AU2005244571B2

AU2005244571B2 - A method and apparatus for securing doors and/or drawers within an interior space of a motorhome

Info

Publication number: AU2005244571B2
Application number: AU2005244571A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Colin Maclean
Original assignee: Paradise Motor Homes Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Paradise Motor Homes Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2004-12-17
Filing date: 2005-12-16
Publication date: 2013-09-12
Anticipated expiration: 2025-09-01
Also published as: AU2005244571A1

Abstract

A locking apparatus 1 for automatically locking all the doors and drawers in a 5 motor home is disclosed. The apparatus 1 comprises a plurality of locking members each of which is associated with a door or drawer and movable between an open and closed position. Each locking member comprises an active latching formation 30, which moves and an associated passive latching formation 32, which is stationary and which engages the active latching 10 formation 30 when in the closed position. Some active latching formations 30 define hooks and these are used to lock drawers. Other active latching formations 56 define pins and these are used to lock swinging doors and the like. The apparatus 1 also includes moving means in the form of servos 25 for physically displacing, or moving, each of the active latching formations 30, 54 15 between the open and closed positions. The servos 25 are operatively coupled to an electric circuit that is also coupled to an electrical supply, e.g. in the form of a battery. The apparatus 1 further includes control means in the form of a relay movable between an open position in which the electrical circuit is open and a closed position in which the circuit is closed. The control means also 20 includes operatively coupling the relay to the ignition system so that the latching formations are locked automatically when the ignition is turned on. The control means may also include a manual override for manually switching the relay between the open and closed positions even when the ignition key is turned on.

Description

1 A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SECURING DOORS AND/OR DRAWERS WITHIN AN INTERIOR SPACE OF A MOTORHOME 5 FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a method of securing doors and/or drawers of cabinet type fittings within an interior space of a motorhome. The invention also extends to an apparatus for securing doors and/or drawers of cabinet type fittings within a motor home. 10 DEFINITIONS In the specification 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 15 or step or group of integers or steps. This definition also applies to variations on the term "comprising" such as "comprise" and "comprises". BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Caravans and motor homes are widely used types of vehicles in contemporary 20 Australian society. Caravans and motor homes comprise broadly a vehicle body that is mounted on wheels that can travel on a public road, and that also contain amenities for being lived in. The vehicle body of a motor home defines an interior space that contains a front seat region and a living region behind the front seat region. The living region typically has a kitchen area, a living area, a sleeping area and a toilet/bathroom area. 25 These areas might have cabinet type fittings that include cupboards and cabinets having cabinet frames and doors and/or drawers mounted on the cabinet frames. The doors provide access to the interior of the cabinet type fittings. The drawers are used for the storage of items within the cabinet type fittings. 30 Caravans and motor homes are road going vehicles and therefore undergo regular changes in direction while they are being driven on public roads, e.g. when the vehicle turns around a corner. These changes in momentum have the tendency to cause the doors and drawers of the cabinet type fittings to fly open. Each door or drawer is typically provided with some latching system to latch or hold the door or drawer in the 2 closed position and resist its tendency to fly open. However, each door or drawer needs to be individually clicked into the latched or retained position with a manual action for it to be held or retained in the closed position. There are individual latching mechanisms on each of the doors and drawers, and each door or drawer needs to be 5 individually latched in the closed position when the vehicle is taken onto the road. It is a time consuming chore to manually check each door or drawer every time a vehicle is used and it would be far better if this did not need to be done. Clearly therefore there are drawbacks in existing latching systems for doors and 10 drawers in caravans and motor homes, of which the Applicant is aware. While most doors and drawers are equipped with individual retaining mechanisms on each door which need to be manually latched each time the vehicle is used in a driving mode to avoid a situation where the doors or drawers fly open. Further even if manual latching is carried out the doors and drawers may not be latched securely or they may not be 15 latched at all in which case the doors and drawers can still fly open. Clearly it would be advantageous if a vehicle body could be devised that ameliorated at least some of these drawbacks. 20 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a method of securing articles stowed within cabinet type fittings within an interior living space of a motor home, the cabinet type fittings having a cabinet frame and at least one cabinet door and/or drawer mounted on the cabinet frame for providing access to cabinet interiors 25 within the cabinet type fittings, the method including: locking the cabinet doors and/or drawers in a closed position using a central locking apparatus when the motor home is travelling on the road in a travelling mode to hold the door/s and/or drawer/s against moving to an open position due to changes in momentum during travel and thereby resist articles stowed within the cabinet type 30 fittings from moving in an uncontrolled fashion; and unlocking the cabinet door/s or drawer/s using the central locking apparatus when the motor home ceases to be in the travelling mode to enable a user to open the cabinet 3 door/s and drawer/s for gaining access to the cabinet interiors when the motor home is being used in a camping mode, wherein the central locking apparatus includes: at least one actuating means having an actuating element that is movable 5 between a retracted position and an extended position, at least one locking arrangement operatively associated with each cabinet door or drawer to be locked, that is operatively connected to the actuating means, each locking arrangement responding to a movement of the actuating element between the retracted and extended positions, and 10 a control means for actuating each actuating means to move the actuating elements between the retracted and the extended positions, locking the cabinet door/s and drawer/s in a closed position includes using the control means to initiate a locking actuation of each actuating means in response to sensing that the motor home is in the travelling mode, which causes each locking arrangement 15 to lock the door/s and drawer/s. Unlocking the cabinet doors and drawers may include using the control means to initiate an unlocking actuation of each actuating means in response to sensing that the motor home is no longer being used in the travelling mode, and the unlocking actuation 20 may cause each locking arrangement to unlock the door/s and drawer/s. Initiating the locking actuation of each actuating means may include moving the actuating element between the retracted and extended positions in one direction, and initiating an unlocking actuation may include moving the actuating element between the 25 retracted and extended positions in an opposite direction. The control means may initiate actuation of each actuating means in response to an ignition system of the motor home being switched on or an engine of the motor home being switched on. Further the control means may initiate actuation of each actuating 30 means in response to sensing of a movement of the vehicle across a ground surface on which it is mounted.

