Foldable Bathroom Wall Structure for Collapsible Trailers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing collapsible trailers lack solid walls, accessibility, and storability, leading to inefficiencies in size, aerodynamics, and storage challenges, while larger motorhomes face issues with stability, fuel efficiency, and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible travel trailer with a solid shell structure that can be electronically expanded using actuators, featuring a bathroom with foldable walls and dual-access storage compartments, allowing it to fit into a standard garage and maintain functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a large motorhome is used to increase sleeping capacity and storage, then the vehicle capacity is improved, but the aerodynamic efficiency and stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The trailer employs a dynamic collapsible structure that can transition between expanded and collapsed states. The side walls are designed to fold inward along hinge lines, allowing the trailer to change its volume and aerodynamic profile based on whether it is in use or stored, thus resolving the contradiction between capacity and fuel efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The trailer structure is divided into collapsible segments including side walls with hinge joints and a detachable front wall. This segmentation allows the trailer to be folded into a compact configuration for storage while maintaining full size for camping, addressing both capacity needs and fuel efficiency requirements.
2Quantity of substance
If a large motorhome is used to increase sleeping capacity and storage, then the vehicle capacity is improved, but the stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The trailer uses a dynamic structure where the side walls can be positioned in different configurations. When collapsed, the walls fold inward parallel to the longitudinal axis, creating a streamlined profile that improves stability during towing while maintaining full sleeping capacity when expanded at the campsite.
3Volume of moving object
If a collapsible trailer is used to improve storability and reduce size, then the storage efficiency is improved, but the solid wall structure and accessibility are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The trailer incorporates a detachable front wall that can be removed entirely, and side walls with hinge joints that fold inward. This segmentation enables the trailer to be collapsed into a compact storage configuration while maintaining the option to reassemble into a solid-walled structure when needed, thus preserving both storability and structural integrity.
4Volume of moving object
If a collapsible trailer is used to improve storability and reduce size, then the storage efficiency is improved, but the accessibility is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The front wall is designed to be completely detachable from the main trailer body, and the side walls have hinge joints that allow them to fold inward while maintaining access points. This segmentation enables easy access to the trailer interior both when collapsed for storage and when expanded for use, resolving the contradiction between storability and accessibility.
5Ease of operation
If a smaller RV is used to improve maneuverability and reduce maintenance, then the ease of operation is improved, but the sleeping capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The trailer employs a dynamic collapsible design that allows it to be folded into a compact configuration for easy maneuverability and storage, then expanded at the destination to provide full sleeping capacity. This dynamic transformation enables the trailer to excel in both maneuverability and capacity at different times, resolving the contradiction between these two parameters.
6Ease of operation
If a smaller RV is used to improve maneuverability and reduce maintenance, then the ease of operation is improved, but the storage capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The trailer uses a dynamic collapsible structure that folds into a compact form for improved maneuverability and storage, then expands at the campsite to provide adequate storage capacity for camping gear and supplies. This dynamic transformation resolves the contradiction between maneuverability and storage capacity by providing both at different times.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The trailer addresses storage, aerodynamics, and accessibility issues by providing a compact, durable, and secure solution that maintains interior functionality, enhancing convenience, security, and longevity.
Implementation Method 1
The roof is raised vertically using electronically operated actuators
Data Source
AI summary
Due to the collapsibility of the trailer, the bathroom needed a solution in order to maintain hard-sided and durable walls. The novelty uses the back wall as the existent main wall of the bathroom. Therefore, the remaining three walls further comprise two sets of walls: a lower set and an upper set. The lower set of three walls are all affixed to the floor as well as to each other and to the exterior wall. The upper set of three walls are comprised of multiple panels that are serially and hingedly attached to each other and to the exterior wall. The front of the three, upper walls houses the top half of the door and is pushed adjacently up against the back wall. The two side walls are each split by a hinge in the middle. This allows for the side wall to fold into itself and compact itself up against the back wall. When both sides fold and are pushed backwards, they are covered by the front wall that houses the top half of the door. The upper set of panels may be folded and collapsed onto the adjacent exterior wall prior to the exterior wall being folded onto the lower half. The information provided and listed above solely provides embodiments and does not limit the extent of this novelty.