Cabin expansion structure and camping car

Abstract

This expansion structure for a cabin (1) is applied to a cabin (1) that expands upward, and is provided with: a first housing (10); a second housing (20) that overlaps the first housing (10) and expands the cabin (1) upward by moving upward; a cutout part (20a) which is provided in the second housing (20) and which connects the inside and outside of the chamber (1) when the upper part of the cutout part (20a) expands; and a shielding mechanism (40) for shielding the notch part (20a). The shielding mechanism (40) is provided with: a shutter (41) that shields the cutout part (20a); and a guide rail (42) that is provided so as to reach a top plate section (20b) of the second housing (20) from the cutout section (20a), guides the shutter (41) to a state in which the shutter (41) is expanded in the cutout section (20a) when the shutter (41) is expanded upward, and guides the shutter (41) to a state in which the shutter (41) is disposed on the top plate section (20b) when the shutter (41) is contracted downward.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an expansion structure of a cabin and a camper van. Background Art

[0002] In Japanese Patent JP7132577B, there is disclosed a vehicle cargo hold in which a cargo hold composed of a main cargo hold and a sub-cargo hold can be expanded. Summary of the Invention

[0003] An expandable cabin is used, for example, in a camper van. In this case, the wind resistance can be reduced and the vehicle center of gravity can be lowered by not expanding the cabin during driving, thus contributing to driving stability. On the other hand, during camping, a wider interior space can be utilized by expanding the cabin.

[0004] However, in a cabin with an upward expansion structure, there is sometimes a communication part that connects the inside and outside of the cabin when it expands upward. In addition, when the inside and outside of the cabin are in a state of being connected via this communication part, the comfort inside the cabin during upward expansion may be impaired, such as in a manner of reducing or damaging the heat insulation performance.

[0005] In view of the above technical problems, the present invention is made, and its object is to make the inside of the cabin comfortable when it expands upward.

[0006] According to a certain aspect of the present invention, an expansion structure of a cabin that expands upward includes: a first housing; a second housing that overlaps the first housing and expands the cabin upward by moving upward; a communication part that is provided in the second housing and connects the inside and outside of the cabin when it expands upward; a shielding mechanism that shields the communication part, and the shielding mechanism has: a shutter that shields the communication part; a guide rail that is provided to reach the top plate part of the second housing from the communication part and guides the shutter to a state of being unfolded in the communication part when it expands upward, and guides the shutter to a state of being disposed at the top plate part when it contracts downward. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007] Figure 1 It is an external perspective view of the cabin according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0008] Figure 2 It is an external rear view of the cabin according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0009] Figure 3 It is an external left side view of the basic state of the cabin according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] Figure 4 It is an external left side view of the cabin when it expands upward according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] Figure 5 Figure showing the shielding mechanism in the basic state.

[0012] Figure 6 Figure showing the shielding mechanism when expanded upward.

[0013] Figure 7 Figure showing the shielding mechanism when opened manually. Detailed implementation mode

[0014] Hereinafter, while referring to the accompanying drawings, the implementation mode of the present invention will be described.

[0015] Figures 1 to 4 It is an external view of the cabin 1. In Figures 1 to 4 it, the cabin 1 is shown in a state of being mounted on a camping car 100. In Figure 1 it, the left rear of the camping car 100 is shown, and in Figure 2 it, it is shown in Figure 3 , Figure 4 the external view of the cabin 1 observed from the left side in. In Figure 1 , Figure 3 it, the basic state in which the cabin 1 is not expanded is shown, and in Figure 2 , Figure 4 it, the state in which the cabin 1 is expanded upward is shown. The upper and lower (vertical direction) of the camping car 100 correspond to the upper and lower of the cabin 1, the side (left and right direction) of the camping car 100 corresponds to the side of the cabin 1, and the front and rear of the camping car 100 correspond to the front and rear of the cabin 1.

[0016] The camping car 100 is configured as follows, that is, a small truck shown by a dotted line is used as a base vehicle, and the cabin 1 is mounted behind the cab 50 of the small truck. The cabin 1 is a wooden room structure and is provided in the camping car 100 differently from the cab 50 provided with a driver's seat. In the cabin 1, from the viewpoints of aesthetics, rigidity, etc., metal components such as aluminum plates and steel frames can also be used. The cabin 1 has a wall structure with heat insulating materials sandwiched therein, whereby the heat insulation of the indoor space of the cabin 1 can be improved. The indoor space of the cabin 1 is utilized as a living space for users such as living at a campsite.

