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Patent 1200262 Summary

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Claims and Abstract availability

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(12) Patent: (11) CA 1200262
(21) Application Number: 1200262
(54) English Title: VAN LAYOUT
(54) French Title: AMENAGEMENT INTERIEUR POUR VEHICULE ROUTIER DE PLAISANCE
Status: Term Expired - Post Grant
Bibliographic Data
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):
  • B60P 3/32 (2006.01)
(72) Inventors :
  • HANEMAAYER, JACOBUS N. (Canada)
(73) Owners :
  • HANMAR HOME EQUIPMENT LIMITED
(71) Applicants :
  • HANMAR HOME EQUIPMENT LIMITED
(74) Agent: GOWLING WLG (CANADA) LLP
(74) Associate agent:
(45) Issued: 1986-02-04
(22) Filed Date: 1982-05-26
Availability of licence: N/A
Dedicated to the Public: N/A
(25) Language of filing: English

Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT): No

(30) Application Priority Data:
Application No. Country/Territory Date
348,695 (United States of America) 1982-02-16

Abstracts

English Abstract


ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A motor van has an interior convertible to either
a sightseeing mode or a mobile home mode, the conversion being
by means of foldable partitions. Unique types of stowable beds
and a convertible shower stall-closet are also disclosed.


Claims

Note: Claims are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.


-18-
CLAIMS:
1. A mobile van having a van body comprising:
(A) a plurality of main sections serially arranged
in the lengthwise direction of the van body and in close relation to
one another;
(B) one of said main sections having at least a sub-
stantial portion of a kitchen facility mounted adjacent one side
wall of the van body, a toilet region being defined adjacent
the opposing side wall of the van body within said one main section and
a passageway aligned with the lengthwise dimension of the van body
and defined between the toilet region and kitchen facility,
said passageway providing for communication between said one main
section and each other main section which is adjacent thereto;
(C) movable partition means associated with said one main section
and movable between (a) a first position clear of said passageway
providing open communication between said one main section and at
least one said other main section adjacent thereto and (b) a second ex-
tended position across said passageway and separating said one main
section from said at least one other main section thereby forming
separated compartments to enable said toilet region to be used
in privacy, and
(D) said partition means being adapted to at least
partially cover and conceal said toilet region from view when
in said first position, and to expose said toilet region for use
when in said second extended position.
2. The mobile van of claim 1 wherein said main
sections comprise a central main section by flanked by a forward main section
and a rear main section, and wherein said movable partition means

-17-
includes a pair of movable partitions spaced apart in the
lengthwise direction of the van body such that in their first
positions, free communication between all said main sections is
provided, while in their second extended positions they isolate
said central main section from the other two main sections thereby to
define three separated compartments and enabling a person in the
thus-defined central compartment to use the toilet region
therein in privacy.
3. The mobile van of claim 1 wherein a flush
toilet is located in said toilet region. .
4. The mobile van of claim 2 wherein said toilet
region has flush toilet and shower stall facilities adjacent the
associated sidewall portion of the van.
5. The mobile van of claim 2 wherein at least one
of said forward and rear main sections have means therein convertible
to sleeping facilities and said passageway providing ready and
direct access from said sleeping facilities to said central main
section in said first position of said partition means.
6. The mobile van of claim 5 wherein said forward main
section has said means convertible to sleeping facilities and
which are capable of defining a pair of beds spaced apart laterally
of the van body to define a walkway therebetween aligned with the
passageway defined by said central main section to facilitate
passage between said beds and said central main section.

-2?-
7. A mobile van having a van body comprising:
(A) a plurality of main sections serially arranged
in the lengthwise direction of the body and in close relation
to one another;
(B) one of said main sections having at least a sub-
stantial portion of a kitchen facility mounted adjacent one side
wall of the van body, a toilet region being defined adjacent
the opposing side wall of the van body within said one main section
and a passageway aligned with the lengthwise dimension of the
van and defined between the toilet region and kitchen facility,
said passageway providing for communication between said one main
section and each other main section which is adjacent thereto;
(C) partition means associated with said one main
section and movable between (a) a first position clear of said
passageway providing open communication between said one main section
and at least one other main section adjacent thereto whereby the
combined spaces defined by said passageway, kitchen facility
and said at least one other main section are available for communal use
and (b) a second extended position across said passageway and
separating said one main section from said at least one other main
section thereby forming separated compartments and converting said
one main section into a segregated compartment to enable said toilet
region to be used in privacy, and
(D) said partition means being adapted to at
least partially cover and conceal said toilet region from view
and block the use thereof when in said first position to enable
the kitchen facility to be used while the toilet facility is
at least partly concealed, and said partition means further adapted
to expose said toilet region for use within the thus converted

