Patent Publication Number: US-2011057474-A1

Title: Accommodation unit

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     This disclosure generally relates to accommodation units for use with tray back vehicles. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Accommodation units carried on the rear of tray back or utility vehicles are an alternative to caravans and are particularly advantageous when it is desirable to use the vehicle to tow a boat or other type of trailer. 
     The size of an accommodation unit carried by a vehicle is often limited due to the width and/or height of the vehicle. Often the accommodation unit houses a kitchen or other utilities type module that is typically used when the vehicle is stationary at a camp-site. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     Embodiments described herein provide systems and methods for compactly storing a utility module, such as a kitchen module, within an accommodation unit during transit and enabling reconfiguration of the utility module to maximize the internal living space within the accommodation unit at a camp-site. 
     In accordance with various embodiments of the invention, there is provided a unit for providing accommodation on a vehicle including a utility module coupled via a lowering mechanism to the unit wherein the lowering mechanism is adapted to carry the module between an elevated, stored position within the unit and a lowered, in-use position outside of the unit. 
     In some embodiments, the unit further includes a side wall operatively coupled to the roof of the unit; wherein the side wall is movable between an open and closed position such that in the open position the side wall provides an opening on the side of the unit and forms an external roof thereby defining an annex. 
     In some embodiments, the side wall is formed of a dual panel wall, the dual panel wall further including a first panel hinged from the roof of the unit and a second panel coupled to the first panel; and wherein in the closed position the second panel is stored on the inside face of the first panel; and wherein in the open position the first panel is pivoted outwardly, forming an inner portion of the roof of the annex and the second panel is movable to form an outer portion, thereby extending the roof of the annex. 
     In some embodiments, the module within the unit is coupled to a motorized system of wire ropes and guide mechanism such that the module is able to maintain a substantially upright position whilst moving between the stored and in-use position. 
     In some embodiments, the module is in the form of a kitchen, bench, toilet or other utilities arrangement. 
     In some embodiments, the module additionally provides a structural support, such that a person is able to step on or into the module to access the unit. 
     In some embodiments, the unit further includes sockets configured to receive a jack extending from the ground, such that the unit may be elevated from the vehicle, allowing the vehicle and unit to be separated. 
     In some embodiments, the unit further includes a wind break pivotally coupled to the forward edge of a roof of the unit, the wind break being collapsed onto the roof of the unit when not in use. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a unit mounted to a vehicle. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the unit and vehicle of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of the unit and vehicle of  FIG. 1 , in the direction indicated by line  3 - 3  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a section view of the unit and vehicle of  FIG. 1 , along the line  4 - 4  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a section view of the unit and vehicle of  FIG. 1 , along the line  5 - 5  shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the unit and vehicle of  FIG. 1  with a side wall of the unit extended to form a roof of an annex. 
         FIG. 7  is a section view of the unit and vehicle of  FIG. 6 , along the line  7 - 7  shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a section view of the unit and vehicle of  FIG. 6 , along the line  8 - 8  shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIGS. 9A ,  9 B and  9 C illustrate a rear view sequence showing the module moving between the stored position and in-use position. 
         FIG. 10  is a plan view of a lowering mechanism of the unit of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 11  is a partial enlarged view of the lowering mechanism of  FIG. 10 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description, certain specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various disclosed embodiments. However, one skilled in the relevant art will recognize that embodiments may be practiced without one or more of these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures associated with tray back vehicles and accommodation units may not be shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring descriptions of the embodiments. 
     Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the specification and claims which follow, the word “comprise” and variations thereof, such as, “comprises” and “comprising” are to be construed in an open, inclusive sense, that is as “including, but not limited to.” 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated a unit  1  having a structure which defines an internal accommodation space  2  seated on a transport vehicle  3 . The unit  1  can be approximately cubic in shape and can have a flat, rectangular base  4  that is mounted to a chassis  5  or tray  6  of the vehicle  3 . A front  7  of the unit  1  can be positioned immediately behind a rear  8  of a driver cab  9  of the vehicle  3 . The unit  1  can include a dual panel side wall  10  that is pivotally coupled via a hinge  12  to a roof  11  of the unit  1  and may be pivoted outwardly from the unit  1 . 
