AU3235999A - An extendable shelter - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to an extendable shelter.

This invention has particular but not exclusive application to an extendable shelter which may be releasably mounted on a motor vehicle, and for illustrative purposes reference will be made to such application. However, it is to be understood that this invention could be used in other applications, such as an annex for caravans and other structures.

Shelters mounted on the exterior of motor vehicles such as buses, vans and four wheel drives are known and are used to provide additional living space beside the S" vehicle. Generally the shelter includes a sheet of fabric which is stretched about a metal S 10 frame or stretched between the vehicle and several supporting posts located remote from the vehicle. While structures of the type described are effective in use, they are difficult to stow and the task of erecting, dismantling and stowing the shelter is often time consuming.

The present invention aims to alleviate the above disadvantages and to provide an extendable shelter which will be reliable and efficient in use. Other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter become apparent.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention in one aspect resides broadly in an extendable shelter which may be releasably attached to a motor vehicle including: mounting means mountable on a roof portion of the motor vehicle; a retractable flexible cover which is attached to said mounting and which includes a leading edge portion, said cover being capable of movement between a first position wherein said leading edge portion is adjacent a side portion of the motor vehicle and a second position wherein said leading edge portion is spaced remote from the side portion of the motor vehicle; extending means for extending and retracting said cover, and support means attached to said mounting means for supporting said cover when extended.

Preferably the support means is a cantilever and wherein there is provided *bracing means securable to both the mounting means and a part of the vehicle remote from the roof portion to which said mounting means is attached.

The cover may be constructed from a sheet of material or a plurality of elements 10 which are pivotally connected together along their adjacent edges. The material from which the cover is constructed may include various fabrics, such as canvas; plastics materials or metals, such as aluminium.

9 The cover may be foldable and when not extended may be stowed in a foldable ooeo 0 state. Alternatively, the cover may be wound about a supporting spool and wherein the cover may be retracted by winding the cover onto the spool.

The extending means is preferably adapted to move the leading edge of the cover outwardly away from the side of the vehicle. Alternatively the extending means may include a plurality of articulated joints capable of movement between a first or folded position and a second or unfolded position.

The support means may include one or more cantilever supporting members attached to and extending outwardly from the side of the vehicle. The support members may be adapted to provide support for the side edges of the cover and wherein there may be provided securing means for securing said edges to adjacent supporting 3 members. In addition, opposing supporting members may be interconnected by one or more intermediate members. Preferably the extending means is also adapted to provide support for the cover when extended.

The mounting means may include a mounting bracket which includes clamping means adapted to engage the roof gutter of a motor vehicle. Alternatively the bracket may include an end portion which is adapted to engage a door opening of the motor vehicle.

The bracket may be constructed from a variety of metal materials including aluminium. However it is preferred that the bracket is manufactured from steel such as S: 10 a galvanised steel.

In one embodiment the bracket may be substantially flat. However it is preferred that the bracket includes one or more flanges which it is believed provide the bracket with strength and resist the bending of same.

The bracing means may include a strut, one end of which is securable to the bracket referred to above. The opposite end of the strut may be adapted to engage a portion of the roof such as the roof gutter. Alternatively the opposite end of the strut may be secured to another mounting bracket and wherein the strut may be used as a roof rack.

In order that this invention may be more easily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein:- FIG. 1 is a side view of a shelter constructed in accordance with the present invention, said shelter being mounted on the side of a motor vehicle and shown in a stowed position; FIG. 2 is a side view of the shelter illustrated in figure 1, the shelter being shown in an operative or extended attitude; and FIG. 3 is another side view of the shelter illustrated in figure 1; FIG. 4 is a close up view of the mounting means of the shelter, and FIG. 5 is a close up of the spool on which the cover is wound.

Figures 1 to 5 illustrate an extendable shelter 10 which may be releasably mounted on a motor vehicle 11 which includes a pair of opposing roof gutters 12 o extending generally longitudinally along the length of the vehicle.

