GB2171365A

GB2171365A - Caravan type trailer or vehicle body

Info

Publication number: GB2171365A
Application number: GB08504499A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Barry Paul Robinson; Simon Spencer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-02-21
Filing date: 1985-02-21
Publication date: 1986-08-28
Also published as: GB8504499D0

Abstract

A trailer or self propelled vehicle has a floor 15 and a covered body 14 in which the side walls 17 are hinged at their upper end so as to be movable between a vertical position and a horizontal position where they are retained by struts 20. Floor extension portions 21 are provided which are hinged to the floor 15 and movable about the hinges between a storage or transporting position in which they lie within the confines of the body 14 and a horizontal position in which they extend the floor area beyond the confines of the body 14 when the side walls 17 are in their horizontal position. The end walls may also comprise panels 18 hinged and moveable similarly to the side walls with corresponding floor extension portions 21. Triangular infill panels 19 extend to fill the gaps between adjacent panels 17 and 18. The trailer can be used for vending food, beverages or other goods. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Caravan type trailer or vehicle body This invention relates to a trailer or self-propelled vehicle having a covered body, particularly a trailer caravan or a self-propelled van.

Usually the covered body is of fixed dimensions and thus the available floor area of the body is fixed.

According to the present invention there is provided a trailer or self-propelled vehicle having a covered body, said body having at least one vertical side wall hinged at its upper end so as to be capable of being swung upwardly to a horizontal or substantially horizontal position, means for holding the said side wall in the horizontal or near horizontal position, and a floor extension portion hinged to the floor of said trailer or vehicle along said one side and movable about said hinge between a storage or transporting position in which it lies within the confines of the body and a horizontal position in which it extends the floor area beyond the confines of the body when said side wall is in the horizontal or substantially horizontal position.

Preferably the floor extension portion is provided along a free edge with an upstanding wall forming portion.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of an example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a trailer according to the present invention with its sides disposed vertical; Figure 2 is a plan view of the trailer with its sides and ends raised; Figure 3 is a transverse section taken along the line 3-3 indicated on Figure 1 with the sides raised and the floor extensions horizontal; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the trailer ready for transportation; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of the trailer with the sides raised and floor extensions horizontal.

The trailer comprises a chassis 10 supported on wheels 11 and having a tow bar 12 provided with a towing hitch 13. Mounted on the chassis 10 is a covered body 14 having a floor 15 and a framework 16. Supported from the framework 16 are side panels 17 which are hinged at their upper edge to the framework 16 so as to be movable between a vertical position, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, and a horizontal position or a position slightly inclined to the horizontal, as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 5. Also supported from the framework 16 are end panels 18 which are hinged at their upper edge to the framework 16 so as to be movable between a vertical position as shown in Figures 1 and 4, and a horizontal position or a position slightly inclined to the horizontal, as shown in Figures 2,3 and 5.Hinged to each side edge of the panels 17 are infill panels 19 which, when the panels 17 are vertical, are folded back to lie on the outside of the panels 17 and which when the panels 17 and 18 are horizontal or near horizontal, extend between adjacent panels 17 and 18 to fill in the gap between them. The panels 17, 18 are held in their horizontal or near horizontal position by means of struts 20, which may be mechanical, pneumatic or hydraulic struts.

Hinged to the longitudinally extending sides of the floor 15 are floor extension portions 21. Each floor extension portion 21 is quadrilateral in plan view and has at its free edges an upstanding portion 22 which terminates in a portion 23, which forms a counter when the extension portion 21 is horizontal. Each extension portion 21 is movable about its hinge between a horzontal position, as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 5, and a raised vertical position, as shown in broken lines in Figures 1 and 3. Mounted on the floor 15 is a central unit 24 which may consist of cooking means, cupboards, shelves, sink etc. The portions 22 and 23 of the floor extension portions 21 extend over the central unit 24 when the extension portions 21 are in the vertical position. When the extension portions 21 are in the horizontal position they extend the floor area beyond the confines of the body 14.In their raised position the panels 17, 18 and 19 form a canopy.

The shape and configuration of the central unit 24 can be chosen to suit the use of the trailer.

The trailer can be used for vending food, beverages or other goods. The floor extension portions 21 can be provided with supports for supporting them in the horizontal position and can be of any desired shape in plan view.

It will be appreciated that the body 14 instead of being fixed to a trailer chassis can form the body of a self-propelled vehicle, such as a van.

It will also be appreciated that only one side of the body 14 may be provided with a panel 17 and a floor extension 21.

1. A trailer or self-propelled vehicle having a floor and a covered body, said body having at least one vertical side wall hinged at its upper end so as to be capable of being swung upwardly to a horizontal or substantially horizontal position, means for holding said side wall in the horizontal or near horizontal position, and a floor extension portion hinged to the floor of said trailer or vehicle along one side and movable about said hinge between a storage or transporting position in which it lies within the confines of the body and a horizontal position in which it extends the floor area beyond the confines of the body when said side wall is in the horizontal or substantially horizontal position.

