AMPHIBIOUS ACCOMODATION UNITS

Abstract: An amphibious accommodation unit (10) which includes a main enclosed area (12) incorporating a main hull (17) and a second hull (21) pivotally connected to the main area (12) for movement between a first position wherein it comprises an extension of the main hull so that the unit may be used on water and a second position wherein the second hull is either supported in an upright attitude adjacent the main area or folded over the main area to define a second roof for the main area so that the unit (10) may be used in combination with a trailer (11) as a caravan for land use. The unit (10) may also incorporate pivotal hulls (21, 21′) at each end of the main area (12).

Description: THIS INVENTION relates to amphibious accommodation units and in particular to units which may be easily converted between a first attitude for use on land and a second attitude for use on water as specified in the preamble of claim 1, for example as disclosed in US-A-3 972 544. Caravans have become an increasingly popular vehicle for providing mobile accommodation for persons either for temporary accommodation for example for holiday purposes or the like or for permanent accommodation. Similarly houseboats are popular watercraft which, although usually only suitable for use in confined waterways, provide a considerable area of accommodation for persons again either on a temporary or permanent basis. Normally houseboats are only suited for use on water and caravans are only suited to use on land. Accordingly, if comparable accommodation provided by caravans and houseboats is required both on land and water, a person needs both forms of unit and although this can be achieved by hiring, it generally involves considerable expense. Proposals have been made in the past to construct a caravan and houseboat in one unit, however, heretofore, such proposals have not proved to be particularly effective either because the unit when used in land situations is of excessive weight and length to enable comfortable towing or because the unit when adapted for water use is not particularly seaworthy. It is an object of the present invention to provide an accommodation unit which may be used both on land and on water and which is efficient and functional in both modes. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an accommodation unit which may be simply converted from its land use mode to its water use mode. It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an accommodation unit which in its water use mode provides a seaworthy water craft and which is its land use mode provides a comfortable accommodation area. With the above objects in view, the present invention provides an amphibious accommodation unit comprising a first portion defining an accommodation area within said unit, said first portion including a first hull, a second portion defining a second hull, means interconnecting said first and second portions for pivotal movement about a transverse axis or axes extending abeam of said hulls, and means for pivotally moving said first and second portions relative to each other and for elevating and lowering said pivotal axis whereby to vary the position of pivotal movement of said first portion relative to said second portion so that said first and second portions may be moved between a first attitude wherein said second hull is longitudinally aligned with, to comprise an extension of said first hull so that said accommodation unit may be used on water and a second attitude wherein said second hull is moved away from alignment with said first hull. Preferably said second portion in said second attitude is disposed in a generally upright attitude adjacent to said first portion. Suitably, said interconnecting means comprising guide means on one of said first or second portions and means movable along said guide means and defining a pivotal connection between said first and second portions and preferably said pivotal connection means is movable along said guide means during said raising or lowering of said second portion. Most preferably, said pivotal connection means is movable along said guide means towards and away from a position or positions therealong whereat said second portion is permitted to pivot about a said transverse axis towards and away from said first attitude. The guide means are suitably provided on opposite sides of said first portion and wherein said pivotal connection means comprise pivot members provided on said second portion. Each said guide means may comprise a hollow elongate member secured in an upright attitude to said first portion, with each said hollow member being longitudinally slotted and wherein each said pivot member has an enlarged head portion and a shank portion, said head portion being captive in said hollow member for movement therealong and wherein the shank portion of said pivot member projects through said longitudinal slot for engagement with said second portion. In one form, said pivotal connection means are located at the lower end of said guide means when said second portion is in said second attitude whilst in a second form said pivotal connection means are located at the upper end of said guide means when said second portion is in said second attitude. Preferably, means are provided for releasably maintaining said pivotal connection means at said position or positions along said guide means. Suitably, said moving means includes winch means mounted to said first portion and cable means extending from said winch means to said second portion, said winch means being operable to wind up said cable