US 11,858,405 B2
Chassis for recreational vehicles having a transport area for a fluid storage vessel
Jeffrey M. Snyder, White Pigeon, MI (US); and Jonathan Gust, Middlebury, IN (US)
Assigned to THOR TECH, INC., Elkhart, IN (US)
Filed by Thor Tech, Inc., Elkhart, IN (US)
Filed on Sep. 28, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/487,067.
Prior Publication US 2023/0098463 A1, Mar. 30, 2023
Int. Cl. B60P 3/32 (2006.01); B60R 16/08 (2006.01); B62D 21/16 (2006.01)
CPC B60P 3/32 (2013.01) [B60R 16/08 (2013.01); B62D 21/16 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A recreational vehicle of the type having living quarters defined therein, the recreational vehicle comprising:
a chassis;
an axle assembly coupled to the chassis and providing motive support and underbody clearance to the chassis;
a floor defining a lower limit of the living quarters;
a vehicle body generally enclosing the living quarters, the vehicle body and the floor being supported by the chassis; and
at least one fluid storage vessel supported in the chassis;
wherein the chassis comprises;
a first and a second longitudinal chassis member each having an upper edge and a lower edge, and an inner face and an outer face; and
a plurality of cross members each having a first end connected to the first longitudinal chassis member and a second end connected to the second longitudinal chassis member such that the plurality of cross members extend between and interconnect the first and second longitudinal chassis members, each of the plurality of cross members having an upper edge and a lower edge extending between the first and second ends;
wherein each of the plurality of cross members has an end height defined as a vertical distance between the lower edge and upper edge at the first and second ends and a midsection height defined as a vertical distance between the lower edge and upper edge of a midsection of each of the plurality of cross members, the midsection height being greater than the end height; and
wherein a transport area extends longitudinally between two of the plurality of cross members, transversely between inner faces of the first and second longitudinal chassis members, and vertically between upper and lower edges of the two cross members, the at least one fluid storage vessel being disposed in the transport area.