AU2012209009B2 - A recreational vehicle having at least one internal door or drawer - Google Patents

Abstract

5 A recreational vehicle 10 including a vehicle body 12 defining an interior space 14 is disclosed. The vehicle body 12 includes at least one cabinet 16 having a cabinet frame 18 and at least one associated door 20 or drawer 22 mounted thereon that moves between an open and closed position. The vehicle includes an electromagnetic locking system 26 for locking the doors and drawers 22 in 10 the closed position. Conveniently the electromagnetic locking system 26 includes at least one locking arrangement including an electromagnet 28 mounted on the cabinet frame 18 by means of a bracket 50 and an armature plate mounted 30 on the associated drawer 22. When electrically energized the electromagnet 28 holds the armature plate 30 and locks the drawer 22 in the 15 closed position. The electromagnet 28 can be de-energised to release the armature plate 30 and unlock the drawer 22. FIG 5 FOR PUBLICATION ~s 'i "FIGURE

Description

A RECREATIONAL VEHICLE HAVING AT LEAST ONE INTERNAL DOOR OR DRAWER ΖΙΟΖΜΙί 60060ΖΖ10Ζ

5 FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a recreational vehicle having at least one internal door or drawer. The invention also extends to a method of locking at least one internal door or drawer on a recreational vehicle. 10

The invention relates particularly to a recreational vehicle that is a motor home having at least one cabinet having one or more internal doors or drawers. The invention also extends to a method of locking a plurality of internal doors or drawers on a cabinet of a motor home so that the doors and drawers cannot fly 15 open when the motor home is travelling along a road. It will therefore be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention with reference to this example application. However at the same time it must be recognized that the invention is capable of broader application. For example the invention also extends to other recreational vehicles such as caravans and fifth wheelers. 20

DEFINITIONS

In this specification the term “cabinet” is to be interpreted broadly. It shall be understood to include all fittings within an interior space of a recreational vehicle 25 that have doors and drawers that can be open or shut. For example it shall be interpreted to include cupboards including pantry cupboards, bathroom cupboards, kitchen cupboards, wardrobes and chests of drawers.

In the specification the term “internal door or drawer “shall be understood to 30 mean a door or drawer that is inside the vehicle body. It does not include side doors providing access from one of the sides into an interior space of a motor 1 home. However it shall not be interpreted to mean that the door or drawer is internally received within the cabinet. 2012209009 31 Μ 2012

In the specification the term “comprising “ shall be understood to have a broad 5 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”. 10

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION A recreational vehicle is a vehicle that has an interior space that enables it to be used as a dwelling and that enables the vehicle to be lived out of for a period of 15 time. The recreational vehicle is interchangeable between a traveling mode in which it is being driven on a road from one point to another and a camping mode when it is parked in one position and is used as a dwelling and provides living accommodation. 20 In a motor home the interior space comprises a front seat region and a living region behind the front seat region. In a caravan the interior space comprises a living region only. Typically the living region of a recreational vehicle might contain a living area, a sleeping area or bedroom area and a toilet/bathroom area. These areas include fittings mounted on the vehicle that make the living 25 region suitable for being lived in as a form of temporary living accommodation.

Some of the fittings will be in the form of cabinets that have doors or drawers mounted thereon. Each door may be pivoted between an open and a closed position. Further each drawer can be displaced in a translational fashion 30 between an open and a closed position. Each door or drawer has a holding arrangement or a latch that is capable of holding the door or drawer in the closed position when the vehicle is in the traveling mode. The structure and 2 function of such cabinets and doors and drawers would be well known to persons skilled in the art of cabinetry. 2012209009 31 Jul2012 A recreational vehicle is capable of operation in a traveling mode where it is 5 driven on a road and a camping mode where it is in a stationary position and is set up at a campsite or the like to provide temporary living accommodation.