means and elevate said pivotal axis and said second portion from said second attitude until said pivotal connection means is moved to said position along said guide means and wherein said wind means is further operable to unwind said cable means whereby to permit said second portion to pivot about said transverse axis to said first attitude after said pivotal connection means is maintained at said position along said guide means by said releasable maintaining means. Suitably also, said winch means is further operable when said second portion is in said first attitude to wind up said cable means and cause said second portion to pivot about a said transverse axis to a substantially upright attitude and subsequently unwind said cable means to lower said pivotal axis and said second portion to said second attitude when said pivotal connection means is released from said position along said guide means. The cable means is preferably connected to opposite sides of said second portion and is guided transversely of said first portion. Preferably, said first and second hulls include bulkheads, said bulkheads being juxtaposed when said second portion is in said first attitude and wherein said bulkheads include cut-out portions which mate when said second portion is disposed in said first attitude and which are disposed above the floating water level of said unit to define a passageway between said first and second portions. The unit may also include locking means for selectively locking said second hull in said first attitude. The first and second portions may also be provided with co-operative coupling means adapted to be releasable engaged to maintain said second portion in said second attitude and the coupling means are suitably moved out of register with each other when said second portion is moved away from said second attitude. The first and second hulls may also be provided with transversely extending complimentary recess and rib means adapted to co-operate when said second hull is in said first attitude. The unit may further include awning means adapted to be moved to a position overlying said second portion when the latter is in said first attitude. Suitably, said first portion includes a roof, and guide means are provided on said roof to extend longitudinally of said unit, said awning means being guided for movement along said guide means between a first position overlying said roof and said position overlying said second portion. The unit is suitably braced by bracing means which brace said second portion against movement relative to said first portion when said second portion is in said first attitude. Suitably said bracing means comprise railing means on opposite sides of said second portion, said railing means being pivotally movable to a first upright operative bracing position between said first portion and said second portion and a second folded inoperative position. The accommodation area is suitably defined by front and rear walls, a pair of opposite side walls and a roof and wherein said second portion in said second attitude extends substantially between said first hull and said roof of said accommodation area. The hulls may have any configuration desired such as mono-hull, catamaran, V-shape, trimaran, pontoon style or punt style. In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and wherein :- Fig. 1 illustrates in side elevations view, a first form of accommodation unit according to the present invention on a trailer adapted for used on land; Figs. 2 to 4 illustrate the manner of conversion of the unit of Fig. 1 to a unit suitable for use on water; Fig. 5 illustrates details of the connection between the components of the unit: Fig. 6 is a front perspective view of the unit shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is a sectional view along line A-A of Fig. 4 showing details of the mating bulkheads of the respective hulls. Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of a further form of the invention; and Fig. 9 and 10 illustrate an alternative embodiment in various modes. Referring to the drawings and firstly to Fig. 1, there is illustrated an amphibious accommodation unit 10 according to the present invention mounted on a trailer 11 to enable towing by a vehicle. The unit 10 includes a first accommodation part 12 which is in the general form of a caravan type body having side walls 13, opposite end walls 14 and 15 and a top wall 16 and including a floatable hull 17 which in this embodiment is in the form of a catamaran type hull. The part 12 houses all the conventional appliances and furniture of a normal caravan such as bunks, stoves, fridges, tables or dinettes as well as W.C. and shower and as shown the side walls 11 and end wall 15 are fitted with windows and an external access door 18 is provided to enable access into the interior of part 11. A motor such as an outboard motor 19 is also fitted to the hull 17 via a conventional bracket 20 and controls for the motor such as a steering wheel, throttle etc. are located with the part 12 to enable the engine to be steered and controlled. Mounted to the end of the first part 12 at the opposite end to the motor 19 is a further hull 21 of open barge-like form which in the land use attitude shown in Fig. 1 is located in a substantially vertical attitude and nested neatly into the first part 12. For this purpose, the opposite side walls 13 of the first part are provided with extended flange portions 22 which are located on opposite sides of the hull 21 in the Fig. 1 attitude to prevent lateral movement thereof during road transportation. The bow of the hull 21 is