     The roof  11  of the unit can include a wind deflector  20  pivotally coupled by a hinge  22  to a front  21  of the roof  11 . The wind deflector  20  can also include a brace  25  that is pivotally coupled via a hinge  26  on the wind deflector  20 . When in use, the illustrated wind deflector  20  is pivoted downwardly so that an end  23  of the wind deflector  20  is adjacent a roof  24  of the driver cab  9  providing a more aerodynamic profile of the transition between the roof  24  of the driver cab  9  and the roof  11  of the unit  1 . In this position, the wind deflector  20  forms a triangular recess  27 , that the brace  25  is hinged into, traversing the recess  27  providing support to and locking the wind deflector  20  in place.  FIG. 2  illustrates the position of the wind deflector  20  in the lowered position  28  and stowed position  29 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the base  4  of the unit  1  can include a frame  32  with a socket point  30  on each of the four corners. The socket points  30  can be coupled with hydraulic jacks  31  to elevate the base  4  thereby decoupling the unit  1  from the chassis  5  or tray  6  of the vehicle  3 . To connect the jack  31 , a horizontal member  33  at the top of the jack  31  may be inserted in the socket point  30  and locked in place by a locking pin  34 . In this configuration, the jacks  31  provide support for the unit  1  allowing it to be free standing. To fully decouple the illustrated unit  1 , the brace  25  of the wind deflector  20  should be unlocked and the wind deflector  20  pivoted about the hinge  22  so that it lies on top of and parallel to the roof  11  of the unit  1 . Once the unit  1  is fully decoupled from the vehicle  3 , the vehicle  3  may be removed. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the internal accommodation space  2  can include a bed  35  supported by a floor  36 . In the illustrated embodiment, the floor  36  is offset from the base  4  by vertical supports  37  that define a cavity  38  between the floor  36  and the base  4 . The cavity  38  may be used to house, among other things, water tanks  40  for providing a user with a supply of fresh water. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , the accommodation space  2  houses a utility module, which may, for example, be provided in the form of a kitchen module  50 .  FIG. 5  shows the kitchen module  50  in the stowed position above the bed  35  suspended by a lowering mechanism  80 . The illustrated kitchen module  50  is supported by wire ropes  57  (see  FIG. 7 ) of the lowering mechanism  80  that are coupled to the accommodation unit  1  via a geared drive motor  55 , drive pulleys  54  and bearings  58 . The kitchen module  50  can be guided between the raised and lowered positions via two guide tracks  52  positioned on either side of the interior of the unit  1 . The kitchen module  50  can include a connecting arm  53  or other structural member that is equipped with guide members, such as guide wheels  51  ( FIGS. 7 ,  9 A-C,  10  and  11 ), which align with and ride in corresponding channels or grooves of the guide tracks  52 . The drive pulleys  54  are supported by the bearings  58  and are coupled to the drive motor  55  via drive shaft  39  to wind and unwind the wire ropes  57  from the drive pulleys  54  to raise and lower the kitchen module  50 . The wire ropes  57  are connected via fasteners or other attachment means to the kitchen module  50  and connecting arms  53  at wire rope connections  59  ( FIGS. 7 ,  9 A-C,  10  and  11 ). Jockey pulleys  56  ( FIGS. 7 ,  9 A-C,  10  and  11 ) can be positioned between the drive pulleys  58  and the wire rope connections  59  to redirect the applied force of the wire ropes  57  to facilitate raising and lowering of the kitchen module  53  in an efficient manner. 
     Referring now to the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the dual panel side wall  10  includes a first panel  61  hinged via a hinge  62  from the roof  11  of the unit  1  and a second panel  64  hinged via a hinge  63  to the first panel  61 . In the closed position, the second panel  64  can be stored on the inside face  65  ( FIG. 7 ) of the first panel  61 . In the open position as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the first panel  61  is located outwardly from the unit  1  to form an inner portion  66  of a roof of an annex  68  and the second panel  64  is located outwardly from the first panel  61  to form an outer portion  67 , thereby extending the roof of the annex  68 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , the dual panel side wall  10  is shown in a fully extended condition, with the roof  11 , first panel  61  and second panel  64  substantially parallel and supported by telescopic poles  70 . In  FIG. 7  it can be seen that the kitchen module  50  has been lowered via the wire ropes  57  to the ground  72  beside the accommodation unit  1 . When the dual panel side wall  10  is in this open position, the kitchen module  50  is able to be moved from a stored, elevated position as shown in  FIG. 5  to a lowered, in-use position as shown in  FIG. 7 . As may be appreciated from  FIG. 7 , the height of the kitchen module  50 , when resting on the ground  72 , is approximately level with the floor  36  allowing a person to easily enter the accommodation space  2  via a ladder  71 . The kitchen module  50  also includes adjustable legs  74  to adjust the height of the kitchen module and to take into account an uneven surface of the ground  72 . In this configuration, the kitchen module  50  also provides support to the ladder  71  and any loading associated with entry and exit of the accommodation space  2  via the module  50 . A swivel water spout  73  provides water from the tanks  40  to the kitchen module  50  that has an in-use position alongside the unit  1 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , a side view of the unit  1  is shown with the kitchen module  50  in the lowered, in-use position. The kitchen module  50  is shown to include storage space  75  and kitchen appliances  76 . The accommodation space  2  is also shown to include a window  78  on a side wall  79  opposite the dual panel side wall  10 . 
       FIGS. 9A to 9C  show stages of lowering the kitchen module  50 , with the final lowered position shown in  FIGS. 7-8 .  FIG. 10  illustrates a section top plan view of the unit  1  showing the positioning of various components of the lowering mechanism  80  according to one embodiment.  FIG. 11  shows a partial enlarged section view of the components of the lowering mechanism  80  of  FIG. 10  in further detail. These components can include the drive motor  55 , drive shaft  39 , drive pulleys  54 , bearings  58 , wire ropes  57 , jockey pulleys  56  and guide tracks  52 . Also shown are wire rope connections  59  for attaching the connecting arms  53  and kitchen module  50  to the wire ropes  57 . Guide wheels  51  coupled to the connecting arms  53  of the kitchen module  50  are also illustrated. The guide wheels  51  ride in the guide tracks  52  of the lowering mechanism  80  which may be secured to the front and rear walls  41  of the unit  1 . The lowering mechanism  80  may further include a switch (not shown) conveniently located for a user to activate the motor to selectively raise and lower the kitchen module  50 , as illustrated best in  FIGS. 9A-9C . 
     The invention has been described by way of non-limiting example only and many modifications and variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention described. For example, the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. 
     All of the U.S. patents, U.S. patent application publications, U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent applications and non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. Aspects of the embodiments can be modified, if necessary to employ concepts of the various patents, applications and publications to provide yet further embodiments. 
     These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, the claims are not limited by the disclosure.