Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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EXPANDABLE HABITATION UNIT
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present relates to recreational vehicles having temporary habitation
units, and more
particularly to an expandable temporary habitation unit with an enlarged
usable living area.
BACKGROUND
Recreational vehicles (RVs) including motor homes, travel trailers and
caravans are now
commonplace. They provide families with an opportunity to drive to locations
of interest
and have immediate access to living quarters upon arrival. The flexibility
provided by such
temporary living spaces are such that the users do not pay hotel fees, they
are close to
nature, and leave little in way of carbon footprint. While this seemingly
simple way of
living has many advantages, RVs and caravans have a number of signifcant
drawbacks,
which can hamper the full enjoyment of their use. The most common problem is
providing
a living space that is both functional and sufficiently large so that the
users do not feel
cramped whilst inside. When RVs are increased in size for more living space,
then they
become large, cumbersome and more difficult to handle. Also fuel costs
increase due to
additional weight and poor areodymanics.
To address these problems, a number of RVs have been designed, which provide
extensible
slide-out units for increasing the vehicle's living space. This slide-out unit
may be extended
for use when the vehicle is parked and is retracted in a telescoping manner
when the vehicle
is to be moved. Examples of such designs are given below.
US Patent No. 7,802,834 for "Multiple slide-out room for a recreational
vehicle" to Cadena
et al on September 28, 2010 discloses multiple slide-out system for a
recreational vehicle
or the like includes a first slide-out section having a first floor, a first
carriage abutting and
affixed to the first floor, a first driven track affixed to the underside of
the first carriage,
and a first drive motor anchored to the floor of the vehicle to drive the
first slide-out section
relative to the vehicle. A second slide-out section which slides within the
first slide-out
section includes a second floor, a second carriage abutting and affixed to the
second floor,
a second driven track affixed to the underside of the second carriage, and a
second drive
motor anchored to top side of the first carriage to drive the second slide-out
section relative
to the first slide-out section. The driven tracks do not extend underneath the
portions of the
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slide-out section floors that will be visible from the outside of the vehicle
when the system
is in its extended position, thereby presenting a clean and generally smooth
appearance
when viewed from the outside.
US Patent No. 7,226,116 for "Recreational vehicle full wall slide-out" to
Jones on June 5,
2007 discloses a mobile recreational vehicle, which includes a body enclosing
a living area
designed to serve as self-contained living quarters during recreational
travel. The body is
supported on at least one pair of wheels (and often two or more pairs). The
vehicle includes
a ceiling assembly, a floor assembly; and an elongated and adjustable ceiling
support
extending between the ceiling assembly and the floor assembly wherein the
height of the
support can be adjusted during installation. In some instances, the vehicle
has a shortened
full length slide-out to allow for additional sidewall ceiling support, and in
some instances
has a slide-out opening that has cambered upper edges to minimize sagging the
opening.
US Patent No. 6,527,324 for "Adjustable slide-out room for mobile living
quarters" to
McManus et el on March 4, 2003 discloses a recreational vehicle, which
includes structure
defining side walls of a main living unit mounted on a frame and a slide-out
room which
extends and retracts through an aperture in one of the side walls. Adjustments
are provided
to adjust the angular orientation of the slide-out room without respect to the
side wall of
the main living unit, to adjust the vertical position of the slide-out room in
the extended
position and to adjust the tilt of the slide-out room. Further adjustments are
also provided
to adjust the position of the back wall of the slide-out room in the retracted
position to
assure that trim and decals applied to the side wall of the unit and extending
over the back
wall of the slide-out room are properly aligned.
US Patent No. 5,491,933 for "Flat floor slide out apparatus for expandable
rooms" to
Miller et al on February 20, 1996 discloses an expandable room structure,
which has
relatively movable room portions supported by telescopically sliding tubes, at
least one of
those tubes being movable also laterally to pivot as the room portion floors
slide into the
same horizontal plane when the room structure is moving into expanded
positions. In
retracted positions the room portion floors are vertically spaced to permit
one room portion
to nest within the other. A rack and pinion drive arrangement is provided to
cause relative
movement between the tubes. Lateral movement of one of the tubes is permitted
by
engagement with an inclined surface extending out of the other tube such that
the laterally
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moving tube pivots about the pinion. A ramp surface is formed on the abutting
edge of the
floor of one room portion, and the abutting edge of the floor of the other
room portion
moves up and down that ramp portion when transitioning between expanded and
retracted
positions. When moving to expanded positions, such movement down the ramp
occurs
prior to pivoting of the sliding tube(s), such that end wall weather sealing
is pivotably
clamped without vertical sliding.
US Patent No. 5,248,180 for "Expandable enclosure" to Hussaini on September
28, 1993
discloses an expandable enclosure suitable for a cargo vehicle, a passer
vehicle, a stationary
shelter or a stationary storage facility. An expansion unit is outwardly
translatable from the
enclosure by racks fixed to the unit. The expansion unit has first uprights
fixed between the
racks and second uprights fixed to the enclosure but having a sliding
connection with the
racks. Third uprights are disposed between the first and second uprights and
are slidingly
connected between the racks. The expansion unit may be mounted to the
enclosure by the
gears alone or may additionally be supported by a cantilever beam when the
expansion unit
is being deployed.