[0017] The cabin 1 has an expansion structure and is configured to be expandable upward. Therefore, in the camping car 100, by not expanding the cabin 1 during driving, the wind resistance can be reduced and the vehicle center of gravity can be lowered. In addition, during camping stay, by expanding the cabin 1, a wider indoor space can be utilized.

[0018] Compartment 1 has a first housing 10 and a second housing 20 as components of the expansion structure. The first housing 10 is the lower housing and is provided on the vehicle body of the camper 100. The first housing 10 has a box-shaped form with an open upper surface, and the second housing 20 is overlapped on the first housing 10. The second housing 20 is the top housing and has a box-shaped form with an open lower surface. The second housing 20 is covered on the first housing 10 from above and covers the first housing 10. Therefore, the second housing 20 is provided outside the first housing 10.

[0019] As Figure 2 shown, the upper portion 10a of the lateral dimension of the first housing 10 is smaller in circumference than the lower portion 10b, and the second housing 20 overlaps the first housing 10 from above in a form that is covered and placed on the upper portion 10a. The side wall of the upper portion 10a is provided closer to the inside of the compartment 1 than the side wall of the lower portion 10b according to the thickness of the side wall of the second housing 20.

[0020] The second housing 20 is provided on the first housing 10 in a manner that it can move in the vertical direction through a guide rail (not shown). In this guide rail, a sliding guide rail such as a linear guide can be used. On the compartment 1, an actuator (not shown) for driving the second housing 20 is provided. When the actuator drives the second housing 20 upward from the basic state, the second housing 20 moves upward. As a result, the compartment 1 becomes a state of expanding only upward. In the actuator, a hydraulic cylinder can be used as a hydraulic actuator. The actuator can also be an electric actuator.

[0021] As Figure 2 shown, the compartment 1 is configured to be able to further expand laterally (to the right side). In Figure 2 , a state where the compartment 1 expands upward and laterally is shown. The compartment 1 can also be set to a state of expanding laterally from the basic state. The state after the compartment 1 expands upward includes the state after the compartment 1 expands upward and laterally.

[0022] As Figure 3 , Figure 4 shown, the compartment 1 further includes a door portion 30. The door portion 30 is provided on the peripheral wall of the first housing 10, and the entry and exit to the interior space of the compartment 1 are implemented via the door portion 30. The door portion 30 is provided at the rear part of the left side wall of the first housing 10. The door portion 30 corresponds to an upper protruding portion and is provided in a range that spans from the first housing 10 to the second housing 20 in the vertical direction by protruding above the lower end L phase of the second housing 20 in a state where the compartment 1 does not expand upward.

[0023] Therefore, the second housing 20 has a notch portion 20a along the shape of the door portion 30, and a part of the door portion 30 is disposed in the notch portion 20a in a state where the cabin 1 does not expand upward. Therefore, when the cabin 1 expands upward, the notch portion 20a becomes a communication portion to connect the inside and outside of the cabin 1. As a result, the inside and outside of the cabin 1 are in a state of being connected via the notch portion 20a in this way, and the comfort inside the cabin 1 during upward expansion can be impaired in a manner such as a decrease or impairment of heat insulation.

[0024] In the present embodiment, the cabin 1 includes a shielding mechanism 40 for shielding the notch portion 20a as a constituent element of the shielding structure. The shielding mechanism 40 is configured in the manner described below.

[0025] Figure 5 FIG. is a diagram showing the shielding mechanism 40 in a basic state. Figure 6 FIG. is a diagram showing the shielding mechanism 40 during upward expansion. Figure 7 FIG. is a diagram showing the shielding mechanism 40 when manually opened. In Figures 5 to 7 , for ease of explanation, the shielding mechanism 40 is shown in a state where the top plate portion 20b of the second housing 20 covering a part of the shielding mechanism 40 is cut open.

[0026] First, when the door portion 30 is further described, the door portion 30 has a door 31, a frame 32, and a hinge 33. The door 31 is provided on the frame 32. The frame 32 forms a frame of the door 31 and is provided on the peripheral wall (left side wall) of the first housing 10. A plurality of hinges 33 are provided to fix the door 31 so as to be openable and closable relative to the frame 32. As shown in Figure 4 and Figure 6 , even in a state where the cabin 1 expands upward, the upper part of the door portion 30 is in a state of being hung on the notch portion 20a.