-21-
compartment when in said second extended position so that a free
open space defined at least in part by said toilet region and said
passageway becomes accessible for use within the thus converted
and segregated privacy compartment.
8. The mobile van of claim 7 wherein said main
sections comprise a central section flanked by a forward section
and a rear section, and wherein said partition means
includes a pair of movable partitions spaced apart in the length-
wise direction of the van body such that in their first positions,free
communication between all said main sections is provided, while in their
second extended positions they isolate said central section from
the other two main sections thereby to define three separated compart-
ments and enabling a person in the thus-defined central compartment
to use the toilet region therein in privacy, and said forward
and rear main sections having means therein convertible to sleeping
facilities and said passageway providing ready and direct access
from said sleeping facilities to said central section in said first
position of said partition means.
9. The mobile van of claim 7 wherein a flush
toilet is located in said toilet region.

-22-
10. A mobile van having a van body comprising:
(A) a rear section, a central section, and a
forward section; said section, being serially arranged in the
lengthwise direction of the van body in juxtaposition to one
another;
(B) said central section having at least a sub-
stantial portion of a kitchen facility mounted adjacent one side
wall of the van body, a toilet region being defined adjacent the
opposing side wall of the van body within said central section
and a passageway aligned with the lengthwise dimension of the
van and defined between the toilet region and kitchen facility,
said passageway providing communication between said rear,
central and forward sections;
(C) movable partition means operatively associated
with said central section and movable between (a) a first
retracted position clear of said passageway wherein free
communication is provided between said central section and at
least one of the other two sections whereby the combined sections
are available for use, and (b) a second extended position wherein
said partition means extends generally laterally of the van body
so as to form a temporary wall portion closing said passageway
and temporarily separating said central section from at least one
of the other two sections with at least a portion of said toilet
region being at the same time open and accessible for use within
said central section.
11. The mobile van of claim 10 wherein said movable
partition means includes a pair of movable partitions spaced
apart in the lengthwise direction of the van body such that in

-23-
their second extended positions they isolate said central
section from the other two sections thereby to define three
separated compartments within said van body and enabling persons
in the thus-defined central compartment to use said toilet
region therein in privacy.
12. The mobile van of claim 11 wherein said movable
partition means comprise first and second doors, each hinged to a
respective portion fixed to the van body and pivotable from
retracted positions overlying and concealing at least a sub-
stantial portion of said toilet region,to said extended positions
wherein they serve to isolate said central section from the
other sections.
13. The mobile van of claim 11 wherein at least
one of said rear and forward sections therein includes means
convertable into sleeping accommodations whereby persons using
such sleeping accommodations have ready access to the toilet
region in said central section.
14. The mobile van of claim 13 wherein said forward
section includes said means convertable into sleeping
accommodations and capable of defining a pair of beds spaced
apart laterally of the van body to define a walkway therebetween
aligned with the passageway defined through said central section
thus facilitating passage between said beds and said central
section.
15. The mobile van of claim 14 wherein said rear-
ward section includes means convertable to a sleeping
accommodation.
16. The mobile van of claim 12 wherein said first
and second doors each comprise a pair of panels hinged together to
provide a folding section.

-24-
17. A mobile van having a van body comprising:
(A) a rear section, a central section, and a
forward section; said sections being serially arranged in the
lengthwise direction of the van body in juxtaposition to one
another;
(B) said central section having at least a sub-
stantial portion of a kitchen facility mounted adjacent one
side wall of the van body, a toilet region being defined
adjacent the opposing side wall of the van body within said
central section and a passageway aligned with the lengthwise
dimension of the van and defined between the toilet region and
kitchen facility, said passageway providing communication between
said rear, central and forward sections;
(c) movable partition means operatively
associated with said central section and movable between (a) a
first retracted position clear of said passageway wherein free
communication is provided between said central section and at
least one of the other two sections whereby the combined spaces
defined by said passageway, kitchen facility and said at least
one other section are available for communal use while at the
same time said movable partition means at least partly conceals
said toilet region from view and blocks the use thereof, and
(b) a second extended position wherein said partition means
extends generally laterally of the van body so as to form a
temporary wall portion closing said passageway and temporarily
separating said central section from at least one of the other
two sections and thus converting such central section to a

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privacy compartment with at least a portion of said toilet
region being at the same time open and accessible for use
within said central section so that a substantial portion of
the space defined by said central section, including the space
defined by said passageway, is made available for use by a
person occupying the converted privacy compartment.
18. The mobile van of claim 17 wherein a
flush toilet is located in said toilet region, and said movable
partition means are arranged to conceal said flush toilet in
the retracted position thereof.
19. The mobile van of claim 18 wherein a
shower stall is also located in said toilet region alongside
the flush toilet so that said passageway is defined between
said kitchen facility on the one side and the toilet and shower
stall facilities on the other side.
20. The mobile van of claim 19 wherein said
movable partitions comprise first and second doors, each hinged
to a respective portion fixed to the van body and pivotable
from the first retracted positions wherein they overlie and
conceal at least substantial portions of the toilet and shower
stall respectively, to their second extended positions wherein
they separate said central section from the other sections
whereby to allow use of the toilet and/or shower stall in
privacy.

