Caravan

Abstract

The invention relates to a caravan (10) for a passenger car (11) having at least two modules (12, 13), wherein a first module is a trailer module (12) with a chassis and a trailer coupling (15) that can be coupled to a trailer coupling (14) of the passenger car (11), and a second module is a space extension module (13) that is separably attached to the trailer module (12) and can be mounted on a roof fastening device (18) on the roof of the passenger car (11).

Description

[0001] According to a first aspect of the invention, the invention relates to a caravan for a passenger car with at least two modules, wherein a first module is a trailer module with a chassis and a trailer coupling that can be coupled to a trailer coupling of the passenger car.

[0002] A second aspect of the invention relates to a combination comprising a car and a caravan.

[0003] EP 1 410 979 A2 describes a tractor unit with a pick-up towing vehicle, to whose bed a living container is detachably attached. The living container is permanently coupled to a caravan by means of an articulated connecting passage. The connecting passage allows occupants to move between the living container and the caravan while driving. Furthermore, there is a first passage opening in the living container and a second passage opening in the vehicle cab of the towing vehicle, so that a person can also move back and forth between the living container and the towing vehicle. If necessary, the living container can be detached from the towing vehicle, so that the towing vehicle can be used independently of the living container and the caravan. When the living container is detached from the towing vehicle, the living container is placed on supports and the connection between the living container and caravan remains intact.

[0004] DE 33 36 014 A1 discloses a mobile home combination consisting of a motorhome and an extension. The extension can be separated from the motorhome, allowing the motorhome to be used separately, while the extension remains stationary as a stationary living space. While driving, the motorhome and the extension are firmly connected to each other and function as a single vehicle.

[0005] US 3 801 138 A shows a caravan that can be coupled to a trailer hitch on the roof of a motor vehicle. The caravan is easier to maneuver by being coupled to the vehicle roof and offers a large interior space.

[0006] DE 34 04 582 A1 mentions a towing vehicle to which a body can be coupled. The body consists of two horizontally movable parts that are nested within each other and arranged so that they can be moved relative to each other.

[0007] A camper van attachment for passenger cars is disclosed in DE 32 16 283 A1. The camper van attachment consists of a roof cabin section with a molded-on central section onto which a rear cabin section can be slid. The rear cabin section rests on floor supports during use. During transport, the roof cabin section is attached to a roof rack.

[0008] US 2007 / 0 140 808 A1 describes a multifunctional carrier device that can be mounted on the roof of a motor vehicle. For this purpose, the vehicle has mounting rails on its roof.

[0009] A similar construction is described in WO 2009 / 097010 A1. It discloses a collapsible platform mounted on the roof of a motor vehicle that can be used for living with or without the vehicle. The platform is equipped with support legs to relieve the load on the vehicle roof and allow the platform to be used even without the vehicle parked underneath.

[0010] The invention has the object of providing a caravan of the type mentioned above in which a usable space can be enlarged.

[0011] The invention solves the stated problem according to a first aspect of the invention with a caravan in which a second module is a space extension module that is detachably attached to a trailer module and can be mounted on a roof fastening device on the roof of a car. Thus, the caravan according to the invention can create a usable space comparable to that of a mobile home. The trailer module can be used as a living / sleeping unit and the extension module, for example, as an additional sleeping unit or additional storage space that is accessible from the trailer module. This opens up additional and more flexible ways of using the caravan. The investment costs are significantly lower than those for purchasing a mobile home. This is because an existing car can continue to be used, be it a sedan or a station wagon.

[0012] The room extension module and the trailer module can be connected with a flexible room connection duct. This allows easy and weather-protected passage between the trailer module and the extension module, thereby increasing the comfort and functionality of the caravan. There is no need to leave the caravan to get from the trailer module to the extension module. However, a ladder can also be attached to the outside of the car if you want to enter the extension module from the outside through an external entrance. The flexible room connection duct is preferably arranged above the trailer hitch. It thus contributes to the flexibility of the car and caravan combination. For example, the flexible room connection duct enables cornering, negotiating bumps or potholes, or to torsion of the combination around its longitudinal axis.

[0013] The flexible room connection duct can be detachably attached to the trailer module and / or the room extension module. This allows the room connection duct and the room extension module to be separated from or connected to the trailer module as needed. Likewise, the room connection duct can be separated from the room extension module, allowing the trailer module and / or the room extension module to be used independently of each other and without the vehicle.

[0014] If the space extension module is used separately from the trailer module and / or separately from the car, it can be used for sleeping or as storage space, for example.

[0015] In a cost-effective variant, the room connection channel can be designed as a bellows.

[0016] A retaining device can be provided on the space expansion module. The retaining device can be attached to the roof mounting device to mount the space expansion module to the vehicle. The retaining device can have multiple retaining profiles. Furthermore, it can be provided with at least one quick-release fastener to quickly attach or detach the space expansion module to the roof mounting device. The roof mounting device can be, for example, a conventional roof rack or roof rail.

