Travel trailer with extendable two level bathroom and bedroom

• US 6,170,903 B1
• Filed: 04/01/1999
• Issued: 01/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nc Alfa Leisure
• Original Assignee: Alfa Leisure Inc
• Inventors: Crean, Johnnie Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Pape, Joseph D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, KIRAN B
• Application Number:
  US09/283,708
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 296/26.12, 296/26.13, 296/171-173, 296/175-176, 296/165, 296/25, 296/24.1, 296/168, 296/181, 52/67
• US Class Current: 296/168
• 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 recreational travel trailer comprising a main housing which encloses a living space having multiple floor levels, and a two level extendable housing having a deployed configuration and an extended configuration. The extendable housing is movably positioned within an opening in the main housing so that a first floor of the extendable housing is positioned adjacent to a first floor of the main housing and so that a second floor of the extendable housing is positioned adjacent to a second floor of the main housing. In the deployed configuration, the extendable housing extends through the opening of the main housing so as to increase the enclosed space within the trailer. In the retracted configuration, the extendable housing is substantially positioned within the main housing so as to provide the main housing with a shape and size that is suitable for being towed on a public road. The trailer is further comprised of a two level actuator assembly which moves the two level extendable housing. The actuator assembly is comprised of a rear and front rail assembly that are vertically offset from each other and a two level drive mechanism positioned therebetween that causes the rail assemblies to move opposite ends of the extendable housing in a synchronous manner. A foldable wardrobe having a deployed configuration and a retracted configuration is mounted to the extendable housing. In the deployed configuration, the wardrobe extends into a full size wardrobe. In the retracted configuration, the width of the wardrobe is reduced so as to enable the extendable housing to be placed into the retracted configuration.

Claims

1. A travel trailer comprising:

a frame having a first length;

a set of wheels attached to the frame to permit rolling movement of the trailer over the ground;

a floor attached to the frame, wherein the floor defines the inner living space of the trailer and wherein the floor has a first vertical level positioned at a first height above the ground and a second vertical level positioned at a second height above the ground;

a plurality of walls mounted on the floor so as to enclose the inner living space of the trailer wherein the inner living space defines a bedroom with a bed, a bathroom and a living room; and

a pop-out assembly attached to a first wall of the plurality of walls of the trailer, the pop out assembly including a floor having a first and a second level and a plurality of walls mounted at the outer edges of the floor, wherein the first and second level of the floor of the pop-out are respectively positioned adjacent the first and second vertical levels of the floor of the trailer attached to the frame wherein the pop-out assembly is movable between a first position such that an outer wall of the plurality of walls of the pop-out assembly is positioned adjacent the first wall and a second position wherein the pop-out assembly is extended outward from the first wall wherein the pop-out assembly in the second position expands the inner living space of the bathroom and at least one of the bedroom or the living room such that the inner living space of the trailer can be expanded to a desired maximum area so that the desired maximum area can be obtained while shortening the required length of the frame.

2. The travel trailer of claim 1, further comprising a movement mechanism coupled with the pop-out assembly so as to be able to move the pop-out assembly between the first position and the second position.

3. The travel trailer of claim 2, wherein the movement mechanism is comprised of at least one lineal actuator attached to the pop out assembly that is movable between a retracted and an extended position.

4. The travel trailer of claim 3, wherein the movement mechanism further comprises a means for moveing the linear actuator between the retracted and the extended position.

5. The travel trailer of claim 4, wherein the movement mechanism comprises:

a first rail attached to a first end of the pop-out assembly, wherein the first rail is movable between a retracted and an extended position;

a second rail attached to a second end of the pop-out assembly, wherein the second rail is movable between a retracted and an extended position;

a motor which is coupled with the first rail so as to be able to move the first rail between the retracted and extended position; and

a linkage assembly that links the first and second rail so as to ensure that the first and second rail move between the retracted and the extended position simultaneously at the same rate.

6. The travel trailer of claim 5, wherein the linkage assembly comprises:

a first shaft member mounted to the trailer assembly so as to extend generally horizontally at a first height above the ground so as to be rotatable wherein the first shaft member is attached to the first rail so that rotation of the first shaft member results in corresponding movement of the first rail between the retracted and the extended position;

a second shaft member mounted to the trailer assembly so as to extend generally at a second height above the ground and so as to be rotatable wherein the second shaft member is attached to the second rail so that rotation of the second shaft member results in movement of the second rail between the retracted and extended position;

a vertical linkage mechanism that is coupled to the first and second shaft members so that rotational movement of the first shaft member results in corresponding rotational movement of the second shaft member.

