US3778100A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Expandable room for portable living quarters
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-10-22
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Granted: 1973-12-11
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Expires: 1991-10-22
Abstract
Abstract An expandable room, having folding floors, side walls and roof, folds to a very thin addition when not in use; for living units, attachments for trailers, campers and the like, and when expanded provides additional living space for such units.
Inventors
- 👤 P Dillard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 08:29
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60P; B60P3/00; B60P3/32; B60P3/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
298 words
An expandable room module for attachment to an outer wall of a trailer, camper, living unit or the like to provide additional living area to said unit when stationary, said room module comprising: a. an inner planar structural frame and an outer planar structural frame; b. said inner structural frame includes means for attaching said frame to the outer surface of a wall of the unit and the outer frame is arranged to receive an end wall closure means; c. a pair of foldable wall members pivotally attached between each of the corresponding side edges of said structural frames forming a self-supporting module which can be extended from a closed position where the outer structural frame is positioned near the wall of the unit to an open position where the outer frame is extended from the unit; d. foldable roof means having a plurality of panels pivotally attached between the upper edges of said structural frames and arranged to fold upwardly into a thin section when the module is retracted from the open to the closed position, said panels being arranged to seal the top of said wall members when in the open position, said roof means and said wall members being arranged to maintain said frames in parallel relation to each other and to the wall of the unit at all times; d. foldable floor means arranged to fold inwardly between said structural frames and pivot to close the bottom of said module when extended to the open position; and f. said structural frames, wall members, roof and floor means are arranged to fold into a compact, flat assembly against the wall of the unit when in the closed position and means for securing the module to the wall of the unit when in the closed position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
298 words
An expandable room module for attachment to an outer wall of a trailer, camper, living unit or the like to provide additional living area to said unit when stationary, said room module comprising: a. an inner planar structural frame and an outer planar structural frame; b. said inner structural frame includes means for attaching said frame to the outer surface of a wall of the unit and the outer frame is arranged to receive an end wall closure means; c. a pair of foldable wall members pivotally attached between each of the corresponding side edges of said structural frames forming a self-supporting module which can be extended from a closed position where the outer structural frame is positioned near the wall of the unit to an open position where the outer frame is extended from the unit; d. foldable roof means having a plurality of panels pivotally attached between the upper edges of said structural frames and arranged to fold upwardly into a thin section when the module is retracted from the open to the closed position, said panels being arranged to seal the top of said wall members when in the open position, said roof means and said wall members being arranged to maintain said frames in parallel relation to each other and to the wall of the unit at all times; d. foldable floor means arranged to fold inwardly between said structural frames and pivot to close the bottom of said module when extended to the open position; and f. said structural frames, wall members, roof and floor means are arranged to fold into a compact, flat assembly against the wall of the unit when in the closed position and means for securing the module to the wall of the unit when in the closed position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
84 words
An expandable room for trailers, campers and like vehicles according to claim 1 wherein said end wall closure means is one or more additional expandable room modules connected in series, the inner structural frame of one of the additional modules being fixedly attached to the outer surface of the outer structural frame of the unit attached module whereby further additional living area may be provided; and support means attached to an undersurface of one of the additional modules to prevent tipping of said unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
An expandable room module according to claim 1 wherein said foldable wall members each include at least a pair of panels hinged together and to said structural frames.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
An expandable room module according to claim 1 wherein said foldable roof means includes two panels hinged together and to said structural frames.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
An expandable room module according to claim 1 wherein said foldable member and means are hinged to said structural frames by solid hinges providing weather proofing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
An expandable room module according to claim 1 wherein said end wall closure means includes an opening for communication with the interior of the said room module.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
An expandable room module according to claim 1 wherein said end wall closure means includes a window.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
An expandable room module according to claim 1 wherein said attachment means for attaching the inner structural frame to the wall of said unit includes a pair of outwardly extending angles attached to the side of the unit along each side of the frame whereby said expandable room folds to the closed position between said angles for support and protection of the structure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
An expandable room according to claim 1 wherein said floor means is a single panel hinged at one edge to a lower edge of one structural frame and includes support means whereby the panel will rest on the opposite structural frame.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
An expandable room module according to claim 1 wherein said foldable wall members each include two sets of a pair of panEls, each pair of panels is hinged to each other and the two sets are hinged together, the outer edges of each set are hinged to said structural frames.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
An expandable room module according to claim 10 wherein said wall members contain support means for the floor panels when the panels are folded down to expand the room.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
An expandable room module according to claim 1 wherein said foldable floor means includes at least two separate panels each hinged to a respective structural frame and pivotal toward and away from each other.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
An expandable room module according to claim 12 wherein one of said panels includes a support flange along the edge opposite the hinge for supporting the free edge of the other said panel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
An expandable room module according to claim 1 wherein said wall members include means for supporting the floor means when the room is in the open position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
An expandable room module according to claim 14 wherein said structural frames include recesses which receives said support means when the room is in the closed position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-10 | 1977-06-11 | 1977-12-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-10 | 1981-06-11 | 1981-12-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-10 | 1985-06-11 | 1985-12-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |