Travel trailer having improved turning radius

• US 7,878,545 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2008
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• 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: Lantz, Douglas M., Rhymer, John Mitchell, Tuttle, Scott J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris; Lesley
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stabley; Michael R
• Application Number:
  US12/315,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20090236824A1
• Time in Patent Office: 785 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 fifth wheel travel trailer for use with a pickup truck as a towing vehicle, the pickup truck having a bed with a mating hitch and a cab, the travel trailer including:

a chassis having a front end;

a hitch attached to the chassis adjacent the front end and configured to engage the mating hitch at a pivot location; and

a compartment having an upper deck and a pair of outer wall recessed portions located adjacent a front of the upper deck entirely rearward of the pivot location to provide clearance for a portion of the cab so as to permit the pickup truck to make a tighter turn without the cab striking the travel trailer.

2. The travel trailer of claim 1, wherein the recessed portions extend downward and inward toward the compartment.

3. The travel trailer of claim 1, wherein each of the recessed portions is bounded by a planar panel.

4. The travel trailer of claim 1, wherein the recessed portions are connected to one another by a middle portion which is larger than each of the recessed portions.

5. The travel trailer of claim 1, wherein one recessed portion faces away from the pivot location in a first direction and the other recessed portion faces away from the pivot location in a second direction that is different from the first direction.

6. The travel trailer of claim 1, wherein each of the recessed portions has a width at an edge of the upper deck that tapers with distance away from the edge.

7. The travel trailer of claim 1, wherein one recessed portion lies substantially in a first plane and the other recessed portion lies substantially in a second plane.

8. A fifth wheel travel trailer, including:

a compartment having a front end, a rear end, a floor and a single-level, planar uppermost deck located at the front end at a position higher than the floor, the uppermost deck having a forward edge;

an outer front wall and an outer first side wall surrounding at least a portion of the uppermost deck and defining a corner;

a hitch connected to the uppermost deck at a location at a position higher than the floor, the hitch being configured to couple to a mating hitch on a towing vehicle; and

a first panel located between the first side wall and the front wall, wherein the first panel forms a recess directed inwardly toward the interior of the compartment and is disposed rearward of the forward edge of the uppermost deck, the recess providing clearance for a portion of the towing vehicle so as to permit the towing vehicle to make a tighter turn without striking the travel trailer.

9. The travel trailer of claim 8, wherein the recess is formed in a portion of the corner.

10. The travel trailer of claim 8, wherein the recess is formed in a portion of the corner adjacent the uppermost deck.

11. The travel trailer of claim 8, wherein the first panel extends downward and inward from the corner.

12. The travel trailer of claim 8, wherein the first panel is planar.

13. The travel trailer of claim 8, wherein the first panel forms an angle between itself and the first side wall that is greater than 90 degrees.

14. The travel trailer of claim 8, wherein the first panel forms an angle between itself and the front wall that is greater than 90 degrees.

15. The travel trailer of claim 8, wherein the first panel extends upward from the uppermost deck.

16. The travel trailer of claim 8, further including a second side wall parallel to the first side wall and a second panel located between the second side wall and the front wall, the second panel forming a recess directed inwardly toward the interior of the compartment and disposed rearward of the forward edge of the uppermost deck.

17. The travel trailer of claim 16, wherein the front wall extends upward from the uppermost deck between the first panel and the second panel.

18. The travel trailer of claim 16, wherein the first and second panels face away from a centerline of the trailer in different directions.

19. A travel trailer towable by a pickup truck including a bed and a cab, the travel trailer including:

a compartment including a front end, a rear end, a floor and a deck located near the front end at a position higher than the floor, the deck having a forward edge;

an outer forward wall having a width at an interface with the forward edge;

an outer side wall; and

a panel forming a recess located between the forward wall and the side wall substantially rearward of the forward edge and having a width that is less than the width of the forward wall;

wherein the recess provides clearance for the pickup truck in order to allow the pickup truck to make a tighter turn without striking the trailer.

20. The travel trailer as set forth in claim 19 wherein the deck is configured to extend over at least a portion of the bed of the pickup truck when the trailer is towed by the pickup truck.

21. The travel trailer as set forth in claim 19 wherein the travel trailer is a fifth wheel travel trailer.

22. The travel trailer as set forth in claim 19 recess generally extends downward and inward from the forward wall.

23. The travel trailer as set forth in claim 19 wherein the panel is planar.

24. The travel trailer as set forth in claim 19 wherein the angle between the panel and the side wall is greater than 90 degrees.

25. The travel trailer as set forth in claim 19 wherein the angle between the panel and the forward wall is greater than 90 degrees.

26. The travel trailer as set forth in claim 19 further including a hitch connected to the deck.

27. The travel trailer as set forth in claim 26 further including a chassis attached to the compartment, wherein the hitch is attached to the chassis.

28. The travel trailer as set forth in claim 26 wherein the hitch is configured to couple to a mating hitch located in the bed of the pickup truck.

29. The travel trailer as set forth in claim 19, wherein the panel includes an apex adjacent the corner.

30. The travel trailer of claim 19, wherein the width of the panel is substantially less than one third an overall width of the deck.

31. The travel trailer of claim 19, wherein the width of the panel is less than one fourth an overall width of the deck.

32. The travel trailer of claim 19 wherein the panel extends upward from the deck.

33. The travel trailer of claim 32, wherein a width of the panel tapers with distance away from the deck.