Patent Document

[0001]     This application relates to slidable room arrangements for recreational trailers.  
         [0002]     This application relates to a recreational trailer, fifth wheel or bumper towed, having paired opposed slidable rooms, preferably substantially identical. The rooms are slidable between expanded positions, when the interior of trailer interior is usable, and retracted positions when the interior is mostly unusable. The rooms extend along all or part of side the trailer and are separated internally when retracted by a longitudinal central space. This space preferably contains a room, more preferably a central bathroom enterable from one side, preferably both sides, when the rooms are expanded. The bathroom preferably has vanity, shower and toilet. The rooms on either side of the bathroom preferably have pull out sofa beds, stub walls and a door. The central space may extend longitudinally of the recreational trailer and typically includes refrigerator, and at least part of a kitchen. Although the invention is described as relating to recreational trailers with opposed expandable-retractable rooms having therebetween a central space when retracted containing a central washroom extending longitudinally, it is not limited thereto. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the principles of this invention are equally applicable to similar structures for trailers having opposed paired expandable-retractable rooms with a central longitudinal space comprising a central room accessible from one room, preferably both rooms, when expanded. It will be also understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to such structures paired opposed rooms having an accessible central room when expanded.  
       PRIOR ART  
       [0003]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,154,469 to Morrow issued 13 Oct. 1992 shows a trailer with two pairs of opposed slideout rooms, which when expanded do not communicate. U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,939 to Wacker issued 3 Apr. 2001, shows another trailer with slideout rooms on both sides. U.S. Pat. No. 6,302,475 to Anderson issued 16 Oct. 2001, shows a trailer or vehicle with opposed slideout rooms, which when retracted have a central separating space. U.S. Pat. No. 6,428,073 to Blodgett, Jr. issued 6 Aug. 2002, shows a trailer with slideout rooms on both sides as does U.S. Pat. No. 6,497,442 to Wacker issued 24 Dec. 2002. U.S. Pat. No. 4,915,435 to Levine issued 10 Apr. 1990, shows a trailer with a fixed washroom. U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,346 to Miller et al. issued 8 Aug. 2000, shows a vehicle with a slideout kitchen and fixed side washroom facilities. U.S. Pat. No. 6,290,284 to Crean issued 18 Sep. 2001, shows a vehicle with slideout rooms on one side and fixed washroom and kitchen facilities on the other. U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,612 to Crean issued 25 Sep. 2001, shows a vehicle with slideout rooms on one side and fixed washroom and kitchen facilities on the other. U.S. Application 2002/0,043,812 to Crean published 18 Apr. 2002 shows a vehicle with a slideout room on one side and fixed kitchen facilities on the other. U.S. Application 2002/0,047,291 to Crean published 25 Apr. 2002 shows a vehicle with slideout rooms on one side and fixed washroom and kitchen facilities on the other. These patents and applications are hereby incorporated by reference.  
         [0004]     In all camper type units known to applicant such as motor homes, fifth wheel and bumper tow trailers and the like, all cabinets are out on the outside wall. Further all bathrooms in motor homes, fifth wheel and bumper tow trailers and the like, known to applicant are also placed against an outside wall. No version known to applicant is otherwise in twenty-five years&#39; experience in the motor home business.  
         [0005]     The idea of a central bathroom does not occur in the prior art. The advantages of providing a central bathroom seem obvious. It can be placed as an isle between paired opposed expandable-retractable rooms. An access door opens into the bathroom from one room, preferably access doors open from both rooms, when two doors are present one or both can be locked for privacy in use. The paired rooms can be equipped and used as separate bedrooms, themselves private. Additionally the refrigerator can be placed against the central bathroom wall, where it is accessible from the kitchen and dining room. As can be easily seen placing either bathroom and refrigerator in any other location(s) makes the unit less usable. This arrangement provides five rooms—bathroom, bedroom, second bedroom, kitchen and dining room. Variations are possible rearranging the bedrooms and dining room, with a central bathroom. Also unlike most other units the plumbing and its accompanying water tanks are centrally placed and not on one or the side. Thus the center of gravity of plumbing and its associated tanks will be in the center of the trailer and coincide with the center of gravity of the rest of the trailer. This weight distribution makes the trailer handle a lot better since its center of gravity is in the center of the trailer, and not on either side. A further advantage is that the trailer can be considerably shorter in length, while providing the same internal area.  
         [0006]     It is a principal object of the invention to provide a  20  trailer with living accommodation, having a fixed central portion with substantially identical opposed slideout lateral room portions slidably mounted within the central portion and movable between a first retracted position and a second expanded position, and within the fixed central portion a room extending longitudinally along the fixed central portion, having at least two side walls, one wall having therein a side door permitting access to a slide out room, and at least one crosswall. It is a further principal object that the side walls have therein opposed side doors permitting access to the slideout rooms through them and at least one crosswall. It is a further principal object of the invention that the room is a bathroom. It is a subsidiary object of the invention to provide vanity, shower and toilet in the bathroom. It is a subsidiary object of the invention that the side walls extend from one end of the trailer toward the other end of the trailer. It is a further subsidiary object of the invention to provide a door and a partition between the outer edge of at least one slideout room and the sidewall of the longitudinal room to provide a compartment adjacent the longitudinal room and having access thereto through the side door. It is a further subsidiary object of the invention to provide a door and a partition between the outer edge of both slideout rooms and both sidewalls of the longitudinal room. It is a further subsidiary object of the invention that the compartment or compartments in second expanded position provide sleeping accommodation. It is a further subsidiary object to provide an alcove for a refrigerator abutting the room crosswall in the fixed central portion of the trailer. It is a further subsidiary object of the invention to provide a central closet. It is a further subsidiary object of the invention to provide a kitchen in the fixed central portion abutting the end of the trailer away from the bathroom. It is a further subsidiary object to provide a dining area mounted in the roadside slideout room outside the compartment. It is a further subsidiary object of the invention to provide an external door in the curbside slideout room outside the compartment. It is a further subsidiary object of the invention that the trailer be towed or fifth wheel. Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following specification, appended claims and accompanying drawings.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     In a first broad aspect the invention is directed to a trailer having therein living accommodation, having a fixed central portion and slideout lateral room portions slidably mounted within the central portion and movable between a first retracted position and a second expanded position. These slideout room portions being substantially identical in size and opposed to each other. A room in the fixed central portion extends longitudinally along the fixed central portion, it has two side walls, and at least one crosswall. At least one side wall has therein a side door permitting access to one said slideout room, preferably both side walls have opposed side doors permitting access to the slideout rooms. The crosswall is typically about the middle of the fixed central portion. The slideout rooms when in first retracted position are telescopically nested within the central portion having their inner edge adjacent the room in the fixed central portion and their outer edges adjacent the outer edges of the fixed central portion. The slideout rooms in second expanded position have their inner edges adjacent the outer edges of the fixed central portion. The side walls may extend from one end of the trailer toward the other end of the trailer. More preferably a door and a partition extend between the outer edge of at least one slideout room and the sidewall of the longitudinal room. These provide a compartment adjacent the longitudinal room and having access thereto through the side door. This partition may be a stubwall, fixed in the slideout room, and the door may be a pocket door slidably mounted in the stubwall. The partition may also be a slidable panel mounted between supports fixed in the slideout room and the door is hingeably mounted on the sidewall. Preferably there is a door and a partition, which extend between the outer edge of each slideout room and the side walls of the longitudinal room providing compartments adjacent the longitudinal room and having access thereto through the side doors. Again both partitions may be stubwalls, fixed in each slideout room, and each door is a pocket door slidably mounted in each stubwall. Both partitions may be slidable panels mounted between supports fixed in each slideout room and the doors are hingeably mounted on the sidewalls. A second crosswall in combination with the first crosswall and access doors in the longitudinal walls may provide a central closet. The vehicle may be a towed or fifth wheel trailer.  
         [0008]     In a further broad aspect the invention is directed to a trailer having therein living accommodation, having a fixed central portion and slideout lateral room portions slidably mounted within the central portion and movable between a first retracted position and a second expanded position. These slideout room portions being substantially identical in size and opposed to each other. A bathroom in the fixed central portion extends longitudinally along the fixed central portion, it has at least two side walls, at least one side wall having therein a side door permitting access to one said slideout room, more preferably opposed side doors permitting access to both slideout rooms, and at least one crosswall. The crosswall is typically about the middle of the fixed central portion. A second crosswall in combination with access doors in the longitudinal walls and the first crosswall may provide a central closet. The slideout rooms when in first retracted position are telescopically nested within the central portion having their inner edge adjacent the bathroom and their outer edges adjacent the outer edges of the fixed central portion. The slideout rooms in second expanded position have their inner edges adjacent the outer edges of the fixed central portion. Preferably the side walls extend from one end of the trailer toward the other end of the trailer. More preferably wherein a door and a partition extend between the outer edge of at least one slideout room and the sidewall of the longitudinal bathroom. These provide a compartment adjacent the longitudinal bathroom and having access thereto through the side door. This partition may be a stubwall, fixed in the slideout room, and the door may be a pocket door slidably mounted in the stubwall. The partition may also be a slidable panel mounted between supports fixed in the slideout room and the door is hingeably mounted on the sidewall. Preferably there is a door and a partition, which extend between the outer edge of each slideout room and the side walls sidewall of the longitudinal bathroom providing compartments adjacent the longitudinal bathroom and having access thereto through the side doors. Again both partitions may be stubwalls, fixed in each slideout room, and each door is a pocket door slidably mounted in each stubwall. Both partitions may be slidable panels mounted between supports fixed in each slideout room and the doors are hingeably mounted on the sidewalls. Preferably the compartment in second expanded position provides sleeping accommodation. This accommodation typically includes a sofa/pullout bed or bunks, together with overhead cabinets in the slideout room. Nearly always the bathroom comprises shower, toilet and vanity. Typically the access doors enter into the shower area between vanity and toilet. The trailer may be towed or fifth wheel.  