7. The travel trailer of claim 6, wherein the vertical linkage mechanism is comprised of a first sprocket attached to the first shaft member and a second sprocket attached to the end of the second shaft member and a continuous chain that is engaged with the first and second sprocket members so that rotation of the first sprocket member results in rotation of the second sprocket member.

8. The travel trailer of claim 1, wherein the travel trailer includes a main level, a first elevated level corresponding to the first vertical level and a second elevated level.

9. The travel trailer of claim 8, wherein the first elevated level comprises a bathroom and the first floor of the pop-out assembly expands the floor area of the bathroom.

10. The travel trailer of claim 9, wherein the second elevated level comprises a bedroom having a bed positioned therein, wherein the bed is mounted so that a portion of the bed is positioned within the pop-out assembly so that when the pop-out assembly is in the second position, a portion of the bed is positioned outside of the outer walls of the trailer.

11. The travel trailer of claim 1, further comprising a foldable wardrobe assembly that is positioned within the pop-out assembly so that the foldable wardrobe assembly moves with the pop-out assembly, wherein the foldable wardrobe assembly is foldable between a first orientation that enables the pop-out assembly to be moved into the first position and a second orientation wherein the foldable wardrobe extends into the pop-out assembly when the pop out assembly is in the second position.

12. The travel trailer of claim 11, wherein the foldable wardrobe comprises:

a first cabinet attached to the pop-out assembly;

a hinge attached to a first cabinet adjacent a first surface of the first cabinet;

a pivoting cabinet attached to the hinge at a first surface of the first cabinet so that the pivoting cabinet can be pivoted about the hinge.

13. The travel trailer of claim 12, wherein the first surface of the pivoting cabinet is orientated so as to be substantially perpendicular to the first surface of the first cabinet when the foldable wardrobe is placed into the first orientation, and wherein the first surface of the pivoting cabinet is oriented so as to be substantially parallel with the first surface of the first cabinet when the foldable wardrobe is placed into the second orientation.

14. A travel trailer comprising:

a frame having a first length;

a plurality of wheels attached to the frame to permit rolling movement of the trailer over the ground;

a multilevel floor attached to the frame, wherein the multilevel floor defines the inner living space of the trailer having a bathroom on one level of the multilevel floor and at least one bedroom and a living room on other levels of the multilevel floor and wherein the multilevel floor includes a first level positioned at a first height above the plurality of wheels and a second level positioned at a second height above the plurality of wheels;

a main housing comprised of a plurality of walls mounted above the frame that enclose the inner living space of the trailer; and

an extendable housing attached to a first wall of the plurality of walls of the trailer, the extendable housing including a multilevel floor having a first and a second level and a plurality of walls mounted at the outer edges of the floor, wherein the first and second level of the multilevel floor of the extendable housing are respectively positioned adjacent the first and second levels of the multilevel floor of the trailer attached to the frame, wherein the extendable housing is movable between a retracted configuration such that an outer wall of the plurality of walls of the extendable housing is positioned adjacent the first wall and a deployed configuration wherein the extendable housing is extended outward from the first wall such that the extendable housing in the extended position increases the area of any two of the bathroom, the bedroom or the living room such that the inner living space of the trailer can be expanded to a desired maximum area so that the desired maximum area can be obtained while shortening the required length of the frame.

15. The travel trailer of claim 14, further comprising an actuator assembly coupled with the extendable housing so as to be able to move the extendable housing between the first position and the second position.

16. The travel trailer of claim 15, wherein the actuator assembly comprises:

a first rail attached to a first end of the extendable housing, wherein the first rail is movable between a retracted and an extended position;

a second rail attached to a second end of the extendable housing, wherein the second rail is movable between a retracted and an extended position;

a drive assembly that links the first rail with the second rail so as to ensure that the first rail and the second rail move between the retracted and the extended position simultaneously at the same rate; and

a motor which is coupled with the drive assembly so as to be able to move the first rail and the second rail between the retracted and extended position.

17. The travel trailer of claim 16, wherein the drive assembly comprises:

a first shaft member mounted to the travel trailer so as to extend generally horizontally at a first height above the ground so as to be rotatable, wherein the first shaft member is coupled to the first rail so that rotation of the first shaft member results in corresponding movement of the first rail between the retracted and the extended position;

a second shaft member mounted to the travel trailer so as to extend generally at a second height above the ground and so as to be rotatable wherein the second shaft member is attached to the second rail so that rotation of the second shaft member results in movement of the second rail between the retracted and extended position;

a torque transfer assembly that is coupled to the first and second shaft members so that rotational movement of the first shaft member results in corresponding rotational movement of the second shaft member.