4 The actuating means may include a solenoid actuator having a coil and a plunger and the actuating element may be the plunger. Activating each actuating means to move the plunger between the retracted and extended positions may include electrically energizing the coil of the solenoid actuator. 5 Locking the cabinet doors or drawers in a closed position may include moving each actuating element from the retracted to the extended positions, and unlocking the cabinet doors and drawers may include moving each actuating element from the extended to the retracted positions. 10 According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a motor home that is can be changed between a travelling mode in which it is suitable for being driven on a road and a camping mode in which it is suitable for providing living accommodation, the motor home including: 15 a vehicle body defining an interior space; at least one cabinet type fitting mounted on the vehicle body within the interior space having a cabinet frame and at least one cabinet door or drawer mounted on the cabinet frame that is capable of being moved between an open and a closed position; a locking apparatus mounted on the cabinet type fitting or the vehicle body for locking 20 at least one of the cabinet doors or drawers in the closed position including: at least one actuating means mounted on the cabinet frame or the vehicle body, having an actuating element that is movable between a retracted position and an extended position; a locking arrangement operatively associated with each cabinet door or drawer 25 that is operatively connected to the actuating means, the locking arrangement responding to a movement of the actuating element to lock the cabinet door/s and/or drawer/s in the closed position; and a control means which initiates a locking actuation of each actuating means to move the actuating element between the retracted and the extended positions to 30 lock the door and/or drawers in the closed position when the motor home is in the travelling mode, and which also initiates an unlocking actuation of each 5 actuating element between the retracted and extended positions in an opposite direction to the locking direction to unlock the door or drawer when the motor home is in the camping mode. 5 Each actuating element may be moved in one direction to lock the door and/or drawers in the closed position, and each actuating element may be moved in an opposite direction to unlock the door and/or drawers. Each locking arrangement may comprise an active latching formation on the cabinet 10 frame that is operatively connected to the actuating element and moves with the actuating element from the retracted position to the extended position, and a passive latching formation on the cabinet door or drawer. The active latching formation may engage the passive latching formation to lock the associated cabinet door or drawer in the closed position. 15 The at least one cabinet type fitting may comprise a cabinet frame and a plurality of drawers each of which is capable of being moved between an open and a closed position. Each drawer may have a locking arrangement operatively connected thereto which locks the drawers in response to a locking actuation of each actuating means. 20 The locking arrangement may include an active latching formation that is a hook formation and a passive latching formation that is configured for effecting a retaining engagement with the hook formation. The at least one cabinet type fitting may include a cabinet frame and at least one door 25 pivotally mounted on the cabinet frame which is capable of being pivoted on the cabinet frame between an open and a closed position. The door may have a locking arrangement operatively connected thereto which includes an active latching formation that is a locking barrel, and a passive latching formation that is configured to define an opening for receiving the barrel therein in a retaining manner. 30 The locking apparatus may be operatively connected to a plurality of cabinet doors and/or drawers, and the control means may initiate a locking actuation of each of the actuators to simultaneously lock the plurality of cabinet doors and/or drawers. The control means may also initiate an unlocking actuation of each of the actuators to 35 simultaneously unlock the doors and/or drawers.

