Foldable Wall Structure for Caravans with Translating Outer Panel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foldable wall structures for transportable superstructures, such as mobile homes and caravans, require multiple steps to expand interior space and often protrude into the interior when retracted, reducing available space and lacking in weather and burglary protection.
Innovation Solution
A foldable wall structure with a frame design where the third wall translates to form an outer wall, eliminating the need for rotation and allowing for simple expansion without protruding into the interior, featuring hinge components for side walls and a transparent cover for weather protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a bay window is extended using electrically operated drive spindles, then the interior space can be enlarged, but when retracted the bay structure protrudes into the interior and takes up space
Solution Approach 1:
The foldable wall structure is designed to be nested within the wall structure of the transportable body when retracted. The first foldable wall forms a bottom wall and the second foldable wall forms a top wall when unfolded, and these walls are arranged to accommodate each other in a compact configuration when folded, similar to nested dolls. This allows the extension structure to occupy minimal space when not in use while providing significant volume when extended.
2Ease of manufacture
If textile walls are used for the bay window, then the structure can be simple, but they provide neither burglary protection nor weather protection
Solution Approach 1:
The wall structure employs a composite construction combining a frame structure with textile walls. The frame structure provides the structural integrity, burglary protection, and weather resistance, while the textile walls provide the flexible covering and weatherproofing. This composite approach integrates the protective functions of rigid framing with the flexibility and weather resistance of textile materials, solving both the simplicity and protection requirements.
3Volume of moving object
If multiple foldable walls are rotated or pivoted to expand interior space, then the wall structure can be extended, but the number of work steps increases
Solution Approach 1:
The foldable wall structure combines multiple wall elements (first foldable wall, second foldable wall, and third wall) into a single integrated assembly that moves together as one unit. The hinge components connect these walls in such a way that they are displaced and folded simultaneously in a coordinated manner, reducing the number of separate work steps required compared to rotating individual walls independently. This merging of movements streamlines the expansion process.
4Volume of moving object
If a foldable wall structure is integrated into the wall structure of a transportable body, then it can expand interior space, but it may protrude into the interior when retracted
Solution Approach 1:
The foldable wall structure utilizes the wall thickness dimension of the transportable body for storage when retracted. By positioning the folded structure within the wall structure itself (using the wall depth as the storage dimension), the design allows the extension mechanism to be accommodated without protruding into the interior living space. This dimensional strategy effectively moves the retracted structure out of the interior volume and into the wall structure volume.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention provides a foldable wall structure (1) for extending the interior space (2) of transportable structures, in particular a motorhome (36), comprising a first foldable wall (5) which, when unfolded, forms a floor wall (6) of the wall structure, and a second foldable wall (7) which, when unfolded, forms a ceiling wall (8) of the wall structure, and the wall structure comprising a foldable fourth wall (9) and a foldable fifth wall (11) which, when unfolded, form a first (10) and a second (12) side wall of the wall structure, and the wall structure comprising a frame structure (13), wherein the wall structure (1) comprises a third wall (14) which is translationally displaceable relative to the folded-in first wall (5) and which, when displaced, forms an outer wall (15) of the wall structure (1).