18. The travel trailer of claim 17, wherein the torque transfer assembly is comprised of a first gear attached to the first shaft member and a second gear attached to the end of the second shaft member and a continuous chain that is engaged with the first and second gear so that rotation of the first gear results in rotation of the second gear.

19. The travel trailer of claim 14, wherein the multilevel floor includes a main level, wherein the first level and the second level are elevated above the main level.

20. The travel trailer of claim 19, wherein the first level comprises a bathroom and the first floor of the extendable housing expands the floor area of the bathroom.

21. The travel trailer of claim 20, wherein the second level comprises a bedroom having a bed positioned therein, wherein the bed is mounted so that a portion of the bed is positioned within the extendable housing so that when the extendable housing is in the second position, a portion of the bed is positioned outside of the first wall of the plurality of walls of the trailer.

22. The travel trailer of claim 14, further comprising a foldable wardrobe assembly that is positioned within the extendable housing so that the foldable wardrobe assembly moves with the extendable housing, wherein the foldable wardrobe assembly is foldable between a first orientation that reduces the width of the foldable wardrobe assembly so as to enable the extendable housing to be moved into the retracted configuration and a second orientation wherein the foldable wardrobe extends into the pop-out assembly when the pop out assembly is in the second position.

23. The travel trailer of claim 22, wherein the foldable wardrobe comprises:

a first cabinet attached to the extendable housing;

a hinge attached to the first cabinet adjacent a first surface of the first cabinet; and

a pivoting cabinet attached to the hinge at a first surface of the first cabinet so that the pivoting cabinet can be pivoted about the hinge.

24. The travel trailer of claim 23, wherein the first surface of the pivoting cabinet is oriented so as to be substantially perpendicular to the first surface of the first cabinet when the foldable wardrobe is placed in the first orientation, and wherein the first surface of the pivoting cabinet is oriented so as to be substantially parallel with the first surface of the first cabinet when the foldable wardrobe is placed into the second orientation.

25. The travel trailer of claim 24, wherein the fixed cabinet of the foldable wardrobe is positioned on the first level of the multilevel floor of the extendable housing.

26. A recreational travel trailer that can be towed on a road by a passenger vehicle, the recreational travel trailer comprising:

a frame having a first length;

a plurality of wheels that attach to the frame so as to support the travel trailer in a state of rest and so as to support the travel trailer in a state of relative motion with respect to the road;

a main housing having a plurality of walls that form an interior living space, wherein the main housing is coupled with the frame so as to support the main housing, wherein the main housing includes a first floor and a second floor with the first floor defining a bedroom and the second floor defining a bathroom that are vertically offset from each other, wherein the plurality of walls of the main housing further includes a first wall having a first opening; and

an extendable housing having a storage configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein the extendable housing is comprised of a plurality of walls that form a supplemental living space therein, wherein the plurality of walls of the extendable housing form a first floor and a second floor, wherein the first floor and the second floor of the extendable housing are vertically offset from each other, wherein the extendable housing is positioned within the first opening of the first wall of the main housing so that the first floor of the extendable housing is positioned proximate the first floor of the main housing and so that the second floor of the extendable member is positioned proximate the second floor of the main housing, wherein the extendable housing, in the storage configuration, is positioned substantially inside the housing so as to provide the travel trailer with a shape that is suitable for being towed on a public road, and wherein the extendable housing, in the deployed configuration, is positioned substantially outside the housing so as to increase the interior living space of the bedroom and the bathroom of the travel trailer such that the interior living space of the main housing and supplemental living space of the extendable housing define the living space of the trailer so that when the extendable housing in is the deployed configuration, the living space of the trailer is maximized in a manner that reduces the required length of the frame.

27. The trailer of claim 26, further comprising a movement mechanism coupled with the pop out assembly so that the pop out assembly is movable between the extended and the retracted position.

28. The travel trailer of claim 27 wherein the movement mechanism is comprised of at least one lineal actuator attached to the pop out assembly that is movable between a retracted and an extended position.

29. The travel trailer of claim 28 wherein the movement mechanism further comprises a means for moving the linear actuator between the retracted and the extended position.

30. The travel trailer of claim 29, wherein the movement mechanism comprises:

a first rail attached to the first end of the pop out assembly, wherein the first rail is movable between a retraced and an extended position;

a second rail attached to a second end of the pop out assembly, wherein the second rail is movable between a retracted and an extended position;

a motor which is coupled with the first rail so as to be able to move the first rail between the retracted and the extended position;

a linkage assembly that links the first and the second rail so as to ensure that the fist and second rails move between the retracted and the extended position simultaneously at the same rate.

