Abstract:
An extensible, exterior room for a recreational vehicle trailer comprising a floor, a roof, and at least one flexible wall is provided. The floor and the roof are each extensible between a stowed position and an open position. The floor is supported at one end by a frame on the underside of the trailer chassis, and at the other end by stabilizer legs with optional wheel mounts that are rotatable between a working and a non-working position. The roof is hinged to the trailer and is supported in the open position by hydraulic struts. The flexible walls are detachable from the roof and floor and may be stowed separately. The exterior room is accessible from the interior of the trailer through an exit, such as a sliding door style patio door.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to an improvement in recreational vehicle trailers. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Recreational vehicles, such as campers and fifth wheel trailers, are designed and equipped to provide efficient use of space within vehicle. For example, a fifth wheel trailer may be fitted with a slide-out whereby additional floor space can be created when the fifth wheel trailer is in the parked position. Slide-outs commonly extend out of one side of the trailer, thereby increasing the interior room width. A fifth wheel trailer may also be provided with a front section that extends over the cab of the supporting truck, when the trailer is coupled to the truck via the fifth wheel hitch, as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,394,533 issued to Ladell et al. By providing a front section that extends both over the towing bed and over the truck cab, additional living space is provided without enlarging the footprint of the trailer. 
   Furthermore, it is desirable to provide exterior living space supported by the recreational vehicle. Currently, this is accomplished by providing a retractable canopy or awning fixed to the exterior of the vehicle. While this provides shading over an area adjacent to the vehicle, the bare surface of the shaded ground adjacent the vehicle, which may not be even or level, is not always suitable for recreational use. Thus, to further extend the living space available around a recreational trailer, a user may construct a wooden or concrete platform, deck or patio adjacent the trailer (and beneath the extended canopy, if available) in order to provide a useable floor. The deck or patio may be installed at approximately ground level, or may be elevated to be substantially level with the interior trailer floor. However, given the expense and materials required to construct a suitable deck or patio for a recreational trailer, this solution is feasible only if the trailer is intended to be parked in a single location for an extended period of time. 
   Thus, it is desirable to provide means for providing additional usable recreational space around a recreational trailer, without adding to the overall length or width of the recreational vehicle, and without necessitating the installation of a permanent or semi-permanent platform or deck. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention provides an improvement to a recreational vehicle trailer comprising and extendible exterior room, having a floor extensible between a stowed position and an open position and a roof extensible between a stowed position and an open position, wherein when the floor is in its extended position and the roof is in its open position, the space defined by the floor and the roof is accessible through an exit from the interior of the trailer. A further aspect of the invention provides at least one flexible wall extending between the floor and the roof when the floor and roof are both in their open position, thus defining an exterior room that is accessible through an exit from the interior of the trailer. 
   The invention further provides an exterior floor for a trailer that is supported above ground level by the trailer, and by at least one stabilizer leg movable between at least one working position and a non-working position. In further aspect, the trailer supports the floor via a channel disposed on an underside of the trailer, wherein an edge of the floor is carried within the channel. 
   Another aspect of the invention is the provision of a stabilizer leg for supporting the floor having a leg portion movable between a raised and at least one lowered position, and a wheel mounted on a bracket, the bracket being movable between a working position and a non-working position, wherein in the working position, the wheel is substantially perpendicular to ground level, and in the non-working position, the wheel is substantially parallel to ground level, such that when the stabilizer leg is in the non-working position, the bracket is in the non-working position and the leg portion is in the raised position, such that the wheel is not in contact with ground level; and when the stabilizer leg is in a first working position, the bracket is in the working position and the leg portion is in a lowered position, such that the wheel is in contact with ground level. Still a further aspect of the invention is a stabilizer leg with a second working position, in which the bracket is in the non-working position and the leg portion in is a lowered position, such that the stabilizer leg supports the floor above ground level. 
   Another aspect of the invention is the provision of an exterior room for a recreational vehicle trailer with a roof that is supported in the open position by at least one support post disposed between the roof and the floor of the room. 
   The invention further provides a method for erecting an exterior room for a recreational vehicle trailer, comprising the steps of: providing a floor that is extensible between a stowed position and an open position, a roof that is extensible between a stowed position and an open position, and at least one flexible wall, wherein the floor is supported in the open position above ground level by the trailer and by at least one stabilizer leg movable between a working position and a non-working position, and the roof is movable towards the open position by at least one hydraulic strut; moving the roof from the stowed position towards the open position by extending the at least one hydraulic strut; moving the at least one stabilizer leg from the non-working to the working position, and pulling the floor to the open position; and attaching the at least one flexible wall to the roof and to the floor. 