6 The control means may be operatively coupled to an ignition system or engine of the motor home so that each actuating means effects a locking actuation to lock the doors and drawers in response to the ignition system or engine of the motor home being 5 switched on. Each actuating means may effect an unlocking actuation to unlock the doors and drawers in response to the ignition system or engine of the motor home is switched off. The control means may be operatively coupled to a movement sensor which senses 10 when the motor home is moving over the ground so that each actuating means effects a locking actuation to lock the doors and/or drawers in response to the movement sensor sensing movement of the motor home over the ground. Further each actuating means may effect an unlocking actuation to unlock the doors and/or drawers in response to the movement sensor sensing that the motor home is not moving over the 15 ground. Each actuating means may be a solenoid actuator including a coil and a plunger and the actuator element may be the plunger. The plunger may be displaced relative to the coil when the coil is electrically energized. 20 The control means may include an electrical circuit that is operatively connected to each solenoid actuator, and electrical current may be passed through the coil of each solenoid actuator in one direction to displace the plunger to the extended position. An electrical current may be passed through the coil of each solenoid actuator in another 25 direction to displace the plunger to the retracted position. The at least one cabinet type fitting may have a plurality of drawers and at least one door, and each of the plurality of drawers and at least one door may be operatively connected to the locking apparatus and be simultaneously locked by the locking 30 members in response to a locking actuation of each actuating means, and each of the plurality of drawers and at least one door may be simultaneously unlocked by the locking members in response to an unlocking actuation of each actuating means. According to yet another aspect of this invention there is provided a motor home that 35 can be interchanged between a travelling mode in which it is suitable for being driven 7 on a road and a camping mode in which it is suitable for providing living accommodation, the motor home including: a vehicle body defining an interior space; a shower located within the interior space, the shower comprising a shower frame and 5 a shower door mounted on the shower frame that is capable of being moved between an open and a closed position; and a locking apparatus a locking apparatus mounted on the cabinet type fitting or the vehicle body for locking the shower door in the closed position, including: an actuating means having an actuating element that is movable between a 10 retracted position and an extended position; a locking arrangement operatively associated with the shower door that is operatively connected to the actuating means, the locking arrangement being operable to lock the shower door in the closed position in response to movement of the actuating element; and 15 a control means which simultaneously initiates a locking actuation of the actuating means to move the actuating element between the retracted and the extended positions to lock the shower door in the closed position when the motor home is in the travelling mode, and which initiates an unlocking actuation of the actuating element between the retracted and extended positions to 20 unlock the shower door when the motor home is in the camping mode. For a vehicle that includes a vehicle body defining an interior space, the vehicle body including at least one cabinet type fitting mounted on the body within the interior space having a cabinet frame and at least one door or drawer mounted on the cabinet frame 25 that is capable of being moved between an open and a closed position, there is provided a method of locking the at least one door or drawer including: producing one control action when the at least one door or drawer is required to be locked and another control action when the at least one door or drawer is required to be unlocked; 8 activating at least one actuating means to move an actuating element between its retracted and extended positions in response to the one and other control actions; and moving one or more locking arrangements by the movement of the actuating element 5 whereby to lock a door or drawer which is associated with the actuating element in the closed position or to unlock the door or drawer. The method may include producing another control action when the at least one door or drawer is required to be unlocked; and activating at least one actuating means to 10 move the actuating element between its retracted and extended positions in response to the other control action whereby to unlock the door or drawer. The method may include producing one control action in response to an ignition system of the vehicle being switched on, or in response to a movement of the vehicle on a 15 surface on which it is mounted. Instead the method may include producing one control action in response to a manual switching action. Activating at least one actuating means to move an actuating element between its retracted and extended positions may include energizing a solenoid actuator having a 20 coil and a plunger. Producing the one and other control actions may include generating control signals from a central control and sending the control signals to the at least one actuating means to activate the actuating means. 25 According to yet another aspect of this invention there is provided an apparatus for automatically locking a plurality of movable doors and drawers of cabinet type fittings mounted on a vehicle body, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of locking members, each said locking member being associated with one of 30 said plurality of doors or drawers of cabinet type fittings that are mounted on the body and movable between open and closed positions, each locking member being movable between a locked position in which it positively holds the door or drawer in the closed position and a release position in which it does not interfere with movement of the door or drawer; 9 an actuating means for physically moving each said locking member from the release to the locked position and then back to the release position, said moving means being operatively coupled to said plurality of locking members; and 5 a control means for causing the moving means to physically move the locking members into the locked position and also back to the release position in response to predetermined events and/or on demand. Thus each of the doors and drawers has a locking member associated therewith that is 10 moved to the locked position to lock the door or drawer when caused to do so by the central control means, e.g. when a vehicle is taken onto the road and it is desirable to lock all doors and drawers. The control means might do this on demand, or automatically, in response to a signal that the vehicle is about to be taken onto the road such as turning the ignition key. Thus, a centralised locking system is used to 15 automatically lock all the doors and drawers in the locked position at the same time. The means for moving the locking members may include at least one solenoid actuator that is operatively coupled to an electric circuit that can be energised. Each said solenoid actuator may include a coil and an actuator element that is a plunger in an 20 operative spaced relation to the coil providing the mechanical movement to physically move an associated locking member. In this specification the term servo, armature and plunger of a solenoid shall all be understood to mean a plunger of a solenoid. Thus, the solenoid actuator acts to extend the servo or plunger thereof to an extended 25 position when current flows through the coil in one direction and retracts the plunger to a retracted position when current flows through the coil in an opposite direction. The movement of the plunger is transferred to the associated locking member/s to move it to the locked or the release position, as the case may be. 30 Each locking member may comprise an active latching formation mounted on a cabinet frame of a cabinet type fitting and a complementary passive latching formation mounted on the door, or drawer of the cabinet type fitting. The active latching formation engages the passive latching formation to lock the doors and drawers and is withdrawn from the passive latching formation to unlock the doors and drawers. 35 10 Specifically the plunger or servo may be operatively connected to the active latching formation, either directly or indirectly, in such a way that linear displacement of the plunger produces a corresponding movement in the active latching formation. 5 At least one of the active latching formations may include a hook portion towards one end thereof. The active latching formation may be pivotally mounted to the cabinet frame and be pivoted in one direction into the locking position in which the hook portion is engaged with the passive latching formation. The active latching formation may also be pivoted in an opposite direction out of engagement with the passive latching 10 formation. One or more active latching formation may have passive latching formations of complementary configuration to the hook portion for engaging the hook portion, e.g. with a snug fit with a close tolerance, such that the two are securely engaged with each 15 other. Each cabinet type fitting may comprise a cabinet frame on which the door and/or drawer is mounted. 20 The active latching formation may be pivotally mounted to the cabinet frame. The active latching formation may have a pivot point and the hook formation may be located on one side of the pivot point and the plunger of the solenoid actuator may be driveably connected to the active latching formation on the other side of the pivot point. Thus, a movement of the plunger pivots the active latching formation in one direction and then 25 pivots the active latching formation back in the other direction. The features of the locking member described above describe the latching type mechanism for locking sliding drawers in the locked position. An alternative mechanism for holding pivotal doors in the locked position will be described below. 30 One or more active latching formations may comprise a pin or barrel mounted on a cabinet frame that can be displaced in an axial direction into locking engagement with a complementary passive latching formation on the door. The passive locking formation may be an aperture or opening defined in the door or a formation associated with the 35 door within which the locking pin or barrel can be received to lock the door. To unlock 11 the door the locking pin or barrel is simply withdrawn from the opening permitting the door to pivot. Thus, this type of locking member can be used to lock a pivotal door in the locked position. 5 The plunger or servo may be operatively coupled to at least one active latching formation, by means of a link that transfers the axial to and fro movement of the plunger to the link and then through to one or more active latching formations that are barrels. 10 Optionally the link can be used to operatively couple a single said solenoid actuator to a plurality of active latching formations, e.g. located at spaced intervals along the link. This way a single solenoid actuator and thereby a single solenoid plunger can be used to lock a plurality of locking members. This might be used for example where there is a plurality of drawers one on top of each other in a cabinet and each of the drawers 15 needs to be locked. Preferably the solenoid actuators are connected to the electrical circuit of the control means in parallel. This causes the plungers of the solenoid actuators to extend and retract in unison. This provides for simultaneous locking and release of the locking 20 members through a single control means which is one of the features of this invention. The control means or control arrangement may comprise means for directing current in one direction through the solenoids, e.g. a switch when it is desired to move the locking members to the locked position and for directing the current in an opposed direction 25 through the solenoids when it is desired to move the locking members to the unlocked, or release position. The control means may comprise one switch that can be arranged to direct current in one direction through the circuit and another switch that can be arranged to direct 30 current through the circuit and solenoids in an opposite direction. The control means may also include two relays. In one switch position the current is passed through the solenoid in one direction causing the plunger of each solenoid actuator to move to the extended position and 35 cause its associated locking member to lock the door or drawer in the locked position.

12 The current can be passed through the circuit and the solenoid actuators in an opposite direction causing the plungers to move back to their retracted positions. This moves the locking members in an opposite direction which unlocks the doors and drawers. 5 One switch of the control means may include a manual control switch that is manually moved by an operator. The other switch of the control means may include a vehicle control switch that is operatively associated with an ignition system of the vehicle or a starter motor of the vehicle. Instead the vehicle control switch can be operatively associated with a handbrake of the vehicle. Yet further instead the vehicle control 10 switch can be a sensor that senses any movement of the vehicle or senses when the wheels of the vehicle start rotating or turning. Thus the vehicle control switch may be activated to move the locking members to the closed position when the vehicle engine is started, the ignition system is switched on or the starter motor is energised. The vehicle control switch may also respond to a release of the handbrake prior to travel of 15 the vehicle or it may respond to turning of the wheels of the vehicle. In one embodiment of the invention which the applicant has found to be very useful, the vehicle control switch is operatively coupled to the ignition system of the vehicle. The vehicle control switch causes electrical current to flow through the circuit when the 20 ignition switch is turned on and this turn causes the plungers on each of the solenoids to move to the extended position. On the other hand, the manual switch can be used by a user to change the direction of electrical current through the electrical circuit and thereby the direction of current 25 through the coils of each of the solenoid actuators. This causes the plungers on each solenoid to move to the retracted position which causes the locking members to unlock the doors and drawers. The manual switch can be used if a person wants to access a cupboard while the 30 vehicle is travelling on the road. This feature enables the person to quickly unlock the doors and drawers, open the doors and drawers to get what they want and then lock them again. The manual switch also provides a means for unlocking the locking members when the vehicle is stopped after travelling on the road.