US Patent No. 4,222,604 for "Caravan or campervan construction" to Human on
September
16, 1980 discloses a transportable housing structure comprising a cabin unit
having access
openings and a foldable/unfoldable annex attachment at the rear or trailing
end and capable
of forming a caravan-body or campervan-body or similar vehicular body is
provided, the
annex attachment being formed by a pair of rigid panel members hinged to the
top and
bottom of the cabin unit respectively for movement from a folded, relatively
vertical, non-
use position to an unfolded, relatively horizontal, in-use position; a
flexible cover member
extending around the peripheries of the panel members top to bottom from the
rear of the
cabin unit; a pair of hinged posts at the outer corners of the panel members
to depend from
the top panel member and support the unfolded top panel member on the unfolded
bottom
panel member; and a pair of hinged legs to depend from the outer corners of
the bottom
panel member and support the unfolded annex attachment on the ground.
Disadvantageously, some of the designs described above include an
extension/retraction
system that relies on screws or a pinion for provide telescoping movement of
the slide-out
unit relative to the vehicle. If screws are used, they must be short for
practical reasons
because longer screws deform so that the axis of the screw is not linear. If
pinions are used,
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they too must be short. Since the amplitude of movement of the slide-out room
or
compat ____ intent can be no greater than the length of the screw or pinion,
the amplitude of
sliding movement, and hence the amount of additional space gained by the slide-
out
compat ____ intent, is limited.
Other types of slide-out units use an endless cable which passes over a pair
of pulleys which
is supported by a main part of the mobile home and another pair of pulleys
mounted on side
walls of an extension part of the mobile home cause the extension part to
reciprocate.
Another slide-out installation shows an expanding unit which includes a
rotatable shaft and
two types of cables wound around the shaft. Rotation of the shaft in one
direction causes
one type of cable to wind as the other type unwinds, causing a second module
to reciprocate
in one direction relative to first module. Rotation of the shaft in the
opposite direction
causes the second module to move in the opposite direction.
A major problem that hampers the use of slide-out units is that of
cantilevering as the unit
extends. The outer end of the extended slide-out unit tends to tip downwardly,
which places
weight on the slide-out unit's operating mechanism. The cantilevered slide-out
unit also
tends to cause looseness at the top, which in turn causes tightness at the
bottom. This puts
weight on the slide-out mechanism, which in impairs slideability and causes
leakage around
the joints.
Common to all previous designs is the limited amount of exterior envelope that
is possible
to expand for additional living space. The structural intergrity of the
envelope is comprised
as more holes for pop-out sections or moveable roofs is made.
Thus, there is a need for an improved temporary habitation unit, which
provides a larger
living space yet maintains structural intergrity. .
BRIEF SUMMARY
Generally speaking, a Recreational Vehicle (RV) provides limited space for
comfortable
temporary living. Typically, RVs comfortably sleep three to four people,
depending on the
size of the RV. I have a designed a temporary, expandable living unit that
substantially
reduces, or improves upon, the problems described above in the previous
designs. My unit
addresses the problems by using a novel and non-obvious structural frame with
a piston
and guide arrangement which when in operation provide a user with a living
space that is
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substantially larger than those described above because a roof module, a rear
module and
two side modules are all fully deployed so that the total habitation area and
volume are
significantly increased. In other words, the entire exterior shell of the
habitation unit is
deployed to create additional living space, contrary to other designs in which
only partial
sections of the exterior shell are displaced for additional living space. The
piston, guide
and frame arrangement allows the floors of individual living modules to slide
over the main
floor, and when locked in place by the roof module and supporting structural
frame, address
the problems of cantilevering which plagued many of the known designs.
Advantageously,
my unit can be retrofitted onto an existing motorised vehicle subframe or it
can be used as
a stand alone unit that can be hitched to the back of another vehicle. .
Accordingly, in one aspect there is provided an expandable habitation unit
comprising:
a main frame;
a main floor having an exposed habitation area;
a rear module having a rear module floor located over a rear portion of the
main
floor, the rear module floor being connected to the main frame to permit
movement along
a first restricted path of travel over the rear portion of the main floor;
a first side module having a first side module floor located over a first side
portion
of the main floor, the first side module floor being connected to the main
frame to permit
movement along a second restricted path of travel over the first side portion
of the main
floor; and
a second side module having a second side module floor located over a second
side
portion of the main floor, the second side module floor being connected to the
main frame
to permit movement along a third restricted path of travel over the second
side portion of
the main floor,
the rear module, the first side module and the second side module being
moveable
and overlapping along their respective restricted paths of travel so as to
vary the size of the
exposed habitation area.
