Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[0001] This application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. provisional patent application no. 63/274,589, filed Nov. 2, 2021 with the U.S. Patent Office, and which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Field of Invention

[0002] This invention relates to portable dwellings.

Background of the Invention

[0003] Prior portable dwellings, such as manufactured park model homes, provide a traditional rigid dwelling, such as a traditional home dwelling, built onto a portable chassis having wheels to transport the dwelling by attachment to a driven vehicle (such as a truck or tractor) to one or more locations, such as by road or highway, for example. The rigid dwelling includes one or more rooms and is framed, with the exterior of the rigid dwelling sided with rigid materials, such as lumber, metal, manufactured wood, plastic, cement board, and/or other composites boards, planks, or shingles. There is, however, a desire to include on the chassis, in addition to the rigid dwelling, a soft-sided dwelling, such as a tent or other the like structure having soft or flexible sides attached to framework.

Summary of the Invention

[0004] The disclosure includes various embodiments of a hybrid portable dwelling, which includes a rigid dwelling portion and a soft-sided dwelling portion formed atop a chassis, the chassis including a frame and wheels. The disclosure, in various embodiments, includes certain features of the hybrid portable dwelling as described in this application comprising the written specification and the drawings.

[0005] In particular embodiments, the portable dwelling comprises a trailer chassis comprising: a frame formed at least in part of rigid material, one or more pairs of tire/wheel assemblies operably connected to the chassis, where the chassis is free of any driven tire/wheel assembly; and, a floor portion operably connected to the frame. Such portable dwelling further comprises a rigid dwelling portion having: one or more vertically-extending substantially rigid side walls extending around a majority of a perimeter of the rigid dwelling portion; and, a substantially rigid roof arranged overtop the one or more substantially rigid side walls, the rigid dwelling portion operably connected to the chassis. Such portable dwelling further comprises a soft-sided dwelling portion having: one or more vertically-extending soft side walls formed primarily of one or more flexible materials and extending around a majority of a perimeter of the soft-sided dwelling portion; and, a roof formed primarily of flexible material(s) and arranged overtop the one or more side walls, the soft-sided dwelling portion arranged overtop the floor portion and operably connected to the chassis. Optionally, such portable dwelling includes a tow member operably connected to the chassis and configured to be operably connected to driven vehicle for towing the chassis, or one or more attachment features for receiving a tow member. A tow member may form a hitch coupler or a hitch.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0006] FIG. l is a front-perspective view of a hybrid portable dwelling, in accordance with a particular embodiment.

[0007] FIG. 2 is a rear-perspective view of a hybrid portable dwelling, in accordance with a particular embodiment.

[0008] FIG. 3 is a right-side view of a hybrid portable dwelling, in accordance with a particular embodiment.

[0009] FIG. 4 is a left-side view of a hybrid portable dwelling, in accordance with a particular embodiment.

[00010] FIG. 5 is a front-end view of a hybrid portable dwelling, in accordance with a particular embodiment.

[00011] FIG. 6 is a rear-end view of a hybrid portable dwelling, in accordance with a particular embodiment.

[00012] FIG. 7 is a top view of a hybrid portable dwelling, in accordance with a particular embodiment.

[00013] FIG. 8 is a bottom view of a hybrid portable dwelling, in accordance with a particular embodiment. [00014] FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of a hybrid portable dwelling showing the engagement of the rigid dwelling portion with the soft-sided dwelling portion in accordance with a particular embodiment.

[00015] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a roof seal portion extending between the rigid and soft-sided dwelling portions, in accordance with a particular embodiment.

[00016] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a side wall seal portion extending between the rigid and soft-sided dwelling portions, in accordance with a particular embodiment.

[00017] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of an attachment of a soft side wall to a chassis floor, in accordance with a particular embodiment.

Detailed Description of the Invention

[00018] With reference to FIGS. 1 through 8, a hybrid portable dwelling unit 10 is shown. The unit 10 includes a hybrid dwelling 12 comprising a rigid dwelling portion 20 and a soft-sided dwelling portion 30. The rigid and soft-sided dwelling portions 20, 30 may be connected, such as is shown in one embodiment, or separated. FIG. 1 shows a front end 12a of dwelling 12, which also forms a side of the soft-sided dwelling 30 in this embodiment. FIG. 2 shows a rear end 12b of dwelling 12, which also forms a side of the rigid dwelling 20 in this embodiment.

