Mobile living quarters

• US 4,652,041 A
• Filed: 04/30/1984
• Issued: 03/24/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Peter J. Elliman
• Original Assignee: Gerald L. Barber, Wayne P. Comstock
• Inventors: Barber, Gerald L., Comstock, Wayne P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reeves, Robert B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stormer, Russell D.
• Application Number:
  US06/605,380
• Time in Patent Office: 1,058 Days
• Field of Search: 296/168, 296/171, 296/172, 296/173, 296/175, 296/176, 296/26, 296/156, 296/27, 52/67, 52/143, 105/314.5, 105/393
• 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 mobile vehicle quarters is illustrated which includes a trailer vehicle frame (A) consisting of a number of sectional frames (C). Each sectional frame includes two sides (39a, 39b) each of which includes a base frame (20, 22) and a slidable frame (38, 40). Each sectional frame carries a pair of opposing compartments (B). Two rows (100, 102) of compartments are thus formed on the two sides of the trailer frame. The compartment (B) includes a first section which is fixed to a vertical frame (30, 32) which divides the sectional frame into two sides. The first sections are hung from the vertical frame while a second section (72) slides relative to the thick section (60). The movable section (72) includes a floor section (86) which slides beneath a floor (70) of the fixed section to a nested travel configuration. When moved to an open position, the two sections (60 and 72) provide a living quarters. A central utility channel space is provided between the backs of the opposing compartments through which utility services are routed to the individual compartments. An air distribution duct (34) delivers conditioned air to the individual compartments by way of individual room registers (116). A fluid holding tank (120) is formed between the longitudinally extending I-beams (10 and 12) of the vehicle frame (A) for holding waste liquid coming from the compartments.

Claims

1. A mobile living quarters vehicle comprising:

an elongated vehicle frame;

a plurality of individually enclosed living compartments carried on said vehicle frame;

a first row of said compartments carried along a first side of said elongated vehicle frame;

a second row of said compartments carried along a second side of said elongated vehicle frame;

each said living comparment comprising a first stationary room section having a major wall affixed to said vehicle frame and a second movable room section slidably carried by said vehicle frame;

said second movable section being movable between a closed position in which said second section is nested with said first section and an open position in which said first and second sections are extended relative to each other;

wherein

said major walls of said compartments of said first and second rows are arranged opposite one another in spaced-apart relationship.

2. A vehicle as in claim 1, wherein:

said vehicle frame includes a plurality of sectional cross frame means spaced along said elongated vehicle frame, one each of said sectional frame means being exclusively associated with a respective pair of opposing compartments for carrying said compartments spaced from and physically unattached from adjacent pairs of opposing compartments on said vehicle frame; and

vertical frame means included in each said sectional cross frame means for carrying said first sections of each opposing pair spaced apart in said back-to-back arrangement physically unattached;

each said sectional cross frame means including a horizontal movable individual frame means for slidably carrying the second sections of each compartment of said opposing compartment pair on said vehicle frame individually from one another and from adjacent compartments permitting each said second section to be moved to said open position and said compartments to be utilized independently of each other.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 including:

a utility channel space defined between said first and second rows of living compartments for routing utility services individually to said compartments;

said vertical frame means carrying an air distribution duct longitudinally along the length of said compartment rows which distributes conditioned air to said living compartments; and

air entrance ducts carried by each said living compartment connected to said air distribution duct through which air is delivered in two said compartments.

4. The vehicle of claim 3 including:

a source of conditioned air carried on said vehicle;

an air intake duct carried by said source for delivering air to said source;

an air outlet duct connected to said source and to said air distribution duct for delivering conditioned air through said air distribution duct into said individual compartments;

by-pass port means connecting said outlet duct and intake duct responsive to air pressure in said air distribution duct to short circuit the flow of air from said outlet duct directly into said intake duct.

5. The vehicle of claim 2 including:

a fluid holding tank means carried by said vehicle frame extending underneath said individual compartments for holding waste liquid; and

plumbing connection means carried in each compartment connected in fluid communication with said holding tank means.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 including:

a pair of parallel main frame members extending longitudinally in said vehicle frame, said cross frame means being transverse to said main frame members; and

said holding tank means carried between said main frame members extending generally beneath said compartments.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said main frame members form sides of said holding tank means, a bottom of said holding tank means is formed by a plate extending between lower portions of said side frame members and a top of said holding tank includes a plate extending between the tops of said main frame members through which interconnection with said plumbing connection means are made.