[0027] The shielding mechanism 40 has a shutter 41, a guide rail 42, a contact portion 43, and a fixing portion 44. The shutter 41 is provided on the guide rail 42 and shields the notch portion 20a. The shutter 41 has an end portion 41a on the top end side (the side closer to the door portion 30) and is composed of a plurality of plate-like members, that is, a plurality of slats 41b, which are hinge-connected to each other. The slats 41b can be made of a polyester fiber plate, for example. In the shutter 41, adjacent slats 41b are inserted into each other in the lateral direction and are hinge-connected. The other end portion 41c of the shutter 41 is set free without being fixed.

[0028] The guide rail 42 is the guiding rail for the shutter 41 and guides the shutter 41. The guide rails 42 are arranged on both sides of the shutter 41 and are provided at the two edge portions in the lateral direction (the front - rear direction of the cabin 1) of the notch portion 20a. The guide rail 421 represents one of the pair of guide rails 42, and the guide rail 422 represents the other of the pair of guide rails 42. Each guide rail 42 is provided at the edge portion of the notch portion 20a from the inner side (the indoor space side). Each guide rail 42 is arranged so as to reach the top plate portion 20b of the second housing 20 from the notch portion 20a. Therefore, each guide rail 42 extends along the vertical direction and is bent in an L - shape and extends along the side.

[0029] The abutting portion 43 is provided on the door portion 30. The abutting portion 43 is a portion that abuts against one end portion 41a of the shutter 41 and is provided, for example, as Figure 7 shown, on the inner side of the upper part of the frame 32. The abutting portion 43 is provided between the pair of guide rails 42.

[0030] The fixing portion 44 fixes one end portion 41a of the shutter 41 to the door portion 30. The fixing portion 44 has a first fixing element 44a and a second fixing element 44b that are fixed to each other. The first fixing element 44a is provided at the one end portion 41a, and the second fixing element 44b is provided at the abutting portion 43. In the present embodiment, the second fixing element 44b is constituted by a part of the abutting portion 43.

[0031] When the first fixing element 44a provided at the one end portion 41a and the second fixing element 44b provided at the abutting portion 43 are fixed to each other, the one end portion 41a is fixed to the door portion 30. The one end portion 41a is fixed to the upper part of the frame 32 through the abutting portion 43 and the fixing portion 44. The second fixing element 44b may be constituted by a component different from the abutting portion 43 or may be provided on the frame 32.

[0032] Figure 7 The state when the shutter 41 is manually opened as described later is shown. When the shutter 41 is not manually opened, the one end portion 41a of the shutter 41 and the door portion 30 are fixed by the fixing portion 44. Therefore, even if the second housing 20 moves upward from the Figure 5 shown basic state, the shutter 41 cannot move upward. As a result, the shutter 41 becomes a state in which it slides on the guide rail 42 that moves upward in this situation and is deployed in the notch portion 20a as Figure 6 shown. In this way, when the guide rail 42 expands upward, it guides the shutter 41 to the state of being deployed in the notch portion 20a.

[0033] Thus, even if the chamber 1 expands upward, the shutter 41 shields the notch portion 20a, thereby suppressing a situation where the comfort inside the chamber 1 during upward expansion is impaired in a manner that impairs the heat insulation due to the notch portion 20a.

[0034] Even if the second housing 20 moves downward from Figure 6 the state shown, the shutter 41 is blocked by the abutting portion 43 and cannot move downward. As a result, the shutter 41 assumes a state where it slides on the guide rail 42 that moves downward in this situation and is arranged as shown in Figure 5 the state of being disposed on the top plate portion 20b. In this way, when the guide rail 42 contracts downward, the shutter 41 is guided to the state of being disposed on the top plate portion 20b.

[0035] Figure 7 The first fixing element 44a and the second fixing element 44b shown in the figure are locking elements used for locking and unlocking the one end portion 41a and the door portion 30, and constitute a manual locking element used for manual locking and unlocking. As the manual locking element, for example, a push-button locking pin that can be manually locked and unlocked can be provided on the first fixing element 44a, and an engaging hole that engages with the locking pin can be provided on the second fixing element 44b. When the user operates the fixing portion 44 from inside the chamber 1 in the Figure 6 state shown to manually release the fixing of the one end portion 41a and the door portion 30, the shutter 41 can be manually opened. Thus, even in a state where the chamber 1 expands upward, as shown in Figure 7 the figure, the shutter 41 can be pulled open to perform ventilation. The shutter 41 can also be driven by an actuator such as an electric motor and be opened and closed using an operator such as a smartphone. The locking element can also be, for example, an electromagnetic locking mechanism, and locking and unlocking can also be operated using an operator. In the case of operating the shutter 41 and the locking element using an operator, the unlocking operation can also be included in the opening operation of the shutter 41. That is, the unlocking operation and the opening operation form a continuous operation, and thus can be configured as one operation as a whole. The same applies to the closing operation and the locking operation of the shutter 41.

