Vehicle, especially motorhome or caravan with storage compartment hat

Abstract

Vehicle, in particular motorhome or caravan, comprising at least one side wall (1) with an inner side (3) facing an interior (2) of the vehicle and an outer side (4) facing away from the interior (2), wherein at least one access opening (6) is provided in the side wall (1) providing access to a storage space (5) in the interior (2) of the vehicle, which can be both closed and opened by a closing flap (7), wherein the closing flap (7) comprises an inner side (8) facing the storage space (5) in a closing state and an outer side (9) facing away from the storage space (5), wherein the outer side (9) of the closing flap (7) is covered by a plate-like cover element (10), characterized in that the side wall (1) is connected to the closing flap (7) via a hinged connection (11), wherein an axis of rotation (12) of the hinged connection (11) is arranged in the area of ​​the outer side (4) of the side wall (1).

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle, in particular a motorhome or caravan, comprising at least one side wall with an inner side facing an interior of the vehicle and an outer side facing away from the interior, wherein at least one access opening is provided in the side wall, making a storage space in the interior of the vehicle accessible, which can be both closed and opened by a closing flap, wherein the closing flap comprises an inner side facing the storage space in a closing state and an outer side facing away from the storage space, wherein the outer side of the closing flap is covered by a plate-like cover element. Vehicles of the type mentioned above are known from the prior art. For example, motorhomes are known which have a storage compartment located behind a side wall, which is accessible from the outside via one or more openings in the side wall in order to load and unload cargo. These access openings in the side walls of the motorhomes can be reversibly closed by means of locking flaps, which are also referred to as storage compartment flaps. Storage compartment flaps known from the prior art are generally operable via gear hinges or similar actuating elements, i.e., they can be moved from a closed position to an open position and vice versa. The problem with these storage compartment flaps, known from the prior art, is, for example, that the gearbox hinges are located in the area of ​​the storage compartment and cause a significant loss of storage space there. The present invention aims to overcome the disadvantages of vehicles with storage compartment flaps known from the prior art. In particular, the present invention aims to provide a vehicle with at least one storage compartment flap in which storage space loss can be largely avoided. This problem is solved according to the invention by a vehicle of the type mentioned at the outset, which is characterized in that the side wall is connected to the closing flap via a hinged connection, wherein an axis of rotation of the hinged connection is arranged in the area of ​​the outside of the side wall. In the vehicle according to the invention, the axis of rotation of the hinged connection is thus offset outwards relative to an edge of the access opening and arranged in front of the outside of the side wall. Because the pivot axis of the articulated connection between the side wall and the locking flap is located on the outer side of the side wall, the entire storage space of the vehicle according to the invention can be kept completely or at least largely free of elements for pivoting the locking flap. Thus, the entire storage space of the vehicle according to the invention can be used. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the axis of rotation of the articulated connection is not covered by the cover element, at least in a state where the access opening is closed. In this way, the closing flap can be easily pivoted from a closed state to an open state, and in this embodiment, the cover element is prevented from resisting pivoting by contacting the side wall. In a preferred embodiment, the closing flap can be pivoted by at least 160° from a closed state. Advantageously, the articulated connection is a hinge, in particular a piano hinge, with a first mounting section connected to the side wall and a second mounting section connected to the strike plate, wherein the first mounting section is connected to the second mounting section via the pivot axis designed as the hinge axis. This embodiment provides a particularly cost-effective, simple, and at the same time effective way of pivoting the strike plate on the side wall. In a preferred embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the second fastening section has a first connecting strip coupled to the hinge axis, and a second connecting strip preferably connected to an end face of the closing flap, wherein the first connecting strip preferably forms a substantially right angle with the second connecting strip, wherein the first and the second connecting strip are integrally connected and preferably represent an angle plate. Advantageously, the first fastening section also has a first connecting strip coupled to the hinge axis and a second connecting strip, preferably connected to a circumferential surface of the access opening, wherein the first connecting strip preferably forms a substantially right angle with the second connecting strip, wherein the first and the second connecting strip are integrally connected and preferably represent an angle plate. The described preferred embodiment of the articulated connection as a hinge with two hinge tabs designed as angled fastening sections allows for an optimal arrangement of the hinge between the side wall and the closing flap, in which the hinge axis