         [0009]     The invention in another broad aspect is directed to a trailer having therein living accommodation, having a fixed central portion and slideout lateral room portions slidably mounted within the central portion and movable between a first retracted position and a second expanded position. These slideout room portions being substantially identical in size and opposed to each other. A bathroom in the fixed central portion extends longitudinally along the fixed central portion, it has at least two side walls having therein at least one side door permitting access to a slideout room, preferably opposed side doors permitting access to the slideout rooms through them and at least one crosswall. The crosswall is typically about the middle of the fixed central portion. A second crosswall in combination with access doors in the longitudinal walls and the first crosswall may provide a central closet. The slideout rooms when in first retracted position are telescopically nested within the central portion having their inner edge adjacent the bathroom and their outer edges adjacent the outer edges of the fixed central portion. The slideout rooms in second expanded position have their inner edges adjacent the outer edges of the fixed central portion. The side walls extend from one end of the trailer toward the other end of the trailer. A door and a partition extend between the outer edge of each one slideout room and each sidewall of the longitudinal bathroom. These provide a compartments adjacent the longitudinal bathroom and having access thereto through the side doors. These compartments in second expanded position provide sleeping accommodation. This accommodation typically includes a sofa/pullout bed or bunks, together with overhead cabinets in the slideout room. Preferably the trailer portion apart from the bathroom and the compartments, has a refrigerator in an alcove abutting the crosswall on its side opposite the bathroom. There is a kitchen in the fixed central portion abutting the end of the trailer away from the bathroom. A dining area is mounted in the roadside slideout room outside the compartment, typically fixed table and chairs, Also there is an external door in the curbside slideout room outside the compartment. The trailer may be towed or fifth wheel. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  shows a plan view of a trailer of the invention in retracted mode.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  shows a plan view of the trailer of  FIG. 1  in expanded mode.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  shows a plan view of another trailer of the invention in contracted mode.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  shows a plan view of the trailer of  FIG. 3  in expanded mode.  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  shows a plan view of a third trailer of the invention in contracted mode.  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  shows a plan view of the trailer of  FIG. 5  in expanded mode.  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  shows an exterior curbside view of a trailer of the invention in expanded mode.  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  shows an exterior roadside view of a trailer of the invention in expanded mode.  
         [0018]      FIG. 9  shows an exterior curbside view of a trailer of the  FIGS. 5 and 6  in contracted mode.  
         [0019]      FIG. 10  shows an exterior curbside view of a trailer of the  FIGS. 5 and 6  in expanded mode.  
         [0020]      FIG. 11  shows a plan view of a fourth trailer of the invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0021]     The invention is now illustrated by reference to the preferred embodiments thereof. Numeral  10  indicates the trailer of the invention with generally rectangular body  12 , wheels  14  and tow hitch  16  or fifth wheel hitch  216 . Body  12  has fixed portion  22 , comprising externally visible front wall  18 , rear wall  20 , and roof  24 . It has two slideout rooms  26  and  28  retracted in  FIG. 9  and expanded in  FIGS. 7, 8  and  10 . In  FIG. 1  both  26  and  28  are retracted. Curbside slideout room  26  has exterior vertical wall  30 , rear lateral wall  32  and front lateral wall  34 , it has a roof or top wall  36 . Similarly roadside slideout room  28  has exterior vertical wall  38 , front lateral wall  40 , rear lateral wall  42 , and top wall or roof  44 . Both slideout rooms have floor  46  (of slideout  26 ) and  48  (of slideout  28 ), which may be flush with floor  50  of fixed portion  22 , or may be stepped from fixed floor  50 . Attached to exterior wall  30  and floor  46  of slideout room  26  are closets or cupboards  52  and  54 . Overhead cabinet  56  is mounted on wall  30 , while extendible sofa-bed  58  is similarly attached to wall  30 . Alternatively as well known to those skilled in the art bunks may replace sofa-bed  58 . Similarly exterior wall  38  of slideout room  28  has overhead cabinet  60  attached, seats  62  attached to floor  48 , table  64  is attached to floor  48  and wall  38 . Closet or cupboard  66  is attached to floor  48  and wall  38 . Overhead cabinet  68  is attached to wall  38  as is sofa-bed  70 , which again as those skilled in the art know could also be replaced by bunks. Projecting from wall  38  adjacent closet  66  is wall  72 , between wall  72  and closet  66  is sliding panel  74 , a similar panel  75  slides between closets  52  and  54 . Central and mounted on floor  50  of fixed portion  22  is bathroom  76 , refrigerator  78  and kitchen counter  80  with associated stove  82  and sinks  84  and overhead cabinet  85 . Bathroom  76  as shown has toilet  86 , shower  88  and vanity  90 , and parallel walls  92  and  94 , and crosswall  96 . Walls  92  and  94  have recesses  98  and  100  to accommodate the interior ends of walls  34  and  40  respectively in retracted position as shown in  FIG. 1 . Walls  92  and  94  also have access doors  102  and  104 . Refrigerator  78  sits in an alcove formed by wall  96  and walls  106  and  108 . Pivotally mounted on alcove walls  106  and  108  are bedroom doors  110  and  112 . Alternatively pocket wall bedroom doors may replace panels  74  and  75  and doors  110  and  112 . Optionally a TV cabinet or other entertainment center  114  can be mounted on wall  94 . Outer door  116  with door window  117  allows access through wall  30 , windows  118 ,  120 ,  122  and  124  allow light to enter through wall  30 . Similar windows  126 ,  128 ,  130  and  132  allow light to enter through wall  38 . Additionally there are windows  134  and  136  in wall  20  of fixed portion  22 . In  FIG. 2  the trailer  10  is shown in expanded mode, as can be seen bedrooms  138  and  140 , kitchen  142  and dining room  144  are now usable. Pushup counter extensions  182  and  184  and table extension  164  are in up position. Door  112  is in closed position meeting slideout panel  74 , to provide bedroom privacy. Similarly door  110  can be closed to meet slideout panel  75 . In  FIG. 3  slightly larger trailer  150  is shown in contracted  10  mode, and in  FIG. 4  in expanded mode. The structure is nearly identical to that of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The changes are that closet  52  has been replaced by a larger two doored closet  152 , while stubwall  72  is part of new closet  154 , and kitchen counter  80  has extension  87  beyond sink. In  FIG. 5  larger trailer  160  is shown in contracted mode, and in  FIG. 6  in expanded mode. The internal structure is very similar to that of  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Overhead cabinet  60  is omitted, while central closet  146  with forward crosswall  148 , and access doors  210  and  212  in walls  92  and  94 , is added, while closet  254  is modified. Bedrooms  138  and  140 , kitchen  142  and dining room  144  are more spacious. In the larger trailers of FIGS.  3  to  6  pocket wall bedroom doors may replace panels  74  and  75  and doors  110  and  112 . Trailer  310  of  FIG. 11 , while generally the same has a number of differences. Refrigerator  178  is located at the end of counter  80 , while counter extension  284  is located by the side of stove  82 . Bedroom  244  is adjacent kitchen  142  with overhead cabinet  168  and bed  170 . Bedroom  244  has closet  254  hingeably mounting bedroom door  212 . As shown bedroom  138  has bunks  172  and internal closet  66 , with stubwall  72 , between closets  66  and  254 , Bedroom door  112  is hingeably mounted on wall  96  fitting into wall recess  108 . Shelves  174  separate bedroom  138  from living area  240  which extends along the curbside trailer to kitchen  142 , and contains overhead cabinet  56 , sofa bed  58 , table  264  and seats  262 . Additional window  123  is provided for table  264 . Bathroom  176  has toilet  86 , shower  88  and vanity  90 , and parallel walls  92  and  94 , and crosswall  96 , the difference is that walls  92  and  94  curve to form crosswall  93  while there is only one access door  102 . The trailer of  FIGS. 1 and 2  is about 15½ feet (4¾ meters) long the trailer of  FIGS. 3 and 4  is about 18 feet (5½ meters) long, the trailer of  FIGS. 5 and 6  is about 22 feet (6¾ meters) long as is the trailer of  FIG. 11 , excluding fifth wheel housing. All the trailers are about 8 feet (2½ meters) wide in contracted mode and about 14 feet (4¼ meters) wide in expanded mode, the slideouts each projecting about 3 feet (1 meter).  
         [0022]     As those skilled in the art would realize these preferred described details and materials and components can be subjected to substantial variation, modification, change, alteration, and substitution without affecting or modifying the function of the described embodiments.  
         [0023]     Although embodiments of the invention have been described above, it is not limited thereto, and it will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that numerous modifications and variations form part of the present invention insofar as they do not depart from the spirit, nature and scope of the claimed and described invention.

Technology Category: 7