13 In some embodiments of the invention the control means may comprise only a manual switch that is switched by a user to move the plungers of all the solenoid actuators to the extended position when the doors and drawers need to be locked. The user can then switch the manual switch again to release the locking members when the doors 5 and drawers no longer need to be locked. This is a more rudimentary form of the invention but it still includes a central locking all the doors and drawers of cabinet type fittings in response to a central control signal when locking is required and is just as efficacious. 10 According to yet another aspect of this invention there is provided a vehicle body comprising: a floor and a wall extending circumferentially around the floor, the floor and wall defining an interior space; a plurality of cabinet type fittings in the interior space mounted to the body wall and/or floor, each cabinet type fitting having a cabinet frame and at least one moving door or 15 drawer mounted on the frame, the door or drawer being movable between an open and a closed position to provide access to the interior of the fitting/s; a plurality of locking members, with one of the locking members being mounted on each door and/or drawer, each locking member being movable between a locked position in which it positively holds each door or drawer in the closed position and a 20 release position in which it is operable to unlock the doors and drawers to permit them to be opened; an actuating means including an actuating element that is moveable from a retracted to an extended position and back again, for physically moving each said locking member from the release to the locked position and then back to the release position that is 25 operatively coupled to said plurality of locking members; and a control means for causing the actuating means to physically move the actuator element to the extended position and displace the locking member to lock the doors and drawers. 30 The vehicle body may be a motor home body or a caravan body. The locking members may comprise active latching formations mounted on a cabinet frame of the cabinet style fitting and complementary passive latching formations 14 mounted on the door or drawer for engaging the active latching formations in the locked position and for being detached from the active latching formations in the release position. 5 The vehicle body may include a shower door within the interior space of the body that is movable between an open and a closed position and is locked in the closed position by the locking apparatus. The vehicle body may have at least one door and at least one drawer that are locked 10 by said locking members. The door may be a door of a cupboard. The at least one drawer may be a plurality of drawers forming a set of drawers within a cabinet of a kitchen cupboard. The at least one drawer may also be a general storage drawer and it may also be a drawer for clothing in a bedroom area of the body. 15 Where the body includes a cabinet and one or more drawers mounted on the cabinet the body may further include a compression strut, e.g. a gas strut, extending between a point on the cabinet and a point on the drawer, e.g. such that the strut extends in the direction of movement of the drawer between the open and closed positions. 20 The gas strut will displace the drawer into the fully open position once it is extended beyond a threshold position towards the open position. Further, it will hold the drawer in the open position. Correspondingly if the drawer is opened a small distance but not up to this threshold position, then the gas strut will push the drawer back into the closed position and hold it in the closed position. 25 Thus, the gas strut helps to ensure that the associated drawer is either in the fully open or fully closed position and not somewhere in between. This helps to ensure that all the drawers are in the fully closed position when the locking members are activated and again this helps to make sure all the locking members engage properly. The gas 30 strut also helps to reduce rattling and movement of the associated drawer, particularly during movement of the body, e.g. travel of the vehicle on the road. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A vehicle that is a motor home having a vehicle body with a locking apparatus in 35 accordance with this invention may manifest itself in a variety of forms. It will be 15 convenient to hereinafter provide a detailed description of one embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. 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 practice. It is to be clearly understood, however, 5 that the specific nature of this detailed description does not supersede the generality of the preceding statements. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of a motor home and vehicle body in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; 10 Fig. 2 is a three dimensional view of cabinet type fitting having a set of drawers on the vehicle body of Fig. 1 with details omitted for clarity, showing a set of active latching formations of a central locking apparatus in a release position where the drawers are unlocked; 15 Fig. 3 is a side view of the cabinet type fitting and set of drawers of Fig. 2 again with the latching formations in a release position where the drawers are unlocked; Fig. 4 is a side view of the cabinet type fitting and set of drawers of Fig. 2 showing the 20 active latching formations engaged with passive latching formations so that the drawers are locked; Fig. 5 is a three dimensional view of part of the vehicle body of Fig. 1 showing one cabinet type fitting that is a pivotal door having a central locking apparatus including a 25 barrel type active latching formation in a release position with the door unlocked, and another cabinet type fitting that is a cabinet type fitting with a set of drawers having active latching formations that are hook formations; and Fig. 6 is a circuit diagram which schematically illustrates the central locking apparatus 30 on the vehicle body of Fig.1. Fig. 1 shows a schematic plan view of a layout of a motor home indicated herein by numeral 1 having a vehicle body or motor home body 2 containing fittings usually found in a motor home. 35 16 The vehicle body 2 is mounted on wheels having a floor and a roof that are interconnected by an outer wall or peripheral side wall that defines an interior space. The interior space is broadly divided up into a front seat region and a living region that is rearward of the front seat region. 5 The living region is fitted out with the amenities that make it suitable for being lived in. For example the living region includes: a kitchen area 3, a bathroom area 4, a living area 5 and also a sleeping area 6. In each of these areas the body 2 is equipped with a number of fittings to make that area suitable for being lived in. These fittings include 10 cabinet type fittings 12 including cupboards and/or cabinets with a cabinet frame 13 having sliding drawers mounted on the cabinet frame 13. For example one type of cabinet type fitting 12 includes a set of sliding drawers 10 arranged one on top of each other mounted on the cabinet frame 13. Another type of cabinet type fitting includes a door 14 pivotally mounted on the cabinet frame 13 by means of a hinge. The vehicle 15 body 2 also includes fittings having a full length door, such as a shower door mounted on a shower frame or an access door mounted on a door frame providing access through an internal partition wall. Fig. 2 shows a cabinet 12 comprising a set of vertically stacked sliding drawers 10 20 each of which is mounted on the cabinet frame 13. Such a cabinet 12 might be found in a bedroom or kitchen area of the vehicle body 2. Each of the drawers 10 is capable of sliding between an open position in which the drawer 10 projects out of the cabinet frame 13 and a closed position in which the drawer 10 is received within the cabinet frame 13 and it is not possible to access the contents of the drawer 10. 25 The vehicle body 2 is fitted with a central locking apparatus 15 that enables the drawers 10 of the cabinet 12 to be securely locked in the closed position whenever the motor home 1 is put or interchanged into a travelling mode for being taken onto the road. The locking apparatus also enables the drawers to be unlocked whenever the 30 motor home is parked and is interchanged back into a camping mode in which it can be used to provide camping accommodation. Broadly the locking apparatus 15 comprises a plurality of actuating means, a plurality of locking arrangements, and a control means that is a control arrangement for controlling the actuating means and the locking arrangements. Each of these components will be described in detail below. 35 17 Each actuating means is mounted on the vehicle body 2 and specifically the cabinet frame 13. Each actuating means is in the form of a solenoid actuator 25 having a coil 24 and an actuating element that is a plunger 26 that is moved between a retracted and an extended position relative to the coil 24. 5 Each door or drawer of a cabinet type fitting that is to be locked has a locking arrangement that is operatively associated therewith comprising an active latching formation and a passive latching formation. The active latching formation is operatively connected to an actuating means so that it is displaced by movement of the plunger 26 10 between the retracted and the extended positions. The locking arrangement for locking each of the doors/drawers 10 in the closed position is movable between a locked position (Fig. 4) in which it positively locks the door/drawer in the closed position against movement to the open position and also a 15 release position (Figs. 2 and 3) in which the door/drawers are unlocked and can be freely moved between the open and closed positions. The locked position of the locking arrangement corresponds to the extended position of the plunger 26 and the unlocked position corresponds to the retracted position of the plunger 26. 