can be optimally arranged in the area of ​​the outside of the side wall. The term "in the area of ​​the outer side wall" is understood here to mean that the axis of rotation is located in front of the outer side wall. It is conceivable that the axis of rotation could be directly connected to the outer side wall. However, as a rule, the axis of rotation is not directly connected to the outer side wall, but rather via a sealing element, which will be discussed in more detail below. A preferred embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention is characterized by a sealing strip that covers the pivot axis, in particular sealing it to the outside, wherein the sealing strip is preferably connected to the outside of the side wall and the cover element. With the aid of such a sealing strip, the articulated connection, in particular the pivot axis of the articulated connection, is protected from water, especially splash water. Furthermore, such a sealing strip prevents water from penetrating between the side wall and the closing flap into the storage compartment. The sealing strip preferably extends over the entire length of the pivot axis. In a further embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the sealing strip even extends over the entire length of the side wall. Typically, one section of the sealing strip is connected to the outside of the side wall, while a second section of the sealing strip is connected to the cover element.This second section covers the pivot point of the hinged joint and protects it from external influences, such as water. A second side of the first section of the sealing strip is typically connected to the pivot point of the hinged joint, thus connecting the outer surface of the side wall to the pivot point of the hinged joint. The sealing strip is usually made of rubber or a rubber-like material. Advantageously, one edge of the cover element facing the axis of rotation of the hinged connection is chamfered, in particular beveled in a wedge shape. The resulting reduction in the thickness of the cover element allows a sealing strip to be positioned particularly advantageously between the side wall and the cover element. In particular, with such an embodiment, the closing flap can be pivoted particularly advantageously from a closed position to an open position. Advantageously, the cover element is designed as a substantially rectangular plate which completely covers the preferably also rectangularly designed locking flap and preferably fully extends beyond the edge of the locking flap. This enhances the visual appearance of the vehicle according to the invention in the area of ​​the side wall. Advantageously, the cover element is constructed in a shell-like manner with an outer shell and an inner shell, wherein insulating material is preferably arranged between the outer and inner shells, and the outer and inner shells are preferably made of glass fiber reinforced plastic. Such an embodiment of the cover element has a low weight and thus contributes to the desired lightweight construction of the vehicle according to the invention. The insulating material contributes to good thermal insulation. Advantageously, the cover element is detachable from the locking flap, preferably connected via a plug-in and / or screw connection, with the distance between the cover element and the locking flap preferably being adjustable via the detachable connection. In contrast to this embodiment, locking flaps known from the prior art are generally integrally connected to a cover element. Such one-piece locking flap-cover element combinations are extremely complex to manufacture. Furthermore, the shape of these parts is fixed, so that – unlike the described embodiment – ​​three-dimensional adjustability of the cover element on the locking flap is not possible to compensate for any unevenness. Further features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention in conjunction with the drawings and the dependent claims. The individual features can be implemented individually or in combination with one another. The drawings show: Fig. 1: a top view of the side wall of a vehicle according to the invention with a locking flap; Fig. 2: a cross-sectional view through the side wall of Fig. 1 along line AA; Fig. 3: a cross-sectional view through the side wall of Fig. 1 along line BB; Fig. 4: an enlarged view from Fig. 2 in area Z; Fig. 5: the area shown in area Z in an open position of the locking flap; Fig. 6: a perspective view of the side wall of Fig. 1 in an open position of the locking flap; and Fig. 7: the enlarged detail Y of Fig. 3. Fig. 1 shows a top view of a side wall 1 of a motorhome. Figs. 2 and 3 each show a cross-section through the side wall 1, with Fig. 4 showing an enlarged section of the area marked Z in Fig. 2. The following description of the figures refers first to Figs. 1, 2, 3 to 4. The side wall 1 comprises an inner side 3 facing an interior space 2 of the vehicle, and an outer side 4 facing away from the interior space 2. The outer side 4 of the side wall 1 is the side visible when looking at the vehicle from the outside. An access opening 6 is provided in the side wall 1, providing access to a storage compartment 5 in the interior space 2 of the vehicle. In the state shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 to 4, the access opening 6 is closed by a flap 7. The flap 7 comprises an inner side 8 facing the storage compartment 5 and an outer side 9 facing away from the storage compartment 5. The outer side 9 of the flap 7 is covered by a plate-like cover element 10. The cover element 10 forms a fascia through which the flap 7 is not visible from the outside when closed. The side wall 1 is connected to the closing flap 7 via a hinged connection designed as a hinge 11, wherein a hinge axis 12 of the hinge 11 is arranged in the area of ​​the outside 4 of the side wall 1. As can be seen particularly from Fig. 4, the hinge axis 12 is arranged offset outwards relative to an edge 13 of the access opening 6. In the present embodiment, the hinge axis 12 does not directly contact the outer surface 4 of the side wall 1. As can also be clearly seen in Fig. 4, the hinge axis 12 of the hinge 11 is not covered by the cover element 10. Rather, the hinge axis 12 is located slightly above the upper edge 14 of the cover element 10. This arrangement contributes to optimal pivotability of the closing flap 7 about the hinge axis 12, which will be explained in more detail with reference to Fig. 5. The hinge 11 comprises a first mounting section 15 connected to the side wall 1 and a second mounting section 16 connected to the closing flap 7. The first mounting section 15 and the second mounting section 16 are connected to each other via the hinge axis 12. The second fastening section 16 comprises a first connecting strip 17, which is coupled to the hinge axis 12. The second fastening section 16 further comprises a second connecting strip 18 connected to an end face 19 of the closing flap 7. The connecting strips 17 and 18 form a right angle and together form an angle bracket. The first fastening section 15 comprises a first connecting strip 20, which is coupled to the hinge axis 12. The first fastening section 15 further comprises a second connecting strip 21, which is connected to a circumferential surface 22 of the access opening 6 in the side wall 1. Like the connecting strips 17 and 18 of the second fastening section, the connecting strips 20 and 21 of the first fastening section 15 are also integrally connected and form a right angle, so that the strips 20 and 21 also constitute an angle bracket. In the present embodiment, the fastening sections 15 and 16 are made of iron. The described right-angled shape of the fastening sections 15 and 16 allows them to be optimally attached to the side wall or the closing flap, respectively.For improved ease of assembly using fasteners such as screws, retaining plates 23 are mounted both on the front face 19 of the closing flap 7 and on the circumferential surface 22 of the access opening 6. To protect the hinge 11 from water and to prevent water from penetrating the space between the cover element 10 and the side wall 1, a sealing strip 24 is provided. The sealing strip 24 has a first, flat section 25 and a second, curved section 26 connected to the first section 25. The first section 25 is connected to the outer surface 4 of the side wall 1. The second section 26 is connected to the cover element 10 and covers the hinge axis 12. In this embodiment, the sealing strip 24 is made of rubber. The upper edge 14 of the cover element 10 is beveled in a wedge shape. This beveling of the cover element 10 allows the sealing strip 24 to be connected to the cover element 10 particularly advantageously. In addition, this beveling contributes to the smooth pivoting of the closing flap. In the present embodiment, the cover element 10 is constructed in a shell-like manner, with insulating material arranged inside the shell. To move the closing flap 7 with the cover element 10 from the closed state shown in Fig. 4 to an open state that releases the access opening, the closing flap 7 simply needs to be pivoted upwards about the hinge axis 12. This can be done manually or automatically, for example, using actuators such as pneumatic cylinders. In the present embodiment, a pivoting of approximately 160° from the closed state is possible. Fig. 5 shows the section of the closing flap 7 shown in Fig. 4 in the open state. The flap 7 can be fixed in the state shown in Fig. 5, for example, using suitable holding devices such as pneumatic cylinders. By arranging the hinge axis 12 outside the storage space 5 or the access opening 6, the storage space is not reduced by pivoting devices, as is the case with prior art solutions. Figure 5 clearly illustrates the advantage of the wedge-shaped chamfer on the upper edge 14 of the cover element 10. This chamfer eliminates any risk of the cover element 10 contacting the side wall 1 when pivoting upwards and thus creating a blocking effect. Unlike a straight edge, the chamfered version of the cover element shown here results in only a slight bending of the second section 26 of the sealing strip 24, which reduces stress on the sealing strip 24. Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the situation shown in Figure 5. It is clearly visible that the plate-like cover element 10 not only covers the locking flap 7 but also extends completely beyond its edge. The inner circumference 27 of the access opening 6 and the outer circumference 28 of the locking flap 7 are dimensioned such that the locking flap 7 can be fitted into the access opening 6. A sealing element typically encircles the entire outer circumference of the locking flap, ensuring an optimal seal between the locking flap 7 and the access opening 6 when closed. Figure 7 shows the enlarged section Y from Figure 3 in the area of ​​a detachable connection between the locking flap 7 and the cover element 10. The detachable connection is achieved by a bolt 29 with an external thread, which is received in a receiving bushing 30 integrated into the locking flap 7. The bolt 29 is connected to a base plate 31, which in turn is bonded to the cover element 10 by means of adhesive 32. The receiving bushing 30 is integrated into a receiving sleeve 33 and screwed to it. The bolt 29 is secured in the receiving sleeve 30 by means of a lock nut 34. By screwing the receiving bushing 30 in or out of the receiving sleeve 33, the distance 35 between the cover element 10 and the locking flap 7 can be adjusted.