raised at 23 to increase the seaworthyness of the unit 10 and the wall 15 of the part 12 is bevelled at 24 so that the hull 21 can neatly be engaged therewith. The hull 21 as more clearly shown in Fig. 5 is provided on opposite sides adjacent the gunwales with respective headed pivot pins 25, the heads 26 of which are located in and captive in vertical channel sectioned tracks 27 secured to the flange extensions 22 of the side walls 13 and the shanks 28 of the pins 25 project through elongated slots 29 in the tracks 27 into the hull 21 to define a pivot support therefor. The hull 21 and flanges 22 are also provided with co-operable restraining members 30 and 31 which are suitably in the form of opposite channel members which locate within each other when the hull 21 is in the Fig. 1 attitude to assist in maintaining the hull 21 in that attitude. The hull 21 is adapted to be moved from its position shown in Fig. 1 for land use to the position shown in Fig. 5 for water use by means of the winch and cable arrangement 32. This arrangement includes a hand operated winch 33 mounted to the side wall 13 and a winch cable 34 which extends from the winch 33 about a block 35 secured to the side wall flange 22, about a further block 36 secured to the hull 21 at intermediate position therealong and thence about a further block 37 supported on the flange 21 and about an adjacent fixed block 38 for passage preferably through a tube 39 to the opposite side of the first part 11 where the cable 34 passes about similar blocks 38′, 37′ and 36′ to be tied off by a shackle to a point on the wall flange 22 adjacent the block 37′. When it is desired to move the hull 21 to its operative position for use on water, the winch 33 is operated which will elevate the hull 21 from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 3 with the heads 26 of the respective pivot pins 25 during this movement moving along and within the tracks 27. Furthermore the co-operating channels 30 and 31 move during this time to a position wherein they are out of register with each other. When the pivot pins 25 reach the upper ends of the tracks 27, lock pins 40 are inserted into respective aligned apertures 41 in opposite walls of the tracks 27 to prevent downward movement of the pivot pins 25. The winch 33 may then be reversed to slowly release the cable 34 so that the hull 21 will pivot away from the part 11 moving through the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 4 wherein the hull 21 is substantially aligned with the hull 17 and constitutes an extension thereof. To maintain the hull 17 locked in this attitude, a pair of threaded locking bolts 42 are provided for passage through respective apertures 43 in the flanges 22 into threaded bores 44 in the hull 20 (see Fig. 5). The hull 21 is further supported in its operative attitude by respective pairs of railings 45 as more clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 6. The railings 45 comprise elongated rail members 46 which are connected to struts 47 pivotally connected at their lower ends to the hull 21 and pivotal from a folded attitude to an erected attitude wherein opposite ends of the rail members 46 are connected by bolting at 48 and 49 to the flanges 22 and raised hull portion 23. The part 11 also include an awning assembly 50 which includes a covered frame 51 slidably mounted in tracks 52 which extend along the top wall 16 (see Fig. 4). The awning assembly 50 may be extended out to the position shown in Figs. 4 and 6 and to support the free end of the assembly 50, a pair of support members 53 are provided, these members 53 being pivotally moveable from a inoperative position wherein they are held adjacent the frame 51 to the erected position of Figs. 4 and 6 wherein the lower ends of the members 53 are supported in sockets 54 on the hull 21. Preferably the members 53 are retained in position in their inoperative attitude by means of VELCRO type hook and loop material 55. Preferably also the tracks 52 are of channel section form to slidably receive elongated members 56 of the frame 51. As shown in Fig. 7, the respective mating hulls 21 and 17 are provided with cut-out portions 57 and 58 in their end bulkheads, the cut-out portions being disposed above the water level and defining a through passage between the hulls 17 and 21. The main part 12 is provided with a door 59 aligned with the respective cut-out portions as illustrated. A further hull 21′ as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 2 may also be provided at the end of the main part 12 opposite the hull 21 to be raised and lowered in a similar manner to that described above so that extended living space on water is provided for the unit 10. To reduce the passage of water between adjacent bulkheads of the hulls 21 and 17, the hull 21 is provided with a transversely extending rib or moulding 60 and the hull 17 provided with a complimentary recess 61. It will be apparent that when the hull 21 is moved to the Fig. 4 and 6 position the rib 60 will rest within the recess 61 so as to substantially prevent water passing into the area between the mating bulkheads. In an alternative arrangement, the hull 21 may be provided with the recess 61 and the hull 17 with the complimentary rib 60. Figs. 8 to 11 illustrate a further embodiment of the invention similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 7 but arranged in this instance so that the hull 162 folds in an opposite direction against the main accommodation area 163 For this purpose the main area 163 is provided on opposite sides with full length guides or tracks 164 and the hull 162 is