AU2008258189A1

AU2008258189A1 - Vehicles and Components for Vehicles

Info

Publication number: AU2008258189A1
Application number: AU2008258189A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Timothy Beckett
Original assignee: D L Hansen Service Pty Ltd
Current assignee: D L Hansen Service Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2007-12-20
Filing date: 2008-12-17
Publication date: 2009-07-09
Anticipated expiration: 2028-12-17
Also published as: AU2008258189B2

Description

VEHICLES AND COMPONENTS FOR VEHICLES This invention relates to vehicles and components for vehicles. The invention has particular application to recreational vehicles of the type having a fixed base and a top which can be lifted relative to the base in order to create extra headroom. Examples of such vehicles are motorised or towed campervans and pop-top caravans. Towed campervans and pop-top caravans can be more easily towed than full height caravans especially by elderly drivers and are generally more stable on the road and subject to less wind load. However, in spite of the advantages provided during towing they are less attractive at the destination because the pop-top has to be raised which in some cases is undesirably difficult. Typically, the pop-top has to be raised by manually pushing or pulling levers or in the case of some towed campervans (which can have a much greater height to lift), by winding a winch. The present invention is aimed at providing recreational vehicles which allow the advantages of traveling with lower height to be obtained but without being unduly burdened with the difficulty of having to manually lift a heavy pop-top in order to increase headroom. With the foregoing in view, the invention resides broadly in a system for lifting the selectively liftable top of a cBEC02101 -2 recreational vehicle having a fixed base and a selectively liftable top, the system including: one or more inflatable vessels adapted to be operatively mounted to the fixed base and/or the liftable top of the vehicle to which it is to be fitted and to expand upon being inflated whereby said one or more inflatable vessels may cause the liftable top to lift relative to the fixed base. In such form, it is preferred that the or each inflatable vessel has an opening through which pressurized fluid may be supplied. In another aspect, the invention resides broadly in a recreational vehicle of the type having a fixed base and a selectively liftable top mounted thereto, including: one or more inflatable vessels operatively mounted to the fixed base of the vehicle and/or the liftable top and adapted to expand upon being inflated whereby said one or more inflatable vessels may cause the liftable top to lift relative to the fixed base. In another aspect, the invention resides broadly in a recreational vehicle of the type having a fixed base, a selectively liftable top mounted to said fixed base, a flexible wall panel extending between said liftable top and said fixed base and one or more inflatable vessels connected to said flexible wall panel or integral therewith and adapted to expand upon being inflated so as to cause said liftable top to lift -3 relative to said fixed base. In such form, it is preferred that said fixed base and said liftable top are substantially rectangular in plan view and an inflatable vessel is located at or near each corner of the liftable top. Preferably, said one or more inflatable vessels are flexible containers. In such form it is preferred that the containers are adapted to fold when deflated. Furthermore, in such form it is preferred that the bags be constructed of an impermeable plastics material. Preferably, the recreational vehicle includes biasing means operatively connected to said one or more inflatable vessels, said biasing means being arranged to cause said one or more inflatable vessels to move in a predetermined manner or direction during deflation. Advantageously, this minimizes the chance of any part of the vessel being trapped outside of the vehicle when the liftable top is in its closed position. Preferably, the biasing means includes a foldable member. In such form the it is preferred that the foldable member includes a living hinge and said foldable member folds inwards at said living hinge. Preferably, the or each biasing means is secured to a respective vessel. Preferably, the inflatable vessels are located substantially at each corner of the liftable top. Such an arrangement has the -4 advantage of supporting the liftable top in an even manner when raising or lowering the top. In yet another aspect, the invention resides broadly in a method of modifying a recreational vehicle of the type having a fixed base with a selectively liftable top mounted thereon, including: providing one or more inflatable vessels having a mounting portion and a contact portion spaced from said mounting portion; mounting said one or more inflatable vessels to said fixed base or said liftable top via said mounting portion such that said contact portion is arranged to contact the other of said fixed base and said liftable top upon said one or more vessels being inflated; and connecting said one or more vessels to a source of pressurized air or other fluid. In another aspect, the invention resides broadly in a screen or skirt adapted to be fitted to a recreational vehicle of the type having a fixed base and a selectively liftable top mounted thereon, the screen or skirt being adapted to provide a barrier between said fixed base and said liftable top when said liftable top is lifted, said screen or skirt including one or more inflatable vessels integral therewith and adapted to expand upon being inflated so as to cause the liftable top to lift relative to the fixed base.