Claims

A vehicle, in particular a motorhome or caravan, comprising at least one side wall (1) with an inner side (3) facing an interior (2) of the vehicle and an outer side (4) facing away from the interior (2), wherein at least one access opening (6) is provided in the side wall (1) providing access to a storage space (5) in the interior (2) of the vehicle, which can be both closed and opened by a closing flap (7), wherein the closing flap (7) comprises an inner side (8) facing the storage space (5) in a closing state and an outer side (9) facing away from the storage space (5), wherein the outer side (9) of the closing flap (7) is covered by a plate-like cover element (10), characterized in that the side wall (1) is connected to the closing flap (7) via a hinged connection (11), wherein an axis of rotation (12) of the hinged connection (11) is arranged in the area of ​​the outer side (4) of the side wall (1). Vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the axis of rotation (12) of the articulated connection (11) is not covered by the cover element (10) at least in a state of closing the access opening (6) of the locking flap (7). Vehicle according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the articulated connection (11) is a hinge, in particular a piano hinge, with a first fastening section (15) connected to the side wall (1) and a second fastening section (16) connected to the closing flap (7), wherein the first fastening section (15) is connected to the second fastening section (16) via the pivot axis (12) designed as the hinge axis. Vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that the second fastening section (16) has a first connecting strip (17) coupled to the hinge axis (12), and a second connecting strip (18) preferably connected to an end face (19) of the closing flap (7), wherein the first connecting strip (17) preferably forms a substantially right angle with the second connecting strip (18), wherein the first connecting strip (17) and the second connecting strip (18) are integrally connected and preferably form an angle bracket. Vehicle according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the first fastening section (15) has a first connecting strip (20) coupled to the hinge axis (12), and a second connecting strip (21) preferably connected to a circumferential surface (22) of the access opening (6), wherein the first connecting strip (20) preferably forms a substantially right angle with the second connecting strip (21), wherein the first connecting strip (20) and the second connecting strip (21) are integrally connected and preferably form an angle bracket. Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a sealing strip (24) which covers the axis of rotation (12), in particular sealing to the outside, wherein the sealing strip (24) is preferably connected to the outside (4) of the side wall (1) and the cover element (10). Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an edge (14) of the cover element (10) facing the axis of rotation (12) of the articulated connection (11) is chamfered, in particular beveled in a wedge shape. Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover element (10) is designed as a substantially rectangular plate which completely covers the preferably also rectangularly designed closing flap (7) and preferably fully extends beyond the edge of the closing flap (7). Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover element (10) is constructed in a shell-like manner with an outer shell and an inner shell, wherein insulating material is preferably arranged between the outer shell and the inner shell, wherein the outer shell and the inner shell are preferably made of glass fiber reinforced plastic. Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover element (10) is detachably connected to the locking flap (7), preferably via a plug and / or screw connection, wherein preferably a distance (35) between the cover element (10) and the locking flap (7) is adjustable via the detachable connection.

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