expandable bicycle caravan

Abstract

A lightweight mobile living space device commonly called a caravan offers a dual aspect: one compact, with a limited volume for nomadic use, the other a generous, multifunctional space for stationary use. The invention relates to a device providing optimized living space in stationary mode, functionally substantially identical to that found in a caravan or motorhome, obtained by rotating a lid (9), hinged on the base trailer (1), composed of 4 walls (9, 11, 12, 13) thus constituting 3 sides of the living space and its roof; the device is completed by a pull-out floor (17) providing the sleeping area, incorporating a peripheral extension (19) and a set of walls (23, 24) completing the enclosure of the living space. When the lid and floor are folded away, the device takes the form of a compact, conventional trailer suitable for towing by low-powered vehicles such as a bicycle.Aside from its inherent use for itinerant leisure activities, this device, stripped of its interior fittings, can become a working tool for traveling artisans or merchants. See Figure 5 for the abbreviated version.

Description

Title of the invention: Expandable bicycle caravan

[0001] Technical field of the invention: The present invention relates to a mobile living space device that, thanks to its expandable design, provides its user with a comfortable, weatherproof living area for themselves, other people, or any type of merchandise. This space is intended to be towed by a bicycle, motorcycle, motor vehicle, or directly attached to the towing vehicle. The invention therefore relates to a device for expanding the living space from the volume of a basic trailer, which constitutes the device's configuration in its so-called nomadic mode of transport.

[0002] The technical solutions currently available are in the form of caravans or motorhomes (in English, camper vans), which are too heavy to be towed by low-powered vehicles. Methods adapted to more modest towing methods such as bicycles or e-bikes offer only living spaces suitable for sleeping or seated activities and are therefore very limited in terms of comfort; while the volume is larger, allowing for a standing position, this comes at the cost of significant bulk, hindering movement or the use of articulated systems made of fragile canvas with limited thermal protection.Since all these processes 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 minimizing the disadvantages presented by moving a large volume, particularly in terms of weight and aerodynamics.

[0003] Advantages provided: the device according to the invention allows for a reduced volume during travel, therefore relatively aerodynamic, and for 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 a 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 its periphery by 4 vertical walls; 2 of these walls in the longitudinal direction are called the face, 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 2 other walls in the transverse direction are called the sides: front side (6) and rear side (7).

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

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

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

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

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

[0010] the wall with a drop-down profile covering the rear base profile (7) is numbered 13

[0011] These 3 vertical walls (11, 12 & 13) associated with the lid 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 side walls of the lid (12 & 13), composed of one or more accordion-articulated walls (15 & 16) are intended to ensure the closure of the habitable volume, after rotation of the lid, this in sedentary mode in addition to the side walls; 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) ​​perform two functions: - closing the trailer in nomadic mode when it is in a horizontal position; - by its rotation to the vertical, the formation of all or part of the 3 faces of the cabin in addition to the walls (4, 6, 7) of the basic trailer as well as all or part of the roof of the cabin.

[0013] The walls (11,12,13) ​​associated in drop to the lid (9) themselves have complementary walls (14, 15, 16) articulated on the lower edges of their load-bearing walls in nomadic mode, and having the function of completing the closure of the cabin in sedentary mode after the lid (9) is raised vertically.

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

[0015] The device integrates into the base trailer a secondary floor (17), housed in the base trailer and intended to constitute an external appendage, resting on the upper edge of the secondary face of the base (5), fully retracted into the base trailer in nomadic mode and extending to its full width in mode The secondary floor (17) can be moved either by horizontal sliding on rails (18) associated with the base sides (6 & 7) or, according to a variant, by 180° rotation on the upper edge of the secondary face of the base (5). The secondary floor (17) can therefore, by sliding or rotating, form an external extension to the base trailer, constituting one of the expansions of the living space.