-5 Preferably, the or each inflatable vessel is integrally connected with the screen or skirt. In yet another aspect, the invention resides broadly in a kit of parts for modifying a recreational vehicle of the type having a fixed base and a selectively liftable top mounted thereon, including: one or more inflatable vessels having a mounting portion and a contact portion spaced from said mounting portion and adapted to be mounted to the fixed base and/or the liftable top of the vehicle to be modified; a fluid pump adapted to be mounted to the vehicle; and a fluid supply conduit means for connecting said pump to said one or more inflatable vessels for supplying pressurized fluid thereto. In order that the invention may be more clearly understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein: Fig. 1 is a pictorial representation of part of a pop-top campervan incorporating a system for lifting the pop-top according to the invention with the pop-top in its closed or lowered position; Fig. 2 is a pictorial representation of the pop-top campervan of Fig. 1 with the pop-top in its fully open or raised position; -6 Fig. 3 is a pictorial representation of a caravan incorporating the system for lifting the pop-top according to the invention with the pop-top in its fully open or raised position; Fig. 4 is a partial sectional elevation of the pop-top campervan of Fig. 2 along line 2-2 showing the position of one of four of the inflatable vessels of the system when the pop-top is in its closed position; Fig. 5 is a partial sectional elevation of the pop-top caravan of Fig. 2 when the pop-top is in its fully open position; Fig. 6 is an exploded pictorial representation of one of the inflatable vessels of the campervan of Fig.1 with a compressor fitted to the supply air line used for inflating the vessels; Fig. 7 is pictorial representation of a kit of parts for installing a system for lifting the pop-top of a recreational vehicle according to the invention; and Fig. 8 is an exploded pictorial representation of a another inflatable vessel according to the invention with a different means of securing the vessel to a recreational vehicle. The campervan 10 illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 has a fixed base 11 (which includes the floor and walls of the campervan) -7 with a rectangular opening 12 therein and a top 13 of the type commonly referred to as a "pop-top" mounted to the base part and arranged to open and close the opening by being raised and lowered. Scissor lift type cross arms 14 are provided on opposite sides of the opening along with gas struts 15 (as can be seen in Fig. 3) which assist in lifting the pop-top and holding it in the lifted position. The side and end walls 16 and 17 extend upwards about the opening 12 to form a rim 18 thereabout and a flexible vinyl skirt 19 extends between the base and the pop-top and is secured along its bottom edge 20 to the rim 18 and along its top edge 21 to a similar downwardly directed rim 22 near the periphery of the pop-top to prevent the ingress of rain, dust and the like through the opening. Four spaced apart inflatable elongate polyvinylchloride ("PVC") vessels 23 are each mounted at their lower end portions 24 to the rim 18 and at their upper end portions 26 to the rim 22 of the pop-top, one vessel being located near each of the four corners 27 of the pop-top. Each inflatable vessel is formed from a piece of lay-flat hose or tube with an air inlet fitting 28 which is fitted to the side wall 29 of the vessel near the lower end and the end portions 24 and 26 of the tube are formed by sealing each end together with glue and then folding and clamping them to form an air tight seal as can be more clearly seen in Fig. 6. In this respect, the lower end portion 24 of the -8 respective vessels is clamped to the rim 18 along the side walls 16 (or end walls 17 if desired) about the end portion by clamp halves 31 and 32 which are pop riveted by pop rivets 33 to the rim 18. As can be seen in Figs. 4 and 5, the rear portion 34 of the side wall 29 of each inflatable vessel is secured to the outside face 35 of the vinyl skirt 19 by two spaced apart complementary hook and loop fasteners 36 (in this case VELCRO@ strips) . The vinyl skirt has a vertically elongate resilient plastics strip 37 with a centrally located living hinge 38 mounted thereto for biasing the skirt towards the inside of the van. Advantageously, securement of the vessels to the skirt adjacent the plastics strips ensures that the vessels fold inwards with the skirt during lowering of the pop-top thereby protecting against rubbing and any consequential leakage. Adjacent vessels are connected for fluid communication with each other by polythene air hoses 39 via respective air inlet fittings 28 and an air compressor 40 is connected to the vessels in a similar manner by air hose 41. The kit of parts 42 illustrated in Fig. 7 includes an air compressor, air hoses, additional adaptors 43 connectable to the vessels or air hoses (if required) and a gas pressure regulator 44 and vessels. Two of the vessels 45 in the kit have two air inlet fittings 28 and 46 (although in a non-illustrated -9 embodiment each vessel 23 could be the same) and if vessels 45 are mounted at respective corners towards the front or rear of the recreational vehicle, a person skilled in the art will realise that together with the air hoses, only one "T-piece" 47 will be required to place all four vessels in fluid communication with the air compressor. Such a system may be sold as a "retro-fit kit" to enable existing pop-top recreational vehicles to be fitted with the system or it may be used during the manufacture of each "new build" pop-top recreational vehicle. When the kit is being used as a retro-fit, it may not be necessary to mount all four vessels to the recreational vehicle and it may not be necessary to mount the or each vessel to both rims of the recreational vehicle. However, once adequate numbers of vessels have been retro-fitted, the or each inflatable vessel can be connected to the air compressor to enable inflation of the or each inflatable vessel to take place upon actuation of the air compressor. In embodiments not shown, the kit of parts also includes the flexible vinyl skirt adapted to be fitted to the recreational vehicle and the skirt may for example, be integral with (as opposed to demountable from) one or more of the vessels. The exploded view of a vessel 23 as mounted illustrated in Fig. 8 shows an alternate arrangement of clamp halves 31 and 48 -10 consisting of aluminium "L" shaped brackets enabling nuts 49 and bolts 50 to be used to mount the vessel to the recreational vehicle instead of pop rivets. The pop-top towable caravan 51 illustrated in Fig. 3 has a similar lifting similar system, the main difference being that the inflatable vessels at each corner are mounted on the front and rear sides of the pop-top. In use, when the pop-top is to be lifted, the air compressor is actuated by an operator and pressurized air passes through the air hoses and inflates each of the vessels causing the pop-top to move from its closed position to its fully open position. Being in fluid communication with each other, the vessels expand substantially simultaneously upon inflation causing the pop-top to lift relative to the fixed base in a uniform manner. The use of four spaced apart vessels, one located towards each corner of the pop-top also helps to ensure that the pop-top rises in such a manner. Upon the pop top reaching the fully lifted position, the scissor lift cross arms or the gas struts can be locked in the lifted position and the air compressor can then be turned off. In order to prevent the vessels bursting, a pressure relief valve 52 is provided on the compressor at any desired point in the supply air line. To close the pop-top, the air hose directly connected to the air compressor can be disconnected from the air compressor or if -11 an on/off discharge valve has been fitted in the supply line, it can be opened to discharge air from the system thereby lowering the pop-top. The foregoing description has been given by way of illustrative example of the invention and many modifications and variations which will be apparent to persons skilled in the art may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A recreational vehicle of the type having a fixed base and a selectively liftable top mounted thereto, including: one or more inflatable vessels operatively mounted to the fixed base of the vehicle and/or the liftable top and adapted to expand upon being inflated whereby said one or more inflatable vessels may cause the liftable top to lift relative to the fixed base.