31. The travel trailer of claim 30, wherein the linkage assembly comprises;

a first shaft member mounted to the trailer assembly so as to extend generally horizontally at a first height above the ground so as to be rotatable wherein the first shaft member is attached to the first rail so that movement of the first rail between the retracted and the extended position results in corresponding rotation of the first shaft member;

a second shaft member mounted to the trailer assembly so as to extend generally at a second height above the ground and so as to be rotatable wherein the second shaft member is attached to the second rail so that rotation of the second shaft member results in movement of the second rail between the retracted and the extended position;

a vertical linkage mechanism that is coupled to the first and second shaft members so that rotational movement of the first shaft member results in corresponding rotational movement of the second shaft member.

32. The travel trailer of claim 31, wherein the vertical linkage mechanism is comprised of a first sprocket attached to the first shaft member and a second sprocket attached to the end of the second shaft member and a continuous chain that is engaged with the first and second sprocket members so that rotation of the first sprocket member results in rotation of the second sprocket member.

33. A travel trailer comprising:

a frame having a first length;

a set of wheels attached to the frame to permit rolling movement of the trailer over the ground;

a floor attached to the frame, wherein the floor defines the inner living space of the trailer and wherein the floor has a first vertical level positioned at a first height above the ground and a second vertical level positioned at a second height above the ground greater than the first level wherein the first vertical level defines the bathroom of the trailer and the second vertical level defines the bedroom of the trailer;

a plurality of walls mounted on the floor so as to enclose the inner living space of the trailer; and

a pop out assembly attached to the first wall of the plurality of walls of the trailer, the pop out assembly including a floor having a first and a second level and a plurality of walls mounted at the outer edges of the floor, wherein the pop out assembly is movable between a first position such that the outer wall of the pop out assembly is positioned adjacent the outer wall of the first wall and a second position wherein the pop out assembly is extended outward from the first wall and wherein the pop out assembly is attached to the first wall so that the first level of the pop out assembly increases the floor area of the bathroom of the trailer and wherein the second level of the pop out assembly increases the floor area of the bedroom of the trailer when the pop out assembly is in the extended position such that the inner living area of the trailer and the floor area of the pop out assembly define the overall living area of the trailer when the pop-out assembly is in the second position so that when the pop out assembly is in the second position, the overall living space of the trailer is maximized in a manner that reduces the required length of the frame of the trailer.

34. The travel trailer of claim 33, further comprising a movement mechanism coupled with the pop out assembly so that the pop out assembly is movable between the extended and the retracted position.

35. The travel trailer of claim 34, wherein the movement mechanism is comprised of at least one lineal actuator attached to the pop out assembly that is movable between a retracted and an extended position.

36. The travel trailer of claim 35, wherein the movement mechanism further comprises a means for moving the linear actuator between the retracted and the extended position.

37. The travel trailer of claim 36, further comprising a mechanism for ensuring that a first end and a second end of the pop out assembly move between the retracted and the extended state at substantially the same rate.

38. The travel trailer of claim 37, wherein the movement mechanism comprises:

a first rail attached to the first end of the pop out assembly, wherein the first rail is movable between a retraced and an extended position;

a second rail attached to a second end of the pop out assembly, wherein the second rail is movable between a retracted and an extended position;

a motor which is coupled with the first rail so as to be able to move the first rail between the retracted and the extended position;

a linkage assembly that links the first and the second rail so as to ensure that the fist and second rails move between the retraced and the extended position simultaneously at the same rate.

39. The travel trailer of claim 33, further comprising a movable cabinet assembly that is positioned within the pop out assembly that is movable between a storage configuration and a deployed configuration.

40. The travel trailer of claim 39, wherein the movable cabinet is comprised of a foldable wardrobe assembly that is positioned within the pop-out assembly so that the foldable wardrobe assembly moves with the pop-out assembly, wherein the foldable wardrobe assembly is foldable between a first orientation that reduces the width of the foldable wardrobe assembly so as to enable the pop-out assembly to be moved into the retracted configuration and a second orientation wherein the foldable wardrobe extends into the pop-out assembly when the pop out assembly is in the second position.

41. The travel trailer of claim 40, wherein the foldable wardrobe comprises:

a first cabinet attached to the pop-out assembly;

a hinge attached to the first cabinet adjacent a first surface of the first cabinet; and

a pivoting cabinet attached to the hinge at a first surface of the first cabinet so that the pivoting cabinet can be pivoted about the hinge.

42. The travel trailer of claim 41, wherein the first surface of the pivoting cabinet is oriented so as to be substantially perpendicular to the first surface of the first cabinet when the foldable wardrobe is placed in the first orientation, and wherein the first surface of the pivoting cabinet is oriented so as to be substantially parallel with the first surface of the first cabinet when the foldable wardrobe is placed into the second orientation.