[0016] This secondary floor has rigid peripheral risers (19) in its peripheral frame; it supports, articulated in the upper part of the outer longitudinal riser, a set of flat walls (23&24) or, according to a variant ([Fig.6]), curved walls (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 joining 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 folds inside the base or when it comes out; once straightened and deployed, they constitute a partial closure of the cabin 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 cabin in opposition to the main face.

[0018] When this secondary floor (17) is made in horizontal sliding mode, storage units (not drawn) fixed to the underside of said floor and operating in drawer mode can be associated with storage units (not drawn).

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

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

[0021] The additional wall elements alone or arranged folded in accordion style (15&16) on the side walls of the lid (12&13) complete the transverse closure of the cabin in sedentary mode by their deployment.

[0022] The main face of the base has a half-door (21) providing access to the interior of the cabin; the lid also has a half-door (22) associated with its movement, the two half-doors locking together when the lid is placed in the vertical position. These two half-doors reconstitute the cabin entrance door when the lid (9) is raised to the vertical position.

[0023] The entire passenger compartment is pre-arranged to accommodate all comfort features (25), cooktop, sink, refrigerator, toilet bowl, shower, furniture, tanks, windows, lighting, electrical outlets, comparable to those found inside caravans or motorhomes (in English, motorhomes).

[0024] The secondary floor (17) is designed to accommodate a sleeping area or, for example in mobile trading, a display area; the sleeping solution can be supplemented by a removable slatted base or one supported by the transverse ends (6 & 7) of the passenger compartment, providing a second sleeping space. The secondary floor (17) has storage compartments suspended from its underside in the form of drawers that can be operated from inside the passenger compartment.

[0025] The secondary floor (17) has telescopic and retractable supports (20) intended to provide 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] List of the main parts of the device and their numbering

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

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

[0031] 23bis,24bis & 24ter: Curved sliding walls connecting between the extension (19) and the roof (11&14).

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

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

[0034] [Fig.2]: straightening of the lid (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) hinged on the walls (12& 13)

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

Claims

Demands

1. Device for expanding a habitable volume from the volume of a basic trailer constituting the configuration of the device in nomadic mode of movement, characterized in that it comprises a basic trailer (1) 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) hinged on the upper edge (10), of a longitudinal wall of the trailer, said cover being completed by 3 walls falling down at its periphery, said walls having complementary elements folded over 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 by 3 drop walls (11,12,13) ​​framing the face (5) and the 2 sides 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) ​​perform two functions: - closing the trailer in nomadic mode when it is in a horizontal position; - by its rotation to the vertical, the formation of all or part of the 3 faces of the cabin in addition to the walls (4, 6, 7) of the basic trailer as well as all or part of the roof of the cabin.

4. Device according to claims 1, 2 and 3, characterized in that the walls (11,12,13) ​​associated in drop to the cover (9) themselves have complementary walls (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 cabin in sedentary mode after vertical raising of the cover (9).

5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the base trailer incorporates a secondary floor (17) capable, by sliding or rotating, of forming an external appendage to the base trailer, constituting one of the expansions of the living space, the secondary floor (17) being pre-arranged to accommodate a sleeping area or, in another form of use, for example in mobile commerce, a display area; the sleeping solution being able to be supplemented by a removable articulated bed base or one supported at the ends transverse (6&7) of the passenger compartment, offering the second sleeping place.

6. Device according to claim 3 characterized in that the drop 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 cabin and the roof if necessary.

7. Device according to claim 5 characterized in that the secondary floor (17) has peripheral risers (19) and that a set of walls (23,24), or according to a variant curved (23bis,24bis & 24ter), superimposed on each other, sliding on each other, completes the closure of the passenger compartment by joining with the roof, is articulated on the riser on its outer longitudinal side.

8. device according to claim 5 characterized in that the secondary floor (17) has storage units suspended from its underside in the form of drawers that 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 have a half-door (21,22) reconstituting the entrance door of 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 the walls composing the passenger compartment are rigid and insulating.

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

Images