[0036] As shown in Figure 7As shown by the double-dashed line in the figure, the shielding mechanism 40 further includes a storage portion 45. The storage portion 45 is provided on the top plate portion 20b and has a box-like shape with an opening on the surface disposed on the side of the notch portion 20a. The storage portion 45 may also have a shape with an opening on the surface disposed on the side of the top plate portion 20b. A guide rail 42 disposed on a part of the top plate portion 20b is provided in the storage portion 45, and the shutter 41 is stored in the storage portion 45 in a state where it is disposed on the top plate portion 20b. When the shutter 41 is stored in the storage portion 45, the shutter 41 disposed on a part of the top plate portion 20b cannot be seen from the indoor space, and the appearance is better. In addition, the storage portion 45 can prevent rainwater or the like attached to the shutter 41 from directly falling into the compartment 1.

[0037] Hereinafter, the structure, function, and effect of the embodiment of the present invention will be summarized and described.

[0038] The expansion structure of the compartment 1 is applied to the compartment 1 that expands upward and includes: a first housing 10; a second housing 20 that overlaps the first housing 10 and expands the compartment 1 upward by moving upward; a notch portion 20a as a communication portion that is provided in the second housing 20 and communicates the inside and outside of the compartment 1 when expanding upward; and a shielding mechanism 40 that shields the notch portion 20a. The shielding mechanism 40 has: a shutter 41 that shields the notch portion 20a; and a guide rail 42 that is provided to reach the top plate portion 20b of the second housing 20 from the notch portion 20a and guides the shutter 41 to a state of being deployed in the notch portion 20a when expanding upward, and guides the shutter 41 to a state of being disposed on the top plate portion 20b when contracting downward.

[0039] According to this structure, by using the guide rail 42 provided in a manner that reaches from the notch portion 20a to the top plate portion 20b, when expanding upward, the shutter 41 is guided from a state of being disposed on the top plate portion 20b to a state of being deployed in the notch portion 20a, thereby shielding the notch portion 20a. Therefore, the interior of the compartment 1 can be made comfortable when expanding upward. In addition, when contracting downward, the guide rail 42 guides the shutter 41 from a state of being deployed in the notch portion 20a to a state of being disposed on the top plate portion 20b where there is spatial room, so it also contributes to space saving.

[0040] In the present embodiment, the first housing 10 has a door portion 30 as an upward protruding portion. The door portion 30 is provided on the side wall on the left side of the peripheral wall of the first housing 10 and protrudes upward above the lower end L phase of the second housing 20 in a state where the compartment 1 does not expand upward. The door portion 30 as an upward protruding portion is disposed in the notch portion 20a in a state where the compartment 1 does not expand upward.

[0041] According to this structure, the shielding mechanism 40 shields the notch portion 20a that connects the inside and outside of the cabin 1 when expanding upward due to the door portion 30 which is an upper protruding portion. Therefore, even if the door portion 30 which is an upper protruding portion is provided in the cabin 1 having a structure that expands upward, it is possible to suppress the situation where the comfort inside the cabin 1 is impaired.

[0042] In the present embodiment, the shielding mechanism 40 further has a fixing portion 44 that fixes one end portion 41a of the shutter 41 to the door portion 30, and the other end portion 41c of the shutter 41 is made free.

[0043] According to this structure, even if an actuator is not newly provided for the shutter 41, the shutter 41 can be guided by the guide rail 42 as the second housing 20 moves up and down.

[0044] The fixing portion 44 has a first fixing element 44a and a second fixing element 44b which are locking elements used in the locking and unlocking of the one end portion 41a and the notch portion 20a.

[0045] According to this structure, it is possible to open the shutter 41 for ventilation when expanding upward, and thus, the comfort inside the cabin 1 when expanding upward is further improved.

[0046] In the present embodiment, the door portion 30 having the frame 32 constitutes an upper protruding portion.

