Motorhome

Abstract

Motorhome (10) with a wet cell (20) arranged inside the vehicle, comprising a toilet (22) and having a closable access point provided in the width direction of the vehicle, wherein the wet cell (20) can be brought into two closed positions, wherein the wet cell (20) has a different size in the two closed positions, characterized in that the wet cell (20) comprises a tensionable tarpaulin door (32) as a closing device, the toilet seat direction is in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and in the first closed position the distance from the toilet seat to the closing device is less than 15 cm, and that the closing device has a opaque and waterproof film or textile which is elastically deformable to enlarge the interior of the wet cell (20), and wherein the film can be wound up by a spring-elastically tensionable winding device or drum (30).

Description

The present invention relates to a motorhome. Smaller motorhomes are particularly popular because they are not only less expensive to buy than larger vehicles, but also because smaller vehicles can be used year-round, not just during holidays, thanks to their more acceptable fuel consumption and better maneuverability. With this vehicle size, the challenge of optimizing space utilization becomes even more important. Specifically, this means improving space utilization in a vehicle with at least two berths, a wet room, and a seating area with four seats and a table, as it has been recognized that many users consider this essential, even in smaller vehicles. From DE 20 2015 100 259 U1, it is known that a toilet can be moved between a position in use and a parked position in which it is not usable. A similar concept is known from DE 20 2009 004 485 U1. DE 76 01 151 U teaches that a caravan can be widened in both its lateral directions, and from DE 10 2015 117 421 A1, a motorhome with a toilet that can be moved longitudinally is known. DE 102 55 406 A1 discloses a vehicle with a wash-shower-toilet combination, and DE 10 2011 106 604 A1 describes a motorhome with a sanitary unit swing door. The aforementioned problem is solved by the features of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims. A motorhome features an interior wet room containing a toilet. Access to the wet room is provided across the width of the vehicle. This access is secured by a tensionable tarpaulin door, which can be closed in two positions across the width of the vehicle. The wet room differs in size between these two closed positions. This variable size is achieved by increasing the width of the vehicle. The wet room, which includes the toilet, can be moved longitudinally along the vehicle. However, the toilet itself is not designed to move. This allows for a relatively simple, linear guide for the wet room. A tarpaulin or louvered door serves as the closing mechanism. Space inside the vehicle is very limited.And to allow enough space for a seating area, the toilet must be as small as possible when not in use. To ensure the toilet is large enough when in use, the aforementioned increase in vehicle width is implemented. Specifically, this can be designed so that in the first closed position, access to the wet room is completely closed. A flush closure can be achieved with a curtain door or a louvered door. A curtain is less suitable due to its less aesthetically pleasing design. In the second closed position, part of the wet room is at least partially shifted into the vehicle interior, i.e., along the vehicle's width, thus increasing the interior volume of the wet room. It is also advantageous if the wet room can be moved to two positions along the length of the vehicle. In particular, this allows the sleeping area located in the rear of the vehicle to be enlarged in the first position, and the sleeping area to be reduced in size and the living area enlarged in the second position. This ensures optimal use of space. In particular, the toilet seat is oriented longitudinally along the vehicle, and in the first closed position, the distance from the toilet seat to the locking mechanism is less than 15 cm, preferably less than 3 cm, and most preferably the locking mechanism is directly adjacent to the toilet seat. This minimizes the space required when the toilet is not in use. Since a standard, readily available toilet module is preferably used, which forms a single unit with a holding tank, the size of the toilet module is predetermined and unchangeable. The toilet is typically used as an emergency toilet, as many locations, such as campsites, have local, permanent toilets, which are preferred by motorhome occupants. For this reason, it is acceptable that using the toilet may not be as comfortable as possible. This also applies to the table described below, which may...needs to be postponed for the use of the toilet. In particular, the motorhome can be configured with an enlarged living area that includes at least four seats and a table. The table can be positioned so that it is easily accessible from all four seats. If necessary, the table can be positioned so that the wet room is inaccessible when the table is in this position. It is also advantageous if, in a layout with an enlarged living area, a table is positioned or can be positioned next to the wet room in the direction of the vehicle's width, and at least two seats are arranged on either side of the table in the vehicle's length. Particularly in layouts with an enlarged living area, the table can either be flush against the wet room, or any gap between the wet room and the table can be smaller than the gap between the opposite side of the table and the interior wall of the motorhome facing the wet room. This allows all occupants to easily enter and exit the seating area. Preferably, in both the first and second closed positions of the wet room, the closing mechanism is designed so that any shower water dripping from the inside of the closing mechanism is directed into a collection area within the wet room. This can be achieved, for example, by allowing a curtain door to extend outwards only locally, i.e., in a vertically taller section. In its lower section, where the curtain door overhangs into the interior of a plastic tray that defines the wet room's interior, there may be no outward extension, even in the second closed position. In particular, the closing device can comprise an opaque and waterproof film or textile that can be wound up by a spring-loaded winding mechanism. This is a design based on the roller blind principle. Preferably, the axis of the winding mechanism is vertical, as this makes it easy to operate. The center of the winding mechanism is close to the midpoint of the user's height. The closing device does not need to cover the entire (door) opening of the wet room. Rather, it