-26-
21. The mobile van of claim 20 wherein there is
provided a swingable coat rack assembly mounted to pivot into
and out of said shower stall and to be concealed by the door
when the latter is in the retracted position.
22. The mobile van of claim 21 wherein said first
and second doors and said coat rack assembly are all pivotable
about mutually parallel axes.
23. The mobile van of claim 18 wherein said shower
stall includes a frame and a fold-out base portion pivotally
mounted to said frame to alternately assume either:
(a) a first retracted position during non-use of the shower
in which such base extends below the movable partition associated
with the shower stall to form a lower covering for same or
(b) a second extended position during use of the shower in which
the fold-out base extends generally horizontally on the
floor of the van.

-27-
24. The mobile van of claim 1, 3 or 4 wherein
said partition means comprise pairs of doors hinged to pivot
about axes which are parallel to one another.
25. The mobile van of claim 1, 3 or 4 wherein said
movable partition means includes a pair of movable partitions
spaced apart in the lengthwise direction of the van body such that
in their first positions said open communication is provided while
in the second extended position said one main section is separated
from said at least one other main section adjacent thereto.
26. The mobile van of claim 1, 3 or 4 wherein
said at least one other main section includes means convertible
to sleeping facilities and said passageway providing ready and
direct access from said sleeping facilities to said one main section in
said first position of said partition means.
27. The mobile van of claim 1, 3 or 4 wherein
said at least one other main section includes means convertible
to sleeping facilities and said passageway providing ready and
direct access from said sleeping facilities to said one main section in
said first position of said partition means, said means convertible
to sleeping facilities being capable of defining a pair of beds
spaced apart laterally of the van body to define a walkway there-
between aligned with the passageway defined by said one
main section to facilitate passage between said beds
and said one main section.

Description

Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a motor van, and more
particularly, to a motor van having separable comparbments
creating inte~rated mohile living quarters.
Although large motor homes and trailers have been
in use for a number of years, recent increases in fuel costs have
created a need for more compact motor homes capable of providing
all of the amenities of the larger motor homes but at a saving
in fuel cost and space. Other considerations axe greater
10 flexibility and greater ease of handling. The ideal motor home
would represent a compromise of these features and contain an
interior allowing for both a single living space during the
major part of the travelling day and division of that living
space during the remainder of the day into separated compartments
15 for specialized activities such as sleeping, cooking and personal
hygiene.
Certain features are essential in a motor van being
utilized as a motor home. It must contain comfortable seating
for travelling, suitable kitchen facilities such as a stove and
20 fridge, a toilet, a shower or similar wash facility, and sleeping
~uarters. Depending upon the space available in the motor van,
one or more of these features may be placed in the same section
of the van.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The subject invention is a motor van having an
interior arranged to form a motor home that takes optimum
advantage of the available space. Such vans may be provided in

-- 2
various lengths~ their in-terior being separable into either
two or three compartments depending upon availahle space. The
Eorward compartment would generally contain a seating arrangement
optionally convextible into several beds. In that same
compartment, a stowable, overhead bed may be provided, that bed
in its extended position resting on support means above the
seating arrangement. If the length of the van allows, a fixed
bed may also be installed in the separahle rear compartment.
In the longest version of the motor van of the
10 subject invention, both central and rear separable compartments
are provided. In the shortest version of the motor van only
forward and rear separable compartments are provided. Intermediate
size versions of the motor van are also available~ A kitchen
facility, toilet, and shower stall occupy the central separable
15 compartment in the longest version of the motor home, such
facilities being in the rear comparbment in the shortest version
of the motor v~n. The kitchen facility has a balanced weight
distribution and a preferr~d embodiment of the invention
comprises a sink, a grill area, a fridge, kitchen cabinets
20 and overhead cupboards. The toilet is preferably of the
conventional type for motor homes and connects to a waste
storage tank mounted under the floor of the van. The shower
stall is of a unique construction and has a fold-out coat rack
assembly pivotally connected to its frame so as to double as
25 a storage closet. The toilet and shower stall are located in
what is broadly termed a toilet region and are associated with
attractive cabinet coverings which double as foldable partitions
to isolate those facilities in use from the remaining space
in the van. The