2. A trailer or vehicle as claimed in claim 1, in which the floor extension portion is provided along a free edge thereof with an upstanding wall forming portion.

3. A trailer or vehicle as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which each end of the covered body is provided with an end panel hinged at its upper edge so as to be movable between a vertical position and a horizontal or substantially horizontal position.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Caravan type trailer or vehicle body This invention relates to a trailer or self-propelled vehicle having a covered body, particularly a trailer caravan or a self-propelled van. Usually the covered body is of fixed dimensions and thus the available floor area of the body is fixed. According to the present invention there is provided a trailer or self-propelled vehicle having a covered body, said body having at least one vertical side wall hinged at its upper end so as to be capable of being swung upwardly to a horizontal or substantially horizontal position, means for holding the said side wall in the horizontal or near horizontal position, and a floor extension portion hinged to the floor of said trailer or vehicle along said one side and movable about said hinge between a storage or transporting position in which it lies within the confines of the body and a horizontal position in which it extends the floor area beyond the confines of the body when said side wall is in the horizontal or substantially horizontal position. Preferably the floor extension portion is provided along a free edge with an upstanding wall forming portion. An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of an example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a trailer according to the present invention with its sides disposed vertical; Figure 2 is a plan view of the trailer with its sides and ends raised; Figure 3 is a transverse section taken along the line 3-3 indicated on Figure 1 with the sides raised and the floor extensions horizontal; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the trailer ready for transportation; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of the trailer with the sides raised and floor extensions horizontal. The trailer comprises a chassis 10 supported on wheels 11 and having a tow bar 12 provided with a towing hitch 13. Mounted on the chassis 10 is a covered body 14 having a floor 15 and a framework 16. Supported from the framework 16 are side panels 17 which are hinged at their upper edge to the framework 16 so as to be movable between a vertical position, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, and a horizontal position or a position slightly inclined to the horizontal, as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 5. Also supported from the framework 16 are end panels 18 which are hinged at their upper edge to the framework 16 so as to be movable between a vertical position as shown in Figures 1 and 4, and a horizontal position or a position slightly inclined to the horizontal, as shown in Figures 2,3 and 5.Hinged to each side edge of the panels 17 are infill panels 19 which, when the panels 17 are vertical, are folded back to lie on the outside of the panels 17 and which when the panels 17 and 18 are horizontal or near horizontal, extend between adjacent panels 17 and 18 to fill in the gap between them. The panels 17, 18 are held in their horizontal or near horizontal position by means of struts 20, which may be mechanical, pneumatic or hydraulic struts. Hinged to the longitudinally extending sides of the floor 15 are floor extension portions 21. Each floor extension portion 21 is quadrilateral in plan view and has at its free edges an upstanding portion 22 which terminates in a portion 23, which forms a counter when the extension portion 21 is horizontal. Each extension portion 21 is movable about its hinge between a horzontal position, as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 5, and a raised vertical position, as shown in broken lines in Figures 1 and 3. Mounted on the floor 15 is a central unit 24 which may consist of cooking means, cupboards, shelves, sink etc. The portions 22 and 23 of the floor extension portions 21 extend over the central unit 24 when the extension portions 21 are in the vertical position. When the extension portions 21 are in the horizontal position they extend the floor area beyond the confines of the body 14.In their raised position the panels 17, 18 and 19 form a canopy. The shape and configuration of the central unit 24 can be chosen to suit the use of the trailer. The trailer can be used for vending food, beverages or other goods. The floor extension portions 21 can be provided with supports for supporting them in the horizontal position and can be of any desired shape in plan view. It will be appreciated that the body 14 instead of being fixed to a trailer chassis can form the body of a self-propelled vehicle, such as a van. It will also be appreciated that only one side of the body 14 may be provided with a panel 17 and a floor extension 21. CLAIMS

4. A trailer or vehicle as claimed in claim 3, in which additional panels are hinged to the side edges of the vertical side wall which when the side wall is vertical are folded back over the outside of the side wall and which when the side wall and ends panels are in the horizontal or substantially horizontal position extend between them.

5. A trailer or vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the means for holding the side wall and end panels in their horizontal or substantially horizontal position comprise struts.

6. A trailer or vehicle as claimed in claim 2 or any one of claims 3 to 5 when dependent on claim 2, in which the wall forming portion of the floor extension portion terminates in a counter forming portion.

7. A trailer or vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the floor of the trailor or vehicle supports a unit and the floor extension portion partly extends over the unit when in the vertical position.

8. A trailer or vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the floor extension portion is quadriiateral in plan view.

9. A trailer or vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim, in which both side walls are hinged at their upper end and two floor extension portions are provided.

10. A trailer or vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the or each floor extension portion is provided with supports for supporting it in the horizontal position.

11. A trailer or vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.