GB2208101A

GB2208101A - Motor caravan seating arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2208101A
Application number: GB8714751A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Richard Wheeler
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-06-24
Filing date: 1987-06-24
Publication date: 1989-03-01
Also published as: GB8714751D0

Abstract

A motor caravan comprises a seat arrangement indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 and comprised of a seat assembly 2 and a storage box 3. Seat assembly 2 comprises a cushioned rear seat surface 5 and an uncushioned plain rear member 6 hinged at hinge points 10 to provide for displacement relative to the floor of the motor caravan. Storage box 3 has a seat top 11 defined by two opposed square cross-section steel elongate side members which define an opening through which the seat cushion 7 is disposed in one position of the overall assembly. Hinging of the seat assembly 2 relative to the floor of the motor caravan displaces seat top 11 from cushion 7. A stud or spigot 23 forming part of the seat assembly 2 locates in channels 21, 22 defined by a surface mounted u-section metallic or plastics member 50. Hinging of seat assembly 2 at hinge points 10 causes a cooperation between spigots 23 and the respective channels 21, 22 so that the hinging action of the seat assembly 2 is accompanied by forward displacement of the storage box 3 so that when completely hinged forward the seat back 4 of the seat assembly 2 overlies the storage box. <IMAGE>

Description

Motor Caravan Seating Arrangement The invention relates to seating arrangements for compact accommodation units such as motor caravans.The invention is particuiarly concerned with seating arrangements which also serve a storage purpose. In referring to "accommodation units", the Invention is primarily concerned with provision for sleeping arrangements but it is also envisaged that the invention is applicable in units which are concerned with accommodation for such purposes as dressing areas and refreshment.

Motor caravans have been in wide use for many years and for some years have been faced in a very serlous way with the problems of providing units of compact size but reasonable space free for movement which at the same time are equipped with the modern facilities demanded by purchasers in the market place. In many cases, the latter requirements have taken precedence with the result that the industry and the market place has tolerated cramped conditions, access hindrance and impairment of driver vision.

Within this overail context, however, very many space saving ideas have been implemented and are indeed usual in motor caravan accommodation. Seats, for example, normally used for travel seating, often fold down to form higher capacity bench-type seats suitable for use when the motor caravan is at rest or rotate so as to have utility when the motor caravan is being driven and also when it is at rest (le "camping"). Work-tops usually are provided over sinks to provide, for example, food preparation surfaces and are removable to allow sink access. Water closets are often housed behind doors which serve on opening as partitions to separate off a bathing area. Similar space-saving techniques are adopted for shower and other bathing installations.

According to the invention, there is provided a motor caravan wherein there is provided a seat assembly including means which defines a seat back and which is displaceable between a first position in which the seat back is upstanding for back support of a user seated upon a seat surface of the assembly Juxtaposed thereto and overlying a storage cavity of the assembly and a second position In which the seat back overlies the seat surface and storage cavity. Preferably, the spaces occupied by the seat back-defining means in said first and second positions are spaced apart; for example, one space may be a forward space the other a rearward space.

In a particular embodiment of the Invention, a motor caravan has: (I) a seat assembly, and (i1) a storage member having a surface useful as a seat, the seat assembly comprising first means defining a seat back and second means pivotally mounting the seat assembly to a fixed substrate of the motor caravan, the seat assembly being pivotal between a first position in which the seat back is upstanding and can be used by a user seated in Juxtaposition thereto with his back against the seat back and a second position in which the seat back surface is downwardly facing and a surface of the first means remote from the seat back surface has a substantially horizontal disposition so as to serve as a table surface when the motor caravan is disposed upon a flat road surface, the storage member occupying such a position when the seat assembly is in its first position as to present its surface useful as a seat in Juxtaposition with the seat back and being displaceable when the seat assembly is in its second position between a location in which its surface useful as a seat underlies the remote surface of said first means of the seat assembly, and a location in which such surface is spaced from the table surface so that said surfaces are cooperative to provide a seat-at-table arrangement.

The seat assembly (I) Just referred to conveniently includes a storage cavity, for example defined within said first means of the seat assembly. Such cavity as Just referred to may, for example, be accessible by displacement of a member defining the surface of said first means serving as a table surface.

Conveniently, the storage member defines a storage cavity accessible by displacement of a member defining the surface useful as a seat.

In an embodiment of the Invention, the arrangement is such that pivotal displacement of the seat assembly referred to at (I) above is accompanied by displacement of the storage member. Conveniently, for example, the storage member and seat assembly together provide a spigot-and-groove assembly whereby pivotal displacement of the seat assembly transmits Linear displacement to the storage member by reaction between the spigot and the groove.

The storage member may be guided by track means provided, for example, upon the motor caravan floor. Whether or not this is the case, the storage member conveniently has wheels for displacement thereof in the second position of the seat assembly between the location in which the surface thereof useful as a seat underlies the remote surface of said first means of the seat assembly and the location In which the surface of the storage member useful as a seat Is exposed for use and spaced from the table surface (or for displacement of the storage member with displacement of the seat assembly between its first and second positions). When provided upon the caravan floor, the track means will conveniently define a path for displacement of the storage member upon wheels fixed thereto.It is envisaged that the track means may define a channel within which the wheels operate but possibly some other means of the storage member will locate in the track means for engagement purposes whilst the wheels are floor-running. Of course, the track may be provided as part of the storage member and means separate from said storage member may be provided to serve as a means of guidance for the displacement of the storage member. Such separate means may, of course, be wheels locating with said track means or may be some other means, wheels then optionally being provided for ease of storage member movement.

Various different ways of organizing the floor area of a motor caravan according to the invention may be adopted.

Conveniently, however, due to space limitations, the seating arrangement comprising seat assembly (I) and storage member (Il) may be provided in the vicinity of a side door by which access to the cabin may be gained from the exterior of the motor caravan. The invention Is particularly concnerned with such circumstances. Thus, In an embodiment of the invent ion, the seating arrangement is disposed adJacent an access door of the motor caravan and the door is obstructed by the seating arrangement when the seat assembly is in its first position but not when the seat assembly is in its second position and the storage member underlies the remote surface of said first means of the seat assembly.Conveniently, for example, the seating arrangement is disposed to the rear of further seating means in its first position and is spaced therefrom to provide a feet residence area between the seat assembly and the further seating means.

In the form of the invention as last referred to, the seat assembly has Its first means in overlying relationship with the further seating means when the seat assembly is in its second position. Thus, for example, the further seating means has a use position and a collapsed position and the seat assembly has its first means In overlying relationship with the further seating means only when the latter is in its collapsed position.

In all the forms of the invention described herein, it is preferred that the arrangement is such that a user seated upon said storage member, when the seat assembly is in its second position and said storage member is in its position in which its surface useful as a seat is exposed for use, has access for his feet into a space vacated by the storage member.

Whilst reference has been made to the use of the upwardly facing first means surface (in the second position of the seat assembly) as a table surface, such surface can, and will normally in practice, cooperate with support means to support one or more elongate members (typically wooden planks) thus to define a mattress-receiving surface for sleeping facilities.My copending Patent Application No 87 12146 describes and claims a storage assembly for a motor caravan or similar compact accommodation unit, the assembly comprising storage means defining upper and lower storage cavities, the upper storage cavity being defined within a housing displaceable between a first position In which the upper storage cavity overlles the lower storage cavity so that the assembly as a whole overlies a relatively small floor area of the accommodation unit and a floor area adJacent the lower storage cavity forms a lower extremity of an available space extending 1 ng upwardly adjacent the lower storage cavity and said housing, and a second position in which at least part of the upper storage cavity overlies said floor area adjacent the lower storage cavity and has vacated an available space extending upwardly above the lower storage cavity. The support means mentioned earlier above for, eg planks, may be part of the wall adjacent the side wall 2b of upper storage cavity ib described with reference to the drawings of my copending application.

The invention includes per se within its scope any of the seating arrangements referred to herein in connectlon with the motor caravan of the invention. Thus, for example, the invention spec if ica I ly provides a seat assembly comprising a seat member defining an upwardly facing seat surface and a storage cavity underlying said seat surface, a seat back member defining an optionally cushioned seat back surface and a planar surface, the seat back member being pivotally mounted to a substrate for displacement in an arc from a first position Juxtaposed to said seat surface for cooperative use therewith by a user of the assembly, and a second position in which the seat back member overlies said seat surface and said planar surface is exposed in a substantial ly horizontal orientation, the assembly Including means operative upon displacement of the seat back member to cause such displacement to be accompanied by displacement of the seat member to establish the positional relationship aforesaid, said seat member undergoing no displacement which changes its spatial orientation. Additionally, the invention is not restricted to motor caravans and may be applied also, for example, to non-powered tral ler units such as caravans for towing. It is further envisaged in accordance with the invention that the storage member may simply be a member whose only purpose is to provide a further seat, le the member, instead of serving as a further seat and a storage unit, has no storage purpose or capability.