creation of privacy areas by the use of these dual functlon
partitions is an important aspect of the invention~
The longest version of the motor van has a third
separable compartment at the rear~ the compartment housing a
fixed bed or a dinette arrangement convertible into a bed. The
hed formed in this compartment may be either additional to or
in replacement of the bed ormed by the convertible seating arrange-
ment or the stowable, overhead bed. In this reyard, it should
be mentioned that in the shortest version of the van there is
10 no room for a rear bed facility, the forward separable compartment
of the van having both the convertible seating arrangement and
the stowable, overhead bed.
Accordingly, the invention in one aspect provides
a mobile van having a van body comprising:(A) a plurality of main
sections serially arranged in the lengthwise direction of the van
body and in close relation to one another; (B) one of said sections
having at least a substantial portion of a kitchen facility mounted
adjacent one side wall of the van body, a toilet region being
defined adjacent the opposing side wall of the van body witnin said
one section and a passageway aligned with the lengthwise dimension
of the van body and defined between the toilet region and kitchen
facility, said passageway providing for communication between said
one section and each other main section which is adjacent thereto;
(C) movable partition means associated with said one section and
movable between (a) a first position clear of said passageway
providing open communication between said one section and at least

.3'-~ ~ ` ' >
- 3a ~
one other main section adjacent thereto and (b) a second
extended position across said passageway and separating said
one section from said at least one other main section thereby
forming separated compartments to enable said toilet region to
be used in privacy, and (D) said partition means being adapted
to at least partially cover and conceal said toilet region from
view when in said first position, and to expose said toilet
region for use when in said second extended position.
In a further aspect the invention provides a
10 mobile van having a van body comprising: (A) a rear section, a
central section, and a forward section; said sections being
serially arranged in the lengthwise di~ection of the van body in
juxtaposition to one another; (B) said central sec-tion having at
least a substantial portion of a kitchen facility mounted adjacent
15 one side wall of the van body, a toilet region being defined
adjacent the opposing side wall of the van body within said central
section and a passageway aligned with the lengthwise dimension of
the van and defined between the toilet region and kitchen facility,
said passageway providing communication between said rear, central
20 and forward sections; (C) movable partition means operatively
associated with said central section and movable between (a) a
first retracted posi-tion clear of said passageway wherein free
communication is provided between said central section and at
least one of the other said sections whereby the combined spaces
25 defined by said passageway, kitchen facility and said at least
one other secti.on are available for communal use while at the

.L;(d~
- 3b -
same time said movable partition means at least partly
conceals said toilet region from view and blocks the use
thereof, and (b) a second extended position wherein said
partition means extends generally laterally of the van body
so as to form a temporary wall portlon closing said passageway
and temporarily separating said central section from at least
one of the other two sections and thus converting such central
section to a privacy compartment with at least a portion of
said toilet region being at the same time open and accessible
for use within said central section so that a substantial
portion of the space defined by said central section, including
the space defined by said passageway, is made available for use
by a person occupying the converted privacy compartment.
Further aspects of the invention will be apparent
from the following description and the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The subject invention will now be described in
greater detail by way of example. In the drawings:
Figure l is a perspective cutaway view of the right
side of the longest version of the mo-tor van;
Figure 2 is a cutawav perspective view of the left
side of the motor van of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a plan view of the motor van interior
illustrating a seating arrangement convertible to a pair of beds
and also illustratlng the toilet and shower stall covering pivoted
to form a privacy compartment;

Figure 4 is a plan view of a motor van interior
as in Figure 3, and additionally illustrating a rear dining
compartment which is convertible to a double bed as shown
in Figure 5;
Figure 5 is a plan view of the motor van
interior of Figure 4 illustrating a pair of beds formed by the
convertible

3 i ~ p
~,
seating arrang ~ nt in the front area and ei~ler a fixed double k~d.in the
rear area or a ked which is c~lv~ ~ble to a dinette as sho~n in Figure 4;
Figure 6 is a cutaway view through the right side
of the motor van illustrating the convertible seating arrangement
and also illustrating the stowab:Le, overhead bed;
Figure 7 is a perspective forward view of the forward
compartment illustrating the stowable, overhead bed ln the
retracted position;
Figure 8 is a perspective forward view of -the
forward compartment illustrating the stowable, overhead bed in the
10 extended position;
Figure 9 is a perspective view of the covered
toilet and shower stall facility of the motor van, illustrating
in outline a partial fold-out position for the covering;
Figure 10 is a perspective view of the toilet and
15 shower stall facility after movement of the covering to a
position to form a separated privacy compartment~
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
A preferred embodiment of the motor van of the
subject invention will next be described utilizing the accompany-
20 ing drawings.
Motor van 11 has the chassis and body of one ofthe vans commercially available in the marketplace. The van
interior fixtures of the subject invention are adopted to be
placed in a Dodge "Ram Series 250" van, although other vans
25 available in the marketplace could be utilized to house the same
or similar ~ixtures. Preferably, the chosen van will have an

