Two-stage, self-supporting, extendable extension box for motorhomes, including internal and external sealing equipment.

Abstract

A two-stage, self-supporting, extendable extension box for a motorhome with internal and external sealing device, comprising a vehicle body (1), a vehicle floor (2), a vehicle outer wall (3), and a body opening (4) arranged in the vehicle outer wall (3), characterized in that a first extension box (5) and a second extension box (6) with matching internal and external dimensions are arranged in the body opening (4), that a first support housing (7) is provided on both sides of the underside of the first extension box (5), in which a first extension mechanism (13), a first support frame (11), and a first support housing opening (9) are arranged, that the first extension mechanism (13) is attached to the first support frame (11), which extends through the first support housing opening (9) and is supported on the vehicle floor (2) to support the first extension box (5) during extension and retraction.that a second support housing (8) is provided on both sides of the underside of the second extension box (6), in which a second extension mechanism (14), a second support frame (12) and a second support housing opening (10) are arranged, that the second extension mechanism (14) is attached to the second support frame (12), which penetrates the second support housing opening (10) and is attached to the first support housing (7) in order to support the second extension box (6) during extension and retraction, that a frame of the second extension box (6) is attached to the vehicle outer wall (3), and that the second extension box (6) and the first extension box (5) are designed and arranged so that they can be extended and retracted in two stages from the body opening (4) without colliding with the vehicle floor (2) or the edges of the body opening (4).

Description

Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to a two-stage, self-supporting, extendable extension box for motorhomes and an internal and external sealing device. It belongs to the technical field of vehicle conversion and modification, in particular of motorhomes and recreational vehicles with telescopic extension boxes. State of the art

[0002] Motorhomes are vehicles that combine living and travel functions. To increase comfort, the largest possible usable interior space is desirable. Many well-known motorhomes, or so-called campervans, utilize a pull-out box that extends from the side wall or rear to enlarge the interior. While driving, the outer wall of the pull-out box is essentially flush with the vehicle's body; when stationary, the box extends outwards through an opening in the body, thus increasing the interior space.

[0003] In many designs, however, the extension is only single-stage. This limits the achievable increase in interior space, and the extension often requires additional installation space in the area of ​​the vehicle frame or other substructures. Furthermore, the seal between the vehicle body and the extension box is frequently inadequate in both the extended and retracted positions, allowing rain, dust, and noise to more easily penetrate the interior and potentially leading to heat loss. Description of the invention

[0004] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a two-stage, self-supporting, extendable extension box for motorhomes, which can be arranged at a side or rear opening of the vehicle, significantly enlarges the interior space when extended, closes essentially flush with the vehicle's outer wall when retracted, and provides an effective inner and outer seal against the environment through suitable sealing arrangements in both the extended and retracted states.

[0005] To solve this problem, an extension box is provided in which a first extension box (5) and a second extension box (6) with matching internal and external dimensions are arranged in a body opening (4) formed in a vehicle outer wall (3). On the underside of the first extension box (5), first support housings (7) are provided on both sides, each containing a first extension mechanism (13), a first support frame (11), and a first support housing opening (9). The first extension mechanism (13) is attached to the first support frame (11), which extends through the first support housing opening (9) and is supported on the vehicle floor (2), so that the first extension box (5) is cantilevered during extension and retraction.Accordingly, second support housings (8) are arranged on both sides of the underside of the second extension box (6), each housing containing a second extension mechanism (14), a second support frame (12), and a second support housing opening (10). The second extension mechanism (14) is attached to the second support frame (12), which extends through the second support housing opening (10) and is mounted on the first support housing (7), so that the second extension box (6) is cantilevered over the first extension box (5). A frame of the second extension box (6) is attached to the vehicle's outer wall (3), so that the second extension box (6) can be substantially flush with the vehicle's outer wall (3) when retracted.

[0006] In a preferred embodiment, the second extension box (6) transfers its weight to the second support housing (8) and from there to the second extension mechanism (14), which in turn transfers the weight to the second support frame (12). The second support frame (12) transfers the weight to the first extension box (5). The first extension box (5) further transfers the weight via the first support housing (7) to the first extension mechanism (13), from there to the first support frame (11), and finally to the vehicle floor (2). This ensures that all weight forces are transferred to the vehicle floor (2) during the entire movement of the extension boxes (5, 6), enabling a stable, two-stage, cantilevered movement of the extension boxes (5, 6) during extension and retraction.