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In one example, the unit further includes: a roof module connected to the main
frame to
permit movement along a fourth restricted path of travel,; the roof module
being sized and
shaped to cover and overlap the rear module, the first side module, the second
side module
and the main floor,; the roof module, the rear module, the first side module
and the second
side module defining a habitation volume; the roof module being moveable along
the fourth
restricted path of travel orthogonally relative to the respective restricted
paths of travel of
the rear module, the first side module and the second side module so as to
vary the size of
the habitation volume. In a default closed configuration, the roof module, the
rear module,
the first side module and the second side module overlap each other being
located towards
each other and define a first habitation volume. In a first open
configuration, the roof
module, the rear module, the first side module and the second side module are
located away
from each other and define a second habitation volume, the second habitation
volume being
larger than the first habitation volume, and almost doubled in volume and
tripled in
accessible floor area.
In another example, the rear module includes: a rear module lower frame
supported on two
rear module guide rails located below the main floor level, the rear module
being guided
by the two rear module guide rails along the first restricted path of travel,
the rear module
lower frame being in communication with two rear module actuators for pushing
the rear
module lower frame relative to the first and second side modules. The rear
module further
includes a stepped rear module roof
In another example, the first side module includes a first side module lower
frame supported
on two guide rails located below the main floor level, the first side module
being guided by
the two guide rails along the second restricted path of travel; and the second
side module
includes a second side module lower frame supported on two guide rails located
below the
main floor level, the second side module being guided by the two guide rails
along the third
restricted path of travel, each of the first and second side module lower
frames being in
communication with two side module actuators for pushing the first and second
side
modules relative to each other. The first side module further includes a first
side module
stepped roof, and the second side module further includes a second side module
stepped
roof
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In another example, the roof module is in communication with four roof
actuators for
pushing the roof module along the fourth restricted path of travel relative to
the rear
module, the first side module and the second side module.
In yet another example, the roof module includes a peripheral sidewall which
depends
downwardly therefrom and overlaps the rear module, the first and second side
modules.
In one example, the unit includes: a roof module having a peripheral sidewall
which
depends downwardly therefrom; a rear module having a rear module roof with
first and
second steps; a first side module having a first side module roof with first
and second side
module steps; a second side module having a second side module roof with third
and fourth
side module steps, the roof module, the rear module, the first side module and
the second
side module being located such that in a default closed configuration, the
peripheral
sidewall of the roof module sealingly abuts the first step of the rear module,
the first step
of the first side module and the third step of the second side module, and
sealingly abuts a
front portion of the main frame. In a first open configuration the peripheral
sidewall of the
roof module sealingly abuts the second step of the rear module, the second
step of the first
side module and the fourth step of the second side module, and sealingly abuts
the front
portion of the main frame. An actuable retractable locking pin locks the roof
to the rear
module, the first side module and the second side module in either the open
configuration
or the default configuration.
In another example, a pluarlity of rollers are located between the rear module
floor, the first
side module floor and the second side module floor and the main floor to
permit movement
therealong.
In another example, a plurality of gaskets seal the peripheral sidewall to the
rear module,
the first side module and the second side module.
In one example the main frame, the rear module, the first side module, the
second side
module and the roof module are each interconnected to at least two actuators
such that in
response to a first user command, the actuators move the modules away from
each in
sequence other along the respective restricted paths of travel from a default
closed
habitation configuration to an open configuration.
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In another example, the main frame, the rear module, the first side module,
the second side
module and the roof module are each interconnected to at least two actuators
such that in
response to a second user command, the actuators move the modules towards each
other
in sequence along their respective restricted paths of travel from the open
configuration to
the default closed configuration.
In one example, the main structural frame is a cuboid frame. The cuboid frame
includes: a
front frame portion having mounted thereon two lower actuators and two upper
actuators,
the two upper actuators being disposed orthogonal to the two lower actuators;
and a rear
portion frame portion having mounted thereon two lower actuators and two upper
actuators,
the two upper actuators being disposed orthogonal to the two lower actuators.
The two
front and rear lower actuators are connected to the first and second side
modules.
In one example, the unit is free-standing.
In another example, the unit is mounted on a vehicle.
Accordingly, in another aspect there is provided a recreational vehicle
comprising:
a main frame mounted on a vehicle subframe;
a main floor;
a rear module having a rear module floor located over a rear portion of the
main
floor, the rear module floor being connected to the main frame to permit
movement along
a first restricted path of travel over the rear portion of the main floor;
a first side module having a first side module floor located over a first side
portion
of the main floor, the first side module floor being connected to the main
frame to permit
movement along a second restricted path of travel over the first side portion
of the main
floor;
a second side module having a second side module floor located over a second
side
portion of the main floor, the second side module floor being connected to the
main frame
to permit movement along a third restricted path of travel over the second
side portion of
the main floor;
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a roof module connected to the main frame to permit movement along a fourth
restricted path of travel, the roof being sized and shaped to cover and
overlap the rear
module, the first side module, the second side module and the main floor, the
roof, the rear
module, the first side module and the second side module defining a habitation
volume,
the roof module, the rear module, the first side module and the second side
module
being moveable along their respective restricted paths of travel so as to vary
the size of the
habitation volume.