is sufficient if the view into the interior is obstructed in an area from approximately 20 cm above the floor up to a height of 1.3 m. In other embodiments, this can extend up to a height of 1.6 m. In a method for converting a motorhome from a sleeping arrangement to one with an enlarged living area, a portion of the space used for a mattress in the sleeping arrangement is occupied by at least one seat in the seating arrangement. For this conversion, a wet room containing a toilet is moved along the longitudinal axis of the motorhome towards the rear of the vehicle. In particular, or preferably, a table is positioned transversely next to the wet room in the seating arrangement, such that there is a distance of at least 25 cm between the table and the interior wall or door of the motorhome opposite the wet room. The mattress itself preferably does not serve as a seat; instead, a separate, preferably upholstered, piece of furniture is provided. The external width of the vehicle is preferably less than 200 cm, excluding attachments such as exterior mirrors. The inventive problem is solved, independently of the features listed above, by the following features: A motorhome can have an interior and a table that includes a table leg. Preferably, exactly one table leg is used. A work surface of the table is pivotable about the longitudinal axis of the table leg, and the table includes a first linear bearing with which the work surface of the table is displaceable relative to the table leg. In particular, the table leg can be permanently connected to the floor of the motorhome in such a way that it cannot be detached during normal or intended use of the motorhome. It is advantageous if the table includes a second linear bearing via which the work surface can be moved in a direction that differs from the direction of the first linear bearing and is, in particular, perpendicular to it. Furthermore, in some embodiments of the invention, a thermal box can be arranged under the table in such a way that its weight is completely transferred via the table leg. In particular, the thermal box can be pivotable about the longitudinal axis of the table leg. It is advantageous if the mounting of the thermal box relative to the table leg is designed such that a stop is provided which prevents rotation of more than 360°.In particular, a third linear guide can be provided on the underside of the tabletop, allowing the thermal box to be moved relative to the work surface. Preferred embodiments are described below with reference to the figures. Figure 1 shows a top view of the interior of a motorhome in the seating arrangement, Figure 2 shows a top view of the interior of the motorhome in the sleeping arrangement, Figure 3 shows a detail view of a wet room of the motorhome in a first alternative embodiment, Figure 4 shows a detail view of a wet room of the motorhome in a second alternative embodiment, Figures 5, 6 to 7 show different arrangements of a table inside the motorhome, Figure 8 shows a top view of the upper surface of the table, and Figures 9 and 10 each show side views of the table in different embodiments. Fig. 1 shows a top view of a motorhome 10 according to the invention. The width is preferably 190 cm. Vehicles with an overall width of less than 210 cm, and particularly less than 200 cm, are preferred. The vehicle length is, for example, 530 cm. Thus, a vehicle length is considered here that does not allow for the simultaneous installation of a sleeping area with a longitudinal sleeping direction, a toilet or wet room, and a living area. The vehicle could be a VW T6 camper van. These vehicles are considered a transitional size, suitable for use both as a camper van during holidays and as an everyday vehicle for the rest of the year. Larger vehicles are unwieldy and not as suitable for everyday road use. Furthermore, larger vehicles have correspondingly higher fuel consumption. Fig. 1 shows the motorhome 10 in an arrangement with an enlarged living area. The driver's seat 12 and the passenger seat 12 are each rotated almost 180° so that the seating direction faces the interior of the vehicle and the center of the vehicle, respectively. A table 50 is arranged relatively centrally in the interior of the vehicle, but at least one of its legs 52 is connected to the floor of the vehicle. This connection can include a releasable tension, clamp, or locking mechanism. The table is easily accessible to persons sitting in the driver's or passenger's seat 12. Two further seats 42 are arranged on the opposite side of the table. Given the vehicle's size, optimal occupancy is provided for two people, for whom a sleeping area 60 is provided in the rear of the vehicle. However, the vehicle's users also wish to be able to entertain guests. A maximum of two guests is considered sufficient.Therefore, it is required that four people can sit around the table simultaneously, as is achieved with the two additional seats (42) in the rear of the vehicle. Sleeping berths for the two additional people do not necessarily have to be provided in the vehicle. However, a pop-up roof can be used, under which two additional sleeping berths can be provided. Alternatively, it can be arranged that the additional people camp next to the vehicle. Thus, the vehicle can be designed for either 2 to 4 people. The front edges of the seats 42, shown in Fig. 1 and adjacent to the table 50, are approximately 167 cm from the rear of the vehicle interior. In this configuration, particularly in a vehicle with a total length of between 4.5 and 5.5 m, the seating area is of a comfortable size for the users. A backrest 44 is attached to the seats 42. Behind this, towards the rear of the vehicle, is an area for the mattresses, blankets, and pillows of the sleeping area 60. In the configuration shown in Fig. 1, its length (in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle) is approximately 110 cm, which is too short for two people to sleep comfortably. This necessitates that the vehicle be convertible into a sleeping arrangement, as shown in Fig. 2. In this figure, the backrest 44 of the seats 42 is folded down and rests, for example, on the seat surface of the seats 42.The sleeping area is positioned vertically higher than the seating surface of the seats 42. Thus, when folded down, a horizontal plane forms the sleeping surface 60, on which the mattresses can be laid out, as shown in Fig. 2. The resulting length of the sleeping area is just under 200 cm and is therefore sufficient for people of average build. When converting the vehicle into its sleeping configuration, the wet cell 20 must be moved in its longitudinal position. For this purpose, the wet cell 20 is mounted on rails (not shown). There is only a longitudinal guide for the wet cell. The toilet in the wet cell can preferably be a standard, readily available toilet module that includes a wastewater container. This container is part of the wet cell and can be removed from the outside through an opening (not shown) in the vehicle's outer wall. The remaining task is to supply the wet cell with water for a washbasin 21 and, if applicable, a shower (not shown), as well as with flushing water for the toilet 22. For this purpose, a hose 25 is routed in an arc beneath the floor of the wet cell 20. The position of the hose 25 changes, as can be seen in the comparison of Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. The toilet module 22 extends a certain distance across the width of the vehicle, and given the vehicle size, the seating area with the table would be too small if, as is known from the prior art, a comfortably sized wet cell were standard. Instead, as can be clearly seen in Fig. 1 or Fig. 2, the door, or more generally, the locking device 32, ends directly next to the toilet 22. The seating direction on the toilet is preferably longitudinal. It is uncomfortable for the toilet user to have the side wall or door of the wet cell so close to the toilet. For this reason, it is possible to enlarge the wet cell 20 in the width of the vehicle if necessary. Figure 1 shows the simplest version of this enlarged design. A foil-like or textile material, forming a tarpaulin door 32, is rolled onto a drum 30 and wound onto the drum 30 with spring assistance. Against this winding force, the user can take the free end and hook or clamp it on the opposite side of the door opening of the toilet module. This state is shown in Figure 1. Due to the elasticity of this material, it can yield when a person uses the toilet. The person's body can thus cause the material 32 to bulge outwards. Such a bulge is shown in Figure 2. This occurs when a person (not shown) is sitting on the toilet. The bulge results from contact between the person's body, particularly the hip area and / or shoulders or arms, and the tarpaulin door. The door is designed, for example, to allow a maximum bulge of at least 50 mm.Preferably, maximum bulges of up to 300 cm are possible. In the embodiment shown, the maximum bulge is at least 120 mm. The table is not shown in Fig. 2. When the toilet is in use or intended to be used, it can either be removed, moved, or rotated. Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment in which a rigid door 31 is provided, capable of completely closing the wet cell. Additionally, a tarpaulin door, as already described in relation to Figure 1, is provided and can be hooked into the door 31. This ensures opaque protection of the interior of the wet cell 20 even when the door is partially open. The variant shown in Figure 4 also uses a rigid door 31. In addition, a device is provided that makes it possible to move the door or closing mechanism in the direction of the vehicle's width. For this purpose, Figure 4 shows a double side wall 33 of the wet cell, whereby the two existing levels can be moved relative to each other to enlarge the interior of the wet cell. For clarity, the table arrangement variants shown in Figures 5, 6 to 7 depict only the front and middle sections of the motorhome 10. The table leg 52 is detachably attached to the floor of the motorhome at one point. Preferably, the table has only one leg. A slide is attached to the upper end of the leg, providing guides in two directions so that the tabletop can be moved in two directions relative to the leg 52. The tabletop is also pivotable about the axis of the leg 52. Clamps or detents (not shown) allow the table to be fixed in any desired position. In the position shown in Figure 5, the table is centered in the interior space defined by seats 12 and 42 and the wet room. The table is positioned so that it is easily accessible from all seats. In the position shown in Figure 5, the table is positioned in the center of the interior space defined by seats 12 and 42 and the wet room.As shown in Figure 6, the table is swivelled and moved close to the entrance door 70. This provides optimal access from the front seats 12 to the rear of the vehicle with seats 42. The position of the table 50 in Figure 7 corresponds to the position shown in Figure 6, except that the table is moved as far back as possible. In this position, it is no longer possible to sit in the two rear seats 42. Instead, the entrance door 70 is easily accessible, allowing for easy entry into the vehicle. Furthermore, the toilet is easily accessible in both Figures 6 and 7. Fig. 8 shows a top view of the table with a tabletop 51. Two guides are arranged under the tabletop. First, a linear guide 59, which has two guide profiles aligned longitudinally along the table and spaced apart from each other. A support, indicated in Fig. 8 by two pairs of dashed lines, is guided in these guides. This support itself comprises a linear guide in which a further support is mounted such that the latter is displaceable in the transverse direction of the table. This further support is rotatably connected to the table leg. With this embodiment, the tabletop is displaceable in two dimensions and also rotatable. This makes it possible to position the table as shown in Figs. 5, 6 to 7. In a preferred embodiment, the table leg 52 is permanently and non-removably connected to the floor of the motorhome. Furthermore, the table can be used as a support for a box, in particular a cooler 90. In one variant, the cooler can be positioned directly on the underside of the tabletop 51. The position of this attachment is chosen so that it does not overlap with the aforementioned movable supports. (This variant is not shown in the figures.) In a second embodiment, as shown in Fig. 9, the cooling box 90 can be connected to a retaining profile, which is preferably rotatably or alternatively rigidly mounted on the table leg 52. For this purpose, the table leg includes a flange-like guide in which a bearing ring of the retaining profile is guided. Preferably, a rotation angle limiter, such as a projecting pin, is used to prevent the cooling box from being rotated more than 360°. This is because the cooling box is connected to an electrical connection cable (not shown), and excessive rotation would mechanically overload the connection cable. In another embodiment, shown in Fig. 10, one of the guides for the tabletop support 51 can include a longitudinal guide 57, which guides a retaining profile for the cooler 90. Preferably, the guide is designed to allow movement in the transverse direction of the table. Depending on the angular orientation of the tabletop (compare Fig. 5, Fig. 6 to Fig. 7), the cooler can thus be moved so that it does not obstruct people sitting at the table. Furthermore, cooking can be done at the table.

