Environmentally protected expandable trailer

• US 4,955,661 A
• Filed: 04/20/1989
• Issued: 09/11/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medical Coaches, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Medical Coaches, Inc.
• Inventors: Mattice, Richard E.
• Primary Examiner(s): SONG, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US07/340,695
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 296/26, 296/171, 296/175, 280/656, 52/67
• US Class Current: 296/171
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/0252 the object being a theater, cinema, auditorium or grandstand
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 39/00 Vehicle bodies not otherwise provided for , e.g. safety vehicles safety equipment B60R21/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 53/067 Multi-purpose, convertible or extendable load surface semi-trailers for container transport B60P1/6418; convertible road transport vehicles in general B60P3/42

Abstract

An expandable transportable enclosure is described which includes an environmentally protected expandable section. The expandable section extends away from the body of the enclosure and includes an inflatable seal which fills the gap located between the expandable section and the body of the enclosure. The environmentally protected expandable section also includes a retractable floor which is raised off the bottom of the expandable section to insulate the floorboard from the exposed, bottom surface of the expanded section. Finally, an automatically retracting cover, over the expandable section, is provided to prevent the accumulation of snow, water, dirt, or other environmental elements on the top of the expandable section. The environmentally protected unit thus provides a comfortable and weather insulated expanded, interior trailer space without the requirement of costly manufacturing.

Claims

1. A transportable enclosure, comprising:

a transportable enclosure body including;

a side having at least one opening at a predetermined location;

a parallel side portion connected to the side and extending within the opening;

at least one expandable section having a wall and being slidably engaged within the opening in a predetermined direction, the wall substantially facing the parallel side portion such that the wall and parallel side portion each extend in a plane substantially parallel to the direction of sliding of the expandable section; and

an inflatable seal assembly, attached to one of the parallel side portion or the wall, including an inflatable seal capable of inflating toward and against the other of the parallel side portion or the wall.

2. A transportable enclosure according to claim 1, wherein:

the inflatable seal assembly further includes a retainer, the retainer secured to said one of the parallel side portion or the wall, and the inflatable seal being secured to the retainer.

3. A transportable enclosure according to claim 1, wherein:

the expandable section includes four walls defining the perimeter, the inflatable seal encircling the perimeter.

4. A transportable enclosure according to claim 3, wherein:

the four walls are continuously connected to define four corners, the four corners being rounded to provide a smooth perimeter.

5. A transportable enclosure according to claim 1, wherein:

the body includes a plurality of sides, the expandable section includes a plurality of walls, a face, and an interior space defined by the walls and the face, the transportable enclosure further including;

a permanent floor within the sides of the body;

a track connected to the face, within the interior space; and

a retractable floor, within the interior space, including;

a floorboard, having two ends, the floorboard pivotally connected to the permanent floor at one floorboard end; and

a wheel connected to the floorboard at the other floorboard end, the wheel rotatably contacting the track.

6. A transportable enclosure according to claim 5, wherein:

the floorboard includes four edges, the four edges substantially corresponding to the interior space of the expandable section.

7. A transportable enclosure according to claim 5, further including:

an angleboard having two ends, one angleboard end being connected to the face, within the interior space, and the other angleboard end having a first bevel, the wheeled end of the floorboard having a mating bevel corresponding to the first bevel of the angleboard.

8. A transportable enclosure according to claim 5, wherein:

the track includes an upper and lower portion, the upper portion being slightly angled from vertical and the lower portion being curved toward the permanent floor.

9. A transportable enclosure according to claim 1, wherein:

the expandable section includes a top and a face;

the transportable enclosure further including;

means for extending and retracting the expandable section within the opening;

a cover, including;

a tarp secured to the side of the body; and

a roller, secured to the face of the expandable section, the roller including biasing means for automatically unwinding the tarp over the top of the expandable section when the expandable section is extended and automatically winding the tarp onto the roller when the expandable section is retracted.

10. A transportable enclosure according to claim 2, wherein the retainer includes a base and retainer walls, the retainer walls connected at one end to the base and extending obliquely from the base to create a U-shaped channel, the inflatable seal connected to the base within the U-shaped channel.