Device consisting of a self-propelled, multi-functional tilting and pivoting gearbox fixed to a car hitch

Abstract

The invention relates to a device comprising a tilting and pivoting multi-functional self-supporting box fixed to a motor vehicle hitch (21), characterized in that it includes, in its lower part, two tanks, one for clean water (14), the other for wastewater (7), a bottom wall of the box (6) provided with an opening (22) allowing water to be evacuated into one of the two tanks equipped with drain valves (20), and, in its upper part, a removable cover (2) and an extendable and telescopic section (1) unfolding from inside the box. Figure for abbreviation [Fig. B]

Description

Title of the invention: Device consisting of a self-supporting multifunction tilting and pivoting box fixed to a car hitch

[0001] The present invention relates to a device composed of a self-supporting multifunctional tilting and pivoting box having the function of sanitary facilities, a foldable, extendable and telescopic box fixed to a car hitch allowing the recovery and storage of waste water in its lower part.

[0002] Usually, private motor vehicles such as cars or vans are low in height and do not have sufficient space to be equipped with sanitary elements such as a shower, a water or chemical toilet and a sink. Motorhomes or specially fitted vehicles have this fixed equipment which requires sufficient interior height greater than 1.9 m as well as sufficient living space, which is not the case for smaller vehicles. There are lightweight portable devices such as a folding tent or any other product that attaches to the walls of vehicles using bars and / or suction cups; many campers use these lightweight devices to carry out their daily toilet in nature on the ground. These devices are often foldable and can be used outdoors and do not allow the recovery of wastewater which pollutes the ground.It is also difficult to find easily accessible places when traveling that allow people's privacy to be respected during their daily toilet. These devices must then be dried and folded before being stored in the vehicle. They are of course not equipped with a clean or dirty water tank; the user must use removable storage containers. The use of this lightweight equipment is restrictive and requires significant logistics in terms of preparation time, which limits the daily toilet of campers. In addition, dirty soapy water spread on the ground is not environmentally friendly and can harm local flora and fauna. These repeated acts could encourage certain localities to prohibit or restrict so-called "wild" camping.

[0003] The device according to the invention makes it possible to overcome these drawbacks. According to a first characteristic, it is composed of a self-supporting multifunctional tilting and pivoting box fixed on a car hitch characterized in that it comprises in the lower part two tanks, a first for clear water, a second for waste water, a wall at the bottom of the box provided with an orifice allows the evacuation of water into one of the two tanks equipped with evacuation valves, in the upper part a removable cover and an extendable and telescopic part unfolding from the inside of the box.

[0004] The device is also provided with side carrying handles, a sliding step, with four vertically adjustable and / or foldable feet, whether detachable and movable for use at a distance from the vehicle, composed of a rigid tubular metal structure, folded, rolled or mechanically welded, made of aluminum or any other metal alloy or composite material, the tubular structure being attached to a fixing system for a ball or towing plate including: - The volume of the closed self-supporting box is less than or equal to 1 m3 - The surface area of ​​the closed box is less than 2 m2, - The volume of the unfolded or expandable box is less than 3 m3

[0005] The box is detachable from the vehicle's tow ball and can be transported via its handles and placed even on a non-flat surface, its four adjustable feet stabilize the assembly and allow the level to be adjusted for use in shower mode.

[0006] Its tubular structure is covered on its faces with metal panels or any type of formed alloy or panels made of formable synthetic or composite materials, the whole having a weight of less than 65 kilograms facilitating its manual transport.

[0007] The device is equipped with an opaque and waterproof wall that is extendable and telescopic and has a zipper opening, including perforations and transparent parts at its upper end which allow ventilation and the supply of light, equipped with double envelopes for storing, for example, clothes and keeping them dry on its inner face, and reinforcements.

[0008] The upper cover is removable and provided with fasteners or hinged on one side of the box in particular, the upper cover being adapted to receive one or more bicycle rack rails or a photovoltaic panel supplying a vehicle battery or an additional portable storage battery.

[0009] The device is equipped with a water or chemical cabinet, a sink, the assembly being fixed or removable from the box, provided with a clear water tank, provided with a portable shower whose pump is powered by a 12v socket of the vehicle or a battery-powered pump configured to draw from a water network or from a natural environment such as a lake or river.

[0010] It can be used as a storage chest comprising at its bottom a wall provided with an orifice allowing the evacuation of water into one of the lower tanks equipped with evacuation valves. Alternatively or in addition, the device can be used as a kitchen equipped with a gas hob and a sink, these two elements are removable, leaving users free to choose one or other of the usage functions, and comprising in particular at its bottom a wall provided with an orifice allowing the evacuation of water into one of the lower tanks equipped with drain valves

[0011] The device is equipped with a license plate holder and regulatory signal lights fixed to the rear face of the box in order to comply with current road regulations.

[0012] The device described above thus offers the possibility of using the box having different functions, for example the toilet function usable on all types of private vehicles or specialized motor vehicles with small interior dimensions less than 1.7 m in height, equipped with a coupling.

[0013] This device can also be used as an external kitchen for the vehicle with the possibility of detaching it from the hitch because it is equipped with four height-adjustable feet, thus ensuring the stability of the unit on all types of terrain or surfaces in self-supporting mode.

[0014] Its advantage also lies in the fact that it collects and stores wastewater either in its tank or in a container located off-site to avoid soil pollution. Its two tanks equipped with drain valves allow wastewater to be drained at dedicated collection points.