20 The control means is a central control arrangement that simultaneously activates each of the actuating means to move its actuator element 26 from the retracted to the extended position to lock the doors and drawers in the closed position when the motor home is in the travelling mode. It also moves the actuator elements 26 back to the retracted position to unlock the doors 14 and drawers 10. The control means includes 25 an electrical circuit 28, a power supply for energising the control means, and switching arrangements for causing current to flow through the electrical circuit 28 in different directions. The solenoid actuators 25 are electrically connected to the electrical circuit 28 and the 30 flow of current through the circuit 28 in one direction causes the plungers 26 to be extended and to move the locking arrangements to lock the doors and/or drawers. The flow of current through the circuit 28 in a reverse direction causes the plungers 26 on the solenoid actuators 25 to move the other way causing the locking arrangements to release the doors and/or drawers. The direction of flow of current through the circuit 28 18 is controlled by an arrangement of relays and switches as will be described in more detail below with reference to Figure 6. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 2 to 4 each locking arrangement, which is indicated 5 by numeral 16, comprises an active latching formation 30 that is pivotally mounted to the cabinet frame 13 and a complementary passive latching formation 32 that is mounted on the associated drawer 10 in a fixed position such that it does not move at all relative to the drawer 10. The active latch formation 30 includes a hook portion towards one end thereof and the passive latching formation 32 defines a 10 complementary engagement surface for engaging the hook portion with a close tolerance. Each active latching formation 30 is pivotally mounted to the housing 12 about a broadly central pivot point 38. The hook portion of the active latch formation 30 is 15 positioned on one side of the pivot point 38 and an opposed portion of the active latching formation 30 is positioned on the other side of the pivot point 38. The opposed portion is indirectly coupled to the plunger 26 of the solenoid 25. Thus, movement of the plunger 26 displaces the opposed portion of the active latching formation 30 and this in turn, causes the latching formation 30 to pivot about the pivot point. 20 As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the plunger 26 can be operatively coupled to the active latching formation 30 by means of a linkage 40 that transmits the displacement of the plunger 26 to the active latching formation 30. The linkage 40 is pivotally mounted to the opposed portion of the active latching formation 30 and displacement thereof 25 moves the active latching formation 30 into engagement with the passive latching formation. Further, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 the linkage may be used to couple a plurality of active latching formations 30 to the same plunger 26 so that they are actuated by a single solenoid actuator 25. 30 In use the active latching formations 30 are moved from the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 to the position shown in Fig. 4 by the flow of electric current through the solenoid actuators 25. A flow of current in one direction causes the plungers 26 to be extended, e.g. move upwardly. This displacement is transferred to the active latching formations 30 to pivot the active latching formations 30 into engagement with the passive latching 35 formations 32 as shown in Fig. 3. In this position the drawers 10 are locked in the 19 closed position and cannot fly open even when induced to do so by a change in direction of the motor home 1. A flow of current through the electrical circuit 28 in an opposite or reverse direction displaces the plungers 26 of each of the solenoid actuators 25 are displaced back to their retracted positions. This causes the locking 5 arrangements 16 to unlock the drawers 10 and permit them to be opened by a user. Fig. 5 shows a hinge mounted door and a locking arrangement which is indicated generally by reference numeral 50, that is suitable for locking the door 14 in its closed position. It also shows a set of drawers 10 like those in Figs. 2 to 4. The locking 10 arrangement 50 comprises an active latching formation in the form of a barrel 54 mounted on the cabinet frame 13 and a passive latching formation in the form of an aperture 56 sized and positioned for receiving the barrel 54 to lock the door 14 against pivoting into its open position. The barrel 54 is moved from a position where it is free of engagement with the aperture 56 to a position where it is received within the aperture 15 56 and engaged therewith by a simple axial movement of the barrel 54. This is provided by a movement of the plunger 26 on the associated solenoid actuator 25 from its retracted to its extended position. In use, the barrel 54 is operatively coupled to the plunger 26 so that displacement of 20 the plunger 26 to the extended position in the manner described above is transmitted directly through to the barrel 54. This produces a corresponding linear displacement in the barrel 54 which moves the barrel 54 axially forward through the opening 56 and locks the door 14. Conveniently a separate solenoid actuator 25 may be used to actuate each barrel 54 locking member 50 that is used to lock a pivotal door 14. 25 In the locking apparatus 15 described above with reference to drawings 2 to 5, the solenoid actuators 25 of the locking apparatus 15 are all connected in parallel to the same electric circuit 28. As such they are energised together and simultaneously move the locking arrangements 16, 50 into the locked position together. 30 Fig. 6 shows the circuit diagram of the locking apparatus 15. The operation of the control means to effect movement of the plungers 26 of the solenoid actuators 26 between the retracted and extended positions to lock and unlock the doors 14 and drawers 10 will be discussed below. 35 20 The illustrated circuit 28 has two relays to pass current through the solenoid actuators 25 in one direction when they are in one position to move the plungers 26 to the extended positions (locked position). The relays can be positioned in another position to reverse the direction of current through the solenoid actuators 25 and move the 5 plungers 26 to their retracted position (release position). The control means also has two switches which are operatively connected to the electrical circuit 28. One switch is a manual switch 75 and the other switch is a vehicle control switch which is operatively connected to an ignition circuit of the motor home 1. 10 When the driver turns the ignition switch on to energise the electrical systems of the motor home 1 the first relay 60 is displaced to electrically close terminals 63 and 64 that are normally open. At the same time two terminals 64 and 65 which are normally closed are now opened by the movement of the relay 60. This causes current to flow from the power supply 68 through the terminals 63, 64 through to the solenoid 15 actuators 25 and back to the supply to complete the circuit. This moves the active latching formations 30 shown in the earlier drawings into positions where they are engaged with the passive latching formations 32 to lock the drawers and doors 10 and 14. The second relay which is indicated generally by reference numeral 70 has terminals 71 and 72 in the normally closed configuration that remain in the normally 20 closed configuration. The two terminals 72 and 73 that are normally open stay in the normally open position. This way current flows through the relay 70 and completes the circuit 28. Similarly when the manual switch 75 is moved upwards it has the same effect of 25 passing current through the first relay 60 to connect or close normally open terminals 63 and 64 and this opens the terminals that are normally closed. Current flows through the solenoid actuators 25 causing the plungers 26 to move to the extended position locking the drawers 10 and doors 14. 30 To move the plungers 26 in the opposite direction the manual switch 75 is moved down causing current to flow in the opposite direction through the circuit 28. The current moves the terminals 72 and 73 that are normally in an open position into the closed position and terminals 71 and 72 that are normally closed are moved to the open position. This causes current to flow from the power supply, through the lower leg of 35 the circuit, through the solenoid actuators 25 and back through the upper leg of the 21 circuit 28. The terminals 64 and 65 in the relay 60 that are normally in the closed position remain in this closed position. This reverses the flow of current through the coils of the solenoid actuators 26 and moves the plungers to the retracted positions. This unlocks the doors 14 and drawers 10 on the cabinet type fittings 13 in the motor 5 home body 2 so they can be opened by a user. In another embodiment of the locking apparatus that has not been illustrated, a different technique is used for moving the plungers of the solenoids Into the locked position, and then back out of the locked position. 10 The plungers of the solenoids are moved in one direction to engage the active latching formations 30 with the passive latching formations 32 by an electric pulse of direct current that is sent through the electric circuit. This locks the locking system which locks the doors and drawers. 15 To unlock the doors and drawers the active latching formations have to be retracted from their engagement with the passive latching formations. To do this a second pulse of direct current is sent through the electric circuit. The direction of the second pulse of current through the coil is reversed and this has the effect of moving the active latching 20 formations in an opposite direction. That is it unlocks the doors and drawers. This system or technique of operating solenoids using pulses of current to advance and then retract the plungers is well known in the art of using solenoids for locking and will not be described further in this specification. 25 In use the motor home I can be interchanged between a travelling mode in which it is suitable for being driven on the road as a vehicle, and a recreational or camping mode when it is parked off the roads. In the travelling mode the vehicle is suitable for being driven on the road like any other motor vehicle to provide transport on public roads 30 between locations. In the camping mode the vehicle is set up for recreational or camping use in which it provides living accommodation.

