Sliding mechanisms and systems

• US 20050006924A1
• Filed: 08/03/2004
• Published: 01/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Happijac Co. (LCI Industries), Lippert Components (LCI Industries)
• Original Assignee: Happijac Co. (LCI Industries)
• Inventors: Rasmussen, C. Martin
• Granted Patent: US 7,052,064 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/99.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/34 the living accommodation being expansible, collapsible or capable of rearrangement B60P3/38 takes precedence; tents supported at least partially by vehicles E04H15/06
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18808 with rack

Abstract

A quick-release mechanism that allows a motor to be quickly and easily released from a motorized activation assembly to activate a sliding mechanism thereby extending or retracting a slide-out compartment of a recreational vehicle.

Claims

1. A quick-release mechanism for manipulating a sliding mechanism to extend and retract a slide-out compartment of a recreational vehicle, the quick-release mechanism comprising:

(a) a connector box configured to be attached to the sliding mechanism;

(b) a cam member supported within the connector box, the cam member having a support surface and a cam surface, the cam member pivotal between having the cam surface oriented in a first direction and having the support surface oriented in the first direction;

(c) a coupler supported by the surface of the cam member in the first direction, the coupler having a bore extending from a first end to a second end of the coupler, the bore being configured to engage a motor drive shaft and to engage a gear drive shaft that cooperates with the sliding mechanism such that rotation of the gear drive shaft effects movement of the sliding mechanism, the second end of the coupler and a first end of the gear drive shaft have beveled surfaces; and

(d) a spring positioned and tensioned to bias the coupler toward the cam member,

wherein, when the coupler is supported by the support surface of the cam member, the motor drive shaft and the gear drive shaft are engaged to thereby activate the sliding mechanism and, when the coupler is supported by the cam surface of the cam member, the bore of the coupler substantially disengages from the gear drive shaft so that the motor drive shaft and the gear drive shaft are disengaged.

2. The quick-release mechanism in claim 1, further comprising a cam lever accessible on the connector box for selectively pivoting the cam member.

3. The quick-release mechanism in claim 1, wherein the cam surface slopes toward the support surface.

4. The quick-release mechanism in claim 1, wherein a second end of the coupler and a first end of the gear drive shaft are adapted to facilitate engagement.

5. The quick-release mechanism in claim 1, wherein a first end of the motor drive shaft is attached to a motor.

6. A quick-release mechanism for manipulating a sliding mechanism to extend and retract a slide-out compartment of a recreational vehicle under the influence of a motor, the quick-release mechanism comprising:

(a) a connector box configured to be attached to the sliding mechanism;

(b) a cam member supported within the connector box, the cam member having a support surface and a cam surface, the cam member pivotal between having the cam surface oriented in a first direction and having the support surface oriented in the first direction;

(c) a coupler supported by the surface of the cam member in the first direction, the coupler having a bore extending from a first end to a second end and configured to engage with the sliding mechanism and the motor, the second end of the coupler and a first end of the gear drive shaft have beveled surfaces; and

(d) a spring positioned and tensioned to bias the coupler toward the cam member,

wherein, when the coupler is supported by the support surface of the cam member, the coupler is in a position closer to the sliding mechanism than when the coupler is supported by the cam surface of the cam member and a bore of the coupler substantially disengages from the sliding mechanism.

7. The quick-release mechanism as recited in claim 6, further comprising a cam lever accessible on the connector box for selectively pivoting the cam member.

8. The quick-release mechanism as recited in claim 6, wherein the cam surface slopes toward the support surface.

9. The quick-release mechanism as recited in claim 6, wherein a first end of the coupler and the second end of the gear drive shaft are adapted to facilitate engagement.