[0015] According to another characteristic, the device is fully articulated relative to the hitch and allows the vehicle trunk to be opened by vertical tilting or lateral pivoting of the box. Its low folded height of less than 60 cm does not hinder visibility towards the rear of the vehicle when it is moving.

[0016] In a non-limiting manner, the total height of the device is approximately 2.5 m in the unfolded position allowing use by any person. It is equipped with a clear water storage tank to be self-sufficient in water, additional tanks can be used to increase the clear water capacity.

[0017] The attached drawings illustrate the invention:

[0018] [Fig.A], [Fig.B] represent the device in unfolded mode.

[0019] [Fig.C] represents a variant of the device in section in unfolded mode.

[0020] [Fig.D] represents the device in closed or folded mode with usable step.

[0021] [Fig.E] represents a method of fixing the device to the vehicle and the tilting of the box.

[0022] [Fig.F] represents the device in kitchen mode

[0023] [Fig. AA] represents a side sectional view of the box

[0024] With reference to these drawings, the device composed of a self-supporting multifunctional tilting and pivoting box can be used as sanitary facilities (figure A) with different functions, shower with its receiver (6), water or chemical cabinet (18) without being limited in the utensils equipping sanitary facilities, waste water tanks (7) and clear water (14), a shower head (8), a sliding step (4) allowing access to the shower, four vertically adjustable articulated feet (5) to fit the relief from the ground and stabilize the assembly. The device comprises in the upper part a removable or articulated hood (2), a set of opaque and waterproof extendable and telescopic walls (1), carrying handles on the side faces of the device (3). It is fixed on a car hitch (21) and can be detachable and movable for use at a distance from the vehicle.

[0025] This device can also be used as a storage chest or in a kitchen with a sink (24) and a gas hob (23), it is equipped with a license plate holder and regulatory signal lights (9) fixed to the rear face of the box. List of reference signs

[0026] 0: tubular structure

[0027] 1: opaque and waterproof wall, extendable and telescopic

[0028] 2: top cover

[0029] 3: side carrying handles

[0030] 4: sliding step

[0031] 5: vertically adjustable and / or foldable feet

[0032] 6: wall at the bottom of the box provided with an orifice

[0033] 7: tank for waste water

[0034] 8: portable shower

[0035] 9: license plate holder and regulatory signal lights

[0036] 10: opening by zipper

[0037] 11: reinforcements

[0038] 12: transparent parts in the upper part

[0039] 13: perforations

[0040] 14: clear water tank

[0041] 15: ball fixing system

[0042] 16: photovoltaic panel

[0043] 17: double envelopes

[0044] 18: water or chemical cabinet

[0045] 19: faces of metal panels or any type of alloy formed from syn materials thetics

[0046] 20: evacuation valves

[0047] 21: automobile coupling

[0048] 22: orifice allowing water to drain into the lower tank

[0049] 23: gas hob

[0050] 24: sink

[0051] 25: bicycle rack rail

Claims

Claims

1. Device composed of a self-supporting multifunctional tilting and pivoting box fixed on a car hitch (21) characterized in that it comprises in the lower part two tanks, a first for clear water (14), a second for used water (7), a wall at the bottom of the box (6) provided with an orifice allowing the evacuation of water (22) into one of the two tanks equipped with evacuation valves (20), in the upper part a removable cover (2) and an extendable and telescopic part unfolding (1) from inside the box.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is provided with lateral carrying handles (3), a sliding step (4), four vertically adjustable and / or foldable feet (5), that it is detachable and movable for use at a distance from the vehicle, composed of a rigid metallic tubular structure (0), folded, rolled or mechanically welded, made of aluminum or any other metallic alloys or composite materials, the tubular structure being attached to a fixing system for a ball (15) or towing plate of which: - The volume of the closed self-supporting box is less than or equal to 1 m3 - The surface area of ​​the closed box is less than 2 m2, - The volume of the unfolded or extendable box is less than 3 m3

3. Device according to claims 2, characterized in that the tubular structure (0) is covered on its faces with metal panels or any type of formed alloy or panels made of formable synthetic or composite materials (19), the assembly having a weight of less than 65 kilograms.

4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is equipped with an opaque and waterproof extensible and telescopic wall (1) provided with an opening by zipper (10), including perforations (13) and transparent parts (12) at its upper end which allow ventilation and a supply of light, equipped with double envelopes (17) for storing clothes and keeping them dry on its inner face and reinforcements (11).

5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the upper cover (2) is removable, provided with fasteners or hinged on one side of the box, the upper cover being adapted to receive one or more bicycle rack rails (25) or a photovoltaic panel (16) supplying a battery.

6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it is equipped with a water or chemical cabinet (18), a sink, the assembly being fixed or removable from the box.

7. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it is equipped with a clear water tank (14), provided with a portable shower (8) whose pump is powered by a 12v socket of the vehicle or a battery-powered pump configured to draw from a water network or from a natural environment such as a lake or river.

8. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it is used as a storage chest comprising at its bottom a wall provided with an orifice allowing the evacuation of water into one of the lower tanks equipped with evacuation valves.

9. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it is used as a kitchen equipped with a gas hob (23) and a sink (24), these two elements being removable, comprising at its bottom a wall provided with an orifice allowing the evacuation of water into one of the lower tanks equipped with evacuation valves.

10. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it is equipped with a license plate holder and regulatory signaling lights (9) fixed to the rear face of the box.

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