[00019] The rigid and soft-sided dwelling portions 20, 30 are arranged on a chassis 14, which includes a floor portion 15, a frame 16, and a plurality of tires/wheels 18, which may be arranged along one or more axles 19, such as is shown by example, or along other rotational means. In particular embodiments, such as is shown, the chassis is free of any driven tire/wheel assembly, as it is a towable trailer chassis. In particular embodiments, the floor portion is operably connected to the frame, such as by fastener or welding, for example. The frame is formed at least in part by rigid material. The frame may comprise any rigid structure formed of one or more structural members, such as an arrangement of longitudinal and transverse beams and/or other structural components, for example, to create the rigid frame. The tires/wheels are operably attached to the frame. Tires/wheels may comprise pneumatic tires arranged on corresponding wheels or the tires/wheels may form non-pneumatic tires or other means of permitting the movement of the chassis along a road, highway, or land. To facilitating towing of the portable dwelling, a tow member 17 may be operably connected to, or form part of, the frame or chassis. Tow member may be, for example, a hitch coupler or a hitch.

[00020] Rigid dwelling portion 20 includes a roof 22 and three (3) or more side walls 24 having rigid siding 25. In other variations, one or more vertically-extending substantially rigid side walls are present, where, collectively, one or more vertically-extending substantially rigid side walls extend around a majority, or at least 51% to 75%, of a perimeter of the rigid dwelling portion. Internal and/or external framing supports the rigid siding 25 and forms one or more internal (interior) rooms within the rigid dwelling portion 20. In the embodiment shown, rigid dwelling portion 20 includes four (4) side walls 24. Roof 22 is rigid, and is formed of any rigid roofing material, such as shingles (e.g., asphalt, wood, slate) or metal sheeting, for example. The rigid roof is arranged overtop the one or more substantially rigid side walls, the rigid dwelling portion operably connected to the chassis. While no windows are shown, in other embodiments rigid dwelling portion 20 may include windows in any side 24 and/or roof 22. Any rigid component or feature described herein may be substantially rigid, taking into account minor variations in material or the use of very small amounts of flexible material within the corresponding structure.

[00021] Soft-sided dwelling portion 30 includes a roof 32 and three (3) or more side walls 34 having flexible siding 35, such as fabric and/or textile sheeting (e.g., canvas or mesh) or plastic sheeting, for example. Such flexible sheeting may be coated, such as using PVC, wax, or other waterproofing coating. Internal and/or external framing (e.g., vertical posts and crossmembers) supports the flexible siding 35 and forms one or more internal (interior) rooms within the soft- sided dwelling portion 30. In certain embodiments, flexible dwelling portion 30 includes three (3) side walls 34 or four (4) side walls 34. In yet further variations, flexible dwelling portion includes one or more vertically-extending soft side walls formed primarily of one or more flexible materials and extending around a majority, or at least 51% to 75%, of a perimeter of the soft-sided dwelling portion. Vertical posts 36 are shown affixed to the outer side of the chassis 14 and/or the floor 15. Brackets 38 and fasteners are used to affix the vertical frame members (posts) 36 to the outer side of the chassis in this embodiment, the bracket 38 having a recess or cavity for receiving the post 36. In other embodiments, however, other means of affixing the post to the chassis may be employed, and/or the posts may be affixed inward of the chassis outer sides or to the floor in other embodiments. Roof 32 is flexible, and is formed of any flexible material, such as any used for the flexible siding 35. Roof 32 may comprise one layer 33 or multiple layers 33 of flexible material. In the embodiment shown, roof 32 comprises four (4) layers 33 of flexible sheet material, but which could instead comprise five (5) layers otherwise. In particular embodiments, the roof is formed primarily of flexible material(s) and arranged overtop the one or more side walls, the soft-sided dwelling portion arranged overtop the floor portion and operably connected to the chassis Windows are shown within the sides 34 of soft- sided dwelling portion 30, although it is understood that these are optional in any side 34 and/or roof 32. Windows could be soft-sided and formed of flexible material or may form hard-framed glass windows. It is noted that the front end 12a of hybrid dwelling 12 includes a porch extending from and being a part of soft-sided dwelling portion 30. This does not form a portion of the interior living space otherwise formed by the sides 34 and roof 32. Any porch may be included with and formed in each of the rigid and soft-sided dwelling portions. In certain embodiments, the top two layers of the roof structure extend over a porch to form a covered porch area. The front wall of the enclosed dwelling under the porch can have either a soft- tent like opening or a hard-framed door, which may include glass (e.g., a sliding door, a French door, a stack door). Hard doors and windows are framed in wood and are attached to the floor using brackets, to the soft structure frame and secured to the sheeting with staples or some other attaching mechanism. This technique of installing hard doors and windows securely in a soft sided structure is an important aspect of the structure.