In one example, the main frame, the rear module, the first side module, the
second side
module and the roof module are each interconnected to at least two actuators
such that in
response to a first user command, the actuators move the modules away from
each other in
sequence along their respective restricted paths of travel from a default
overlapped closed
habitation configuration to an open configuration. The main frame, the rear
module, the
first side module, the second side module and the roof module are each
interconnected to
at least two actuators such that in response to a second user command, the
actuators moves
the modules and the roof towards each other in sequence along their respective
restricted
paths of travel from the open configuration to the default overlapped closed
configuration.
Accordingly, in another aspect, there is provided a stand-alone expandable
habitation unit
comprising:
a main frame mounted on a subframe;
a main floor;
a sidewall connected to the main frame;
a rear module having a rear module floor located over a rear portion of the
main
floor, the rear module floor being connected to the main frame to permit
movement along
a first restricted path of travel over the rear portion of the main floor;
a first side module having a first side module floor located over a first side
portion
of the main floor, the first side module floor being connected to the main
frame to permit
movement along a second restricted path of travel over the first side portion
of the main
floor;
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a second side module having a second side module floor located over a second
side
portion of the main floor, the second side module floor being connected to the
main frame
to permit movement along a third restricted path of travel over the second
side portion of
the main floor;
a front module having a front module floor located over a front portion of the
main
floor, the front module being connected to the main frame to permit movement
along a
fourth restricted path of travel over the front portion of the main floor;
a roof module connected to the main frame to permit movement along a fifth
restricted path of travel, the roof module being sized and shaped to cover and
overlap the
rear module, the first side module, the second side module, the front
module.The main floor
and the sidewall, the roof module, the rear module, the first side module, the
second side
module, the front module and the sidewall defining a habitation volume,
the roof module, the rear module, the front module, the first side module and
the
second side module being moveable along their respective restricted paths of
travel so as
to vary the size of the habitation volume.
In one example, the main frame, the rear module, the first side module, the
second side
module, the front module, the roof module and the sidewall are each
interconnected to at
least two actuators such that in response to a first user command, the
actuators move the
modules away from each other in sequence along their respective restricted
paths of travel
from a default overlapped closed habitation configuration to an open
configuration. The
main frame, the rear module, the first side module, the second side module,
the front
module, the roof module and the sidewall are each interconnected to at least
two actuators
such that in response to a second user command, the actuators moves the
modules towards
each other in sequence along their respective restricted paths of travel from
the open
configuration to the default overlappped closed configuration.
In one example, a hitch is connected to the subframe to permit connection of
the unit to a
vehicle.
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In another example, in any one of the above units, a stepped stabilizing
member extends
upwardly from each of the stepped first and second side module rooves. Each
stepped
stabilizing member abuttingly engages the main frame in the open
configuration.
.
In yet another example, the recreational vehicle or unit, described above
above, further
includes a stepped stabilizing member extends upwardly from each of the
stepped first and
second side module roofs. Each stepped stabilizing member abuttingly engages
the main
frame in the open configuration.
Accordingly, in another aspect ,there is provided an expandable habitation
unit
comprising:
first and second side modules, each side module having a side module floor;
a rear module having a rear module floor, the modules each being moveable over
a main floor; and
the side modules and the rear module being in communication with each other so
as to permit actuation of the modules towards and away from each other along
respective
restricted paths of travel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features of that described herein will become more apparent
from the
following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings
wherein:
FIG. 1 are perspective views of a recreational vehicle with an expandable
habitation unit
in which FIG 1A is a front perspective view of the vehicle in a closed default
configuration;
FIG. 1B is a front perspective view of the vehicle in an open configuration
showing a roof
and a side module deployed;
FIG. 2 is a left hand side view of a recreational vehicle with an expandable
habitation unit
in a closed configuration (upper drawing), and the expandable habitation unit
showing a
roof and a rear module in an open configuration (lower drawing);
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FIG. 3 is a front view of a recreational vehicle with an expandable habitation
unit in a
closed configuration (left hand drawing), and in an open configuration (right
hand
drawing);
FIG. 4 is a rear view of a recreational vehicle with an expandable habitation
unit in a closed
configuration (left hand drawing), and in an open configuration (right hand
drawing);
FIG. 5 is a perspective top view of a main frame of the habitation unit;
FIG. 6 is a detailed plan view of a habitation unit in a closed configuration
with an arrow
pointing to a view shown in FIG. 15;
FIG. 7 is a detailed plan view of the habitation unit of FIG. 6 is an open
(day) configuration
and with arrows pointing to views shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15;
FIG. 8 is a detailed plan view of the habitation unit of FIG. 6 in a second
open (night)
configuration;
FIG. 9 is a cut away detailed side view of a habitation unit in a closed
configuration showing
the location of a plurality of actuators and with an arrow pointing to a view
shown in FIG.
