Travel trailer

• US 7,111,897 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2005
• Issued: 09/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Teton Buildings, LLC
• Original Assignee: B&B Homes Corporation
• Inventors: Ingram, Anthony G., Johnson, Marion B., Harkins, Terry L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Kiran B.
• Application Number:
  US11/069,419
• Publication Number:
  US 20060012219A1
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 296/168, 296/184.1, 296/164, 296/181
• US Class Current: 296/168
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/36 Auxiliary arrangements; Arrangements of living accommodation toilet or washing arrangements B60R15/00; Details
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/20 trailer type, i.e. a frame specifically constructed for use in a non-powered vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 53/061 of flat bed or low loader type or fitted with swan necks detachable swan necks B62D53/065; swan neck-fifth wheel couplings B62D53/08

Abstract

A travel trailer having a two-level chassis supporting at least two discrete floor sections at at least two different heights above the ground with at least one of those floors having a bathroom portion being supported by an upper chassis beam is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the chassis has a substantially horizontal forward upper portion and a substantially horizontal rearward lower portion, and an upper floor is secured to the upper portion and a lower floor is secured to the lower portion with an intermediate floor positioned below the upper edge of the upper portion of the chassis to a height intermediate that of the upper and lower floors. In an alternative preferred embodiment, the intermediate floor is suspended below the upper chassis portion. The area underneath the intermediate section and above the bottom of the trailer defines a storage area that is not blocked or limited in size by the width of the chassis beams. In a more preferred embodiment, common fixed trailer accessories, such as gray and black water tanks, their related plumbing, trailer heaters and the like are clustered together within and near a limited section of the storage area, such as near the rear of the storage area, such that the majority of the storage area remains unoccupied. Accordingly, storage space within the storage area is optimized, and the full height of the storage area is available throughout the majority of the storage area to accommodate oversized objects.

Claims

1. A travel trailer for being towed by a vehicle including:

a multi-level chassis having front and back ends and at least one elongate beam having an upper edge;

a wheel assembly secured toward the back end of the chassis;

a mounting portion secured toward the front end of the chassis for detachably securing said chassis to the vehicle;

a shelter secured to the chassis;

said shelter having a bedroom area and a bathroom area with a continuous generally horizontal floor therebetween; and

said generally horizontal floor operably secured to the at least one elongate beam and positioned below the upper edge of said at least one elongate beam.

2. The travel trailer of claim 1, wherein said chassis is a two-level chassis having an upper portion and a lower portion, and said front end is at said upper portion and said back end is at said lower portion.

3. The travel trailer of claim 2, wherein said floor is suspended below said upper portion of said chassis.

4. The travel trailer of claim 2, wherein the trailer has a lower edge, and further including an enclosed storage area below the floor and above the lower edge of the trailer.

5. The travel trailer of claim 2, further including a generally horizontal upper floor positioned vertically above said generally horizontal floor, and a generally horizontal lower floor positioned vertically below said generally horizontal floor.

6. The travel trailer of claim 5, wherein said upper floor is secured to said upper portion of said chassis and said lower floor is secured to said lower portion of said chassis.

7. The travel trailer of claim 6, wherein:

said trailer has a lower edge;

said chassis includes an upper chassis beam secured to a lower chassis beam at a vertical riser;

said horizontal floor is supported by said upper chassis beam; and

further including an enclosed storage area below the horizontal floor, forward of the vertical riser and above the bottom edge of the trailer.

8. The travel trailer of claim 7, wherein said storage area has a storage area floor and further including:

a first liquid storage tank secured to the storage area floor adjacent to the vertical riser;

plumbing extending from the liquid storage tank to said floor;

a remotely-actuated dump valve having an actuation handle, said valve in fluid communication with said tank; and

said actuation handle secured outside of said storage area to facilitate easy actuation of the valve when the storage area is full.

9. The travel trailer of claim 8, wherein said lower beam has a vertical thickness and further including:

a second liquid storage tank secured below the lower floor, above the lower edge of the trailer, and within the area occupied by the vertical thickness of the lower beam;

a second remotely-actuated dump valve having a second actuation handle, said valve in fluid communication with said second tank; and

said second actuation handle secured outside of said storage area to facility easy actuation of said second valve when the storage area is full.

10. The travel trailer of claim 2, wherein said upper portion of said chassis is an I-beam having a vertical web, upper and lower flanges, and a lower edge, and said floor is supported by said lower flanges.

11. The travel trailer of claim 10, further including a plurality of said I-beams aligned substantially parallel and spaced apart from each other, and further including a beam secured to the lower edges of said I-beams and extending between said I-beams for supporting said floor.