.~tiJ~ J~
engine economic on gas, power steering, power brakes, and
other features that contribute to a smoo-th comfortable ride, such
as cruise con-trol, steel belted tires, and a stabilizer bar.
The van of the preferred embodiment has side doors
12 and a rear door 13 to allow passengers rapid access to the van
interior. Three separable sections or compartments are created
in the motor van of Figures 1 and 2: a forward compartment 14, a
central compartment 15, and a rear compar-tment 16, such sections
or compartments being serially a.rranged in the lengthwise
10 direction of the van body and being in close juxtaposition to one
another. In a shorter version of the motor van of the subject
invention -there are only two compartments: a forward seating
compartment and a rear compartment, the rear compartment containing
fixtures similar to those that will subsequen-tly be described in
15 central compartment 15.
Forward compartment 14 represents approximately
half of the interior space of the van and has side windows 17 and
18 in addition to the standard windows to allow passengers
seated in the forward compartment a panoramic view outside.
Figures 1 and 2 illustrate four swivel seats 19 mounted i.n the
forward compartment; however, as illustrated in Figures 5 to 8
inclusive, the two rear swivel seats may each be replaced by a
fixed seat 20 which, in conjunction with the swivel seat forward
thereof, may be converted into a bed as will subsequently be
more fully explained. A table 25 is removably mounted in the
forward compartment 14 such that it is central to either of the
four swivel seats 19 or of the pair of front swivel seats 19
and the pair of fixed rear seats 20. The table may be
eccentrically mounted to its support post and off centered

r l' ~ P
UY ~ ~J ~
relative to the floor to provide extra room when rotated ou-t
of its normal position. For driving all swivel seats are in
the forward position and table 25 could be detached from the
floor and stored if desired.
Figures 3 to 6 illustrate a seati.ng arrangement
convertible to a pair oE beds. Each becl 19' is formed by a
forward swivel seat 19 and the associated fixed seat 20 located
at the rear thereof. To form a bed, the swivel seat is rotated
such that its back portion is proximate of the other swivel seat
10 and its arms, which are pivotally connected to the back portion,
are i.n the raised position (see Figure 6)o The fixed seat 20
which is behind the particular swivel seat 19 is modified to
form an extended hori~ontal platform for the bed, as shown in
outline in Figure 6. Seat 20 has a seating portion 23 to which
15 is rigidly secured at the forward end a vertical front plat.e 24.
The side edges of seating portion 23 rest on a pair of
forwardly extending vertical frame walls 31~ A back rest
27 is provided with loops on its upper edge which fasten to
hooks mounted on partition 26. Back rest 27 slopes downwardly
20 away from partition 26, its lower portion being spaced from
partition 26 by a cushion 28. As shown in Figure 6, seating
portion 23 of each rear seat 20 may be moved forward such that
its front edge is adjacent to a side edge of the rotated swivel
seat forwardly thereof. The rear edge of seating portion 23 in
2~, such forward position is supported by vertical frame support 30,
that support sitting proximate of vertical front plate 24 when
seating portion 23 is in the retracted position. With seating
portion 23 in the forward position, back rest 27 is dislodged

P~ r~.v ~V ~ P h~
from the hooks -that hold it to partit:ion 26 and laid on a
horizontal strip 25 rigidly secured to the partition 26 which
separates the forward compartment from the adjoining compartment.
The -top edges of the pair of forwardly extended vertical frame
walls 31 are covered by seating por-tion 23 and support the
latter when in the retracted position. On the driver's side of
the van, the two cushions 28 are placed on a support bridging
the span between side walls 31 between seating por-tion 23 in
its forward position and back rest 27 to form the bed; the
driver's swivel seat is positioned slightly forwardly of -the
other swivel seat and the other bed does not require similar
cushions. Figure 6 illustrates in outline the bed formed on the
driver's side by the rear seat in the extended position and by
the rotated swivel seat forward thereof, that swivel seat having
been rotated counterclockwise one-quarter turn and its arms
pivoted to the raised position. Figure 5 illustrates the two
beds 19' that are thus formed in the forward compartment, the
bed on the driver's side being of slightly greater length. The
relatively wide seating portion 23 which forms the central
portion of the bed provides extra room for the sleeper where it
is most needed. Suitable means, not shown, are provided to
lock the swivel sea-ts 19 in their forward, driving positions
whereby to prevent unwanted turning of same about their vertical
swivel axes. The space between vertical walls 31 under seating
portion 23 in the retracted position is normally used to store
bedding and similar items.
An alternate bed arrangement for the forward
compartment of the van is illustrated in Figures 6, 7, and 8.