The following specific description of two preferred embodiments Is Intended to illustrate the Invention, by way of example only, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a seat arrangement according to the invention in a raised position for use of a main seat by a passenger whilst the motor caravan is being driven; Figure 2 shows the seat arrangement of Figure 1 with the maln seat collapsed for use as a table and a secondary seat in position for use by a camper whilst the motor caravan is stationary; Figure 3 shows the seat arrangement of Figures 1 and 2 at a position intermediate its collapsed and raised positions; Figure 4 shows the seat arrangement of Figures 1 to 3 in a collapsed position of the main seat intermediate the positions represented in Figures 2 and 3;; Figure 5 shows a more preferred embodiment of the invention in two positions, one in broken lines; Figure 6 is a view of the embodiment of Figure 5 as shown in solid lines, taken from the direction of the arrow VI of Figure 5; and Figure 7 Is a vlew of the embodiment of Figure 5 as shown in solid lines, taken from the direction of the arrow Vll of Figure 5.

The seat arrangement indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 in the Figures 1 to 4 comprises a seat assembly 2 and a storage box 3. Cushion 7 secured to the upper face of storage box 3 serves as an independent seating surface, as represented in Figure 2, and as a component of the seat assembly 2, as shown in Figure 1.

Seat assembly 2 comprises a seat back 4 having a cushioned back-contacting surface 5 and an uncushloned planar rear member 6. A cavity 8 within seat back 4 is defined between planar member 6, the substrate supporting the cushioning of surface 5 and an internal partition 9.

Planar member 6 is hinged at either of the points designated by reference numeral 10 so as to provide for displacement in the direction represented by the arrow IV to give access to the cavity 8 (which may thus be used for storage of items needed in the motor caravan).

The remainder of seat assembly 2 defines an upper seating surface 11 which defines with base 12 and front 13, a void 14 within the seating assembly 2.

Seat top 11 is defined by two opposed square crosssectioned steel elongate side members which define an opening through which the seat cushion 7 is displaced in the raising and collapsing operations represented in the Figures 2 to 4. Similarly, front 13 is defined by a pair of uprights In similar form. Base 12 is also constructed In the same fashion of three similar elongate members, of which a front member acts as a cross-member between the two sides and also forms a lower member of front 13 Just forward of the plane of front 13 at the front extremities of the two side members complete the base assembly. A pivot 15 secured to the floor 16 of the motor caravan secures to the cross-member.

Storage box 3 has a solid base 17, an opposed solid top 18 supporting cushion 7 and four sides 19a, 19b, 19c, and 19d. Base 17 is provided with four wheels 20 disposed adJacent the corners of the rectangular member forming the base 17. Wheels 20, which are typically in the form of castors such as used on furniture (but nonswivelling), run upon the floor 16 of the motor caravan.

Tracks (not shown) may be provided for this purpose but, as they are not essential, may be omitted. Sides 19a and 19c of storage box 3 are in parallel and each is provided with a surface mounted U-section metallic or plastics member 50. Member 50 provides a channel 21 which is slightiy inclined to horizontal and a much more sharply inclined channel 22, the two channels intersecting and channel 21 opening at the Junction of side 19a or 19c with side 19b. A stud or spigot 23 forming part of the seat assembly 2 locates in channels 21, 22, one such stud or spigot 23 being secured to each of the opposed side elongate members defining base 12.