When the vehicle is in a traveling mode being driven along a road, it will undergo changes in direction which effect changes in momentum. These 10 changes in momentum tend to cause any door or drawer that is not held in its closed position to move out of the closed position. This can cause doors and drawers to fly open and items within the cabinet to be scattered around a living region of the recreational vehicle. 15 Accordingly each time that a user takes a vehicle onto a road in its traveling mode they need to carefully check each door or drawer of a cabinet to ensure that is properly held in the closed position. It is inconvenient to have to carry out this procedure each time that a vehicle is taken onto a road in the traveling mode. Further even if such a check is conducted, a door or drawer may not be 20 properly latched when the vehicle is taken onto the road. Such a door or drawer will be prone to flying open when the recreational vehicle turns around a corner that applies an opening force to the door or drawer.

Clearly therefore it would be advantageous if a recreational vehicle could be 25 devised that at least to some extent ameliorated the drawbacks identified above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 30 According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a recreational vehicle, including: 3 a vehicle body defining an interior space, including at least one cabinet having a cabinet frame and at least one associated door or drawer mounted thereon that is capable of movement between an open position and a closed position; and ΖΙΟΖΜΙί 60060ΖΖ10Ζ 5 an electromagnetic locking system for locking one or more doors and/or drawers in the closed position.

The electromagnetic locking system may include at least one locking arrangement including: 10 an electromagnet mounted on one of the cabinet frame and an associated door or drawer; and an armature plate mounted on another of the cabinet frame and associated door or drawer wherein the electromagnet can be electrically energized with electricity to hold the electromagnet to the armature plate and 15 thereby lock the door or drawer in the closed position, and the electromagnet can be electrically de-energised by the interruption of electrical current to release the armature plate from the electromagnet and permit the door or drawer to be moved out of the closed position. 20 In particular the electromagnet may be mounted on the cabinet frame and the armature plate may be mounted on the door or drawer.

The electromagnetic locking system may further include a controller for directing the electromagnet to be electrically energized to lock the doors and drawers. 25 The controller may also direct the electromagnet to be de-energised to unlock the doors and/or drawers.

The electromagnetic locking system may include an electrical circuit with an electrical power supply and the electrical power supply may generate an 4 electrical current that is passed through the electromagnet for electrically energising the electromagnet. ΖΙΟΖΜΙί 60060ΖΖ10Ζ

In one form the controller may include a manual control switch which can be 5 manually switched by a user to energise each electromagnet to hold the armature plate thereto.

In one embodiment the vehicle may be a motor home that has an ignition system, and the controller may include a vehicle control switch that energises 10 the electromagnets so that they hold their armature plates when the ignition system is switched on and de-energises the electromagnets when the ignition system is switched off.

In another embodiment the vehicle may be a motor home including a starter 15 motor or engine, and the controller may include a vehicle control switch that electrically energises the electromagnets each time the starter motor or engine is activated. Optionally the electromagnets can also be de-energised in response to certain activity of the starter motor or the engine. 20 In yet another embodiment the vehicle may include a vehicle movement detector and the controller may include a vehicle control switch that electrically energises the electromagnets each time the vehicle movement detector detects movement of the vehicle, and de-energises the electromagnets when the vehicle movement detector detects that the vehicle has been stationary for a 25 pre-determined period of time.

Further the controller includes a manual override switch which enables a user to override the vehicle control switch and de-energise the electromagnets to unlock the doors or drawers. 30

The cabinet may have at least one drawer having an armature plate mounted on the cabinet frame, and the locking system may include a magnet mounting 5 arrangement on which the electromagnet is mounted. The magnet mounting arrangement may be mounted on the cabinet frame in a position such that the electromagnet is positioned adjacent to its associated armature plate when the drawer is in the closed position. ΖΙΟΖΜΙί 60060ΖΖ10Ζ 5

Each drawer may have a rear end wall and an armature plate mounting arrangement for mounting the armature plate on the rear end wall.

The cabinet may have at least one door having an armature plate mounted on 10 the cabinet frame, and the locking system may include a magnet mounting arrangement on which the electromagnet is mounted. The magnet mounting arrangement may be mounted on the cabinet frame in a position such that the electromagnet is positioned adjacent to its associated armature plate when the door is in the closed position. 15

One or more doors may be a pivotally mounted door that pivots between the closed and open positions. Further, one or more doors may be sliding doors.

Each door may have an inner face and an outer face, and an armature plate 20 mounting arrangement for mounting the armature plate on the inner face. The armature plate mounting arrangement may include a spacer block and a screw that is passed through the armature plate and the spacer block and into the door. 25 The vehicle may include a plurality of cabinets, and the electromagnetic locking system may be used to lock all the doors and drawers of the plurality of cabinets.

The controller may include a single switching arrangement for operating all of 30 the plurality of electromagnets so as to provide a central locking system for locking all the doors and drawers at once. 6

The recreational vehicle may be a motor home or a caravan or a fifth wheeler. 2012209009 31 Μ 2012

According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a recreational vehicle, including: 5 a vehicle body defining an interior space, the vehicle body including a shower comprising a shower frame and a shower door mounted on the shower frame that is capable of movement between an open position and a closed position; and an electromagnetic locking system for locking the shower door in the 10 closed position.

The shower door may be a sliding door that slides between an open and a closed position. Instead the sliding door may be a door that pivots between an open and a closed position. 15

The electromagnetic locking system may include any one or more of the features of the electromagnetic locking system defined in the preceding aspect of the invention. 20 According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a recreational vehicle, including: a vehicle body defining an interior space, the vehicle body including an internal partition wall defining a door opening and a door mounted on the body that is moveable between an open position where the door opening is open and 25 a closed position where the door opening is closed; and an electromagnetic locking system for locking the door in the closed position.

The door may be a sliding door that slides between an open and a closed 30 position. Instead the sliding door may be a door that pivots between an open 7 and a closed position. The door may be a full length door through which people can walk and pass generally. 2012209009 31 Jul2012

The electromagnetic locking system may include any one or more of the 5 features of the electromagnetic locking system defined in the preceding aspect of the invention.

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 vehicle body 10 within the interior space having a cabinet frame and at least one door or drawer mounted on the cabinet frame that is capable of being moved between an open and a closed position, according to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of locking the at least one door or drawer, including: producing a control action when the at least one door or drawer is to be 15 locked; and energizing an electromagnet on one of a cabinet frame or, door or drawer, to cause it to hold onto an armature plate on another of the cabinet frame, or door or drawer, whereby to lock the door or drawer in the closed position. 20

The method may include producing another control action when the at least one door or drawer is to be unlocked, and de-energising an electromagnet on one of a cabinet frame or, door or drawer, to cause it to release the armature plate on another of the cabinet frame, or door or drawer, whereby to unlock the door or 25 drawer.

The vehicle may have an ignition system and the method may include electrically connecting the electromagnets to the ignition system so that the electromagnets are energized when the ignition system is switched on and the 30 electromagnets are de-energised when the ignition system is switched off. 8

The method may include de-energising the electromagnets by means of a manual override switch whereby to enable the doors and drawers to be unlocked when the ignition system is switched on. 2012209009 13 Sep 2017 5 According to yet another aspect of this invention there is provided an electromagnetic locking system for a recreational vehicle including, a vehicle body defining an interior space, including at least one cabinet having a cabinet frame and at least one associated door or drawer mounted thereon that is capable of movement between an open position and a closed position, the 10 electromagnetic locking system being used for locking one or more doors and/or drawers in the closed position and including: an electromagnet mounted on one of the cabinet frame and an associated door or drawer; and an armature plate mounted on another of the cabinet frame and associated 15 door or drawer wherein the electromagnet is electrically energized with electricity to hold the electromagnet to the armature plate and thereby lock the door or drawer in the closed position, and wherein the electromagnet is electrically deenergised by the interruption of electrical current to release the armature plate from the electromagnet and permit the door or drawer to be moved out of the 20 closed position.