12B;
FIG. 10 is a cut away detailed side view of the habitation unit of FIG, 9 in
an open
configuration showing the actuators fully extended and with an arrow pointing
to a view
shown in FIG. 12A;
FIG. 11 is a rear cut away detailed view of a habitation unit in which FIG.
11A (left hand
side) illustrates the unit in a closed configuration with arrows pointing to
views shown in
FIG. 12B and FIG. 13, and FIG. 11B (right hand side) illustrates the unit in
an open
configuration with arrows pointing to views shown in FIG. 12A and FIG. 13;
FIG. 12 are detailed longitudinal cross sectional views of an actuatable
locking pin in which
FIG. 12A (upper drawing) shows the pin used in a closed configuration and FIG.
12B
(lower drawing) shows the pin used in an open configuration;
FIG. 13 is a detailed longitudinal cross sectional view of a side module floor
a main frame
showing the location of two rollers;
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FIG. 14 is a detailed longitudinal cross sectional view of a rear module and a
side module
showing the location of gaskets;
FIG. 15 is a detailed longitudinal cross sectional view of a side module
showing movement
between a closed configration (FIG. 15A; top drawing) and an open
configuration (FIG.
15B; bottom drawing);
FIG. 16 is a side view of a stand alone habitation unit in a closed
configuration;
FIG. 17 is a detailed plan view of the stand alone habitation unit of FIG. 16
in an open
configuration;
FIG. 18 is a detailed plan view of the stand alone habitation unit of FIG. 16
in a closed
configuration;
FIG. 19A through FIG. 19D is a diagrammatic representation of an opening
sequence of
the habitation unit in which FIG 19A is a perspective view of the unit showing
the roof
opening in the direction of the arrows; FIG. 19B is a perspective view of the
unit showing
the rear module opening in the direction of the arrows; FIG. 19C is a
perspective view of
the unit showing the two side modules opening in the direction of the arrows;
and FIG. 19D
is a perspective view of the unit showing the roof moving down to lock the
unit in the
direction of the arrows,
FIG. 20 is a rear cut away detailed view of a habitation unit showing a
stepped stabilizing
member in which FIG. 20A (left hand side) illustrates the unit in a closed
configuration
with arrows pointing to views shown in FIG. 12B and FIG. 13, and FIG. 20B
(right hand
side) illustrates the unit in an open configuration with arrows pointing to
views shown in
FIG. 12A and FIG. 13 showing the location of the stepped stabilizing member;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Definitions
Unless otherwise specified, the following definitions apply:
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The singular forms "a", "an" and "the" include corresponding plural references
unless the
context clearly dictates otherwise.
As used herein, the term "comprising" is intended to mean that the list of
elements
following the word "comprising" are required or mandatory but that other
elements are
optional and may or may not be present.
As used herein, the term "consisting of' is intended to mean including and
limited to
whatever follows the phrase "consisting of'. Thus, the phrase "consisting of'
indicates that
the listed elements are required or mandatory and that no other elements may
be present.
Referring now to FIGs.1 through 4, there is illustrated a recreational vehicle
(RV) 10 with
an expandable habitation unit 12 extending rearwardly from an RV cabin 14. The
cabin 14
includes a rearwardly facing wall 16 and a control panel (not shown), which is
located
inside the cabin 14. The control panel permits a user to operate closing and
opening of the
habitation unit 12 various overlapping modules. Broadly speaking, the
habitation unit 12
comprises a rear module 18, a first side module 20, a second side module 22, a
roof module
24, a unit sidewall 26 and a main structural frame 28. In the example
illustrated, the rear
module 18 is typically a kitchen unit with a sink, cupboards and the like. The
first side
module 20 is typically a dining unit with an attached bathroom/shower
facility. The second
side module 22 is a living unit with food storage units. The rear module 18
includes a
curved outer wall 30, whereas the first and second side modules 20, 22 have
respectively
first and second planar outer walls 32, 34. In a defualt configuration, the
rear module 18,
the first side module 20, the second side module 22 and the roof module 24 of
the habitation
unit 12 are locked together with the roof module 24 overlapping the modules
18, 20, 22
and provide the RV 10 with a streamline, aerodynamically favorable profile,
which reduces
fuel consumption compared to conventional enlarged RVs of similar habitable
areas. In
the default configuration, the walls 30, 32, 34, and the roof module 24 are
coplanar to the
cabin 14.
Referring now to FIG. 5, the main frame 28 is typically cuboid and includes
two front,
upstanding bars 36, 38, two rear upstanding bars 40, 42, two upper bars 44, 46
and two
lower bars 48, 50. The two rear upstanding bars 40, 42 includes two lower,
rearwardly
disposed frame extensions 52, 54 to which the rear module 18 is connected. The
main
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frame 28 also includes two arched wheel portions 56, 58 for location adjacent
first and
second wheels 60, 62. Two front, lower frame extensions 64, 66 anchor the main
frame 28
to the cabin 14.