8. The vehicle of claim 5 wherein said sectional cross-frame means includes a pair of cross-frame members extending transverse to said elongated vehicle frame across both said first and second sides.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein said slidable individual frame means includes a first sliding horizontal frame carried by said cross-frame members on said first side of said vehicle frame carrying one of said second sections of said opposing pair of living compartments, and a second slidable horizontal frame carried on said second side of said vehicle frame for carrying a second section of the second of said pair of opposing compartments.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said cross-frame members each include an inside and outside slide track;

said first slidable frame means being carried on the inside slide tracks of said pair of cross-frame members while the second slidable horizontal frame means is carried on the outside slide tracks of said cross elements so that said slidable frame members slide on the same cross elements relatively past each other.

11. A mobile living quarters vehicle comprising:

(a) an elongated vehicle frame including a pair of longitudinally extending main frame members which are laterally spaced from one another;

(b) a plurality of separated individual living compartments carried side-by-side but unattached with respect to one another along the length of said vehicle frame;

(c) each said living compartment including;

(i) a first stationary section having a back major wall, a pair of minor side walls integral with said back wall, a first roof means integral with said back wall and side walls for defining a top enclosure for said first section, and first floor means integral with said back wall and side walls defining a bottom closure of said first section,

(ii) a second movable section which slides relative to said first section having a front major wall, a pair of minor side walls integral with said front wall, a second roof means integral with said front major wall and side walls defining a top closure of said second section, and a second floor means integral with said front and side walls for defining a bottom enclosure for said second section,

(iii) said second section being slidable to a closed position in which said second section and first section are nested together in a compacted configuration for travel of said vehicle, said second section being slidable to an open position in which said first and second sections are generally open to each other between said front and back major walls to provide a living quarters space within said first and second sections while said vehicle is not traveling,

(iv) a junction defined where said sections meet when said second section is moved to said second position, and

(v) closure means for sealing and closing said junction of said first and second sections,

(d) a plurality of individual sectional frame means included in said elongated vehicle frame for individually carrying said living compartments with spacing between said sides of said compartments so that adjacent compartments are unattached and separated from one another providing privacy and individual identity of said compartments on said vehicle frame; and

(e) each said sectional frame means including sliding frame means for carrying the second section of said compartments so that a second section of one compartment will slide to an open position while the remaining compartments are closed whereby said compartments can be utilized independently from one another as living quarters with remaining ones of said compartments closed;

wherein

said compartments are arranged in two rows on said frame in back-to-back spaced-apart relationship.

12. The vehicle of claim 11 including:

each said individual sectional frame means including a vertical frame means for supporting said first section of said compartment and a base frame for carrying said sliding frame means; and

attachment means affixing said major back wall of said first section to said vertical frame means.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein said first section of said compartment is unattached to said base frame means so that said second floor means of said compartment slides underneath said first floor means in said closed position while said first floor is carried in a suspended configuration by said first section.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 wherein said attachment means includes a vertical reinforcing means carried by said back wall of said first section, and fastening means extending through said vertical frame means and reinforcing means fastening said vertical frame and back wall together whereby said first section is hung from said vertical frame means.

15. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein:

said compartments of said two rows are in back-to-back arrangement of opposing pairs; and

each such opposing pair includes a compartment from one row and an opposed compartment from another row having their major back walls of their respective first sections facing one another in a spaced relationship.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 including:

a middle utility channel space defined between said spaced back walls of said compartments of said two rows generally along the length of said rows through which utility service may be routed to said individual compartments;

an air distribution duct carried longitudinally extending in said utility channel space; and

an air inlet carried by each compartment registering with said air duct through which conditioned air is delivered into each compartment.

17. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein said second roof means of said second section is elevated above said first roof means of said first section to provide increased vertical space and ventilation in said living quarters.

18. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein said side walls of said second section includes

vertical extensions integral therewith for elevating said second roof means above said first roof means and

a transparent panel carried in said vertical side wall extensions for providing a pathway for light into said living quarters.

19. A mobile living quarters vehicle comprising:

an elongated vehicle frame;

a plurality of individual self-contained living compartments;

each said compartment including a first stationary section affixed to said vehicle frame and a second movable section slidably carried by said vehicle frame;

said second slidable section having a closed position in which said first and second sections are nested together for travel with no living space within said nested sections and an open position in which said sections are moved apart to provide a living quarters space;

said second section having a front side including a compartment door providing access to said living quarters space;

a plurality of sectional cross frame means included in said vehicle frame spaced along the length of said vehicle frame for carrying said individual compartments at spaced locations along said vehicle frame;

said sectional frame means including individual slidable horizontal frame means for carrying said second section of said compartment;

said sectional frame means including vertical frame means for carrying said first section of said compartment in a suspended configuration;

said first section including a freely hanging first floor section, and said second section including a second floor section attached to said slidable horizontal frame means; and

said first floor section of said first section being spaced above said second floor section of said second section on said sectional frame means so that said second section of said floor slides underneath said suspended first floor section; and

wherein

said plurality of compartments are carried by said sectional frame means in back-to-back spaced-apart relationship.