The electromagnetic locking system may include any one or more of the features of the electromagnetic locking system defined in the preceding aspect of the invention. 25 A definition of a specific embodiment of the invention as claimed herein follows.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method of securing at least one internal door or drawer within a recreational vehicle having 30 one or more cabinet type fittings and/or a shower, each of the one or more cabinet type fittings and/or the shower having a frame and an associated said at least one internal door or drawer mounted to the frame and moveable between an open 9 position for providing access to an interior within the frame and a closed position, said method including: 2012209009 13 Sep 2017 locking the at least one internal door or drawer in the closed position using an electromagnetic locking system when the recreational vehicle is travelling on 5 a road in a travelling mode to secure the at least one internal door or drawer against moving to the open position due to changes in momentum during travel; and unlocking the at least one internal door or drawer using the electromagnetic locking system when the recreational vehicle ceases to be in the 10 travelling mode to enable a user to open the at least one internal door or drawer, wherein the electromagnetic locking system includes: at least one armature plate mounted on one of the frame and the associated said at least one internal door or drawer; at least one electromagnet mounted on another of the frame and 15 the associated said at least one internal door or drawer, wherein the electromagnet can be electrically energized with electricity to hold the electromagnet to the armature plate and thereby lock the at least one internal door or drawer, and the electromagnet can be electrically deenergized by interruption of electrical current to release the armature plate 20 from the electromagnet and thereby unlock the at least one internal door or drawer; and a controller for directing the electromagnet to be electrically energized and for directing the electromagnet to be electrically deenergized. 25

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A recreational vehicle having an automatic locking system in accordance with this invention may manifest itself in a variety of forms. It will be convenient to 30 hereinafter describe several embodiments of the invention in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The purpose of providing this 9a detailed description is to instruct persons having an interest in the subject matter of the invention how to carry the invention into practical effect. However it is to be clearly understood that the specific nature of this detailed description does not supersede the generality of the preceding broad description. ΖΙΟΖΜΙί 60060ΖΖ10Ζ 5

In the drawings:

Fig 1 is a three dimensional view external of a recreational vehicle that is a motor home in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; 10

Fig 2 is a schematic plan view of a layout of a motor home in accordance with the invention that is broadly similar to the motor home in Figure 1;

Fig 3 is a schematic three dimensional view of part of a living region of a motor 15 home in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Fig 4 is a schematic front view of a cabinet in the motor home in Figure 2;

Fig 5 is a sectional side view of the cabinet in Fig 4 with one of the drawers 20 shown in an open position;

Fig 6 is a sectional side view showing detail of part of the cabinet and one drawer shown in Fig 5; 25 Fig 7 is a sectional plan view of the drawer and cabinet shown in Fig 6;

Fig 8 is a schematic front view of a cabinet having a door in the motor home in Figure 2; 30 Fig 9 is a sectional side view showing detail of part of the cabinet and the door shown in Fig 8; 10

Fig 10 is a top plan view of the cabinet and door shown in Fig 9 with the door in an open position; ΖΙΟΖΜΙί 60060ΖΖ10Ζ

Fig 11 is a top plan view of the cabinet and door shown in Fig 9 with the door in 5 a closed position;

Fig 12 is a schematic circuit diagram of the locking apparatus on the motor home of Fig 2; and 10 Fig 13 is a schematic plan view of a layout of a recreational vehicle that is a caravan in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

In Figure 1 reference numeral 10 refers generally to a recreational vehicle that is a motor home in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. 15

The motor home 10 comprises a vehicle body 12 defining an interior space. The body 12 includes several cabinets 16 having a cabinet frame 18 and at least one associated door 20 or drawer 22 mounted thereon that are capable of movement between an open position and a closed position. The motor home 20 10 also includes an electromagnetic locking system indicated generally by numeral 26 for locking the doors 20 and/or drawers 22 in the closed position.

The electromagnetic locking system 26 includes at least one locking arrangement including an electromagnet 28 mounted on the cabinet frame 18, 25 and an armature plate 30 mounted on the associated door 20 or drawer 22. The electromagnet 28 is electrically energized with electricity to hold the electromagnet 28 to the armature plate 30 and thereby lock the door 20 or drawer 22 in the closed position. The electromagnet 28 can also be electrically de-energised by the interruption of electrical current to release the armature 30 plate 30 and unlock the door 20 or drawer 22 so that it can be moved out of the closed position. The electromagnetic locking system 26 further includes a controller 34 for directing electrical energizing of the electromagnet 28 to lock 11 the doors 20 and drawers 22. The controller 34 also directs de-energising of the electromagnet 28 to be de-energised to unlock the doors 20 and/or drawers 22. The electromagnetic locking system 26 further includes an electrical circuit 37 with an electrical power supply that generates an electrical current that is 5 passed through the electromagnet 28 for electrically energising the ΖΙΟΖΜΙί 60060ΖΖ10Ζ electromagnet 28.

Figure 2 shows an example layout of a motor home 10 having an electromagnetic locking system 26 in accordance with the invention. 10

The motor home body 12 includes a kitchen cabinet 16 having a number of drawers 20 and the locking system 26 is used to lock these drawers 20 in the closed position when the motor home 10 travels on the road. The motor home body 12 also has a cabinet 16 with a hinge mounted door 22 and the locking 15 system 26 is used to lock this door in the closed position. Further towards a rear of the motor home body 2 there is a bathroom cabinet 16 providing a vanity and having a plurality of drawers 20. The locking system 26 is applied to these drawers 20 to lock them in the closed position. The bathroom also has a wardrobe cabinet 16 with a wardrobe door 22 and the locking system 26 is used 20 to lock the wardrobe door 22 in the closed position.

Further the motor home 10 has an internal partition wall 38 dividing the bathroom off from the remainder of the interior space of the motor home body 12. The partition wall 38 defines a door opening and a door 40 is mounted on 25 the partition wall 38 for closing off the wall opening. While a sliding door 40 is shown in the drawing a hinge mounted pivoting door could also equally be mounted on the partition wall 38. Further the motor home 10 includes a control panel 42 for enabling a user to control the controller 34 of the locking system 26 just behind the front seat of the motor home. 30 12

The motor home 10 also has an external side door on a side of the vehicle body 12 behind the passenger’s seat which is different to the internal doors to which this invention is applied. ΖΙΟΖΜΙί 60060ΖΖ10Ζ 5 Figure 3 is a schematic perspective drawing of a bathroom in a motor home that is a variation on the bathroom shown in the motor home of Figure 2. The bathroom has a cabinet 16 comprising a cabinet frame 18 forming a vanity and having three doors 20 mounted on the cabinet frame 18. These doors 20 can be locked in the closed position by the locking system 26. The bathroom also has 10 an overhead bathroom cabinet 16 with doors 20 that can be locked in the closed position by the locking system 26. The bathroom also has a shower frame 44 with a shower door 46 mounted on the shower frame 44. While the shower door 46 shown in the drawings is pivotally mounted on the shower frame 44, a sliding door could equally be used. The shower door 46 is shown in 15 an open position in the drawings but can be locked in the closed position by the locking system 26.

Figure 4 is a schematic illustration of the kitchen cabinet of the motor home in Figure 2. 20

The cabinet 16 comprises a cabinet frame 18 with a number of drawers 22 and a door 20 mounted on the cabinet frame 18. There are two drawers 22 on a left side and a cook top and grill above the two drawers 22. There is also a set of drawers 22 in a central region of the cabinet 16 and a hinge mounted door 20 25 on the right side of the cabinet 16.

The motor home 10 has a locking system 26 to lock the drawers 22 and doors 20 (not shown in Figure 4). 30 Figure 5 is a sectional view taken through Section V-V of the cabinet shown in Figure 4. Figure 5 shows the two drawers 22 beneath the grill that are slideable 13 between open and closed positions. The upper drawer 22 is shown in the closed position and the lower drawer 22 is shown in the open position. ΖΙΟΖΜΙί 60060ΖΖ10Ζ

Figure 6 is a sectional side view showing detail of a rear portion of the upper 5 drawer 22 and Figure 7 is a sectional top plan view of the upper drawer 22. These drawings show more specific detail of the electromagnet 28 and armature plate 30 including how they are mounted on the frame 18 and drawers 22 respectively and how they engage with each other to lock the drawer 22 in the closed position. 10

Figures 5, 6 and 7 show a magnet mounting arrangement in the form of a bracket 50 on the cabinet frame 18 on which the electromagnet 28 is mounted. In the illustrated embodiment the bracket 50 is L-shaped having a magnet mounting portion 52 extending substantially orthogonally to a frame mounting 15 portion 54. The electromagnet 28 is mounted on the magnet mounting portion 52 of the bracket 50 by means of a screw 56 that passes through the bracket 50 and into the electromagnet 28. The bracket 50 is mounted on the cabinet frame 18 by means of a series of screws 58 that are passed through the frame mounting portion 54 of the bracket 50 and then into a wall of the cabinet frame 20 18.

The drawer 22 has a rear wall 60 spaced apart from a front wall 62 and the armature plate 30 is mounted on the rear wall 60 of the drawer 20 by means of an armature plate mounting arrangement comprising a spacer block or shim 64 25 and a fastening element 66 that passes through the armature plate 30 and block 64 into the rear wall 60 of the drawer 22 to fix the armature plate 30 to the drawer 22. The armature plate 30 is positioned on the rear wall 60 of the drawer 22 such that it comes into contact with the electromagnet 28 when the drawer 22 is in its closed position. This is desired to enable the electromagnet 28 to 30 hold the armature plate 30 and thereby lock the drawer 22 when it is electrically energized. 14

Figure 8 is a front view of a kitchen cabinet 16 for a motor home 10 that is variation on the cabinet shown in Figure 4. The kitchen cabinet 16 has a hinge mounted door 20 on the right side of the cabinet 16 that provides access to an interior space of the cabinet 16. ΖΙΟΖΜΙί 60060ΖΖ10Ζ 5

Figure 9 is a sectional side view through section IX-IX showing part of the door 20 and locking system 26 of Figure 8. Figures 10 and 11 are sectional plan views of the part of the door and locking system shown in Figure 9 with Figure 10 showing the door in an open position and Figure 11 showing the door in a 10 closed position. These drawings show more specific detail of the electromagnet 28 and armature plate 30 including how they are mounted on the frame 18 and door 20 respectively and how they engage to lock the door 20 in the closed position. 15 Figures 9, 10 and 11 show a magnet mounting arrangement in the form of a bracket 70 on the cabinet frame 18 on which the electromagnet 28 is mounted. In the illustrated embodiment the bracket 70 is L-shaped having a magnet mounting portion 72 extending substantially orthogonally to a frame mounting portion 74. The electromagnet 28 is mounted on the magnet mounting portion 20 72 of the bracket 70 by means of a screw 76 that passes through the portion 72 and into the electromagnet 28. The frame mounting portion 74 is mounted onto the cabinet frame 18 by means of a series of screws 78 that are passed through the frame mounting portion 74 of the bracket and then into a wall of the cabinet frame 18. 25

The door 20 has an inner face 80 and an outer face 82, and an armature plate mounting arrangement for mounting the armature plate 30 on the inner face 80. The armature plate 30 is positioned on the inner face 80 to contact the electromagnet 28 when the door 20 is closed as shown in Figure 11. This is 30 desired to enable the electromagnet 28 to hold the armature plate 30 and thereby the door 20 when it is electrically energized. 15

Figure 12 shows several circuit diagrams for a locking apparatus for the motor home shown in Figure 2. 2012209009 31 Μ 2012

Figure 12A shows an electric circuit that connects each of the electromagnets in 5 parallel. The controller includes a switch that can be closed to energise the electromagnets and lock the doors and drawers. The switch can be opened to cut off the electrical power to the electromagnets and unlock the doors and drawers to permit them to be opened. 10 Figure 12B shows an electric circuit that connects each of the electromagnets in parallel. The controller includes a relay that is electrically connected to the ignition system that energises the electromagnets when the ignition is turned on and de-energises the electromagnets when the ignition is switched off. 15 Figure 12C shows an electric circuit that connects each of the electromagnets in parallel. The controller has a three position switch that is operatively connected to the circuit that is used to energise the electromagnets.

Figure 12D shows an electric circuit that connects each of the electromagnets in 20 parallel. The controller in Figure 12D includes both a relay as in Figure 12B and a three way switch as shown in Figure 12C.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 12 the controller includes a vehicle control switch that energises the electromagnets so that they hold their 25 armature plates when the ignition system is switched on and de-energises the electromagnets when the ignition system is switched off. The controller also includes a manual override switch which enables a user to override the vehicle control switch and de-energise the electromagnets to unlock the doors or drawers. A feature of electromagnets is that they need to be electrically 30 energized for them to apply their holding force to their armature plate. When the electrical energy is interrupted they release their armature plate. 16

In use, the motor home 10 is used in either a travelling mode or a camping mode and can be interchanged between these two modes. 2012209009 31 Jul 2012

When the motor home 10 is taken onto a road in the traveling mode the 5 controller is used to electrically energise the electromagnets 28 and hold the corresponding armature plates 30 to the electromagnets 28. When the motor home 10 is taken off the road, in particular to be used in a camping mode, then the controller can be used to cut off the electrical energy to the electromagnet. This causes the electromagnets 28 to release the armature plates 30, which 10 then enables the drawers 20 to be moved out of the closed position as shown in Figure 5. It also enables the doors 22 to be opened to provide access to the interior of the cabinet 16 as shown in Figure 10.