[00022] FIG. 9 through 11 shows the intersection or engagement of the rigid and soft-sided dwelling portions 20, 30. For the purpose of preventing any passage of water down and into the hybrid dwelling 12, as well as preventing entry of insects and other critters, between the rigid and soft-sided dwelling portions 20, 30, seals 40, 50 are provided. Because the seal extends between a rigid portion of the rigid dwelling portion 20 and a flexible portion of the soft-sided dwelling portion 30, a unique situation is provided. While a rubber component (natural or synthetic, whether or not reinforced) or a rigid structure (such as aluminum or plastic) maybe arranged to extend between rigid and soft-sided dwelling portions 20, 30, in the embodiment shown, PVC-coated fabric or textile sheeting is stretched between the rigid and soft-sided dwelling portions 20, 30. With specific reference to FIG. 10, on one end (a first end) 42 of a roof seal 40, a U-shaped portion is formed where two (2) hook and loop faster systems 44 (each comprising a pair of strips, one comprising hooks and the other loops), such that the flexible material used to form the roof 32 of the soft-sided dwelling portion 30 is sandwiched between opposing sides of the U-shaped end. This ensures a strong, yet releasable, connection as the soft- sided dwelling portion is tensed and stretched taut. Other attachment means may be used, such as an adhesive or stitching, for example. On the other end 46 of the roof seal 40, this second end 46 is attached to the rigid dwelling portion 20, such as along a side (wall) 24 thereof. While an adhesive or other means may be used for attachment, in this embodiment, a hook and loop faster system 44 is employed with one or more reinforcing strips of rigid material 48 arranged overtop and affixed to the wide 24 by use of fasteners, which may comprise any metal or plastic, for example. With specific reference to FIG. 11, a side seal 50 is employed along a side 34 of soft- sided dwelling portion 30, the side seal 50 being formed similarly to roof seal 40 and also incorporating hook and loop systems 54 (akin to features 44) and one or more reinforcing strips of rigid material 58 (akin to feature 48). While side seal 50 may be bent at a 90 degree angle, as referenced between second end 56 (akin to feature 46) and U-shaped first end 52 (akin to feature 42), such as is the roof seal 40 in its installation, whereby the second end is laid flat along side 24, in the embodiment shown, the second end of side seal 50 is affixed to a rigid member protruding from side 24 and along a side thereof extending generally in the same or similar direction as the flexible material forming a side 34.

[00023] In particular embodiments, with reference to FIG. 12, the side walls 34 of the soft- sided dwelling portion 30 structure are securely fastened to the floor or sides of the chassis 14. This is achieved by inserting an elongated rigid structure 60, such as tubing (e.g, square or rectangular), flat bar, or other rigid pole or strip into a pocket (channel) 62 formed at the bottom of the soft-sided side wall 34 and attaching the elongated rigid structure 60 with the pocket 62 by extending a fastener 64 through the same and into the chassis 14. A sheet flap 66 may be arranged to extend from a side wall 34 downwardly to cover this attachment of the side wall 34 to the chassis 14.

[00024] While various improvements have been described herein with reference to particular embodiments thereof, it shall be understood that such description is by way of illustration only and should not be construed as limiting the scope of any claimed invention. Accordingly, the scope and content of any claimed invention is to be defined only by the terms of the following claims, in the present form or as amended during prosecution or pursued in any continuation application. Furthermore, it is understood that the features of any specific embodiment discussed herein may be combined with one or more features of any one or more embodiments otherwise discussed or contemplated herein unless otherwise stated.

[00025] To the extent used, the terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” or any variation thereof, as used in the claims and/or specification herein, shall be considered as indicating an open group that may include other elements not specified. The terms “a,” “an,” and the singular forms of words shall be taken to include the plural form of the same words, such that the terms mean that one or more of something is provided. The terms “at least one” and “one or more” are used interchangeably. The term “single” shall be used to indicate that one and only one of something is intended. Similarly, other specific integer values, such as “two,” are used when a specific number of things is intended. The terms “preferably,” “preferred,” “prefer,” “optionally,” “may,” and similar terms are used to indicate that an item, condition or step being referred to is an optional (i.e., not required) feature of the embodiments. Ranges that are described as being “between a and b” are inclusive of the values for “a” and “b” unless otherwise specified.