22 For example In the camping mode the motor home can be parked at a camp site and set up to be lived in as a small self-contained temporary home. When in the camping or recreational mode it is not necessary to lock the doors 14 and drawers 10 against 5 flying open. In fact, this would be inconvenient because users will want to gain access to the drawers 10 and cupboards. In this mode the locking arrangements are in the release position and do not interfere with movement of the drawers 10 and doors 14. However when the motor home 1 is to be taken onto the roads and driven on the road 10 in the travelling mode it is desired to have all the doors 14 and drawers 10 locked In the closed position. When the driver turns on the ignition, current passes through the solenoid actuators 25 in a direction that causes the plungers 26 to move to the extended position and this displaces all the locking arrangements simultaneously and automatically into the locked position shown in Figs. 3 and 4. 15 The locking arrangements remain in the locking position while the ignition is switched on to lock the doors and drawers in the travelling mode. As a result, when the motor home turns a corner, e.g. at speed and there is a change in momentum, the locking arrangements or members retain the doors 14 and drawers 10 in the closed position 20 and hold them against flying open. When the motor home 1 is taken off the road and parked it is interchanged into the camping mode. This interchange to the camping mode occurs when the ignition is switched off and the flow of current is reversed to move the plungers 26 of the solenoid 25 actuators 25 In an opposite direction to their retracted positions. This displaces all the locking arrangements 16, 50 simultaneously to a release position where the doors 14 and drawers 10 are unlocked enabling them to be opened by users. The manual switch 75 enables a driver to use the control means to open the circuit 28 30 when the motor home 1 is being driven on the road and the ignition is on. This enables a user for example to open a drawer or cupboard door 10 or 14 while the motor home 1 is being driven, if this is required. This also enables the user to also lock all the 23 drawers and doors 10 and 14 again when they have finished accessing the door/drawer. In another embodiment that has not been illustrated in the drawings, each of the 5 drawers 10 has a compression strut, which Is a gas strut extending between the drawer 10 and the support or cabinet 12 on which the drawer 10 is mounted. The gas strut moves the member to either the open or closed positions so that it is either fully open or fully closed and does not rest in some stationary intermediate setting. This feature enhances operation of the locking arrangements because it ensures that the 10 passive latching formation 32 on the drawer 10 is always in the correct position to receive the active latching formation 30. It thus enhances the engagement of the individual locking arrangements and thereby the overall efficacy of the locking apparatus. Further, the gas struts also assist in reducing rattling of the drawers 10 when the motor home is being driven on a road. 15 An advantage of the apparatus described above Is that it provides a centralised locking arrangement for locking all the doors and drawers on the cabinet type fittings on the vehicle body before the motor home is driven onto the road. Further, in the illustrated embodiment it does this automatically without any operator involvement. The central 20 locking apparatus will remove the burden of users having to carefully check each door and drawer to see that It is fully latched each time they take the motor home I onto the road. This removes a menial and laborious task from the normal use and operation of the motor home and makes life easier for motor home users. It also helps to avoid incidents where the doors or drawers fly open because they have not been latched 25 properly or someone has opened a door after the standard check has been conducted. These incidents often lead to the contents of a drawer being spread over the floor of a motor home and are messy and time consuming to clean up. Further these incidents can cause damage to a motor home such as a chipped floor or a chipped or dented fitting. 30 The prior art latching systems for doors and drawers do not ensure that the doors and drawers of caravans and motor homes are securely held in the closed position when the caravan or motor home is taken onto the road. While most doors and drawers are 23A equipped with a latching system of some sort they rely on the doors and drawers being manually latched one at a time. Furthermore a fairly time and effort Intensive checking procedure needs to be carried out each time the vehicle is taken onto the road. Yet further, even if a check is carried out, there is a risk that it has not been done perfectly 5 and one or more doors or drawers have not been properly latched or retained. Yet further there is also a risk that someone has opened a door or drawer subsequent to the final check being carried out before the vehicle goes onto the road and then not properly latched the door or drawer. Further, the latching systems that are used to hold the doors and drawers in the closed position are subject to wear and therefore 10 prone to unlatching and opening of their own accord failure after they have been used extensively. A further advantage of the locking apparatus described above in the illustrated embodiments is that the actuators it uses for moving the locking members are particularly suitable for this task. Solenoid actuators are reasonably simple and are 15 proven to be very reliable in operation. Yet further the solenoids are also commercially available at reasonable cost. Accordingly, the locking apparatus described above with reference to the drawings is reliable in use which is important. Further the electrical circuit, switches, relays, solenoids and locking members do not require much maintenance and upkeep. A yet further advantage of the locking apparatus is that the 20 components are either readily available in the marketplace or are readily made and will not be unduly expensive to manufacture. In fact the provision of the looking apparatus will not add significant cost to the cost of the motor home. It will, of course, be realised that the above has been given only by way of illustrative 25 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 is herein set forth