Referring now to FIGs. 9, 10 and 11, a first two spaced apart rear module
actuators 64, 66
are connected to the main frame extensions 52, 54 and are disposed generally
parallel to
the ground. Two spaced apart roof actuators 68, 70 are connected to the two
rear
upstanding bars 40, 42. The two roof actuators 68, 70 are disposed generally
orthogonal to
the first two rear actuators 64, 66. Another two spaced apart roof actuators
72, 74 are
connected to the two front, upstanding bars 36, 38. The two roof actuators 72,
74 are
disposed generally parallel to the two roof actuators 68, 70, and are
generally orthogonal
to the first two rear actuators 64, 66. Two spaced apart side module actuators
76, 78 are
connected to the lower bar 48 and another two spaced apart side module
actuators 80, 82
are connected to the lower bar 50. The side module actuators 76, 78, 80, 82
are disposed
generally orthogonal to the actuators 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74. In the examples
illustrated, the
actuators 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82 are, without limitation,
hydraulic pistons
which are operably connected to the control panel so that they can received
commands
therefrom.. A person skilled in the art will recognize that different types of
actuators can
be used, for example, worm gears, sprocket and gear and the like.
Referring now to FIGs. 6, 7 and 8, a main rigid floor 84 is mounted on the
main frame 28
and has an exposed habitation (living) area 86. In the default configuration,
the habitation
area 86 is generally elongate and extends from the unit sidewall 26, which is
located
adjacent the rear wall 16 of the cabin 14, to the rear module18. In the
example illustrated,
a door 88 and an adjacent threshold area 90 permits access to the unit 12 from
outside the
RV 10.
Referring now to FIGs, 6 through 11, the rear module 18 includes a rear module
floor 92,
which is located over a rear portion 94 of the main floor 84. The rear module
floor 92 is
connected to the main frame 28 to permit movement along a first restricted
path of travel
over the rear portion 94 of the main floor 84 in an overlapping manner. The
rear module
18 also includes a rear module lower frame 96, which is part of the main frame
28
supported on two rear module guide rails 98, 100 located below the main floor
84 level.
The rear module 14 is guided by the two rear module guide rails 98, 100 along
the first
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restricted path of travel by the rear module actuators 64, 66. The rear module
lower frame
96 is in communication with two rear module actuators 64, 66 to push and pull
the rear
module lower frame 96 relative to the first and second side modules 20, 22.
The rear
module 18 includes a stepped rear module roof 102 which has first and second
steps 104,
106.
Referring again to FIGs, 6 through 11, the first side module 20 includes a
first side module
floor 108, which is located over a first side portion 110 of the main floor 84
in an
overlapping manner. The first side module floor 108 is connected to the main
frame 28 to
permit movement along a second restricted path of travel over the first side
portion 110 of
the main floor 84. The first side module 20 also includes a first side module
lower frame
112 supported on two first side module guide rails 114, 116 located below the
main floor
84 level. The first side module 20 is guided by the two first side module
guide rails 114,
116 along the second restricted path of travel by the first side module
actuators 76, 78. The
first side module lower frame 112 is in communication with the first side
module actuators
76, 78 to push and pull the first side module lower frame 112 relative to the
rear module 18
and second side module 22. The first side module 20 includes a stepped first
side module
roof 118 which has first and second steps 120, 122.
Referring still to FIGs, 6 through 11, the second side module 22 includes a
second side
module floor 124, which is located over a second side portion 126 of the main
floor 84 in
an overlapping manner. The second side module floor 124 is connected to the
main frame
28 to permit movement along a third restricted path of travel over the second
side portion
126 of the main floor 84. The second side module 22 also includes a second
side module
lower frame 128 supported on two second side module guide rails 130, 132
located below
the main floor 84 level. The second side module 22 is guided by the two second
side
module guide rails 130, 132 along the third restricted path of travel by the
second side
module actuators 80, 82. The second side module lower frame 128 is in
communication
with the second side module actuators 80, 82 to push and pull the second side
module lower
frame 128 relative to the rear module 18 and first side module 20. The second
side module
22 includes a stepped second side module roof 134 which has first and second
steps 136,
138.
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The rear module 18, the first side module 20 and the second side module 22 are
interconnected with the actuators 64, 66, 76, 78, 80, 82 so that they can move
along their
respective restricted paths of travel to vary the size of the exposed
habitation area 86. The
size of the exposed habitation area 86 depends on whether the unit 12 is in
the overlapped
closed default configuration or in the open configuration. Compared to the
habitation areas
and volumes of currently available RV designs, the habitation unit 12
described herein
advantageously provides a habitation area and volume that is substantially
larger. For
example, in the overlapped closed default configuration the volume is
typically about 15.9
cubic meters while the open configuration, the volume increases to about 28.7
cubic meters.
For the habitation unit only, this represents an increase of about 85% in
volume and almost
300% increase in accessible floor area, which is significant. Furthermore, the
lower frames
of the side modules and the rear module substantially reduces, cantilevering
and therefore
provides living areas that are very stable and less prone to movement and
leakage.