[0047] According to this structure, even if the door portion 30 is provided so as to straddle from the first housing 10 to the second housing 20, it is possible to suppress the situation where the comfort inside the cabin 1 is impaired.

[0048] In the present embodiment, the shutter 41 is composed of a plurality of slats 41b that are hinge-connected to each other.

[0049] According to this structure, the blocking property of external gas is excellent and it is also difficult to deteriorate over time. In addition, the appearance is also good, and thus, it is also possible to suppress the situation where the commercial value of the cabin 1 is decreased due to the appearance.

[0050] In the camper 100 equipped with the cabin 1, by not expanding the cabin 1 during driving, it is possible to reduce wind resistance and lower the vehicle center of gravity. In addition, by expanding the cabin 1 during camping stay, a wider interior space can be utilized. According to the camper 100 equipped with the cabin 1, while enjoying these advantages, it can be enjoyed as a leisure activity. On the other hand, in the camping stay which is sometimes affected by unexpected weather changes and temperature changes, it is possible to make the inside of the cabin 1 comfortable when expanding upward, and in this regard, the technical significance is great.

[0051] As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been explained. However, the above embodiments merely represent a part of the application examples of the present invention, and do not mean to limit the technical scope of the present invention to the specific structures of the above embodiments.

[0052] For example, the cabin 1 can also be used in vehicles other than the camping vehicle 100, such as a kitchen car. In addition, the cabin 1 can also be used as a container for accommodating goods, cargo, etc. The cabin 1 can also be mounted on a towed vehicle and can also be used as a mobile home.

[0053] The upward protruding portion exemplified by the door portion 30 can also be a plate-like member constituting, for example, a wall or a partition. In addition, the communication portion exemplified by the notch portion 20a can also be a portion having, for example, a slit-like gap that connects the inside and outside of the cabin 1 when expanding upward.

[0054] The upward protruding portion exemplified by the door portion 30 can also be a connection structure that connects the inside of the cabin 1 and the inside of the cab 50. Such a connection structure is provided on the front wall of the first housing 10 in relation to connecting the inside of the cabin 1 and the inside of the cab 50. On the front wall of the first housing 10, a hole is provided for the connection structure, and the end portion on the cabin 1 side of the connection structure is connected to the hole.

[0055] Such a connection structure protrudes upward above the lower end L phase of the second housing 20 in a state where the cabin 1 is not expanded upward. Therefore, a notch portion corresponding to the notch portion 20a is provided in the second housing 20, and the interference between the second housing 20 and the connection structure is avoided in a state where the cabin 1 is not expanded upward by using this notch portion. In this case, the frame corresponding to the frame 32 that fixes one end portion 41a of the shutter 41 can be a linear frame extending laterally, and is provided at the upper end portion of the front wall of the first housing 10, and the above-mentioned hole for the connection structure is located below this frame.

[0056] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-203772 filed with the Japan Patent Office on December 20, 2022, and the entire contents of this application are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

1. An expansion structure of a cabin, the cabin expanding upward, characterized in that, The expansion structure of the cabin includes: A first housing; A second housing that overlaps with the first housing and expands the cabin upward by moving upward; A communication part that is provided on the second housing and communicates the inside and outside of the cabin when expanding upward; A shielding mechanism that shields the communication part, The shielding mechanism has: A shutter that shields the communication part; A guide rail that is arranged to reach the top plate part of the second housing from the communication part and guides the shutter to a state of being unfolded in the communication part when expanding upward, and guides the shutter to a state of being arranged on the top plate part when contracting downward.

2. The expansion structure of the cabin according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first housing has an upward protruding part that is provided on the peripheral wall of the first housing and protrudes above the lower end of the second housing in a state where the cabin does not expand upward, The upward protruding part is arranged inside the communication part in a state where the cabin does not expand upward.

3. The expansion structure of the cabin according to claim 2, characterized in that, The shielding mechanism further has a fixing part that fixes one end part of the shutter to the upward protruding part, The other end part of the shutter is set to be free.

4. The expansion structure of the cabin according to claim 3, characterized in that, The fixing part has a locking element that is used for locking and unlocking between the one end part and the upward protruding part.

5. The expansion structure of the cabin according to claim 2, characterized in that, The upward protruding part is a door part having a frame.

6. The expansion structure of the cabin according to claim 1, characterized in that, The shutter is composed of a plurality of plate-like members that are hinge-connected to each other.

7. A camping vehicle, characterized in that, A cabin equipped with the expansion structure of the cabin according to claim 1.

Images