Extension mechanism for travel trailer slide-out rooms

• US 5,791,715 A
• Filed: 11/22/1996
• Issued: 08/11/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lippert Components (LCI Industries)
• Original Assignee: Michael W. Nebel
• Inventors: Nebel, Michael W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kramer, Dean
• Application Number:
  US08/754,872
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 296/165, 296/170, 296/171, 296/172, 296/175, 296/176, 296/26, 296/27, 52/67
• US Class Current: 296/26.13
• 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

Abstract

A slide-out mechanism for selectively extending and retracting a slide-out room through a slide-out room opening in a wall which automatically levels or aligns the slide-out room relative to the slide-out room opening in the wall comprises at least one stationary member, a retractable member slidably secured to the stationary member, and a threshold bracket for securing and supporting a front end of the stationary member on an upper surface of a portion of the wall defining a lower edge of the slide-out room opening. A support leg is preferably secured to a rear end of the stationary member for supporting the rear end thereof. The support leg is preferably height adjustable to permit leveling of the rear end of the stationary member relative to the front end.

Claims

1. An apparatus for selectively extending and retracting a slide-out room through a slide-out room opening in a wall of a first room, a portion of the wall comprising a sill having an upper surface which defines a lower edge of the slide-out room opening, the sill extending above a floor of the first room;

said apparatus comprising;

(a) at least one stationary member;

(b) means mounted proximate a first end of said stationary member for engaging the upper surface of the sill of the slide-out room opening and supporting said first end of said stationary member thereby; and

(c) a moveable member slidably mounted relative to said stationary member and adapted for securement of the slide-out room thereto such that the slide-out room may be advanced through the slide-out room opening.

2. The apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising:

(a) a height adjustable support member secured to said stationary member toward a second end thereof for supporting said second end of said stationary member.

3. The apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising:

(a) drive means secured to said stationary member for slidably advancing said moveable member relative to said stationary member.

4. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said first end of said stationary member is supported by the upper surface of the sill of the slide-out room opening by:

(a) a support bracket secured to said first end of said stationary member;

said support bracket having an outer lip for engaging an outer surface of the wall and an inner lip for engaging an inner surface of the wall.

5. The apparatus as in claim 4 wherein:

(a) said support bracket spans the width of the slide-out room opening.

6. The apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said support bracket includes:

(a) a horizontally extending rear portion; and

(b) a front portion which slopes downward toward a front end thereof.

7. An apparatus for selectively extending and retracting a slide-out room through a slide-out room opening in a wall of a first room, a portion of the wall comprising a sill having an upper surface which defines a lower edge of the slide-out room opening, the sill extending above a floor of the first room;

said apparatus comprising;

(a) at least one rail adapted to be supported proximate a first end thereof by the upper surface of the sill of the slide-out room opening and extending perpendicular thereto;

(b) a support member secured to said rail toward a second end thereof; and

(c) a slide plate slidably mounted to said rail and adapted for securement of the slide-out room thereto such that the slide out room is slidably advanceable through the slide-out room opening.

8. The apparatus as in claim 7 wherein:

(a) said support member supports said second end of said rail above the floor of said first room and is height adjustable for adjusting the height of said second end of said rail above the floor.

9. The apparatus as in claim 7 further comprising:

(a) drive means secured to said rail for slidably advancing said slide plate relative to said rail.

10. The apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said first end of said rail is supported by the upper surface of the sill of the slide-out room opening by:

(a) a support bracket secured to said first end of said rail;

said support bracket having an outer lip for engaging an outer surface of the wall and an inner lip for engaging an inner surface of the wall.

11. The apparatus as in claim 10 wherein:

(a) said support bracket spans the width of the slide-out room opening.

12. The apparatus as in claim 11 wherein said support bracket includes:

(a) a horizontally extending rear portion; and

(b) a front portion which slopes downward toward a front end thereof.

13. An apparatus for selectively extending and retracting a slide-out room through a slide-out room opening in a wall;

said apparatus comprising;

(a) a first rail and a second rail each having a first end and a second end;

(b) a threshold bracket secured to said first ends of said first and second rails and extending perpendicular thereto;

said threshold bracket adapted to be positioned on and supported by an upper surface of a sill of the slide-out room opening;

said threshold bracket further having an outer lip for engaging an outer surface of the wall and an inner lip for engaging an inner surface of the wall;

(c) first and second support legs secured to said first and second rails respectively toward second ends thereof; and

(d) a slide plate slidably mounted to said first and second rails and adapted for securement of the slide-out room thereto such that the slide-out room is slidingly advanceable through the slide-out room opening.