The al-terna-te arrangement, which finds greater application to
a van housing four swivel seats in the forward compartmen-t, is a
stowable overhead bed comprising three boards 35, 36, and 37,
each of similar length but of diEferent width, board 37 being
wider than board 36 which is wider than board 35. The three
boards together form the base of the stowable bed, the boards
being supported by three fold-down support members, two of
which are each pivotally secured to a respective side of the van
above the windows and the third of which is pivotally secured to
10 a horizontal shelf at the forward end of the van~ The support
members pivotally secured to the side walls of the van are boards
41 and 42 which are hinged to boards 43 and 44, respectively,
the latter pair of boards being permanently mounted to a respective
one of the side walls of the van. The support member at the
15 forward end of the van is pivotably mounted to the rearward edge
of horizontal shelf member 45 which extends laterally across
the van proximate of the top of the windshield. The forward
support member consists of two boards hinged together such that
in their retracted position a first one of the boards 47 extends
20 generally vertically and the other board 48 extends generally
horizontally. The hinges on boards 47 and 48 are positioned
such that with boards 35, 36, and 37 unstowed, boards 47 and 48
may be pivoted as a unit on the hinge connecting board 47 to
the rearward edge of horizontal ledge 45~ That hinge, which in
25 the stowed bed position is on the lower edge of board 47, is
on the upper edge of board 47 after such rotation. Board 47
is then rotated relative to board 48 until the two boards hanq

_ ~ ~3~ 3~
in vertical planar alignment (as .shown in dashed lines in
Fig. 6). Boards 41 and 42 may assume ei-ther a raised position,
as shown in Figure 7, or a lowered position, as shown in
Figure 8; -the two boards have angle iron members 51 and 52,
respectively, secured to -their lower edges as those edges are
defined in the lowered position. This arrangement is illustrated
in E'igures 7 and 8. Board 48 also has a length of angle iron
48a extending along its lower edge and best seen in the lowered
position (shown in dashed lines in Fig.6). The boards 35, 36
10 and 37 rest upon the three sections of angle iron 48a, 51 and 52,
as illustrated in outline in Figure 6. Of boards 35, 36 and 37,
the board placed in the forward position has holes extending
through its thickness on one of its longer edges and on the two
corners facing that edge. Pins 39 located to correspond to the
15 holes in the forwardly positioned board extend from the three
sections of angle iron such that placement of the pins 39 into the
holes on the forwardly positioned board locks the forward and
side support members in a defined spatial relationship. Boards
41 and 42 are thus prevented from moving laterally outward and
20 board 48 is prevented from moving forwardly. The position of
pins 39 and the corresponding holes in the forwardly positioned
board are illustrated in Figure 6. Stops 55 and 56 are each
fastened to partitions 29 and 26 respectively at the rear edges
of boards 41 and 42, respectively, to further prevent those
25 boards from moving outwardly.
Boards 41 and 42 serve a double purpose for the
storable bed. Not only do they support boards 35, 36 and 37
when those three boards are in their lowered posi-tion, but

- 10 -
they also prevent those three boards Erom sliding back when
in their raised position. As shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8,
boards 41 and 42 are cut such that their forward ends are of
decreased depth to match with a ledge defined by s-trips 38;
boards 35, 36 and 37 rest upon these strips 38 which are
permanently mounted to the forward ends of permanently mounted
boards 43 and 44. All of the hinges used in the stowable bed
assembly are preferably of the piano hinge variety and extend
the length of the hinged surfaces thus providing ample support
10 when the bed is in use.
The separable privacy compartment behind the forward
compartment, as illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 9 and 10, will
now be described in detail. For better clarification, the
separable privacy compartment is designated as region 15 of the
15 van of Figure 1. That compartment defines on one side a toilet
region which contains a flush toilet and an adjoining shower
stall and coat rack facility, as well as an oppositely disposed
kitchen facility all of which are mounted either to or alongside
the side walls of the van body. A longitudinally extending
passageway 15a(Fig.5) extends through such compartrnent and
provides communication between the main compartments or sections
14, 15 and 16 of the van. The toilet region may be considered
as extending the full length of the central compartment 15
adjacent an associated sidewall of the van. The folding doors
whlch define partitions movable from positions covering and
concealing this toilet region (and the facilities therein)
from view, to other positions wherein such toilet region, and

b
i-ts facilities, are opened and exposed for use, will now be
described. I`he upper por-tion of -the toilet is covered by a
folcling door 60 having a pair of panels of substantially similar
size hinged together along their long edges by hinge 60a and
5 which can be unfolded, as shown in Figures 3 and 10 to extend
from partition 26 (to which door 60 is hinged as seen in Figs.
3, 9 and 10) by hinge 60b to partition 29 which abuts -the
forward end oL -the kitchen facility. Wi-th foldin(J cloor 60 ir,
the folded condition its two panels overlie one another
10 in a plane recessed from -the front of the toilet,
and blockinq use of -the toilet, with the hinges
which support the two panels being loca-ted at opposite sides ot
the toilet region as seen in Figs. 3 and 9. With folding door
60 in the extended position, front cabinet panel 61 may be
15 pivoted on the hinge extending vertically on its edge to assume
a position in coplanar alignment wi-th the extended folding door
60. This is illustrated in Figure 10. A sliding panel (not
shown) can be slidably secured to -the fron-t cabinet panel 61
such that extended folding door 60 and front cabinet panel 61
20 essentially presen-t a uniform wall to the forward compartment
of the van. As men-tioned, this wall ex-tends la-terally in -the van
such that its outer edge is proximate the edge of the fixed
parti-tion 29 (see Fig.3). Flush toilet 62 is of a conven-tional
design for rnotor homes and is connec-ted to a was-te storage tank
25 located under the floor of the motor van. 'I'op cabinet panel 63
of the -toilet is rigidly secured to the toilet sea-t and can be
pivoted -to an open posi-tion when folding door 60 is in the
extended position. As shown in Figure 10, -the toilet has shelves

