Movable wall structure for a travel trailer

A travel trailer is provided having a wall therein which is selectively movable along the longitudinal length of the trailer so as to alter the relative dimensions of rooms within the travel trailer without altering the exterior appearance of the travel trailer. In a preferred embodiment of a toy hauler-type travel trailer, the rearward wall separating the garage portion of the trailer from the living quarters is movably mounted at each of its sides upon a motor driven gear. Each such gear is operated in a synchronized manner so as to engage a gear rack on each side of the wall to drive the wall forward or rearward, as desired by the user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the construction of recreational vehicles, and, more particularly, the travel trailers, including fifth wheel and toy hauler-type travel trailers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is for a travel trailer having a wall therein which is selectively movable along the longitudinal length of the trailer so as to alter the relative dimensions of rooms within the travel trailer without altering the exterior appearance of the travel trailer. In a preferred embodiment of a toy hauler-type travel trailer, the rearward wall separating the garage portion of the trailer from the living quarters is movably mounted at each of its sides upon a motor driven gear. Each such gear is operated in a synchronized manner so as to engage a gear rack on each side of the wall to drive the wall forward or rearward, as desired by the user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2are schematic views showing a travel trailer10from a top view. The trailer has a front wall12, side walls14and16, and a rear wall18. The longitudinal length of trailer10is along axis A. Trailer10is, for example, a toy hauler-type travel trailer, with a ramp door20hinged at rear wall18, so as to be movable between raised and lowered positions which permit access to the interior of trailer10.

In general, trailer10is divided into at least two compartments,22and24. In a toy hauler-type travel trailer, for example, compartment22is the living quarters of the travel trailer, and compartment24is the garage portion where vehicles may be stored. These compartments are separated by wall assembly26.

Wall assembly26is movable within trailer10along axis A from front to rear positions. Wall assembly26includes forward wall30, and side walls32and34, for example. Side walls32and34are movable along side and parallel to side walls14and16, respectively. To accomplish that motion, each of side walls32and34includes a length of gear toothed racks36between it and the corresponding side walls14and16. Racks36are fixed with respect to side walls32and34. Racks36are each engaged by a drive means, such as a rotatable gear38, each of which gears is, for example, driven by an electric motor (not shown in the figures). The electric motors are synchronized so that each operates in the same manner and at the same time. The motors and gears38are fixed with respect to side walls14and16. The motors are controlled conventionally by the travel trailer users through remote or wall mounted switches (not shown in the figures) at any convenient location with respect to the trailer.

Rotation of gears38causes racks36to move along the longitudinal length of the trailer, forward or rearward according to the direction of rotation of the gears. Since side walls32and34are fixed with respect to racks36, the entire wall assembly26is thereby moved forward or rearward. This allows the users to alter the relative portion of the trailer (if a toy hauler) which is available as a garage or as living quarters, as needed in a given application, without changing the exterior appearance of the trailer. Alternatively, for conventional travel trailers or non-toy hauler fifth wheel trailers, this allows the user to alter the relative dimensions of various different living quarters within the trailer.

FIGS. 3 and 4are included to show applications of the present invention to a best mode version of a toy hauler-type trailer, having additional features, such as windows40and cabinets42therein. The present invention can also be used in connection with a wide variety of travel trailer floor plans having a wide variety of living compartments and travel trailer features. Forward wall,30, for example, may also include a door opening between the garage and the living quarters. Also, while a rack and drive gear assembly are illustrated for use in moving wall assembly26back and forth, other drive mechanisms are available using conventional devices, such as worm gear drives, hydraulic or pneumatic pistons, and the like. Preferably, those drive mechanisms are small enough and located conveniently so as to be out of sight with respect to the users, positioned between the walls as shown. Although the present invention has been described in detail herein with respect to certain structures, that is by way of illustration and example only. The spirit and scope of the present invention are limited only by the scope of the claims attached hereto.