Claims

1. A method of securing articles stowed within cabinet type fittings within an interior space of a motor home, the cabinet type fittings having a cabinet frame and at least one cabinet door or drawer mounted on the cabinet frame for providing access to cabinet interiors within the cabinet type fittings, the method including: locking one or more of the cabinet door/s and/or drawers in a closed position using a central locking apparatus when the motor home is travelling on the road in a travelling mode to hold the door/s and/or drawer/s against moving to an open position due to changes in momentum during travel and thereby resist articles stowed within the cabinet type fittings from moving in an uncontrolled fashion; and unlocking the cabinet door/s or drawer/s using the central locking apparatus when the motor home ceases to be in the travelling mode to enable a user to open the cabinet door/s and drawer/s for gaining access to the cabinet interiors when the motor home is being used in a camping mode, wherein the central locking apparatus includes: at least one actuating means having an actuating element that is movable between a retracted position and an extended position, at least one locking arrangement operatively associated with the cabinet door/s or drawer/s to be locked, that is operatively connected to the actuating means, each locking arrangement responding to a movement of the actuating element between the retracted and extended positions, and a control means for actuating each actuating means to move the actuating element/s between the retracted and the extended positions, and wherein locking the cabinet door/s and drawer/s in a closed position Includes using the control means to initiate a locking actuation of each actuating means in response to sensing that the motor home is in the travelling mode, which causes each locking arrangement to lock the door/s and drawer/s.

2. A method of securing articles stowed within cabinet type fittings according to claim 1, wherein unlocking the cabinet door/s and drawer/s includes using the control means to initiate an unlocking actuation of each actuating means in response to sensing that the motor home is no longer being used in the travelling mode, which causes each locking arrangement to unlock the door/s and drawer/s. 25

3. A method of securing articles stowed within cabinet type fittings according to claim 2, wherein initiating the locking actuation of each actuating means includes moving the actuating element between the retracted and extended positions in one direction, and initiating the unlocking actuation includes moving the actuating element between the retracted and extended positions in an opposite direction.

4. A method of securing articles stowed within cabinet type fittings according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the control means initiates the locking actuation of each actuating means In response to an ignition system of the motor home being switched on or an engine of the motor home being switched on, and the control means initiates the unlocking actuation of each actuating means in response to the ignition system or the engine being switched off.

5. A method of securing articles stowed within cabinet type fittings according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the control means initiates actuation of each actuating means in response to sensing of a movement of the vehicle across a ground surface on which it is mounted, and the control means initiates the unlocking actuation of each actuating means in response to sensing that the vehicle has stopped moving across the ground surface.

6. A method according to any one of claims i to 5, wherein the actuating means includes a solenoid actuator having a coil and the actuating element is a plunger, and activating each actuating means to move the plunger between the retracted and extended positions includes electrically energizing the coil of the solenoid actuator.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein locking the cabinet doors or drawers in a closed position includes moving each actuating element from the retracted to the extended positions, and unlocking the cabinet doors and drawers includes moving each actuating element from the extended to the retracted positions.

8. A motor home that can be interchanged between a travelling mode in which it is suitable for being driven on a road and a camping mode where it is suitable for providing living accommodation, the motor home including: a vehicle body defining an interior space; at least one cabinet type fitting mounted on the vehicle body within the interior space having a cabinet frame and at least one cabinet door or drawer mounted on the cabinet frame that is capable of being moved between an open and a closed position; a locking apparatus mounted on the cabinet type fitting or the vehicle body for locking one or more cabinet doors or drawers in the closed position including: 26 at least one actuating means mounted on the cabinet frame or the vehicle body, having an actuating element that is movable between a retracted position and an extended position; a locking arrangement operatively associated with the cabinet door/s or drawer/s that Is operatively connected to the actuating means, the locking arrangement responding to a movement of the actuating element to lock the cabinet door/s and or drawer/s in the closed position; and a control means which initiates a locking actuation of each actuating means to move the actuating element between the retracted and the extended positions causing each locking arrangement to lock the door/s and drawer/s in the closed position, wherein the control means initiates the locking actuation in response to sensing that the motor home is in the travelling mode, thereby causing each locking arrangement to lock the door/s and drawer/s.

