extendable bicycle caravan

Abstract

Lightweight mobile living space device commonly called a caravan offering a double aspect: one compact, with a restricted volume in nomadic mode, the other with a generous multifunctional volume in sedentary mode. The invention relates to a device offering an optimized living space in sedentary mode, functionally substantially identical to that found in a caravan or motorhome (in English, camper van), obtained by the rotation of a cover (9), articulated on the base trailer (1), composed of 4 walls (9, 11, 12, 13) thus constituting 3 faces of the living space and its roof; the device is completed by a drawer floor (17) providing sleeping accommodation, incorporating a peripheral extension (19) and a set of walls (23, 24) completing the closure of the living space, when the cover and the floor are folded the device is in the form of a conventional trailer with a small volume suitable for movement towed by low-powered vehicles such as a bicycle.Apart from the itinerant leisure activity inherent in this device, it, without its interior equipment, can become a working tool for craftsmen or itinerant traders. Figure for the abstract: figure 5.

Description

Title of the invention: extendable bicycle caravan

[0001] Technical field of the invention: the present invention relates to a mobile living space device offering its user, by its expandable nature, a comfortable living space sheltered from the weather for him or other people or any form of merchandise, intended to be towed by a bicycle, a motorcycle, a motor vehicle or directly attached to the towing vehicle. The invention therefore relates to a device for expanding a habitable volume from the volume of a basic trailer constituting the configuration of the device in so-called nomadic travel mode.

[0002] The technical solutions currently proposed exist in the form of caravans or motorhomes (in English, camper vans), which are too heavy to be accepted by a low-power traction mode. The processes adapted to the most modest traction modes such as bicycles or electric bikes only offer cabins that only allow sleeping or seated activities and are therefore very limited in terms of comfort; if the volume is greater by allowing a standing position, it is at the expense of a significant bulkiness that is detrimental to movement or the use of articulated systems made of fragile canvas and with little thermal protection.Since all these methods offer only minimal functionality and few comfort solutions, the aim of the present invention is to make the passenger compartment more usable and comfortable by considerably increasing its volume in sedentary mode while limiting as much as possible the disadvantages presented by the displacement of a large volume, particularly in terms of weight and aerodynamics.

[0003] Advantages provided: the device according to the invention makes it possible to have a reduced volume when moving around, which is therefore relatively aerodynamic, and during sedentary use, a large habitable volume allowing one to stand up to carry out cooking activities, to carry out daily hygiene, shower, toilet, to eat meals sitting down and at the table and to have a separate sleeping space.

[0004] Detailed description: the device comprises a basic element called a basic trailer (1) also called a basic trailer or base with one or more axles equipped with motorized wheels (2) or not. This basic trailer has a horizontal floor (3) surmounted at the periphery by 4 vertical walls; 2 of these walls in the longitudinal direction are called faces, one of these faces called the main face (4) is intended to receive the entrance door the other face is called the secondary face (5); the other 2 walls in the transverse direction are called cheeks: front cheek (6) and rear cheek (7).

[0005] All these walls as well as those described later are rigid walls composed of insulating materials, incidentally framed by metal structures. or synthetic. The basic trailer has a drawbar (8) or any other system for attaching to a towing vehicle.

[0006] The basic trailer has a specific cover (9) hinged on the upper edge (10) of the main face wall of the basic trailer (4).

[0007] Said cover consists of a horizontal part (9) covering the entire trailer and embedded therein, in a downward direction, 3 vertical walls (11, 12 & 13) in nomadic mode, externally framing the sides of the basic trailer: the secondary face (5) and the 2 transverse cheeks of the basic trailer (6 & 7).

[0008] The falling wall covering the secondary base face (5) is numbered 11,

[0009] the falling cheek wall covering the front base cheek (6) is numbered 12,

[0010] the falling cheek wall covering the rear base cheek (7) is numbered 13

[0011] These 3 vertical walls (11, 12 & 13) associated with the cover have “complementary wall elements” articulated on the lower edges of these vertical walls when they are in nomadic mode, the complementary element (14) is articulated at the base of the longitudinal wall (11) masking the secondary face of the base (5) when the trailer is in nomadic mode; it is intended to complete the roof of the habitable volume in sedentary mode; 2 complementary elements (15 & 16) articulated on the cheek walls of the cover (12 & 13), composed of one or more accordion-shaped articulated walls (15 & 16) are intended to ensure the closure of the habitable volume, after rotation of the cover, this in sedentary mode in addition to the cheeks; according to a variant ([Fig.6]) the elements 15 & 16 can take the form of a closure by fan-shaped walls.