[0007] For internal and external sealing, a first sealing strip holder (16) is provided around the perimeter of the inside of the body opening (4), to which a first circumferential sealing strip (17) is attached. A first pressure strip (18) is provided around the perimeter of the first extension box (5) on the side facing the body opening (4). A third sealing strip holder (21) is arranged around the perimeter of the inside of the first extension box (5) facing the second extension box (6), to which a third circumferential sealing strip (22) is attached. A third pressure strip (23) is provided around the perimeter of the side of the second extension box (6) facing the first extension box (5).

[0008] In a further preferred embodiment, the first extension box (5) has a circumferential fourth sealing strip (24) on its outer side facing away from the second extension box (6). A second sealing strip holder (19) is arranged circumferentially on the outer side of the body opening (4), to which a second circumferential sealing strip (20) is attached. In the extended state, the first pressure strip (18) and the third pressure strip (23) press against the first sealing strip (17) and the third sealing strip (22), respectively, so that circumferential internal seals are formed between the vehicle body (1), the first extension box (5), and the second extension box (6).In the retracted state, the vehicle outer wall (3) and the outer surfaces of the extension boxes (5, 6) press against the fourth sealing strip (24) and the second sealing strip (20), so that external seals are formed between the vehicle body (1) and the extension boxes (5, 6) and the outer surfaces of the extension boxes (5, 6) are essentially flush with the vehicle outer wall (3).

[0009] Depending on the vehicle design, the body opening (4) can be located either in a side wall or in a rear area of ​​the vehicle body (1). In summary, the described features offer at least the following technical advantages: The interior of the motorhome is significantly enlarged by the two-stage, self-supporting, extendable extension boxes (5, 6) without the need for additional support elements on the ground outside the vehicle; the vehicle's external contour remains essentially unchanged when retracted; and the interior is reliably sealed against the outside environment by the sealing strip arrangement, both in the extended and retracted positions. Brief description of the drawings

[0010] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments. The drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not to scale. The drawings show: Fig. 1: a schematic view of an original vehicle; Fig. 2: a perspective view of a motorhome with two-stage extended storage boxes (5, 6) at the rear of the vehicle; Fig. 3: A front view of the motorhome after Fig. 2 with extension boxes extended (5, 6); Fig. 4: a schematic representation of the first extension mechanism (13) which is mounted on the vehicle floor (2); Fig. 5: a schematic view of a first carrying case (7) with internal structure; Fig. 6: a schematic representation of the first extension box (5) and the second extension box (6); Fig. 7: a schematic representation of the second pull-out mechanism (14) mounted on the first extension box (5); Fig. 8: a schematic view of the second extension box (6); Fig. 9: a schematic representation of the vehicle body (1) with first and second extension boxes (5, 6); Fig. 10: a section through the area of ​​the retracted first and second extension boxes (5, 6); Fig. 11: an exploded view of the entire arrangement; Fig. 12: an enlarged representation of the sealing strip arrangement in the extended state of the two extension boxes (5, 6); Fig. 13: an enlarged representation of the sealing strip arrangement in the retracted state of the two extension boxes (5, 6); Fig. 14: a perspective view of a motorhome with extension boxes extending in two stages to the side (5, 6); Fig. 15: a rear view of the motorhome after Fig. 14 with laterally extended extension boxes (5, 6). Detailed description of exemplary implementations

[0011] In one embodiment, which is in the Fig. As shown in Figures 1 to 6, the motorhome comprises a vehicle body (1) with a vehicle floor (2), an outer wall (3), and a body opening (4). The first extension box (5) and the second extension box (6), with matching internal and external dimensions, are guided within the body opening (4). Symmetrically arranged first support housings (7) are located on both sides of the underside of the first extension box (5). Each first support housing (7) contains a first extension mechanism (13), a first support frame (11), and a first support housing opening (9). The first extension mechanism (13) is attached to the first support frame (11), which extends through the first support housing opening (9) and rests on the vehicle floor (2), so that the first extension box (5) is cantilevered when extending from and retracting into the body opening (4).

[0012] As in the Fig. As shown in Figures 7 to 10, second support housings (8) are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the underside of the second extension box (6). Each second support housing (8) contains a second extension mechanism (14), a second support frame (12), and a second support housing opening (10). The second extension mechanism (14) is attached to the second support frame (12), which extends through the second support housing opening (10) and is mounted on the first support housing (7), so that the second extension box (6) is cantilevered by the first extension box (5) during extension and retraction. The second extension box (6) is attached to the vehicle's outer wall (3) by a frame, so that, in the retracted state, the outer surfaces of the extension boxes (5, 6) are substantially flush with the outer surface of the vehicle body (1), and no mutual obstruction occurs with the vehicle floor (2) and the body opening (4) during movement.