provided with opposite guide pins 165 which locate in the guides 164. In the extended position shown in Fig. 24, the hull 162 constitutes an extension of the hull 166 of the main area 163 and is maintained in that attitude by further pins 167 which extend through the guides 164 into the hulls 162. The hull 162 is further supported in its extended position by means of triangular braces 168 pivotally connected to the main area 163 and moveable between an inoperative position alongside the side walls of the main area 163 and an operative position as shown in Fig. 24 where pins 169 are passed through the braces 168 into the hull 162 to brace the latter in use. For moving the hull 162 to an inoperative position, a winch 170 is provided on the main area 163 and a cable 171 passes about a pulley 172 adjacent the upper end of the guide 164 and connects to the hull 162 adjacent the pins 165. It will be apparent from Figs. 25 and 26 that winding up of the winch 170 and thus cable 171 will elevate the end of the hull 162 adjacent the main area 163 until it lies in a generally vertical attitude adjacent the main area 163. The hull 162 may be restrained against sideways movement by means of the braces 168 which may be pivoted to the position of Fig. 26 and secured to the hull 162 if desired. As well the previous embodiments, the mating bulkheads of the hulls 162 and 166 may be providing with mating cut-out portions defining passageways between the hulls. It will be apparent that various features of the embodiments of accommodation units described above may be combined into one craft and where desired a pair of foldable hulls may be provided at opposite ends of the main accommodation area. Furthermore in lieu of the hand winch and cable arrangements described, various electric winches may be employed. Alternatively hydraulic or pneumatic powered rams may be used for folding or extending the hulls of the respective units described. A suitable location for such a ram is shown in dotted outline at 173 of Fig. 3. To further prevent water passing between the adjacent bulkheads of respective hulls, rubber seals or seals of other material may be located between the bulkheads or alternatively flaps of flexible material may close over the join between the bulkheads. The units described above may be powered by outboard motor or alternatively inboard motors may be employed. The units according to the invention may be constructed of aluminium, timber or glass fibre such as fibreglass sandwich construction. In each case the extended hull portions of the units considerably increase the living space of the unit when used in a water mode. Furthermore, if desired, open hull portions may be detached and used independently and if required motive power to such hulls may be provided by an outboard motor mounted over the cut out portion of the rear bulkhead. In the embodiment of Fig. 5, means other than the pin 40 may be provided for supporting the pivot pin 25 in its upper position. Such means may take the form of a triangle braces similar to that shown in Figs. 24 to 26 which will perform the dual function of supporting the pivot pins in the required position for folding and serving also to brace the folded hull after it has been moved to its extended position. Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative embodiment of the present invention, all such variations and modifications as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as defined by the claims. For example a main accommodation area of the type 12 shown in Fig. 1 may be provided with different combinations of foldable hulls at each end of any of the above described forms.

Claims: An amphibious accommodation unit (10) comprising a first portion (12) defining an accommodation area within said unit (10), said first portion (12) including a first hull (17), a second portion defining a second hull (21), means interconnecting said first and second portions for pivotal movement about a transverse axis or axes extending abeam of said hulls, and characterised by means for pivotally moving said first and second portions relative to each other and for elevating and lowering said pivotal axis whereby to vary the position of pivotal movement of said first portion relative to said second portion so that said first and second portions may be moved between a first attitude wherein said second hull (21) is longitudinally aligned with, to comprise an extension of said first hull (17) so that said accommodation unit (10) may be used on water and a second attitude wherein said second hull (21) is moved away from alignment with said first hull (17). A unit (10) according to Claim 1 wherein said second portion in said second attitude is disposed in a generally upright attitude adjacent to said first portion (12). A unit (10) according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein said interconnecting means comprising guide means (27) on one of said first or second portions and means (25) movable along said guide means (27) and defining a pivotal connection between said first and second portions. A unit (10) according to Claim 3 wherein said pivotal connection means (27) is movable along said guide means (27) to elevate or lower said pivotal axis during movement of said first portion relative to said second portion. A unit (10) according to Claim 4 wherein said pivotal connection means (25) is movable along said guide means (27) towards and away from a position or positions therealong whereat said second portion is permitted to pivot about a said transverse axis towards and away from said first attitude. A unit (10) according