1 ~ ~ b ~
- 12 -
64 moun-ted -thereabove, those shelves being u-tilized for
s-toring toiletries and similar materials.
When the folding dooxs 60, 67, are in their
extended positions to foxm the central privacy compar-tment, the
space in front of -the toilet region, including the passageway
15a and -the ki-tchen facility, is effectively converted into
useable space, providing extra room for person(s) using the
privacy compartrnent.
The central compartmen-t 15 is also separable fron~
the rear compar-tment 16 of the van by means of a foldable door
67 as shown in Figures 3, 9 and 10 and comprising a large door
panel 66 and a small panel or leaf 73. Foldable door 67 is
pivota]ly connected to fold-out coat rack assembly 68 by
vertically extending piano hinge 69 which extends parallel to the
hinge 60b of folding door 60. Coat rack assembly 68 is in turn
pivotally connected to the frame of shower stall 70 by vertically
extending piano hinge 71 which extends parallel to and slightly
rearwardly on the van from hinge 69. Foldable door panel 66
has the leaf 73 pivotally connected thereto by a piano hinge 73a,
leaf 73 extending vertically along the outer edge of foldable
door panel 66 and a wedge shaped panel 73b is fixed to the same
edge as hinge 73a is fixed but i-t is on -the outside. Panel 66
is sufficiently wide as to cover -the en-tire front face of -the
shower stall. Leaf 74 extends horizontally along the upper edge
of the foldab]e base portion 78 of the shower stall and is
connected -thel-e-to by a piano-type hinge. When foldable door 67

- 1.3 -
I '~ l` :i ' ~` C-'O', `d p~ t 10, it:~ le~.~, ) fclds is heh ~d the door
panel 66,as shown in Figure 9, and wedge-shaped panel 73b butts up
to the slopi.ng partition 75 which separates the toilet from the
shower stall. A deep tray 76 is secured -to the back surface of
folding door 67.
Fold-out coat rack assembly 68 consis-ts of a shelf
surroundecl by a pair of side panels 68a, 68b and a rear panel 68c,
as shown in Figure 10. The side panel 68b to whi.ch piano hinge
69 is fastened extends approximately -two--thirds the heigh-t of
the shower stall, the o-ther si.de panel 68a ex-tending only up-
wardly from the shel.f to the top of -the shower stall. The back
panel extends downwardly behind the shelf at an ang]e, as
shown in Figure 10, all of the panels of the coat rack assembly
beiny so positioned to fit into the shower stall, which is shaped
to conform to the side of the van. A coat rack 68d (shown in
dashed lines in Fig.10) is secured -to the underside of the shelf
of the coa-t rack assembly.
Shower stall 70, as shown in Figure lO,may be of
a moulded rigid plastic construction or of a plastic-ply-wood
laminate. The shower stall has an integral foldable base portion
78 connected to its main portion by a flexible piece of vinyl 79.
The flexible vinyl piece extends across a V-shaped cut in each
side of the lower part of the shower stall. The front base
portion of the shower stall is rotatable between an upper
retracted position (wherein it is located generally below the
foldable door 67 to form a lower cover for the shower stall)

r~J~ s) ~3~
along a .t`olcl line co.nnectin~ the apices of the ~-shapecl cuts,
to an extended horizontal position for use closely dd jacen-t
to or on the :Eloor of the motor van. The fold line is define~ by
a hinge and the vinyl 7~ is of one piece and extends complete~y
across the assembly ~o cover the hin~e and prevent leakage of
water. The lower main portion of -the shower s-tall has a seat 81
intec3rally formed t.herein, shower head ~2 bein~ mounted on a
flexible shower hose for ease oE hanclling by a person sec,-ted on
seat 81. A shower curtain (not shown) is detachably secured to
a plurality of cl.ips (which may be Velcro-covexed knobs) on the
ceiling of the van and hangs such that its lower end is inside
of the base portion of the shower stall. When the shower stall
is no longer required, coat rack assembly 68 is rotated back into
its position in the shower stall and the shower curtain (not
shown) rests against the back panel of the coat rack assembly.
Fasteners are employed to hold folding door 60, foldable door
67 and fold-out coat rack assembly 68 in either their closed or
extended positions.
The rear compartment of the van may be utilized
for several different functions. Firstly, it may house a fixed
bed as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Alternatively, it may house a
bed convertible lnto a central table with a bench along each side
of the van (see Figs. 5 and 4). It is also possible to have a
permanent dinette arrangement in the rear portion of the van.
In that compartment, overhead cabinets are provided for storing
bedding, table linen and similax items.