[0013] As especially from Fig. As shown in Figure 11, the first sealing strip holder (16) is arranged circumferentially on the inside of the body opening (4), to which the first circumferential sealing strip (17) is attached. The first pressure strip (18) is provided circumferentially on the side of the first extension box (5) facing the body opening (4). The fourth sealing strip (24) is attached circumferentially on the outside of the first extension box (5), which faces the second extension box (6). The second sealing strip holder (19) is arranged circumferentially on the outside of the body opening (4), to which the second circumferential sealing strip (20) is attached. The third sealing strip holder (21) is provided circumferentially on the inside of the first extension box (5), which faces the second extension box (6), and to which the third circumferential sealing strip (22) is attached.The third pressure strip (23) is attached around the circumference of the side of the second extension box (6) facing the first extension box (5).

[0014] If, as in Fig. As shown in Figure 12, when the motorhome is parked and the interior space is to be enlarged, the first extension box (5) and the second extension box (6) are extended from the body opening (4). As soon as the first pressure strip (18) is pressed against the first sealing strip (17), the extension of the first extension box (5) is complete. As soon as the third pressure strip (23) is pressed against the third sealing strip (22), the extension of the second extension box (6) is complete, so that the two extension boxes (5, 6) are extended in two stages and cantilevered. Between the second extension box (6) and the first extension box (5), as well as between the first extension box (5) and the vehicle body (1), the sealing strips (17, 22, 24) are compressed, so that the extended interior space is sealed against the environment and the sealing strips simultaneously dampen impact loads during movement.

[0015] If, as in Fig. As shown in Figure 13, when the motorhome is in motion or no interior extension is required, the first extension box (5) and the second extension box (6) are retracted into the body opening (4). When the vehicle's outer wall (3) presses against the fourth sealing strip (24), the second extension box (6) is fully retracted. When the vehicle's outer wall (3) presses against the second sealing strip (20), the first extension box (5) is also fully retracted. In this position, the outer surfaces of the second extension box (6) and the first extension box (5) are essentially flush with the outer surface of the vehicle body (1), and the sealing strips (17, 20, 22, 24) are compressed between the vehicle's outer wall (3) and the two extension boxes (5, 6), as well as between the first extension box (5) and the vehicle body (1), thus sealing the vehicle interior from the environment.

[0016] During the system's movement, the second extension box (6) transfers its weight to the second support housing (8) and from there to the second extension mechanism (14). The second extension mechanism (14) transfers the weight to the second support frame (12), which transfers the weight to the first extension box (5). The first extension box (5) transfers the weight via the first support housing (7) to the first extension mechanism (13), which transfers the weight to the first support frame (11). The first support frame (11) finally transfers the entire weight into the vehicle floor (2), so that both the first extension box (5) and the second extension box (6) can be moved stably and without support during extension and retraction.

[0017] As in the Fig. 14 and Fig.As shown in Figure 15, the body opening (4) of the two-stage, self-supporting, extendable extension box can alternatively be arranged in a side wall of the vehicle body (1), so that the extension boxes (5, 6) extend laterally out of the vehicle body (1). The basic design of the support housings (7, 8), the extension mechanisms (13, 14), the support frames (11, 12), and the sealing strip arrangement (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24) remains unchanged.

[0018] The embodiments described above serve only to illustrate the basic idea of ​​the invention. It is evident to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications, variations, and combinations of the described features are possible within the framework defined by the claims. In particular, individual features can be omitted, replaced by functionally equivalent means, or combined in other ways without departing from the scope of protection of the invention. Reference symbol list 1 Vehicle body 2 Vehicle floor 3 Vehicle exterior wall 4 Body opening 5 first expansion box 6 second expansion box 7 first carrying case 8 second carrying case 9 first carrying case opening 10 second carrying case opening 11 first support frame 12 second support frame 13 first pull-out mechanism 14 second pull-out mechanism 16 first sealing strip holder 17 first circumferential sealing strip 18 first pressure bar 19 second sealing strip holder 20 second circumferential sealing strip 21 third sealing strip holder 22 third circumferential sealing strip 23 third pressure bar 24 fourth circumferential sealing strip

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