20. The vehicle of claim 19 including:

a first compartment carried at a first side of each said sectional frame means and a second compartment carried at a second side of each said sectional frame means, said first and second compartments being carried in said back-to-back configuration with said front compartment doors facing outwards and a back wall of said first sections of said compartments facing one another;

each said sectional frame means including first and second horizontal sliding frame means slidably carried on said first and second sides on which the second sections of said first and second compartments are carried; and

said vertical frame means spacing and supporting said first and second compartments in said back-to-back relationship.

21. The vehicle of claim 20 including a central utility channel defined between said back walls of said first sections of said opposing compartments for routing utility services to said individual compartments.

22. The vehicle of claim 19 wherein said sectional cross frame means includes a pair of spaced cross frame members extending across said elongated vehicle frame having first and second free cantilevered ends on which said first and second horizontal sliding frame means are carried, respectively.

23. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said first and second cross frame members each have a first slide track on one side of the frame member and a second slide track on the opposite side of the said frame member;

and

said first horizontal slide frame means being carried on the inside slide track means of said first and second cross frame members while said second horizontal slide frame means is carried on the outside slide track of said first and second cross frame members so that said first and second frame means can slide relatively past each other when said second sections of said first and second compartments are moved to said closed position.

24. The vehicle of claim 19 wherein said elongated vehicle frame includes:

a pair of longitudinal main frame elements which are laterally spaced in said vehicle frame, said main frame elements having vertical sides;

a bottom plate bridging the vertical sides of said main frame elements at a lower portion thereof;

a top plate bridging the vertical sides of said main frame elements at an upper portion thereof; and

a liquid holding tank defined between said vertical sides, bottom plate, and top plate for containing waste liquid from said compartments.

25. The vehicle of claim 24 including transverse baffle plates carried across holding tank between said vertical sides of said main frame elements spaced above said bottom plate to permit some shifting of liquid;

and

vent means formed in an upper portion of said baffle plates permitting escape of gas through the top of said holding tank.

26. The vehicle of claim 25 including plumbing connection means carried in each compartment connected to said holding tank.

27. A mobile assembly, comprising:

a vertical support frame; and

a plurality of individual, unattached enclosures, mounted on said support frame;

wherein

said plurality of said enclosures are arranged in two back-to-back rows in spaced relationship, thereby defining a central utility channel which branches to each of said enclosures; and

wherein

each of said enclosures respectively has a fixed section including a first fixed floor means and a movable section including a second movable floor means nested therewith, with said fixed sections suspended from said vertical support frame to permit said second movable floor means to be received under said first fixed floor means; and

said assembly further comprises a plurality of slidable support means, one each of which is respectively associated with each of said movable sections, for permitting individual respective movement of each of said movable sections relative its respective fixed section between fully nested and fully un-nested configurations, wherein in said un-nested configuration each of said individual enclosures comprise separate, unattached living quarters, and in said nested configuration there is no space sufficient for habitation within the respective nested enclosure.

28. A mobile assembly as in claim 27, wherein said slidable support means are paired such that a given pair of slidable support means are nested with respect to each other whenever their respective associated movable sections are both in said nested configuration. PG,43

29. An assembly as in claim 27, further comprising:

longitudinal tank means, mounted beneath said enclosures between lengthwise elements of said support frame, for holding liquids therein;

plumbing means for respectively connecting each of said enclosures with said tank means; and

baffle means, included within said tank means, for reducing the dynamic affects of movement of liquids contained within said tank means during movement of and mobile assembly.

30. An assembly as in claim 27, further comprising air handler means, associated with said central utility channel for providing a flow of air to each respective enclosure, and further including biased damper means for ensuring a relatively even air flow to said each respective enclosure.

31. A mobile assembly, comprising:

a support frame; and

a plurality of individual enclosures, mounted on said support frame;

wherein

said plurality of said enclosures are arranged in two back-to-back rows in spaced relationship, thereby defining a central utility channel which branches to each of said enclosures; and

said mobile assembly further comprises air handler means, associated with said central utility channel for providing a flow of air to each respective enclosure; and

further including biased damper means for ensuring a relatively even air flow to said each respective enclosure;

wherein

said air handler means comprises;

a longitudinal air distribution duct carried generally along the length of said central utility channel,

an air inlet in each of said enclosures connected to said air distribution duct,

a source of conditioned air mounted on said assembly,

an air intake duct for delivering air to said source, and

an air outlet duct connected to said source and to said air distribution duct for delivering conditioned air through said air distribution duct into said individual enclosures; and

wherein

said biased damper means includes by-pass port means connecting said outlet duct and intake duct responsive to air pressure in said air distribution duct to thereby short circuit the flow of air from said outlet duct directly into said intake duct.