~ ~ t j.
L ~I~J 11.3~ . J ~
The foregoing description has related to the longest
version of the van to which the features of the subject invention
are applicable. However, it should be obvious that the features
of the invention could also be repositioned so as to be
accommodated in a van of shorter length. For instance, a shorter
van might have only the contents of the forward and central
compartments of the described embodiment. Or a shor-ter version
of the van might not have a shower stall in -the -toilet re~ion,
instead havlng a regular clothes closet or other feature. I-t
should be noted that when no shower is installed, door 67 and
leaf 73 extend all the way to the floor. In that situation,
door 60 is brought forward several inches into line with door
67 and wedge panel on ]eaf 73 omitted as -the sloping par-tition
73 is not there. The toilet is then moved back the same distance
the shelves behind it and the partition separating the toilet
and shower stall are eliminated and door 60 brought down to the
floor all the way as well so that lower door 61 can be eliminated
also. In other words, the -toilet and clothes close-t are both
placed in the same enclosure or toilet region with the two sets
of folding doors being used -to create -the partitions. It is
also possible for a dinette -to be placed along one of the side
walls of the van, replacing one of the rear seats in the forward
compartment and also a portion of -the central compartment.
In summary, there has been described a motor van
having an in-terior space which can be quickly converted from
wha-t is effec-tively a single room into two and/or three private

L~S3~j~
- 16 -
compar-trnen-ts wi-th li-ttle or no effort. A center compartrnent
which can be quickly created by means of movable partitions (in
turn automatically crea-ting two more compartments, one in the
front and one in the rear) has a number of facili-ties. On one
side adjacen-t the van wall there is provided a kitchen facili-ty
and on the other side there is provided toilet and shower stc
facilities, the shower stall doubling as a coa-t closet without
sacrificing valuable space. This center utility compartment
is always available for active use in that i-t is never
occupied by seats, table or beds. The movable partitions
perform a unique dual function in that when in their ex-tended
positions to create the center privacy compartment, the fix-tures
in such compartment are effec-tively uncovered and ready for use
while in the retracted conditions, at least portions of such
facilities are effectively concealed or hidden from view. The
quickly creatable front compartment may contain four wide
comfortable passenger seats which are convertable in a unique
way to two rela-tively wide single beds having sufficient space
between them for moving about and providing quick access to the
central utility-privacy compartment. These seats and beds are
rapidly in-terchangeable one to the other. This front compartment
also con-tains a stowable overhead double adult size bed which can
also be extended or stored away very quickly. When in use, the
mattress support base is suspended in mid-air via flanges
fastened to the bottom edges of elongated horizontal members
when they are in the downwardly pivoted positions. These

~ ~h' ~ J ~l~g jl~r
- 17 -
elongcLteLL membel--s present a necit and a~tractive appearcLr,ce when
in the up position wi-th the mat-tress support means being stored
closely adjacent the front end of the front compartmen-t so as
not to lose any of the ceiling height available -thus enabling
adults to stand upright wi-thin the van. The instantly createable
rear compartment may contain a standard adult size clouble bed
or a ches-terfield in a transverse clirection or a dinette capab]e
of seating several people. Both chesterfield ancl dinette are
convertable to the same sized bed.
,,~
~, .

Representative Drawing

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Administrative Status

2024-08-01:As part of the Next Generation Patents (NGP) transition, the Canadian Patents Database (CPD) now contains a more detailed Event History, which replicates the Event Log of our new back-office solution.

Please note that "Inactive:" events refers to events no longer in use in our new back-office solution.

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Event History

Description Date
Inactive: Expired (old Act Patent) latest possible expiry date 2003-02-04
Grant by Issuance 1986-02-04

Abandonment History

There is no abandonment history.

Owners on Record

Note: Records showing the ownership history in alphabetical order.

Current Owners on Record
HANMAR HOME EQUIPMENT LIMITED
Past Owners on Record
JACOBUS N. HANEMAAYER
Past Owners that do not appear in the "Owners on Record" listing will appear in other documentation within the application.
Documents

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Document
Description 
Date
(yyyy-mm-dd) 
Number of pages   Size of Image (KB) 
Cover Page 1993-06-23 1 15
Claims 1993-06-23 10 335
Drawings 1993-06-23 4 135
Abstract 1993-06-23 1 8
Descriptions 1993-06-23 20 678