Figure 13 is a schematic plan view of a recreational vehicle that is a caravan 15 having a locking system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

In Figure 13 the reference numeral 90 will be used to refer generally to the caravan. The caravan 90 comprises a vehicle body 92 defining an interior space. Unless otherwise indicated the same reference numerals will be used to 20 refer to components of the cabinets, the drawers and doors generally and the locking system as in Figures 1 to 12 above.

The body 92 includes several cabinets 16 having a cabinet frame 18 and at least one associated door 20 or drawer 22 mounted thereon that is capable of 25 movement between an open position and a closed position. The caravan 90 also includes an electromagnetic locking system indicated generally by numeral 26 for locking the doors 20 and/or drawers 22 in the closed position. The electromagnetic locking system 26 operates in substantially the same way as the locking system on the motor home described above with reference to 30 Figures 1 to 12. 17

The controller of the locking system 26 can be operatively coupled to an ignition system of a towing vehicle that is used to tow the caravan 90. Instead the controller on the caravan 90 can have a manual control switch. 2012209009 31 Jul2012 5 An advantage of the electromagnetic locking system described above is that it all cabinet doors and drawers in one or more cabinets can be simultaneously locked and unlocked with a central controller obviating the need to lock and unlock every door and drawer. The system is an on or off system and this enables a user to control when all of the doors and drawers are to be unlocked 10 and when all of the doors or drawers are to be unlocked.

Further by operatively connecting the electromagnetic locking system to an ignition system of a vehicle the locking apparatus locks the doors and drawers when the ignition system is switched on. Conveniently this occurs just before 15 the vehicle is taken onto the road. Further the electromagnets are automatically de-energised when the ignition system is switched off. This unlocks the doors and drawers and permits them to be used.

The electromagnetic locking system is a central locking system that enables a 20 user to lock all the doors and drawers simultaneously. It overcomes the situation in a motor home where a drawer that has not been properly fixed in the locked position slides open and crashes onto the floor of the motor home spilling its contents on the floor. This situation can cause a mess and can also damage the motor home. 25

Another advantage of this invention is that the use of electromagnetic force to hold the drawers and doors locked in the closed position provides a system that has no moving parts. As a result the system is mechanically simpler and is more reliable. In the event of interruption of power the doors and drawers are 30 automatically unlocked. This avoids the situation that can occur with a mechanical locking arrangement where in the event of a power failure the doors 18 are locked and are inaccessible because electrical spring loaded locks are stuck in the locked position. 2012209009 31 Μ 2012 A further advantage of the locking system described above is that an 5 electromagnet can be chosen which has a strength that is selected to match the locking force that is required for that particular door or drawer. The locking force can be engineered to match the application required and be sufficient to hold the door or drawer in the locked position without being excessive. This is a significant advantage over a mechanical lock with a mechanical latching 10 arrangement. Further the locking system is extremely versatile and can be installed onto virtually all types of cabinets. Further it can be installed without making any modification to existing cabinetwork

Yet further with this electromagnetic locking system all mating and contact of 15 parts required for locking and unlocking happens between the electromagnet and the armature plate. The cabinet framework and the doors and drawers do not engage each other with this locking system and therefore damage to the cabinet as a result of wear and tear can be avoided. 20 Yet another advantage of the system described above with reference to the drawings is that it permits additional pairs of electromagnets and matching armature plates to be added to additional doors or drawers on cabinets over time. Further these additional electromagnets can be operatively connected to the same controller whereby to be locked and unlocked together with the other 25 electromagnets.