2. A recreational vehicle according to Claim 1, wherein said one or more inflatable vessels are flexible containers.

3. A recreational vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said containers are adapted to fold when deflated.

4. A recreational vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims including biasing means operatively connected to said one or more inflatable vessels, said biasing means being arranged to cause said one or more inflatable vessels to move in a predetermined manner or direction during deflation.

5. A recreational vehicle according to Claim 4, wherein said biasing means includes a foldable member. - 13

6. A recreational vehicle according to Claim 5, wherein said foldable member includes a living hinge and said foldable member folds inwards at said living hinge.

7. A recreational vehicle according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the or each said biasing means is secured to a respective vessel.

8. A recreational vehicle of the type having a fixed base, a selectively liftable top mounted to said fixed base, a flexible wall panel extending between said liftable top and said fixed base and one or more inflatable vessels connected to said flexible wall panel or integral therewith and adapted to expand upon being inflated so as to cause said liftable top to lift relative to said fixed base.

9. A recreational vehicle according to Claim 8, wherein said fixed base and said liftable top are substantially rectangular in plan view and an inflatable vessel is located at or near each corner of the liftable top. -14

10. A system for lifting the selectively liftable top of a recreational vehicle having a fixed base and a selectively liftable top, the system including: one or more- inflatable vessels adapted to be operatively mounted to the fixed base and/or the liftable top of the vehicle to which it is to be fitted and to expand upon being inflated whereby said one or more inflatable vessels may cause the liftable top to lift relative to the fixed base.

11. A system according to Claim 10, wherein said inflatable vessels have an opening through which pressurized fluid may be supplied.

12. A method of modifying a recreational vehicle of the type having a fixed base with a selectively liftable top mounted thereon, including: providing one or more inflatable vessels having a mounting portion and a contact portion spaced from said mounting portion; mounting said one or more inflatable vessels to said fixed base or said liftable top via said mounting portion such that said contact portion is arranged to contact the other of said fixed base and said liftable top upon said one or more vessels being inflated; and - 15 connecting said one or more vessels to a source of pressurized air or other fluid.

13. A screen or skirt adapted to be fitted to a recreational vehicle of the type having a fixed base and a selectively liftable top mounted thereon, the screen or skirt being adapted to provide a barrier between said fixed base and said liftable top when said liftable top is lifted, said screen or skirt including one or more inflatable vessels integral therewith and adapted to expand upon being inflated so as to cause the liftable top to lift relative to the fixed base.

14. A kit of parts for modifying a recreational vehicle of the type having a fixed base and a selectively liftable top mounted thereon, including: one or more inflatable vessels having a mounting portion and a contact portion spaced from said mounting portion and adapted to be mounted to the fixed base and/or the liftable top of the vehicle to be modified; a fluid pump adapted to be mounted to the vehicle; and a fluid supply conduit means for connecting said pump top said one or more inflatable vessels for supplying pressurized fluid thereto. -16

15. A recreational vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. A method of modifying a recreational vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

17. A screen or skirt adapted to be fitted to a recreational vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

18. A kit of parts substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

19. A system for lifting the selectively liftable top of a recreational vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.