As an alternative to the guide rails 98, 100, 114, 116, 130, 132, a plurality
of rollers 148,
as best illustrated in FIG. 13, are located between, in the example shown, the
first side
module floor 108 and the main floor 84 to permit rolling movement of the side
module
floor 108 over the main floor 84. Although not shown, a similar roller system
is located
between the main floor 84 and the other module floors, i.e. rollers 148 are
located between
the rear module floor 92, the second side module floor 124 and the main floor
84 to permit
rolling movement of the module floors over the main floor. Thus, the module
floors 92,
108, 124 overlap the main floor 84 when the habitation unit 10 is in the
closed
configuration, and move over the main floor 84 to achieve the open
configuration. The
roof 24 overlaps the modules 18, 20, 22 in the open configuration and also
overlaps the
modules 18, 20, 22 in the closed configuration.
Referring now to FIGs 9, 10, and 11, the roof module 24 is connected to the
main frame 28
to permit movement along a fourth restricted path of travel. The roof module
24 is sized
and shaped to cover and overlap the rear module 18, the first side module 20,
the second
side module 22 and the main floor 84. In the example illustrated, the roof 24
is generally
dome-shaped such that in the default configuration, the roof module 24 is
coplanar with the
RV cabin 14. It is desirable to have the habitation unit 12 with a habitation
volume that is
sufficiently large to permit an enjoyable, non-cramped environment in which
to, for
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example, cook, sleep, eat and bathe. To this end, the habitation volume of the
habitation
unit 12 is defined by how far apart the roof module 24, the rear module 18,
the first side
module 20 and the second side module 22 are displaced. The novel and unobvious
design
of the habitation unit 12 permits the user to vary the size of the habitation
volume from the
overllapped closed default configuration to the open configuration. Typically,
the first
open configuration is for use during the day in a stationary position, where
maximum
available space is required. As best illustrated in FIG. 8, a second open
configuration of
the habitation unit 12 is typically for use during the night when the first
and second side
module can be converted into sleeping areas using pull-out beds.
Still referring to FIGs 9, 10, and 11, the roof module 24 is moveable along
the fourth
restricted path of travel generally orthogonally relative to the respective
restricted paths of
travel of the rear module 18, the first side module 20 and the second side
module 22 so as
to vary the size of the habitation volume. In the default overlapped closed
configuration,
the roof module 24 the rear module 18, the first side module 20 and the second
side module
22 are located towards each other and define a first habitation volume. In the
open
configuration, the roof module 24 the rear module 18, the first side module 20
and the
second side module 22 are located away from each other and define a second
habitation
volume. The second habitation volume is almost double the first habitation
volume.
The roof module 24 is in communication with the four roof actuators 68, 70,
72, 74 which
push it along the fourth restricted path of travel relative to the rear module
18, the first side
module 20 and the second side module 22. The roof module 24 includes a
peripheral
sidewall 140 which depends downwardly therefrom. Although the roof module 24
is
illustrated as dome-shaped, a person skilled in the art will recognize that
other roof shapes
are possible.
As best seen in FIGs. 9, 11 and 12, in a closed configuration, the peripheral
sidewall 140
of the roof module 24 sealingly abuts the second step 106 of the rear module
18, the second
step 122 of the first side module 20 and the second step 136 of the second
side module 22,
and sealingly abuts against the rearwardly facing wall 16 of the cabin 14. In
the first open
configuration, the roof module 24 is actuated into a configuration in which
the peripheral
sidewall 140 sealingly abuts the first step 104 of the rear module 18, the
first step 120 of
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the first side module 20 and the first step 136 of the second side module 22,
and sealingly
abuts against the rearwardly facing wall 16 of the cabin 14.
Still referring now to FIGs. 11 and 12, a plurality of silicone gaskets 142
temporarily seal
the peripheral sidewall 140 to the first steps 104, 120, 136 and the second
steps 106, 122,
138 of the rear module 18, the first side module 20 and the second side module
22. The
gaskets 142 provide both air tight and water-tight seals. An actuable
retractable locking pin
144 locks the roof 20 to the rear module 18, the first side module 20 and the
second side
module 22 in both the closed configuration and the first open configuration.
The locking
pin 144 is connected to a motor 146, which is operably connected to the
control panel.
The module walls are typically made 1" polyurethane insulation, which is
sandwiched
between two layers of smooth coated fiberglass and secured at the edges with
extruded
aluminum profiles. Also, molded plastic walls can be used provided they are
sufficiently
insulated.
Referring now to FIGs. 12, 14, and 15, there is illustrated detailed
diagrammatic
representations of the main frame 28 in relation to the side modules 18, 20
and 22 and the
location of the gaskets 142. In FIG. 15, the first and second side modules 20,
22 are shown
in the open and closed overlapping configuration relative to the main frame
28, and the
roof module 24 shown in the open and closed overlapping configuration relative
to the main
frame 28. Furthermore, in FIG. 15, a dual gasket system 142 and 142A permits
water
drainage and reduced water penetration.