9. A motor home according to claim 8, wherein the control means initiates an unlocking actuation of each actuating element in response to sensing that the motor home is in the camping mode, thereby causing each locking arrangement to unlock the door/s and drawer/s.

10. A motor home according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein each actuating element is moved in one direction to lock the door and/or drawers in the closed position, and each actuating element is moved in an opposite direction to unlock the door and/or efrawers.

11. A motor home according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein each locking arrangement comprises an active latching formation on the cabinet frame that is operatively connected to the actuating element and moves with the actuating element from the retracted position to the extended position, and a passive latching formation on the cabinet door or drawer, wherein the active latching formation engages the passive latching formation to lock the associated cabinet door or drawer in the closed position.

12. A motor home according to claim 11, wherein the at least one cabinet type fitting comprises a cabinet frame and a plurality of drawers each of which is capable of being moved between an open and a closed position, and wherein each drawer has a locking arrangement operatively connected thereto which locks the drawers in response to a locking actuation of each actuating means, and wherein the locking arrangement includes an active latching formation that Is a hook formation and a passive latching formation that is configured for effecting a retaining engagement with the hook formation. 27

13. A motor home according to claim 11, wherein the at least one cabinet type fitting includes a cabinet frame and at least one door pivotally mounted on the cabinet frame which is capable of being pivoted on the cabinet frame between an open and a closed position, and wherein the door has a locking arrangement operatively connected thereto which includes an active latching formation that is a locking barrel, and a passive latching fo mation that is configured to define an opening for receiving the barrel therein in a retaining nner.

14. A motor home according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the locking apparatus is operatively connected to a plurality of cabinet doors and/or drawers, and the control means initiates a locking actuation of each of the actuators to simultaneously lock the plurality of cabinet doors and/or drawers, and the control means also initiates an unlocking actuation of each of the actuators to simultaneously unlock the plurality of doors and/or drawers.

15. A motor home vehicle body according to any one of claims 9 to 14, wherein the control means is operatively coupled to an Ignition system or engine of the motor home so that each actuating means effects a locking actuation to lock the doors and drawers in response to the ignition system or engine of the motor home being switched on, and each actuating means effects an unlocking actuation to unlock the doors and drawers in response to the ignition system or engine of the motor home is switched off.

16. A motor home vehicle body according to any one of claims 9 to 14, wherein the control means is operatively coupled to a movement sensor which senses when the motor home is moving over the ground so that each actuating means effects a locking actuation to lock the doors and/or drawers in response to the movement sensor sensing movement of the motor home over the ground, and each actuating means effects an unlocking actuation to unlock the doors and/or drawers in response to the movement sensor sensing that the motor home is not moving over the ground.

17. A motor home according any one of according to any one of claims 8 to 16, wherein each actuating means is a solenoid actuator including a coil and a plunger, and each actuator element is a said plunger, and the plunger is displaced relative to the coil when the coil is electrically energized.

18. A motor home according to claim 17, wherein the control means includes an electrical circuit that is operatively connected to each solenoid actuator, and an electrical current is passed through the coil of each solenoid actuator in one direction to displace the plunger to the extended position and an electrical current is passed through the coil of each solenoid actuator in another direction to displace the plunger to the retracted position. 28

19. A motor home according any one of according to any one of claims 9 to 18, wherein said at least one cabinet type fitting has a plurality of drawers and at least one door, and each of the plurality of drawers and at least one door is operatively connected to the locking apparatus and is simultaneously locked by the locking members in response to a locking actuation of each actuating means, and each of the plurality of drawers and at least one door is simultaneously unlocked by the locking members in response to an unlocking actuation of each actuating means.

20. A method of securing a shower located within an interior space of a motor home, the shower comprising a shower frame and a shower door mounted on the shower frame that is capable of being moved between an open-and a closed position, the method including: locking the shower door in a closed position using a central locking apparatus when the motor home is travelling on the road in a travelling mode to hold the shower door against moving to an open position due to changes in momentum during travel and thereby resist the shower door from moving in an uncontrolled fashion; and unlocking the shower door using the central locking apparatus when the motor home ceases to be in the travelling mode to enable a user to move the shower door from the closed to the open position and back to the closed position when the motor home is being used in a camping mode, wherein the central locking apparatus includes: an actuating means having an actuating element that is movable between a retracted position and an extended position, and a locking arrangement that is operatively connected to the shower door and the actuating means, the locking arrangement being operable to lock the shower door in the closed position in response to movement of the actuating element; and a control means for actuating the actuating means to move the actuating element between the retracted and the extended positions, and wherein locking the shower door in the closed position includes using the control means to initiate a locking actuation of the actuating means in response to sensing that the motor home is in the travelling mode, which causes the locking arrangement to lock the shower door.

21. A method of securing a shower according to claim 20, wherein unlocking the shower door includes using the control means to initiate an unlocking actuation of the actuating means in response to sensing that the motor home is no longer being used in the travelling mode, which causes the locking arrangement to unlock the shower door. 29

22. A motor home that can be interchanged between a travelling mode in which it is suitable for being driven on a road and a camping mode in which it is suitable for providing living accommodation, the motor home including: a vehicle body defining an interior space; a shower located within the interior space, the shower comprising a shower frame and a shower door mounted on the shower frame that is capable of being moved between an open and a closed position; and a locking apparatus a locking apparatus mounted on the cabinet type fitting ior the vehicle body for locking the shower door in the closed position, including: an actuating means having an actuating element that is movable between a retracted position and an extended position; a locking arrangement operatively associated with the shower door that is operatively connected to the actuating means, the locking arrangement being operable to lock the shower door in the closed position in response to movement of the actuating element; and a control means which initiates a locking actuation of the actuating means to move the actuating element between the retracted and the extended positions to cause the locking arrangement to lock the shower door in the closed position, wherein the control means initiates a locking actuation of the actuating means in response to sensing that the motor home is In the travelling mode.

23. A motor home according to claim 22, wherein the control means initiates an unlocking actuation of the actuating element in response to sensing that the motor home Is In the camping mode, thereby causing the locking arrangement to unlock the shower door.

24. A motor home having a locking apparatus that is substantially as herein described in the detailed description of the invention with reference to Figures 2 to 6.

25. A method locking a plurality of doors and/or drawers on a cabinet type fitting on a body of a motor home substantially as herein described in the detailed description of the invention with reference to Figures 2 to 6.