Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Body shell
Reissue Patent
1999-08-30
2001-09-04
Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Body shell
C296S168000
Reissue Patent
active
RE037351
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to travel trailers and, in particular, concerns an improved chassis for travel trailers which provides better positioning for sewage tanks and allows for a trailer construction that makes more efficient use of storage space.
2. Description of the Related Art
Travel trailers are towed vehicles that have been outfitted with some or all of the facilities of a home for the convenience of the traveller. These types of trailers have become very popular throughout the world in the last several decades. One relatively recent innovation in travel trailers is the “fifth wheel” trailer wherein the forward section of the trailer is elevated and the hitch mechanism is mounted on the bottom side of the elevated section of the trailer. The hitch mechanism is typically attached to a towing apparatus mounted in the bed of a pickup truck. A cross-sectional view of a typical fifth wheel trailer is illustrated in FIG.
1
A. The fifth wheel trailer configuration allows the towing vehicle to tow a generally larger trailer.
As shown in
FIG. 1A
, the typical fifth wheel travel trailer
100
has a main level
102
and an elevated level
104
. The elevated level
104
typically contains a bedroom
106
and the main level
102
contains eating facilities and the like (not shown). Generally, a bathroom
110
is interposed between the bedroom
106
and the main level
104
. In the typical prior art fifth wheel travel trailer, the trailer is supported on a two-level chassis
112
. The chassis
112
includes a main section
114
, an elevated section
116
and an interconnecting vertical section
115
. The main level
102
of the trailer is built on top of the main section
114
of the chassis and the elevated level
104
is built on top of the elevated section
116
of the chassis
112
.
In the typical prior art trailer
100
, the bathroom
110
is positioned on a floor
122
that is built up and supported above the main section
114
of the trailer chassis
112
in a position substantially adjacent the elevated level
104
of the trailer
100
. Generally, one or more sewage storage tanks
132
are mounted on the chassis
112
underneath the bathroom
110
. As shown in
FIG. 1B
, in the typical prior art fifth wheel trailer configuration, the tanks are mounted on the main section
114
of the frame and plumbing extends from the bathroom
110
to the tanks
130
,
132
through a storage space, generally referred to as a trunk space
140
, that extends between the floor of the bathroom
110
and the chassis
112
.
One shortcoming of this configuration is that the plumbing in the trunk space
140
limits the use of the space
140
. Specifically, as illustrated in
FIG. 1B
, the plumbing can occupy a substantial portion of the trunk space
140
leaving the space unavailable for storage of larger items. Further, if can be appreciated that it is difficult to load heavier objects in the storage space as the storage space is elevated above the sewage tanks. It can also be appreciated that, since the sewage tanks and drains are mounted on the chassis, they are often exposed to the outside environment which can result in the contents of the tanks and drains freezing in cold weather, thereby hindering draining of the tank.
A further shortcoming of this configuration is that, since the sewage tanks are located adjacent the bottom of the trailer, a drainage control
121
(
FIG. 1B
) is also typically located adjacent the bottom of the chassis of the trailer. In many fifth wheel trailer configurations, a user who is draining the sewage tanks ends up having to sit in the dirt or climb underneath the trailer to manipulate the controls to drain the sewage tanks. It can be appreciated that it is generally not desirable to have to sit or crawl in the dirt surrounding a sewage dumping facility.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
In the preferred embodiment, the main section of the chassis is mounted to the wheel axle(s) of the trailer. Forward of the main section, the chassis of the trailer has a first elevated section which is elevated above the main section. In the preferred embodiment, a second elevated section of the chassis is positioned forward of the first elevated section of the chassis and the second elevated section is elevated above the first elevated section. In the preferred embodiment, the bathroom facilities of the trailer are mounted on the first elevated section of the chassis. Further, the bedroom facilities of the trailer are mounted on the second elevated section of the chassis. This allows the tanks to be positioned adjacent the chassis of the trailer, and thus be adequately supported, and still be raised sufficiently above the ground so that the valves and controls for the tanks are readily accessible to a user. Further, since the trunk space is below the tanks, it will be easier for a user to load heavy objects into the trunk space.
A significant feature of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is that, the sewage tanks are mounted to the first elevated section of the chassis immediately underneath the floor of the bathroom. The controls for the sewage tanks are positioned within the space immediately underneath the sewage tanks. It can be appreciated that since the tanks are mounted on an elevated section of the chassis, the tank drainage valves and controls will be elevated thereby reducing the need for the user to have to climb under the trailer to access the controls of the drainage valves. Further, since the drain assembly and controls can be positioned within the enclosed trunk space, the necessity of the user contacting the ground is further reduced and the likelihood of the contents in the drain assembly freezing is also minimized.
Another feature of the invention is that the utility of the storage trunk space beneath the tanks is substantially enhanced. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the space immediately below the first elevated section is enclosed to provide this storage facility.
In the preferred embodiment, the tanks have a low profile so that, when they are mounted underneath the floor on the chassis, they are substantially retained adjacent the chassis. The trunk space is thus generally more accessible for storage purposes as only the drainage piping and controls are positioned within the trunk space.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3165350 (1965-01-01), Wilson
patent: 3254914 (1966-06-01), Steck
patent: 3287058 (1966-11-01), Wells
patent: 3565480 (1971-02-01), McCollum et al.
patent: 3825281 (1974-07-01), Howard
patent: 3887220 (1975-06-01), Hall
patent: 4014586 (1977-03-01), Swofford
patent: 4106732 (1978-08-01), Whiting
patent: 4322108 (1982-03-01), McPherson
patent: 4652041 (1987-03-01), Barber et al.
patent: 4653125 (1987-03-01), Porter
patent: 4728144 (1988-03-01), Crean
patent: 4746164 (1988-05-01), Crean
patent: 4776631 (1988-10-01), Sargent et al.
patent: 4957323 (1990-09-01), Johnson
patent: 4974899 (1990-12-01), Sargent
Alfa Leisure Inc.
Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP
Pape Joseph D.
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