As illustrated above, the habitation unit 12 is designed for use with the RV
10. Referring
now to FIGs. 16, 17 and 18, for users who merely wish to attach a habitation
unit to an
existing vehicle an alternative, free-standing habitation unit is illustrated
generally at 200.
The free-standing unit 200 can be hitched to a vehicle using a hitch extension
202 of a main
frame 204. The habitation unit 200 is essentially identical to the habitation
unit 12
described above, but now includes a front module 205. The salient differences
between the
two units will now be described. The hitch extension 202 extends away from the
main
frame 204 and is generally triangular. A central stabilizing connecting shaft
206 is
connected to a front cross bar 208 of the main frame 204. Unlike the
rearwardly facing
wall 16 of the cabin 14, the unit 200 includes a front outer wall 210, which
includes two
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curved corners 212, 214. This outer wall 210 provides an additional habitation
area 216
over the hitch extension 202. The habitation unit 200 is operated using a
remote control
panel (not shown).
Referring now to FIGs 20A and 20B, as an additional stabilizing modification,
each of the
side modules 20, 22 includes a stepped stabilizing member 300, 302, which are
extensions
of the stepped first and second side module roof 118, 134. The stepped
stabilizing members
300, 302 run substantially the entire length of each side module 20, 22. As
best illustrated
in FIG. 20B, in the open configuration, the stepped stabilizing members 300,
302 are
disposed generally orthogonal to the ground, to abuttingly engage the main
frame 28. The
peripheral sidewall 140 of the roof 24 rests on the stepped first side module
roof 118, and
the stepped second side module roof 134. This provides lateral stability to
the side modules
20, 22, and significantly reducesõ outward rotation of the side modules 20,
22. In the closed
configuration, as best illustrated in FIG. 20A, the stepped stabilizing
members 300, 302 are
in the default position.
Operation
Referring now to FIGs. 19A through 19D, there will now be described an
operation of the
habitation unit 12. The operation of the alternative habitation unit 200 is
identical to that
of the unit 12, and will not be described. In the example illustrated, the
control panel is
located in the cab 14. The controller can be an on-board computer, a remote
control device
operable using WiFi, BluetoothTM and the like. In the free-standing design
200, the
controller can be a hand-held electronic device such as a smartphone, a
tablet, and the like,
which the user uses to control the habitation unit 12. For the stand alone
design 200, the
central control panel could be fixed to the hitch extension 202 or integrated
into one of the
modules.
Broadly speaking, the main frame 28, the rear module 18, the first side module
20, the
second side module 22 and the roof module 24 are each interconnected to at
least two of
the actuators described above such that in response to a first user command
given at, for
example the control panel, the actuators moves the modules away from each
other along
their respective restricted paths of travel from the overlapped default closed
habitation
configuration to an open configuration. When desired, the controller issues a
second user
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command so that the main frame, the rear module, the first side module, the
second side
module and the roof module are each interconnected to at least two actuators
such that in
response to a second user command, the actuators move the modules towards each
other in
sequence along their respective restricted paths of travel from the open
configuration to the
overlapped closed configuration.
Inside the driver's cabin, a central control panel controls the leveling and
opening sequences
of the vehicle. When the vehicle is moving, the habitation unit 10 is in the
overlapped
default closed position with the rear module, the roof module, the first and
second side
modules closed and locked. An interlock with the engine/transmission prevents
the opening
sequences when driving the vehicle.
Once stopped and parked, the vehicle is leveled with four jacks, one in each
corner. The
leveling is carried out automatically from the control panel. The jacks are
operated by
actuators, which can be hydraulic or mechanical. The modules are then
unlocked. The
opening sequence is as follows with reference to FIGs. 19A through 19D.
Firstly in FIG. 19A, the roof module 24 is opened to a maximum height position
by the
four actuators, one in each corner of the main structural frame in the
direction of the arrows
shown.
Second in FIG. 19B, the rear kitchen module 18 is opened to maximum position
in the
direction of the arrows. It is supported and guided by the two guide rails
below the floor
level. The two actuators push the lower frame of the rear module outward. The
floor of the
module is also supported by rollers on the edge of the main rigid RV floor.
Third in FIG. 19C, the two dining/bath and living side modules (only the side
module 22
is shown) open simultaneously outward to maximum position in the direction of
the arrows
until the roof upright 302 stops at frame 28. They are each supported and
guided by the two
guide rails below the floor level. The two actuators per side module push the
lower frame
of the modules outward. The rollers 148 on the edge of the rigid RV floor also
support the
floor of each side module.
Fourth in FIG. 19D, the roof module 24 is lowered in the direction of the
arrows to overlap
and sealingly rest on the three lower module roofs.
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Finally, the modules are then locked together to secure the unit and prevent
movement
between modules and reduce the effects of cantilevered modules.
To close the RV and get ready for driving, the sequence is reversed.
Other Embodiments
From the foregoing description, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill
in the art that
variations and modifications may be made to the embodiments described herein
to adapt it
to various usages and conditions.
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