In operation of the seating arrangement represented in Figures 1 to 4, the arrangement has the position represented in Figure 1 and normally faces the front of the motor caravan when the motor caravan is in motion. In this position, the user is seated upon cushion 7 with his back supported against back 5 of the seat assembly. The user faces the front of the vehicle and this has been found through experience to be far more comfortable and acceptable to a user compared to the more common passenger condition In motor caravans where the passenger, due to space restrictions, is forced to use a seat which faces to the rear of the vehicle. When the motor caravan is camped, seat assembly 2 is lifted manually so that It pivots upon pivot 15 secured to the motor caravan floor. An intermediate condition of pivot is represented In Figure 3 of the drawings.Further pivoting of seat assembly 2 results in the seat assembly adopting the position represented in Figure 4 of the drawings wherein the planar member 6 is essentially horizontal and forms a table surface for use as such during such activities as eating and leisure. Lug or spigot 23 will be observed to occupy a position at the far end of channel 22 when the seat assembly is in the position represented in Figure 1. Pivotal displacement of the seat assembly 2 causes the spigot 23 to travel along channel 22. Reaction between spigot 23, as the seat assembly is displaced, and the channel 22 causes seat box 3 to be displaced forward of the vehicle together with the seat assembly 2. With the seat assembly 2 in the position represented in Figure 4, spigot 23 is at the Junction between channel 22 and channel 21.No further pivotal displacement of seat assembly 2 takes place from this point but the seat box 3 can be withdrawn from the cavity of the seat assembly by manually displacing it In the direction indicated by the arrow IVa in Figure 4.

Such displacement leads to positioning of the seat box 3 at the location shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. At this position, the user depicted in Figure 2 can seat himself upon seat cushion 7 at a convenient distance from the table represented by the planar member 6, the lower legs and feet of the user being received in the cavity 14 of seat assembly 2.

The simplified arrangement shown in Figures 5 to 7 of the drawings comprises a seat assembly 2a and a seat box 3a.

Seat assembly 2a has two steel arms 30 pivoted to the floor at 31. Seat box 3a is received between arms 30. in other respects, the embodiment of the invention represented in Figure 5 is similar to that represented in Figures 1 to 4 and like components are represented by like reference numerals. It will, however, be noted that channel 21 has a horizontal orientation and a simpler form so that seat box 3a can be drawn rearwards from the position represented in broken lines in Figure 5 without the lifting in practice required in the case of the embodiment represented in Figures 1 to 4 (it being found that the seat box 3a does not in practice displace rearwards, unless given manual assistance, even in motion of the motor caravan). In both embodiments, of course, spigot 23, in locating at the far extremity of channel 22, serves to maintain positional stability of seat box 23 when the arrangement is positioned for use by a passenger in movement of the motor caravan.

The invention as described eariier without reference to the drawings may include any one or more features of the invention as descrlbed above with reference to the drawings.

Claims

1. A motor caravan wherein there is provided a seat assembly mounted to a substrate and including means which defines a seat back and which is displaceable between a first position in which the seat back is upstanding for back support of a user seated upon a seat surface of the assembly Juxtaposed thereto and overlying a storage cavity of the assembly and a second position in which the seat back-defining means overlies the seat surface and storage cavity.

2. A motor caravan as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the storage cavity is defined within a member defining said seat surface.

3. A motor caravan as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the means defining the seat back is mounted pivotally to a substrate of the motor caravan.

4. A motor caravan as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the spaces occupied by the seat back-defining means in said first and second positions are spaced apart.

5. A motor caravan as claimed in any preceding clalm wherein the arrangement is such that displacement of the seat back-defining means between said first and second positions displaces means defining said storage cavity.

6. A motor caravan as claimed in Claim 5 wherein said means defining the storage cavity is an optionally wheeled member displaceable preferably upon the motor caravan substrate from its displaced location in the second position of the seat back-defining means to a location in which it can be used as a seat.

7. A motor caravan as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the second-mentioned location is spaced from the location of said seat back-defining means in its second position so that the legs of a user seated upon the seat of the storage cavity-defining member can be positioned therebetween.

8. A motor caravan as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the seat back-defining means is a member having an optionally cushioned seat back surface and a planar surface having a substantially horizontal disposition in the second position of said means.

9. A motor caravan as claimed in Claim 8 wherein said planar surface forms a table surface in the second position of the seat back-defining means.

10. A motor caravan wherein there is provided: (i) a seat assembly, and (ii) a storage member having a surface useful as a seat, the seat assembly comprising first means defining a seat back and second means pivotally mounting the seat assembly to a fixed substrate of the motor caravan, the seat assembly being pivotal between a first position in which the seat back is upstanding and can be used by a user seated In Juxtaposition thereto with his back against the seat back and a second position in which the seat back surface is downwardly facing and a surface of the first means remote from the seat back surface has a substantially horizontal disposition so as to serve as a table surface when the motor caravan is disposed upon a flat road surface, the storage member occupying such a position when the seat assembly is in its first position as to present its surface useful as a seat in juxtaposition with the seat back and being displaceable when the seat assembly is in its second position between a location in which its surface useful as a seat underlies the remote surface of said first means of the seat assembly, and a location in which such surface Is spaced from the table surface so that said surfaces are cooperative to provide a seat-at-table arrangement.

