Utilities Pod for Caravans

• US 20130049402A1
• Filed: 10/13/2010
• Published: 02/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Munster Simms Engineering Limited (Brunswick Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Munster Simms Engineering Limited (Brunswick Corporation)
• Inventors: Bell, Richard, Bovill, Richard, Smyth, David, Hurst, Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 9,649,995 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/193.03
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 15/00 Arrangements or adaptations of sanitation devices

Abstract

A utilities pod (10) for a vehicle, especially a caravan. The pod is removably mounted underneath the cabin structure and contains utilities apparatus such as a water heater, space heater (62), battery and water tank (60). The pod is connected to the cabin of the vehicle by an interface unit having multiple ports (18) by which said respective utility services are provided to the cabin. The interface unit is configured for installation in the floor of said cabin such that the ports are exposed to the interior of the cabin structure.

Claims

1. A utilities pod for a vehicle comprising a cabin structure, the pod being removably mountable underneath the cabin structure and containing a plurality of utilities apparatus, the pod further including means for connecting the pod to the cabin structure such that the respective utility service provided by said utilities apparatus is provided to the cabin structure, and wherein said connecting means comprises an interface unit having a plurality of ports by which said respective utility services are provided to the cabin structure.

2. A utilities pod as claimed in claim 1, wherein said interface unit is configured for installation in the floor of said cabin structure such that said plurality of ports are exposed to the interior of the cabin structure.

3. A utilities pod as claimed in claim 1, wherein said interface unit is separate from the pod and is connected to the pod by a plurality of flexible conduits, a respective conduit extending between a respective one of said ports and a corresponding port provided on said pod.

4. A utilities pod as claimed in claim 3, wherein said corresponding ports provided on said pod are located together in an interface region of said pod.

5. A utilities pod as claimed in claim 3, wherein said corresponding ports provided on said pod are located within a recess formed in an external surface of the pod.

6. A utilities pod as claimed in claim 5, wherein said recess is shaped and dimensioned to receive said conduits when said pod is mounted underneath said cabin structure.

7. A utilities pod as claimed in claim 5, wherein said corresponding ports provided on said pod are located substantially at an end of said recess.

8. A utilities pod as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least some of said conduits are longer than the distance between said interface unit, when installed in said floor, and said corresponding ports provided on said pod such that said pod is removable from its in use position beneath said cabin structure without disconnecting at least some of said conduits.

9. A utilities pod as claimed in claim 3, wherein a respective internal conduit extends between said corresponding ports provided on said pod and the respective utilities apparatus located inside the pod, said internal conduits being in fluid communication with the respective conduits extending between said interface unit and said corresponding ports provided on said pod.

10. A utilities pod as claimed in claim 1, wherein said interface unit is provided on the pod.

11. A utilities pod as claimed in claim 10, wherein said interface unit is provided on an upper surface of said pod.

12. A utilities pod as claimed in claim 10, wherein said interface unit is removably mountable on the pod.

13. A utilities pod as claimed in claim 10, wherein a respective internal conduit extends between said ports and the respective utilities apparatus located inside the pod.

14. A utilities pod as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least some of said ports serve as connectors, being configured to releasably connect with a respective one or more of said conduits.

15. A utilities pod as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least some of said ports define apertures through which a respective one or more of said conduits can pass.

16. A utilities pod as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a removable lid to allow access to said utilities apparatus.

17. A utilities pod as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one drawer shaped and dimensioned for receiving at least one of said at least one utilities apparatus.

18. A utilities pod as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vehicle includes a chassis, said pod being removably mountable on said chassis.

19. A utilities pod as claimed in claim 18, wherein said chassis includes mutually spaced-apart longitudinal support members, the pod being removably mountable between said longitudinal support members.

20. A utilities pod as claimed in claim 19, wherein the depth of the pod substantially matches, or at least does not to exceed, the depth of the longitudinal support members.

21. A utilities pod as claimed in claim 19, wherein opposite sides of the pod, when mounted, engage with a respective one of the support members.

22. A utilities pod as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pod is slidably mounted on the chassis or the underside of the cabin structure.

23. A utilities pod as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pod includes at least one port for communicating with the external environment.

24. A utilities pod as claimed in claim 23, wherein said at least one external environment port includes at least one fluid exhaust port.

25. A utilities pod as claimed in claim 23, wherein said at least one external environment port includes at least one fluid inlet port.

26. A utilities pod as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said utilities apparatus comprises any one of a water tank, a liquid pump, a gas pump, a space heater, a water heater, a grey waste tank, a battery, an electrical generator, air conditioning equipment or electronic control equipment.

27. A utilities pod as claimed in claim 1, including an electronic control module located within said pod and connected to at least some of said utilities apparatus for the control and/or monitoring thereof, wherein said control module is configured for communication with at least one external control unit.

28. A utilities pod as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pod is mounted underneath said cabin structure with said interface unit incorporated into the floor of the cabin structure such that said plurality of ports are exposed to the interior of the cabin structure.

29. A vehicle comprising a cabin structure and a utilities pod removably mounted beneath the cabin structure, wherein said pod contains a plurality of utilities apparatus, the pod further including means for connecting the pod to the cabin structure such that the respective utility provided by said utilities apparatus is provided to the cabin structure, and wherein said connecting means comprises an interface unit having a plurality of ports by which said respective utilities are provided to the cabin structure.

30. A vehicle as claimed in claim 29, wherein said interface unit is installed in the floor of the cabin structure such that said plurality of ports are exposed to the interior of the cabin structure.