[0012] The cover (9) and its associated walls (11, 12, 13) provide two functions: - closing the trailer in nomadic mode when it is in a horizontal position; - by its rotation to the vertical, the constitution of all or part of the 3 faces of the passenger compartment in addition to the walls (4, 6, 7) of the basic trailer as well as all or part of the roof of the passenger compartment.

[0013] The walls (11, 12, 13) associated in a downward direction with the cover (9) themselves have wall complements (14, 15, 16) articulated on the lower edges of their load-bearing walls in nomadic mode, and having the function of completing the closing of the cabin in sedentary mode after the cover (9) has been straightened vertically.

[0014] The falling walls (11, 12, 13) of the cover have, articulated on their edges in the lower part (this in nomadic mode), wall complements (14, 15, 16) having the capacity after deployment to complete the faces of the passenger compartment and the roof if necessary.

[0015] The device integrates into the base trailer a secondary floor (17), housed in the base trailer intended to constitute an external appendage, resting on the upper edge of the secondary face of the base (5) retracted entirely into the base trailer in nomadic mode and extracting over its entire width in sedentary either by horizontal sliding on slides (18) associated with the base cheeks (6 & 7) or according to a variant, by rotation at 180° on the upper edge of the secondary face of the base (5). The secondary floor (17) therefore has the capacity by sliding or rotation to form an external appendage to the base trailer constituting one of the expansions of the habitable volume.

[0016] This secondary floor comprises rigid peripheral extensions (19) in the peripheral frame; it supports, articulated in the upper part of the external longitudinal extension, a set of flat walls (23 & 24) or, according to a variant ([Fig.6]), curved (23bis, 24bis & 24ter) superimposed on each other and sliding on themselves, of individual dimensions substantially equivalent to that of the secondary floor, completing the closure of the passenger compartment by junction with the roof.

[0017] These walls (23 & 24) presented in the paragraph above, intended to straighten and slide, follow the movements of the secondary floor when it is folded inside the base or when it comes out; once straightened and deployed, they constitute a partial closure of the passenger compartment in opposition to the main face; according to a variant ([Fig.6]) the exit of the floor (17) is done by deployment by rotation on the upper longitudinal edge of the base face (5), the complementary walls (23bis, 24bis & 24ter) associated with this floor (17), identical to the walls (23 & 24) constitute a partial closure of the passenger compartment in opposition to the main face.

[0018] This secondary floor (17), when it is produced in horizontal sliding mode, can be associated with storage units (not shown) fixed to the underside of said floor and functioning as drawers.

[0019] The cover and its associated elements will, by rotating through 90° on the upper edge of the main face (4) of the basic trailer, constitute the upper complement of the main face (9), the upper complement of the 2 basic cheeks and the roof of the passenger compartment.

[0020] The wall element (14) arranged folded from the vertical longitudinal wall (11) of the cover completes, if necessary, the roof of the habitable volume in sedentary mode.

[0021] The complementary wall elements alone or arranged folded in an accordion (15 & 16) on the cheek walls of the cover (12 & 13) complete by their deployment the transverse closure of the passenger compartment in sedentary mode.

[0022] The main face of the base comprises a half-door (21) for access to the interior of the passenger compartment; the cover also has a half-door (22) associated with its movement, the 2 half-doors joining together when the cover is placed in a vertical position. These 2 half-doors reconstitute the entrance door to the passenger compartment when the cover (9) is raised to a vertical position.

[0023] The entire cabin is designed to accommodate all the comfort elements (25), hob, sink, refrigerator, toilet bowl, shower, furniture, tanks, bays, lighting, electrical outlets, comparable to those found inside caravans or motorhomes (in English, camper vans).

[0024] The secondary floor (17) is predisposed to receive a bed or in another form of use, for example in street trading: a display; the sleeping solution can be completed by a removable slatted base articulated or resting on the transverse ends (6 & 7) of the passenger compartment, providing the second sleeping place. The secondary floor (17) has storage suspended from its lower face in the form of drawers which can be operated from inside the passenger compartment.

[0025] The secondary floor (17) has telescopic and retractable crutches (20) intended to ensure its support during its installation in sedentary mode.

[0026] The structure of the secondary face of the base (5) is reinforced so as to support folding seats and a folding table.

[0027] ............

