Travel trailer having improved turning radius

• US 8,851,521 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2013
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Heartland Recreational Vehicles LLC (Thor Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Heartland Recreational Vehicles LLC (Thor Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rhymer, John M., Tuttle, Scott J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hurley, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): STABLEY, MICHAEL R
• Application Number:
  US13/964,522
• Publication Number:
  US 20130341898A1
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 280/441.2, 280/783, 280/789, 296/168, 296/24.31, 296/182.1, 296/186.1
• US Class Current: 280/789
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/32 comprising living accommodation for people, e.g. caravans, camping, or like vehicles tents or canopies, in general E04H15/00
• 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 33/04 Enclosed load compartments ; Frameworks for movable panels, tarpaulins or side curtains side curtains per se B60J5/065; tarpaulins per se B60J7/00, B60P7/04
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 63/06 Trailers vehicles comprising living accommodation for people, e.g. caravans, camping or like vehicles B60P3/32

Abstract

A travel trailer configured to be coupled to and towed by a vehicle is provided. The travel trailer has a compartment that is attached to a chassis which includes a front end and a rear end. A plurality of wheels are attached to the chassis adjacent the rear end, and a hitch assembly is attached to the chassis adjacent the front end. The compartment at the front end of the chassis forms first and second corners. A recess, directed inwardly toward the interior of the compartment, is located at each corner of the compartment. Cavities formed by each recess may receive a portion of the vehicle while the vehicle is engaged in a turn.

Claims

1. A travel trailer comprising a forward end cap, a chassis, a hitch assembly, a front end, a rear end, and two side walls, wherein:

the forward end cap of the travel trailer comprises a forward face and two inwardly recessed corner edges wherein each recessed corner edge is directed inwardly towards the interior of the travel trailer;

the forward face of the forward end cap forms the front end of the travel trailer;

the chassis of the travel trailer comprises two side beams and two arcuate braces;

the two arcuate braces of the chassis are coupled together at the front end of the travel trailer chassis;

the two arcuate braces of the chassis form an outwardly curved contour;

the two arcuate braces create two cavities configured to receive the two inwardly recessed corner edges of the forward end cap;

the two side beams of the chassis are substantially parallel and are spaced apart at least a distance of the combined radii of the two arcuate braces of the chassis;

each of the two side beams of the chassis is coupled to a corresponding one of the two arcuate braces of the chassis such that the two side beams extend from the two arcuate braces toward the rear end of the travel trailer;

the forward end cap of the travel trailer is coupled to the two arcuate braces of the chassis;

the two side walls of the travel trailer are coupled to the two side beams of the chassis;

the two inwardly recessed corner edges of the forward end cap substantially conform to a shape of the two cavities created by the two arcuate braces; and

the hitch assembly of the travel trailer is coupled to the chassis.

2. The travel trailer of claim 1, wherein the hitch assembly is coupled to the chassis such that the hitch assembly is forward of the forward end cap of the travel trailer.

3. The travel trailer of claim 1, further comprising a front edge beam wherein:

the front edge beam is coupled to each of the two arcuate braces; and

the front edge beam forms the front end of the travel trailer chassis.

4. The travel trailer of claim 3, wherein the front edge beam of the chassis is arcuate.

5. The travel trailer of claim 3, wherein the front edge beam of the travel trailer chassis has a length equal to a width of the front end of the travel trailer and is substantially centered between each of the two side beams of the chassis.

6. The travel trailer of claim 1, wherein the forward face of the forward end cap has a non-planar contour.

7. The travel trailer of claim 1, wherein the two arcuate braces have an outwardly oriented arcuate shape.

8. The travel trailer of claim 1, wherein the inwardly recessed corner edges of the forward end cap of the travel trailer comprise substantially planar contours.

9. The travel trailer of claim 1, wherein the two inwardly recessed corner edges of the forward end cap of the travel trailer comprise substantially arcuate contours.

10. A travel trailer comprising a forward end cap, a chassis, a hitch assembly, a front end, a rear end, and two side walls, wherein:

the forward end cap of the travel trailer comprises a forward face;

the forward face of the forward end cap forms the front end of the travel trailer;

the chassis of the travel trailer comprises a central longitudinal axis, two side beams, a front edge beam, and a pair of intersecting cross beams;

the front edge beam of the chassis has a length substantially equal to a width of the front end of the travel trailer and is substantially perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the chassis;

the two side beams of the chassis are substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the chassis;

the two side beams of the chassis are separated from each other a distance greater than the length of the front edge beam of the chassis;

the front edge beam is substantially centered between each of the two side beams of the chassis;

each of the pair of intersecting cross beams of the chassis couples a corresponding one of the two side beams of the chassis to the front edge beam of the chassis;

the forward end cap of the travel trailer is coupled to the front edge beam of the chassis;

the two side walls of the travel trailer are coupled to the two side beams of the chassis; and

the hitch assembly of the travel trailer is coupled to the chassis such that the two side beams of the chassis are positioned rearward of the hitch assembly.

11. The travel trailer of claim 10, wherein individual cross beams that form each pair of intersecting cross beams of the chassis intersect at approximately right angles.

12. The travel trailer of claim 10, wherein:

the pair of intersecting cross beams of the chassis form two cavities at both sides of the front edge beam of the chassis; and

the forward end cap further comprises two recessed corner edges, the two recessed corner edges configured to conform to a shape of the two cavities created by the pair of intersecting cross beams of the chassis.