10. A quick-release mechanism for manipulating a sliding mechanism to extend and retract a slide-out compartment of a recreational vehicle, the quick-release mechanism comprising:

(a) a connector box configured to be attached to the sliding mechanism;

(b) a cam member supported within the connector box, the cam member having a support surface and a cam surface, the cam member pivotal between having the cam surface oriented in a first direction and having the support surface oriented in the first direction;

(c) a coupler supported within the connector box by the surface of the cam member in the first direction, the coupler having a bore therethrough for slidably engaging a motor drive shaft and a pear drive shaft that cooperates with the sliding mechanism such that rotation of the gear drive shaft effects movement of the sliding mechanism thereby moving the slide-out compartment, a second end of the coupler and a first end of the gear drive shaft have beveled surfaces; and

(d) a spring positioned and tensioned to bias the coupler toward the cam member;

wherein, when the coupler is supported by the support surface of the cam member, the coupler is supported in a position that is closer to the sliding mechanism than when the coupler is supported by the cam surface of the cam member as the coupler moves towards the sliding mechanism and the bore substantially disengages from the sliding mechanism.

11. The quick-release mechanism in claim 10, further comprising a cam lever accessible on the connector box for selectively pivoting the cam member.

12. The quick-release mechanism in claim 10, wherein the cam surface slopes toward the support surface.

13. The quick-release mechanism in claim 10, wherein a second end of the coupler and a first end of the gear drive shaft are adapted to facilitate engagement.

14. A quick-release mechanism for manipulating a sliding mechanism to extend and retract a slide-out compartment of a recreational vehicle, the quick-release mechanism comprising:

(a) a connector box configured to be attached to the sliding mechanism;

(b) a cam member supported at a pivot axis within the connector box, the cam member having a support surface and a cam surface, the cam surface being further from the pivot axis than the support surface, the cam member pivotal between having the cam surface oriented in a first direction and having the support surface oriented in the first direction;

(c) a coupler supported within the connector box by the surface of the cam member oriented in the first direction, the coupler having a bore therethrough for slidably engaging a motor drive shaft and selectively engaging a gear drive shaft that cooperates with the sliding mechanism such that rotation of the gear drive shaft effects movement of the sliding mechanism thereby moving the slide-out compartment, the second end of the coupler and a first end of the gear drive shaft have beveled surfaces; and

(d) a spring positioned and tensioned to bias the coupler toward the cam member and into engagement with the gear drive shaft;

wherein, when the coupler is supported by the support surface of the cam member, the motor drive shaft and the gear drive shaft are engaged to thereby activate the sliding mechanism and, when the coupler is supported by the cam surface of the cam member, the motor drive shaft and the gear drive shaft are disengaged as the bore substantially disengages from the gear drive shaft.

15. The quick-release mechanism in claim 14, further comprising a cam lever accessible on the connector box for selectively pivoting the cam member.

16. The quick-release mechanism in claim 14, wherein the cam surface slopes toward the support surface.

17. The quick-release mechanism in claim 14, wherein a second end of the coupler and a first end of the gear drive shaft are adapted to facilitate engagement.

18. A quick-release mechanism for manipulating a sliding mechanism to extend and retract a slide-out compartment of a recreational vehicle, the quick-release mechanism comprising:

(a) a connector box configured to be attached to the sliding mechanism;

(b) a cam member supported within the connector box, the cam member having a support surface and a cam surface, the cam member pivotal between having the cam surface oriented in a first direction and having the support surface oriented in the first direction;

(c) a coupler supported by the surface of the cam member in the first direction, the coupler having a first end configured to engage a motor drive shaft and a second end for engaging a gear drive shaft that cooperates with the sliding mechanism such that rotation of the gear drive shaft effects movement of the sliding mechanism, the second end of the coupler and a gear drive shaft first end having beveled surfaces; and

(d) a spring positioned and tensioned to bias the coupler toward the cam member,

wherein, when the coupler is supported by the support surface of the cam member, the motor drive shaft and the gear drive shaft are engaged to thereby activate the sliding mechanism and, when the coupler is supported by the cam surface of the cam member, the motor drive shaft and the gear drive shaft are disengaged.

19. The quick-release mechanism in claim 18, further comprising a cam lever accessible on the connector box for selectively pivoting the cam member.

20. The quick-release mechanism in claim 18, wherein the cam surface slopes toward the support surface.

21. The quick-release mechanism in claim 18, wherein the second end of the coupler and the first end of the gear drive shaft are adapted to facilitate engagement.