Claims

Motorhome (10) with a wet cell (20) arranged inside the vehicle, comprising a toilet (22) and having a closable access point provided in the width direction of the vehicle, wherein the wet cell (20) can be brought into two closed positions, wherein the wet cell (20) has a different size in the two closed positions, characterized in that the wet cell (20) comprises a tensionable tarpaulin door (32) as a closing device, the toilet seat direction is in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and in the first closed position the distance from the toilet seat to the closing device is less than 15 cm, and that the closing device has a opaque and waterproof film or textile which is elastically deformable to enlarge the interior of the wet cell (20), and wherein the film can be wound up by a spring-elastically tensionable winding device or drum (30). Motorhome (10) according to claim 1, wherein in the first closed position the access to the wet cell (20) is flush closed and wherein in the second closed position the locking device is at least partially relocated into the interior of the vehicle, such that the interior volume of the wet cell (20) is increased. Motor home (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the wet cell (20) is movable in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, so that in a first position a sleeping area arranged in the rear of the vehicle is enlarged and in a second position the sleeping area (60) is reduced and instead a living area is enlarged. Motorhome (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closing device comprises a drum (30) on which the tarpaulin door (32) can be rolled up. Motor home (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the toilet seat direction is in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and in the first closed position the distance from the toilet seat to the closing device is less than 3 cm. Motor home (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that in an arrangement with an enlarged living area a table (50) is arranged or can be arranged in the transverse direction of the vehicle next to the wet cell (20) and at least two seats (12, 42) are arranged on both sides of the table (50) in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Motorhome according to claim 6, characterized in that in an arrangement with an enlarged living area the table (50) either adjoins the wet cell (20) without gaps or a gap existing between the wet cell (20) and the table (50) is smaller than a gap between a side of the table (50) opposite it and the inner wall of the motorhome (10) which is opposite the wet cell (20). Motorhome (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in both the first closed position and the second closed position the closing device is arranged such that shower water dripping from the inside of the closing device enters a collection area of ​​the wet cell (20).

Images