[0017] The caravan is particularly attractive because it can be parked without the car even with the extension module installed. This allows you to uncouple the caravan from the car as usual and use the car for shopping or short trips. To prevent the extension module from buckling when the car is removed, the caravan can be equipped with a stabilizing device. The stabilizing device can be equipped with stabilizing rods on each side of the trailer module. These rods are guided along the outside of the trailer module in the longitudinal direction of the caravan and can be inserted into receiving sleeves on the space extension module. This allows the stabilizing device to absorb transverse forces and prevent the extension module from undesirably buckling.

[0018] To ensure that the room extension module can accommodate people or heavy objects without the caravan tipping over when the car is removed, at least one pivoting support rod can be attached to the room extension module. This support rod can be used in addition to the stabilizing device or as an alternative to it. Before the car is driven away from underneath the room extension module, the support rod can be pivoted toward the ground to support the room extension module. The support rod can be pivoted upward again for towing the caravan.

[0019] The room extension module is foldable, allowing it to be stored in a small space when not in use.

[0020] If the room extension module is retrofittable, a standard caravan with only a trailer module can be flexibly expanded with the room extension module. This can be attractive, for example, for young families with growing children. In this case, you initially only purchase a trailer module as a standard caravan, which also offers financial advantages. Furthermore, the resale value of a caravan with a trailer module that is later expanded with a room extension module increases.

[0021] Particularly with regard to retrofitting, it is advantageous if the trailer module has a lockable opening at the interface to the flexible room connection duct. This can be installed ex works or retrofitted.

[0022] Furthermore, the invention relates to the caravan and the trailer according to one of claims 1 to 10. The trailer combines mobility, comfort and flexibility and thus enables numerous application possibilities for a wide variety of user needs.

[0023] An embodiment of a caravan according to the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing.

[0024] In detail: Fig. 1 a combination of a caravan and a car in motion; Fig. 2 the car and the caravan separately.

[0025] Fig. Figure 1 shows a combination 100 consisting of a caravan 10 and a car 11 in motion. The caravan 10 has a modular design and includes a trailer module 12 and a space extension module 13.

[0026] The car 11 has a trailer coupling 14 and the caravan 10 has a trailer coupling 15 so that the caravan 10 can be coupled to the car 11.

[0027] The trailer module 12 can primarily serve as a living and sleeping unit, while the room extension module 13 can be used as an additional sleeping unit or storage space.

[0028] The trailer module 12 and the space expansion module 13 are connected to each other via a flexible space connection channel 16. The space connection channel 16 is detachably attached to the trailer module 12 and the space expansion module 13 and enables a passage between the trailer module 12 and the space expansion module 13, protected from the outside environment, without having to leave the caravan 10. Furthermore, the flexible space connection channel 16 allows relative movement between the trailer module 12 and the space expansion module 13, so that the trailer 10 can negotiate curves and uneven ground while driving.

[0029] The space expansion module 13 can be mounted on a roof mounting device 18 of the passenger car 11. For this purpose, it is equipped with a holding device 17. The holding device 17 can be equipped with at least one quick-release fastener (not shown here) for rapid assembly and disassembly of the space expansion module 13. It can therefore be quickly attached to conventional roof racks or roof rails.

[0030] A pivotable support rod 20 is attached to the space extension module 13. It serves to stabilize the space extension module 13 when the car 11 is uncoupled from the caravan 10, as shown in Fig. 2. Before removing the car 11, the support rod 20 is pivoted toward the ground to secure the caravan 10 against tipping or to prevent the space extension module 13 from bending. This ensures high stability of the caravan 10 when stationary during use.

[0031] Additionally, a stabilizing rod 19 is provided on the side of the trailer module 12. The stabilizing rod 19 can be inserted into receiving sleeves (not shown) on the space extension module 13 to absorb transverse forces and prevent the extension module from buckling.

[0032] When using the stabilizing rod 19 and / or the support rod 20, the extension module 13 can also serve as a protective roof and provide shelter in bad weather. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 10 caravans 11 cars 12 trailer module 13 Room extension module 14 Trailer hitch 15 Tow bar 16 Room connection channel 17 Holding device 18 Roof fastening device 19 Stabilizing bar 20 support rod 100 team

Claims

[1] Caravan (10) for a car (11) with at least two modules (12, 13), wherein a first module is a trailer module (12) with a chassis and a trailer coupling device (15) that can be coupled to a trailer coupling (14) of the car (11), characterized by , that a second module is a space extension module (13) which is detached from the trailer module (12) and can be mounted on a roof mounting device (18) on the roof of the car (11). [2] Caravan (10) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the space expansion module (13) and the trailer module (12) are connected to each other by a flexible space connection channel (16). [3] Caravan (10) according to claim 2, characterized by , that the flexible room connection channel (16) is detachably attached to the trailer module (12) and / or to the room extension module (13). [4] Caravan (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by, that a holding device (17) is provided on the room extension module (13). [5] Caravan (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by that it has a stabilization device. [6] Caravan (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by that at least one pivotable support rod (20) is attached to the room extension module (13). [7] Caravan (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the space extension module (13) can be used separately from the trailer module (12) and / or separately from the car (11). [8] Caravan (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the room extension module (13) is foldable. [9] Caravan (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the room expansion module (13) can be retrofitted. [10] Caravan (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the trailer module has a lockable opening at (12) the interface to the flexible space connection channel (16). [11] Combination (100) with a car (11) and a caravan (10) according to one of claims 1 to 10.

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