[0028] Lists of the main parts of the device and their numberings

[0029] ........... 1. The trailer assembly known as the “base” 2. Axle and wheels 3. Trailer floor 4. Main longitudinal face wall attached to the base 5. Longitudinal secondary face wall attached to the base 6. Front transverse wall called cheek attached to the bass 7. Rear transverse wall called cheek attached to the base 8. Timon 9. Hinged cover 10. Main face / cover hinge 11. Longitudinal wall falling from the cover and secured to it 12. Front transverse wall falling from the cover and secured to it 13. Rear transverse wall extending from the cover and secured to it 14. Wall element complementary to the wall (11) and articulated on it 15. Accordion wall elements complementary to the wall (12) 16. Accordion wall elements complementary to the wall (13) 17. Secondary sliding or articulated floor depending on the variant 18. Slide ensuring the movement of the secondary floor (17) 19. Extension framing the secondary floor (17) 20. Secondary floor assist crutch (17) 21. Half-door integrated into the main face wall (4) 22. Half-door integrated into the cover (9) complement to the half-door 23. Flat, vertical wall in sedentary mode in articulation on the riser (17) 24. Oblique wall hinged on the wall (23) joining with the roof (11 & 14) 25. Comfort elements

[0030] 15 bis & 16 bis: Fan-shaped lateral closure of the extension of the living space

[0031] 23bis, 24bis & 24ter: Arched walls sliding between them forming a junction between the extension (19) and the roof (11 & 14).

[0032] Brief description of the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention

[0033] [Fig.l]: representation of the device in folded version, nomadic mode.

[0034] [Fig.2]: straightening of the cover (9) and its associated walls (11,12,13)

[0035] [Fig.3]: extraction by sliding of the secondary floor (17)

[0036] [Fig.4]: straightening of the walls (23&24) associated with the floor (17)

[0037] [Fig.5]: deployment of the walls (15 & 16) articulated on the walls (12 & 13)

[0038] [Fig.6]: variant with secondary floor (17) with rotating outlet

Claims

Claims

1. Device for expanding a habitable volume from the volume of a basic trailer constituting the configuration of the device in so-called nomadic travel mode, characterized in that it comprises a basic trailer (l) having a floor (3) and 4 peripheral vertical walls (4, 5, 6, 7), axles, wheels (2) and a drawbar (8), completed by a specific cover (9) articulated on the upper edge (10), of a longitudinal wall of the trailer, said cover being completed by 3 walls falling at its periphery, said walls having complementary elements folded onto them in nomadic mode; the device further integrates a complementary floor (17) housed in the basic trailer constituting in sedentary mode an external appendage.

2. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the cover (9) is completed with 3 falling walls (11, 12, 13) framing the face (5) and the 2 cheeks of the base trailer (6, 7).

3. Device according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the cover (9) and its associated walls (11, 12, 13) provide two functions: - closing the trailer in nomadic mode when it is in a horizontal position; - by its rotation to the vertical, the constitution of all or part of the 3 faces of the passenger compartment in addition to the walls (4, 6, 7) of the basic trailer as well as all or part of the roof of the passenger compartment.

4. Device according to claims 1, 2 and 3, characterized in that the walls (11, 12, 13) associated in a downward direction with the cover (9) themselves have wall complements (14, 15, 16) articulated on the lower edges of their load-bearing walls in nomadic mode, and complete by their deployment the closure of the passenger compartment in sedentary mode after the cover (9) has been straightened vertically.

5. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the base trailer incorporates a secondary floor (17) having the capacity by sliding or rotation to form an appendage external to the base trailer constituting one of the expansions of the habitable volume, the secondary floor (17) being predisposed to receive a bed or in another form of use, for example in street trading: a display; the sleeping solution can be completed by a removable articulated bed base or resting on the ends transverse (6&7) of the passenger compartment, providing the second sleeping place.

6. Device according to claim 3 characterized in that the falling walls (11, 12, 13) of the cover have, articulated on their edges in the lower part (this in nomadic mode), wall complements (14, 15, 16) having the capacity after deployment to complete the faces of the passenger compartment and the roof if necessary.

7. Device according to claim 5 characterized in that the secondary floor (17) has peripheral extensions (19) and that a set of walls (23, 24) or, according to a variant, curved walls (23bis, 24bis & 24ter), superimposed on each other, sliding between them, are articulated on the extension on its external longitudinal side, completing the closure of the passenger compartment by junction with the roof.

8. device according to claim 5 characterized in that the secondary floor (17) comprises storage suspended from its lower face in the form of drawers which can be operated from inside the passenger compartment.

9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the main face (4) of the base trailer and the cover (9) each has a half-door (21, 22) reconstituting the entrance door to the passenger compartment when the cover (9) is raised vertically, these 2 half-doors joining together when the cover is placed in the vertical position.

10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that all of the walls making up the passenger compartment are rigid and insulating.

11. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the passenger compartment can receive any type of comfort elements (25) comparable to those found inside caravans or motor homes.

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