11. A motor caravan as claimed in Claim 10 wherein the seat assembly includes a storage cavity.

12. A motor caravan as claimed in Claim 11 wherein the seat assembly includes a storage cavity defined by said first means.

13. A motor caravan as claimed in Claim 12 wherein the storage cavity defined by said first means is accessible by displacement of a member defining at least part of the surface of said first means serving as a table surface.

14. A motor caravan as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 13 wherein said storage member defines a storage cavity accessible by displacement of a member defining the surface useful as a seat.

15. A motor caravan as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 14 wherein the arrangement is such that pivotal displacement of the seat assembly is accompanied by linear displacement of the storage member.

16. A motor caravan as claimed in Claim 15 wherein the storage member and seat assembly together provide a spigot-and-groove assembly whereby pivotal displacement of the seat assembly transmits linear displacement to the storage member by reaction between the spigot and the groove.

17. A motor caravan as claimed In any one of Claims 10 to 16 wherein the storage member is mounted to track means provided upon the motor caravan floor.

18. A motor caravan as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 17 wherein the storage member has wheels for displacement thereof in the second position of the seat assembly between the location In which the surface thereof useful as a seat underlies the remote surface of said first means of the seat assembly and the location In which the surface of the storage member useful as a seat is exposed for use and spaced from the table surface.

19. A motor caravan as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 18 wherein the seating arrangement comprising the seat assembly and storage member is disposed adJacent an access door of the motor caravan and the door is obstructed by the seating arrangement when the seat assembly is in its first position but not when the seat assembly Is in its second position and the storage member underlies the remote surface of said first means of the seat assembly.

20. A motor caravan as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 19 wherein the seat assembly is disposed to the rear of further seating means in its first position and is spaced therefrom to provide a feet residence area between the seat assembly and the further seating means.

21. A motor caravan as claimed in Claim 20 wherein the seat assembly has its first means I n overlying relationship with the further seating means when the seat assembly is in its second position.

22. A motor caravan as claimed in Claim 21 wherein the further seating means has a use position and a collapsed position and wherein the seat assembly has its first means in overlying relationship with the further seating means only when the latter is in its collapsed position.

23. A motor caravan as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 22 wherein the arrangement is such that a user seated upon said storage member when the seat assembly is in its second position and said storage member is in its location in which its surface useful as a seat Is exposed for use has access for his feet into a space underlying the remote surface of said first means of the seat assembly vacated by the storage member.

24. A motor caravan as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 23 wherein the first means of the seat assembly in the second position of the latter cooperates with support means to support one or more elongate members and so define a mattress-receiving surface for sleeping facilities.

25. A motor caravan substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

26. A seating arrangement as defined in Claim 1 and optionally having one or more features set forth in any one of Claims 2 to 25.

27. A seating arrangement substantlally as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

28. A seat assembly comprising a seat member defining an upwardly facing seat surface and a storage cavity underlying said seat surface, a seat back member defining an optionally cushioned seat back surface and a planar surface, the seat back member being pivotally mounted to a substrate for displacement in an arc from a first position Juxtaposed to said seat surface for cooperative use therewith by a seated user of the assembly, and a second position in which the seat back member overlies said seat surface and said planar surface Is exposed in a substantially horizontal orientation, the assembly including means operative upon displacement of the seat back member to cause such displacement to be accompanied by displacement of the seat member to establish the positional relationship aforesald, said seat member preferably undergoing no displacement which changes its spatial orientation.

29. A seat assembly as claimed in Claim 28 wherein the seat back member is pivoted to the substrate by a pair of elongate members, the seat member being disposed between said elongate members in the first position of the seat back member and means of the pair of elongate members acting upon said seat member to effect its said displacement.

30. A seat assembly as claimed in Claim 29 wherein one or more spigots of said pair of elongate members acts in a groove of the seat member to effect seat member displacement.

31. A seat assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 28 to 30 wherein said seat member Is arranged to be manually displaceable to a position In which it is disposed in spaced relationship with respect to the seat back member when the latter is in its second position so that the seat surface can be used by a user seated thereon in Juxtaposition to the planar member.