to any one of Claims 3 to 5 wherein said guide means 27) are provided on opposite sides of said first portion (12) and wherein said pivotal connection means (25) comprise pivot members provided on said second portion. A unit (10) according to Claim 6 wherein each said guide means comprises a hollow elongate member (27) secured in an upright attitude to said first portion (12), each said hollow member (27) having a longitudinally extending slot (29) and wherein each said pivot member has an enlarged head portion (26) and a shank portion (28), said head portion (26) being captive in said hollow member (27) for movement therealong and wherein the shank portion (28) of said pivot member projects through said longitudinal slot (29) for engagement with said second portion. A unit (10) according to any one of Claims 5 to 7 wherein said pivotal connection means (25) are located at the lower end of said guide means (27) when said second portion is in said second attitude. A unit (10) according to Claims 8 and including means (40,41) for releasably maintaining said pivotal connection means (25) at said position or positions along said guide means (27). A unit (10) according to any one of Claims 3 to 7 wherein said pivotal connection means (25) are located at the upper end of said guide means (27) when said second portion is in said second attitude. A unit (10) according to Claims 9 wherein said moving means includes winch means (33) mounted to said first portion (12) and cable means (34) extending from said winch means (33) to said second portion, said winch means (33) being operable to wind up said cable means (34) and elevate said pivotal axis and said second portion from said second attitude until said pivotal connection means (25) is moved to said position along said guide means (27) and wherein said winch means (33) is further operable to unwind said cable means (34) whereby to permit said second portion to pivot about said transverse axis to said first attitude after said pivotal connection means (25) is maintained at said position along said guide means 27) by said releasable maintaining means (40,41). A unit (10) according to Claim 11 wherein said winch means (33) is further operable when said second portion is in said first attitude to wind up said cable means (34) and cause said second portion to pivot about a said transverse axis to a substantially upright attitude and subsequently unwind said cable means (34) to lower said pivotal axis and said second portion to said second attitude when said pivotal connection means (25) is released from said position along said guide means (27). A unit (10) according to Claim 11 or Claim 12 wherein said cable means (34) is connected to opposite sides of said second portion and is guided transversely of said first portion. A unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said first and second hulls (17,21) include bulkheads, said bulkheads being juxtaposed when said second portion is in said first attitude and wherein said bulkheads include cut-out portions (57,58) which mate when said second portion is disposed in said first attitude and which are disposed above the floating water level of said unit (10) to define a passageway between said first and second portions. A unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims and including locking means (42,43,44) for selectively locking said second hull in said first attitude. A unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said first and second portions are provided with co-operative coupling means (30,31) adapted to be releasable engaged to maintain said second portion in said second attitude. A unit (10) according to Claim 16 wherein said co-operative coupling means (30,31) are moved out of register with each other when said second portion is moved away from said second attitude. A unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said accommodation area is defined by front and rear walls (14,15), a pair of opposite side walls (13) and a roof and wherein said second portion in said second attitude extends substantially between said first hull and said roof of said accommodation area. A unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said first and second hulls (17,21) are provided with transversely extending complimentary recess and rib means (61,60) adapted to co-operate when said second hull is in said first attitude. A unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims and including awning means (50) adapted to be moved to a position overlying said second portion when the latter is in said first attitude. A unit (10) according to Claim 20 wherein said first portion includes a roof, guide means (52) on said roof and extending longitudinally of said unit (10), said awning means (50) being guided for movement along said guide means (52) between a first position overlying said roof and said position overlying said second portion. A unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims and including bracing means (45) for bracing said second portion against movement relative to said first portion when said second portion is in said first attitude. A unit (10) according to Claim 21 wherein said bracing means (45) comprise railing means (46) on opposite sides of said second portion, said railing means (46) being pivotally movable to a first upright operative bracing position between said first portion and said second portion and a second folded inoperative position.

Inventors: CUMMINS, IAN GEOFFREY
Applicants: CUMMINS, IAN GEOFFREY
Application year: 1988
Main classification: B60F3
IPC codes: B63B7, B63B35, B60P3, B60F3