14. The apparatus as in claim 13 wherein said slide plate includes:

(a) a top plate extending between and across said first and second rails;

(b) first and second side plates extending across outer sides of said first and second rails respectively;

(c) first and second bottom plates extending at least partially across bottoms of said first and second rails respectively; and

(d) first and second racks mounted to said first and second bottom plates respectively and engaged by first and second spur gears rotatably mounted to said first and second rails respectively and mounted in engaging relationship with said first and second racks.

15. The apparatus as in claim 14 wherein said slide plate further comprises:

(a) first and second bottom plate extenders secured to said first and second bottom plates respectively in axial alignment therewith and extending rearward therefrom and having portions of said first and second racks respectively secured thereto.

16. The apparatus as in claim 13 wherein said threshold bracket includes:

(a) a horizontally extending rear portion; and

(b) a front portion which slopes downward toward a front end thereof.

17. An apparatus for selectively extending and retracting a slide-out room through a slide-out room opening in a wall;

said apparatus comprising;

(a) at least one stationary member;

(b) means mounted proximate a first end of said stationary member for engaging an upper surface of a sill of the slide-out room opening and supporting said first end of said stationary member thereby;

(c) a moveable member slidably mounted relative to said stationary member and adapted for securement of the slide-out room thereto such that the slide-out room may be advanced through the slide-out room opening; and

(d) a height adjustable support member secured to said stationary member toward a second end thereof for supporting said second end of said stationary member.

18. An apparatus for selectively extending and retracting a slide-out room through a slide-out room opening in a wall;

said apparatus comprising;

(a) at least one stationary member;

(b) means mounted proximate a first end of said stationary member for engaging an upper surface of a sill of the slide-out room opening and supporting said first end of said stationary member thereby; and

(c) a moveable member slidably mounted relative to said stationary member and adapted for securement of the slide-out room thereto such that the slide-out room may be advanced through the slide-out room opening; and

(d) a support bracket secured to said first end of said stationary member;

said support bracket having an outer lip for engaging an outer surface of the wall and an inner lip for engaging an inner surface of the wall.

19. The apparatus as in claim 18 wherein:

(a) said support bracket spans the width of the slide-out room opening.

20. The apparatus as in claim 19 wherein said support bracket includes:

(a) a horizontally extending rear portion; and

(b) a front portion which slopes downward toward a front end thereof.

21. An apparatus for selectively extending and retracting a slide-out room through a slide-out room opening in a wall;

said apparatus comprising;

(a) at least one rail adapted to be supported proximate a first end thereof by an upper surface of a sill of the slide-out room opening and extending perpendicular thereto;

(b) a support member secured to said rail toward a second end thereof;

(c) a slide plate slidably mounted to said rail and adapted for securement of the slide-out room thereto such that the slide out room is slidably advanceable through the slide-out room opening; and

(d) said support member supports said second end of said rail above a floor of a first room relative to which said slide-out room extends and retracts;

said support member is height adjustable for adjusting the height of said second end of said rail above the floor.

22. An apparatus for selectively extending and retracting a slide-out room through a slide-out room opening in a wall said apparatus comprising:

(a) at least one rail adapted to be supported proximate a first end thereof by an upper surface of a sill of the slide-out room opening and extending perpendicular thereto;

(b) a support member secured to said rail toward a second end thereof;

(c) a slide plate slidably mounted to said rail and adapted for securement of the slide-out room thereto such that the slide out room is slidably advanceable through the slide-out room opening; and

(d) a support bracket secured to said first end of said rail;

said support bracket having an outer lip for engaging an outer surface of the wall and an inner lip for engaging an inner surface of the wall.

23. The apparatus as in claim 22 wherein:

(a) said support bracket spans the width of the slide-out room opening.

24. The apparatus as in claim 23 wherein said support bracket includes:

(a) a horizontally extending rear portion; and

(b) a front portion which slopes downward toward a front end thereof.