Patent GB-597294-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to trailer caravans or wheeled portable dwellings
IPC: B60P3/32
Filed: 1945-08-13
Abstract: 597,294. Caravans. HILL, H. STAFFORDAug. 13, 1945, No. 20760. [Class 108 (i)] A mobile dwelling is formed by the combination of two or more caravans, one of which provides a living room and a kitchen and another a bedroom or bedrooms and a bathroom, interlocking means being incorporated in or attached between the opposed ends or sides of the component caravans to form a weatherproof porch connecting them together. Each caravan has a storage compartment below the floor of the living compartments to accommodate items such as water tanks, a foldable garage, steps and a foldable closet. As shown, two two-wheeled trailer caravans are parked end to end and supported on jacks b. The floor e of the living space in each caravan is positioned above the wheel axle and spaced from the floor d of the body to provide a storage compartment c. Side and bay windows f<1> and f<2> are provided in the walls f, which are lined with fireproof material, and the spaces between the walls and linings may be packed with heat-insulating material. The roof g is fitted with ventilators g'. The caravan comprises a living room h and kitchen k, the former being provided at one end with a table h' mounted between side benches h<3> on a telescopic pillar h<2> extending through a housing h<4> into the storage space. The table may be lowered to a position flush with the side benches to form a support for the detachable seat and back cushions of the side benches which serve as a mattress. A stove j, oven j<1>, water heaters j<2> and j<3>, flue j<4> and chimney j<5> are fitted at one corner of the living room. The transverse partition between the living room and kitchen is fitted with a sliding door m<1>, and the kitchen is provided with a gas and oil stove n<1>, sink n<2>, draining board n', cupboards, water pump, garbage shoot and refrigerator. The pump is used to feed water from a tank p to tanks in the roof supplying the water heaters and sink, if a mains supply is not available. The other caravan comprises a bedroom r and bathroom s separated by a partition s<1> fitted with a sliding door s'. The bathroom has a wash basin s<2> and a sunken bath s' supplied from water tanks in the roof fed from a tank t by means of a pump in a cupboard under the basin. The bath is covered by boards s' when not in use. The inner ends of the caravans are provided with pivoted horizontal side bars u<1>, u<2> and u' which may be swung outwards from a housed position and their meeting ends interlocked. In this position the bars support inserted uprights u<4>, u<5>, co-acting sliding roof portions g<2> and horizontally-hinged floor boards e<1> which can be swung down to form extensions of the floors e. The front and rear sides of the porch so formed are closed by vertically-pivoted swing doors v which are swung outwardly from the ends as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Transversely sliding doors v<1> are fitted in the ends to close the caravans from the porch. The inner ends of the storage spaces c are closed by hinged panels v<2> which may swung down to form extensions of the floor d. The sides of the storage space c<1> beneath the porch are closed by removable panels v'. Access to the storage spaces c is provided by hinged flaps f<4> and hinged boards in the floor e. Detachable steps ware fitted at the front and rear of one half of the porch, and a foldable closet w<1> is erected against the rear of the other half so that it can be entered through one of the swing doors v. The closet is supported by stays w<2> (not shown). The steps, closet, stays, uprights u<4> and u<5> and panels v', are housed in the storage spaces when travelling. A third caravan may be added to form a T-shaped dwelling as illustrated in Fig. 7 (not shown). Two caravans may be parked side-by-side as illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 (not shown) and in this construction the side bars, and floor and roof extensions forming the porch are all detachable and are carried in the storage spaces when not in use. The swing doors v, are similar to those previously described but are provided in the side walls of the caravans instead of at the ends.