G force experienced in a crash is up to 20G. A typical television
weighs about 5kg which equates to a force of 100kg at 20G. A 5kg television was bolted to
the top of interlocking cabinet work as described above in accordance with an aspect of the
disclosure. The television was subjected to a pull test and remained attached with a pull
force of over 120kg was applied.
By comparison, a pull test on a television fixed to a motorhome cabinet constructed
according to conventional motorhome cabinetry construction required a pull test force of
only 35 to 40kg to detach the television.
A similar test was conducted with a microwave with a weight of 12.5kg. The television was
subjected to a pull test and remained attached when a pull force of over 285kg was applied.
By comparison, a pull test on a 12.5kg microwave fixed to a motorhome cabinet constructed
according to conventional motorhome cabinetry construction required a pull test force of
less than 120kg to detach the microwave.
When larger convection microwave ovens are installed in the cabinetry as disclosed herein,
an alloy plate is provided under the microwave which stops the retaining bolts pulling
through the board and increases the retention strength to 345kg.
(This is just under 300% stronger than traditional construction methods).
Motorhome refrigerators range from 41kg for a 120L unit up to 73kg for a 220L refrigerator.
The requisite 20G pull force is therefore 1,560kg. Traditional cabinetry construction
methods limits the retaining force to under 800kg
A pull test on a 73kg refrigerator fixed to cabinetry described showed that the refrigerator
remained attached when a pull force of over 1,700kg is applied.
A similar test on a 15kg washing machine showed that the washing machine remained
attached when a pull test of 400kg is applied.
It may be appreciated that the fixture assembly having one or more projections allows the
fixture to positively engage the wall and floor of the body. This provides for a much stronger
engagement than with conventional adhesives and mechanical fasteners such as screws,
bolts, brackets and the like. It also provides for very accurate alignment of the fixture with
respect to the wall. It will be appreciated that in small spaces such as caravans there is
very little tolerance for a fixture to be incorrectly located along a caravan wall. This ease of
location also makes assembly easier, thereby reducing labour and construction costs.
Still further, when the disclosed fixtures are installed in a body as disclosed herein the
fixtures add further to the strength of the vehicle. It is believed that the intimate contact
between the projections of the fixtures and the walls allows for dissipation of forces
experienced during normal traveling, travelling over rough terrain and in the event of a
collision or other extreme force.
In the present specification and claims the term “comprising “ shall be understood to have
a broad meaning similar to the term “including” and will be understood to imply the inclusion
of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other
integer or step or group of integers or steps. This definition also applies to variations on the
term “comprising” such as “comprise” and “comprises”.
It will be appreciated that various changes and modifications may be made to the
disclosures as disclosed and claimed herein without departing for the spirit and scope
thereof.
Claims (19)
1. A mobile or transportable body that has a living and/or work space and can be moved or transported by motive power, the body having a floor, front and rear ends, opposing side walls and a roof; wherein the floor and each side wall are each formed from at least one panel; the floor has opposing side edges, each side edge having an edge profile defining a plurality of laterally extending projections; each side wall has an upper edge and a lower edge and each side wall lower edge has a plurality of spaced projection receiving sections located towards the lower edge, the floor side edge projections are received within the projection receiving sections of the side walls so as to engage the side walls with the floor and which further includes a fixture installed adjacent an inner surface of at least one side wall, wherein the fixture has at least one wall member having a rear edge and a forward edge, and at least one projection extending from the rear edge, the inner surface of an adjacent side wall has a recess complimentary to the projection and the projection is received and secured within the recess.
2. The body of claim 1 that further includes a rear end wall, the floor has rear edge with a profile having a plurality of spaced projections and the rear wall has a lower edge with spaced projection receiving sections that are in engagement with the projections on the rear edge of the floor.
3. The body of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the at least one panel that is of the sandwich type in which an insulating material is housed within opposed skins.
4. The body of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each of the side walls and floor are formed from a single panel.
5. The body of claim 4, wherein the roof lies on top of upper edges of the side walls, the side walls have vertically extending projections, and the side edges of the roof have recesses that receive the vertically extending projections.
6. The body of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the projection receiving sections are apertures that extend fully through the respective side wall.
7. The body of claim 6, wherein the projections have a length and are dimensioned such that their length substantially corresponds to the width of the wall such that the ends of the projections are flush with the outside of the wall and the interior of the wall abuts the recessed edges of the floor between the projections.
8. The body of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the projection receiving sections are recesses that do not extend fully through the walls.
9. The body of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the projection receiving sections form part of the lower edge profile of the wall.
10. The body of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the body is mounted on a frame.
11. The body of claim 10, wherein the frame is a chassis of a passive vehicle that can be towed.
12. The body of claim 11, wherein the body is a body of a caravan.
13. The body of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the body is the body of a self-powered motorhome.
14. The body of claim 13 having a length of between about 24ft and about 28ft (about 7.3m to about 8.5m) and a GVM of 4.5 tonne or less.
15. The body of claim 14, wherein the fixture has an appliance fixed thereto and the fixture is capable of withstanding a force of at least 20 times the combined weight of the fixture and the appliance without becoming detached from the wall.
16. A kit when used for the assembly of a mobile or transportable body of claim 1, wherein the kit comprises at least one floor panel, at least one side wall panel and at least one other side wall panel; wherein the or each floor panel has opposing side edges, each side edge having a profile with a plurality of laterally extending spaced projections; each side wall panel has an upper edge and a lower edge and a series of spaced projection receiving sections located towards the lower edge, wherein the spaced projections receiving sections are configured to receive the projections such that the walls are engageable with the floor and which further includes a fixture for installation adjacent an inner surface of at least one side wall panel, the fixture having at least one wall member having a rear edge and a forward edge, and at least one projection extending from the rear edge, the inner surface of an adjacent side wall has a recess complimentary to the projection and the projection is received and secured within the recess.
17. A method of assembly of a mobile or transportable body of claim 1, the method comprising providing at least one floor panel, at least one side wall panel and at least one other side wall panel; wherein the or each floor panel has opposing side edges, each side edge having a profile with a series of spaced projections; each side wall panel has an upper edge and a lower edge and a series of spaced projection receiving sections located towards the lower edge, wherein the projections on the floor edges are complimentary to the projection receiving sections; mounting the at least one floor panel to the frame and mounting said wall panels to said side edges of the floor panel(s) by inserting the projections into the projection receiving sections and providing a fixture with at least fixture one wall member having a rear edge and a front edge and a fixture projection extending from the rear edge, providing the inner side wall panel with a recess complimentary with the fixture projection and placing the fixture projection of the fixture wall member into the recess in the inner side wall surface so as to engage the fixture wall member with the inner wall surface.
18. The body of claim 1, wherein the lower edge of at least one wall member has a downwardly extending projection that is received by a corresponding recess in the floor.
19. The body of claim 1, wherein the upper edge of the wall member includes a projection projecting upwards from the upper edge of the wall member that is received by a corresponding recess in the roof.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU2013903482A AU2013903482A0 (en) | 2013-09-11 | Transportable body | |
AU2013903482 | 2013-09-11 | ||
PCT/AU2014/000900 WO2015035455A1 (en) | 2013-09-11 | 2014-09-11 | Transportable body |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
NZ717800A NZ717800A (en) | 2020-11-27 |
NZ717800B2 true NZ717800B2 (en) | 2021-03-02 |
Family
ID=
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