Yet another advantage of the system is that it has a fine tolerance and the electromagnets hold the armature plates up against the electromagnets so there is no rattling of doors and drawers in the vehicle. This is particularly 30 advantageous on motor homes which travel on dirt roads where rattling is a problem. It will be appreciated that significant rattling noise detracts very significantly from the amenity of any motor home. 19 2012209009 31 Μ 2012

It will of course be realized that the above has been given only by way of illustrative example of the invention and that all such modifications and variations thereto, as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art, are 5 deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as is herein set forth. 20

Claims (13)

1. A method of securing at least one internal door or drawer within a recreational vehicle having one or more cabinet type fittings and/or a shower, each of the one or more cabinet type fittings and/or the shower having a frame and an associated said at least one internal door or drawer mounted to the frame and moveable between an open position for providing access to an interior within the frame and a closed position, said method including: locking the at least one internal door or drawer in the closed position using an electromagnetic locking system when the recreational vehicle is travelling on a road in a travelling mode to secure the at least one internal door or drawer against moving to the open position due to changes in momentum during travel; and unlocking the at least one internal door or drawer using the electromagnetic locking system when the recreational vehicle ceases to be in the travelling mode to enable a user to open the at least one internal door or drawer, wherein the electromagnetic locking system includes: at least one armature plate mounted on one of the frame and the associated said at least one internal door or drawer; at least one electromagnet mounted on another of the frame and the associated said at least one internal door or drawer, wherein the electromagnet can be electrically energized with electricity to hold the electromagnet to the armature plate and thereby lock the at least one internal door or drawer, and the electromagnet can be electrically deenergized by interruption of electrical current to release the armature plate from the electromagnet and thereby unlock the at least one internal door or drawer; and a controller for directing the electromagnet to be electrically energized and for directing the electromagnet to be electrically deenergized.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one electromagnet is mounted on the frame and the at least one armature plate is mounted on the at least one internal door or drawer.

3. The method of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the electromagnetic locking system includes an electrical circuit with an electrical power supply that is electrically connected to the at least one electromagnet and the controller, and the electrical power supply generates the electrical current that is passed through the at least one electromagnet for electrically energizing the at least one electromagnet.

4. The method of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the controller includes a manual switch which can be manually switched by a user to energize and deenergize the at least one electromagnet to lock and unlock the at least one internal door or drawer, respectively.

5. The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the recreational vehicle includes a starter motor or engine, and the controller includes a vehicle control switch that electrically energizes the at least one electromagnet and locks the at least one internal door or drawer each time the starter motor or engine is activated.

6. The method of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the recreational vehicle includes a vehicle movement detector and the controller includes a vehicle control switch that electrically energizes the at least one electromagnet and locks the at least one internal door or drawer when the vehicle movement detector detects movement of the recreational vehicle and de-energizes the at least one electromagnet and unlocks the at least one internal door or drawer when the vehicle movement detector detects that the recreational vehicle has been stationary for a predetermined period of time.

7. The method of claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the controller includes a manual override switch that enables a user to override the vehicle control switch and deenergize the at least one electromagnet to unlock the at least one internal door or drawer when the starter motor or engine is activated and/or when the vehicle movement detector detects movement.

8. The method of any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the electromagnetic locking system further includes at least one magnetic mounting arrangement on which the at least one electromagnet is mounted, the at least one magnetic mounting arrangement being mounted in a position on the frame such that the electromagnet is adjacent a corresponding said at least one armature plate when the at least one internal door or drawer is in the closed position.

9. The method of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the at least one drawer has a front wall and an opposed rear wall and at least one armature mounting arrangement for mounting the at least one armature plate on the rear wall.

10. The method of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the at least one door is selected from a pivoting door and sliding door, and has an inner face and an opposed outer face and at least one armature mounting arrangement for mounting the at least one armature plate on the inner face.

11. The method of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the recreational vehicle includes a plurality of internal doors and drawers each including an associated said at least one electromagnet and corresponding said at least one armature plate, and the electromagnetic locking system is used to lock and unlock the plurality of internal doors and drawers.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the controller operates all said at least one electromagnets simultaneously so as to provide a central locking system for the plurality of internal doors and drawers within the recreational vehicle.

13. The method of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the recreational vehicle is a motor home or fifth wheeler. Date: 13 September 2017