   The invention further provides a method for erecting an exterior room, further comprising the step of supporting the roof in the open position by providing at least one support post between the roof and the floor. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In drawings which illustrate by way of example only a preferred embodiment of the invention, 
       FIG. 1  is a side elevation of a trailer with an extendable patio room and screens according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded side elevation of the extendable patio room of  FIG. 1  without screens; 
       FIG. 3  is a rear sectional view of the channel and patio floor edge of  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , the rear portion of a fifth wheel trailer  10  is shown with the patio room  20  extended from the trailer  10 , preferably from the rear of the trailer  10 . The patio room  20  generally comprises an extendable patio floor  40  and a retractable roof  60 . Preferably, screens  80 ,  82  (not visible in  FIG. 1 ), and  84  are provided and depend downwardly from the roof  60  to provide additional protection to occupants against the weather or pests such as insects. In the extended position, the floor  40  is supported by a pair of stabilizer legs  55 . Preferably, as described below, the stabilizer legs  55  are also provided with wheels  58  to assist during the extension of the patio floor  40 . 
   Turning to  FIG. 2 , the roof  60  is attached to the trailer  10  by hinge means (not shown) disposed along the edge  66  of the roof  60  proximal to the trailer  10 ; in the preferred embodiment, the roof is supported in the open position by hydraulic struts  70  and support posts  72  (shown in phantom in  FIG. 1 ) pivotably attached near distal edge  68  of the roof  60 . When extended, the patio room  20  provides additional living space accessible from the interior of the trailer  10  through a doorway  90  at the rear of the trailer  10 . 
   The roof  60  is preferably a hardtop roof manufactured from laminated fibreglass and sized to completely cover the doorway  90  when the roof  60  is in the collapsed position (not shown). The roof  60  is hinged to the trailer body  10  along the proximal edge  66  by a hinge means such as a piano hinge. The upper surface of the roof  60  may also be provided with a ladder  12 , in order to provide access to the roof of the trailer  10  when the roof  60  is in the closed position. 
   The hydraulic struts  70  are fixed at one end to the rear of the trailer  10  at a position adjacent the doorway  90 , and below the hinge means, and at the other end along the side edges  64  of the roof  60 , at point along the edge  64  near the proximal edge  66  of the roof  60 . The hinge is preferably protected against the elements on the exterior by a rubber or flexible synthetic flap (not shown) covering the exterior of the hinge. Also, when the roof  60  is in the open position, an additional vinyl covering may be applied on the underside of the of the hinge by means of a hook and loop fastener, or another suitable fastener, to further ensure that the patio room  20  is protected from water leakage. 
   When the roof  60  is in the closed position, it may be latched in place on the wall of the trailer  10 . Preferably, spacers are provided on the exterior of the trailer  10  near the doorway  90 , or alternatively on the interior surface of the roof  60 , to prevent damage to the roof  60  or trailer  10  when the roof  60  is in the collapsed position. 
   Turning again to  FIG. 1 , in the preferred embodiment, an upper screen  80  of flexible material, such as canvas, is suspended from the side edges  64  and the distal edge  68  of the roof  60 . When not in use, the upper screen  80  may be stowed against the interior of the roof  60  by means of hook and loop fasteners, wherein one part of the hook and loop fastener is attached near the lower edge of the upper screen  80 , and the other part of the fastener is attached to the interior of the roof  60 . Separate screens  82 ,  84 , preferably manufactured of mesh fabric, are removably attached to the upper screen  80  by separating zippers or other fastening means. Preferably, any transparent or mesh portions of the upper screen  80  or separate screens  82 ,  84  may be provided with an optional privacy drape that functions as a curtain. The lower edges of the screens  82 ,  84  are further removably attached to the patio floor  40  by hook and loop fasteners or other means. 
   The support posts  72  are pivotably mounted on or near the distal edge  68  of the roof  60 , and reciprocate between a stowed position in which the posts  72  are disposed against the roof  60 , and are preferably held in place by clasps or other means, and an extended position in which ends of the posts  72  opposite the pivot mounting are fixed in place along the distal edge  48  of the patio floor  40  by locking pin means (not shown). 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , the patio floor  40  is preferably manufactured using PVC decking board over a frame of galvanized aluminum steel. The side edges  44  of the floor  40  are angled to ride within a channel provided on the underside of the chassis of the trailer  10 . 
   Near the distal edge of the floor  48  are provided stabilizer legs  55  which are pivotably mounted to the underside of the floor  40 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ; preferably, wheels  58  are mounted on wheel brackets  57  which in turn are rotatably mounted on the stabilizer legs  55  to facilitate extension and retraction of the floor  40 . When the floor  40  is in the fully extended or retracted position, the wheel brackets  57  may be rotated until the wheel axles  59  (shown in phantom) are substantially perpendicular to the floor  40 , and the brackets  57  then locked in place. In a most preferred embodiment, to further facilitate extension of the floor  40 , handles may be provided on or near the distal edge  48  of the floor  40 . A further assist leg (not shown) similar to the stabilizer legs  55  may be pivotably mounted to the underside of the floor  40  in a central position. 
   In either side edge of the floor  40 , near the distal and proximal edges  48 ,  42  of the floor  40 , apertures to receive the locking pins are provided for locking the floor  40  in place in either the fully retracted or fully extended position. 
   On the underside of the chassis of the trailer  10 , a pair of rails or channels  96  preferably formed in steel are provided to receive the side edges  44  of the floor  40 . Apertures are provide in the rails  96  through which a locking pin  94  may be passed and received by corresponding apertures  95  in the side edges  44  of the floor  40  in order to lock the floor into place. Preferably, stabilizer jacks  102  are pivotably mounted on or near the rails  96  to provide additional support to the trailer  10  when it is parked and in use. Also mounted along the angular side edges  44  of the patio floor  40 , near the proximal edge  42 , are wheels  49  adapted to run along the rails  96 . For further stability while the floor  40  is being retracted or extended, the axle  50  of wheel  49  passes through a slot in the rail  96  and is spaced from the wall of the channel  96  by a washer and nut assembly, thus ensuring that the floor  40  moves along a path substantially parallel to the channels  96 . 
   In the closed position of the patio room  20 , the roof  60  lies against the rear of the trailer  10 , blocking access to the doorway  90 , and is held in place by latches. The floor  40  is held in place along its side edges  44  in the rails  96 , and preferably for transporting the trailer  10  to another location, the locking pins  94  are disposed through the apertures in the channels  96 , and in the apertures  95  on either side of the floor  40 . 
   To erect the patio room  20 , the roof latches are released and the roof  60  is lifted or pushed towards the open position with the assistance of the hydraulic struts  70  by pivoting the hinge. The locking pins  94  are released from the apertures  95 , then the stabilizing legs  55  are partially lowered and if provided, the wheels  58  mounted on the brackets  57  are rotated to a working position before fully lowering the stabilizing legs  55  into a position supporting the floor  40 . The floor  40  is then extended. 
   When the floor  40  is completely extended, the wheel brackets  57  on the stabilizing legs  55  are rotated so that the wheels  58  lie substantially flat on the ground, and the locking pins  94  are reinserted through the apertures  95  on either side of the channels  96  to be received by the apertures  95  nearest the proximal end  42  of the floor  40 . The height of the stabilizing legs  55  may be adjusted to level the surface of the floor  40 . 
   The upper screen  80  is released from the roof  60 . The support posts  72  are released from their stowed position against the roof  60 , extended and fixed in place by locking pin means near the distal edge  48  of the patio floor  40 , thus supporting the roof  60  in the open position. Screens  82 ,  84  may be attached to the lower edge of the upper screen  80 , and then fastened to the edges  44 ,  48  of the patio floor  40  by hook and loop fasteners or other means. Preferably, a vinyl flap is removably attached to the inside of the hinge using a hook and loop fastener to ensure watertightness along the hinge. The patio room  20  is thus extended and is available for use, with access through the doorway  90 . 
   To collapse the patio room  20 , the screens  82 ,  84  are detached from the patio floor  40  and the upper screen  80 ; the vinyl flap, if installed, is detached from the underside of the hinge, and these parts are stowed. The support posts  72  are released from the floor  40 , and pivoted back to their stowed position and latched in place against the roof  60 . The upper screen  80  is folded against the interior of the roof  60  and fastened into place using the hook and loop fasteners. The roof  60  is then collapsed and latched into place against the trailer  10 . The floor locking pins  94  are released from the apertures  95 , the channel  96  and the floor  40 ; the wheel brackets  57  are rotated so that the wheels  58  are in a working position, and the floor  40  is pushed back along the rails  96  until it is fully retracted. The wheel brackets  57  are rotated back to a non-working position so that the wheel is parallel to the floor  40 , and the stabilizer legs  55  are then pivoted back to the stowed position against the underside of the floor  40 . The locking pins  94  are then replaced through the apertures  95  through the channel  96 , thus securing the floor  40  underneath the chassis of the trailer  10 . The patio room  20  is thus stowed, and the trailer  10  may be relocated. 
   Various embodiments of the present invention having been thus described in detail by way of example, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the invention. The invention includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.