TELESCOPIC END SECTION FOR TELESCOPIC TRAVEL TRAILER

• US 3,740,088 A
• Filed: 01/10/1972
• Issued: 06/19/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John W. Ratcliff
• Original Assignee: John W. Ratcliff
• Inventors: Ratcliff, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Goodman, Philip
• Application Number:
  US05/216,706
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 296/23C,23R,26,27 52/66
• US Class Current: 296/171
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/34 the living accommodation being expansible, collapsible or capable of rearrangement B60P3/38 takes precedence; tents supported at least partially by vehicles E04H15/06

Abstract

A telescopic travel trailer having telescopic end sections. The trailer includes an upper trailer section disposed to telescope vertically with respect to a lower trailer section from a retracted lower position for transporting to an extended upper position for camping. End sections are mounted for sliding movement on the open-ended upper trailer section and each end section telescopes horizontally between a retracted inner position and an extended outer position. A horizontal shelf is located within each end section, and in its lower position serves as a bunk. The shelf can be moved above the level of the upper trailer section so that the telescopic end section can be moved to the retracted inner position for traveling.

Claims

1. A telescopic travel trailer, comprising a lower trailer section, an upper trailer section having at least one open end and disposed to telescope vertically with respect to the lower trailer section from a retracted lower position to an extended upper position, a telescopic end section mounted on said upper trailer section and disposed to telescope horizontally with respect to said upper trailer section from a retracted inner position to an extended outer position, the upper surface of said end section disposed in spaced relation to the upper surface of said upper trailer section to define a storage chamber, and a shelf horizontally positioned and disposed fro vertical movement within said telescopic end section and movable between a lower position for camping and an upper storage position, said upper storage position being above the level of the upper surface of the upper trailer section whereby said shelf will move into the storage chamber when said end section is telescoped to the retracted inner position.

2. The trailer of claim 1 and including support means to support said shelf in the lower position.

3. The trailer of claim 2, wherein said support means comprises a ledge attached to the lower portion of said end section and extending substantially continuously through-out the extent of the end section to provide a seal between the shelf and the end section.

4. The trailer of claim 1, and including a plurality of latch assemblies connected To the upper portion of said end section and disposed to releasably lock said shelf in the upper position.

5. The trailer of claim 1, wherein said upper trailer section includes a ceiling and said end section includes a pair of sidewalls, a roof, an outer end wall and an inner end wall, said ceiling of the upper trailer section roof and said roof, sidewalls and end walls of said end section defining the storage chamber capable of receiving said shelf.

6. The trailer of claim 1, wherein said lower trailer section includes an end wall, and a cap mounted on the upper portion of said end wall, and said end section includes an inwardly projecting flange in approximate horizontal alignment with said cap when said upper trailer section is in extended upper position, said flange and said cap providing support for said shelf in the lower position.

7. The trailer of claim 1, and including a guide means interconnecting said end section and said upper trailer section for guiding said end section for horizontal telescopic movement.

8. The trailer of claim 1, and including means connected to seal said end section to said upper and lower trailer sections when said end section is in the retracted inner position.

9. The trailer of claim 1, and including brace means interconnecting said end section and said lower trailer section to provide stability for said end section when in extended outer position and when said upper trailer section is in extended upper position.

10. The trailer of claim 1, and including a mattress supported on said shelf, said storage chamber having a sufficient height to receive the shelf and the mattress.

11. A telescopic travel trailer, comprising a lower trailer section, an open-ended upper trailer section disposed to telescope vertically with respect to the lower trailer section from a retracted lower position to an extended upper position, said upper trailer section including a pair of sidewalls and a top wall connecting the sidewalls together, a telescopic end section mounted on said upper trailer section and disposed to telescope horizontally with respect to said upper trailer section from a retracted inner position to an extended outer position, said end section including a pair of sidewalls, an outer end wall, an inner end wall and a roof connecting said sidewalls and said end walls, said inner end wall being located above the top wall of the upper trailer section and said roof being disposed in spaced relation to the top wall of said upper trailer section to define a storage chamber, a shelf horizontally positioned and disposed for vertical movement within said telescopic end section and movable between a lower position for camping and an upper storage position located above the level of said top wall, said shelf moving into the storage chamber when in the upper position as said end section is telescoped to the retracted inner position, latch means for releasably latching the shelf in the upper storage position, support means for supporting the shelf in the lower position, first sealing means associated with the lower edge of the inner end wall of said end section for providing a sliding seal between said lower edge and the top wall of the upper trailer section, and second sealing means for sealing the joint between the lower extremities of the sidewalls and the outer end wall of the end section and the lower trailer section when the end section is in the retracted position.