10 The shelter 10 includes a retractable cover 13 which includes a sheet of a plastics material 14 wound about a supporting spool 15. The spool 15 is capable of rotation about a longitudinally orientated axle 16, the ends of which are supported by respective

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mounting brackets 17 attached to a longitudinal mounting bar 18, as illustrated in figure S The cover 13 includes a leading edge portion 19 which is secured to a longitudinal frame member 20. A small flap 21a made of a flexible plastics material depends from the frame member 20. However it will be appreciated that in other embodiments the flap may extend to the ground and may constitute a side wall of the shelter.

The frame member 20 is moveable between a first or stowed position wherein it is located adjacent the side of the vehicle, as illustrated in figure 1, and a second or extended position wherein the frame member is spaced remote from the side of the vehicle, as illustrated in figure 2.

The frame member 20 is supported in its remote position by a pair of supporting assemblies 21 each consisting of two articulated support members 22 and 23. One end of each support member 22 is pivotally connected about a vertical axis to a respective mounting 24 mounted on the mounting bar 18. The other end of the support member 22 is pivotally connected about a vertical axis at 25 to one end of an adjacent supporting member 23. The other end of each supporting member 23 is pivotally connected about a vertical axis to the frame member C. C" S A manually operable winch assembly mounted on the mounting bar 18 is used to

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fold and unfold the respective supporting assemblies 21 about respective connections 10 25. Two steel cables each connecting the winch to the frame member 20 are retained C. Ct within the support members 22a and 23a.

The support members 22 are also capable of limited pivotal movement about a horizontal axis relative to the respective mountings 24. Movement of each support member 22 in a vertical plane is achieved by the manual rotation of a gear or cam which happens to be engaged with a similar gear or cam connected to the adjacent end of the support member 22, the aforementioned gears/cams being housed within the respective mountings 24. Thus the height of the frame member 20 and hence the leading edge of the cover above the ground may be selectively varied. This may be of some benefit if the vehicle is parked on sloping ground.

The mountings 24 are each bolted to a respective mounting bracket 30 having an end portion which is locatable within the roof gutter 12, as shown. A separate clamping member 31, attachable to the end portion of the mounting bracket 30, is used to clamp the mounting bracket to the roof gutter 12.

~IXI 6 The mounting brackets 30 illustrated in the representations are made from aluminium and are substantially flat. Preferably the mounting brackets are made from steel and wherein the side edges 32 each include a flange lying in a plane perpendicular to a plane containing the bracket, and extending along much of the length of the bracket.

Brackets similar to the brackets 30 are secured to the roof gutter on the opposite side of the vehicle and are connected to opposing brackets 30 by an intermediate brace or strut 35. The struts 35 in turn may be used to support other objects on the roof of the vehicle, such as camping gear, ladders or such like.

In use the flexible cover may be unfurled and extended out from the side of the 10 vehicle so as to provide shade for an area adjacent the vehicle by the selected operation Sq° of the winch assembly. Similarly, the extended cover may be stowed away by winding S° the winch in the opposite direction to before. The cover as it is wound onto the spool pulls the frame member 20 towards the side of the vehicle and wherein the previously extended support assemblies are permitted to fold about respective connections To prevent the frame member 20 knocking against the side of the vehicle, ties are used to secure the respective ends of the frame member to the mounting bar 18.

It will be appreciated that because the support assemblies are supported by the braces posts depending from the frame member 20 are not required.

It will of course be realised that the above has been given only by way of illustrative example of the present invention and that all such modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein defined in the appended claims.

Claims (2)

1. An extendable shelter which may be releasably attached to a motor vehicle, said shelter including: mounting means mountable on a roof portion of the motor vehicle; a retractable flexible cover which is attached to said mounting and which includes a leading edge portion, said cover being capable of movement between a :....first position wherein said leading edge portion is adjacent a side portion of the motor vehicle and a second position wherein said leading edge portion is spaced remote from the side portion of the motor vehicle; S•extending means for extending and retracting said cover, and support means attached to said mounting means for supporting said cover when extended.

2. An extendable cover substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED THIS THIRTY-FIRST DAY OF MAY, 1999 STEPHEN ROBERT PIPER by PIZZEYS PATENT TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS