Flexible plumbing assembly

• US 5,816,639 A
• Filed: 03/21/1997
• Issued: 10/06/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Monaco Coach Corporation
• Inventors: Ward, Thomas J., Krenelka, Todd C., DiBiagio, Anthony J., Hastings, Gordon G.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAPE, JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US08/821,905
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 296/26, 296/156
• US Class Current: 296/26.13
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 15/00 Arrangements or adaptations of sanitation devices

Abstract

A flexible plumbing assembly is provided for use in a trailer with an extensible cabin having rigid plumbing that can be moved between a retracted position wherein the extensible cabin is substantially inside the trailer and an extended position wherein the extensible cabin is substantially outside the trailer. The flexible plumbing assembly comprises a flexible hose connecting the trailer rigid plumbing to the cabin rigid plumbing, a sliding guide for horizontally moving the connection of the flexible hose to the cabin rigid plumbing at a constant elevation relative to the cabin floor as the cabin rigid plumbing moves with the cabin between the extended and retracted positions, and a hose guide for ensuring that material in the flexible hose moves in the proper direction as the cabin moves between the extended and retracted positions. In the preferred embodiment, the sliding guide comprises a support bracket which hold the connection of the flexible hose to the cabin rigid plumbing and is slidably attached to a track that is generally parallel to both the floor and the front and rear walls of the cabin.

Claims

1. A flexible plumbing assembly for use in a recreational vehicle having a fixed cabin with a fixed rigid plumbing means, and an extensible cabin that is moveable between a retracted position and an extended position relative to the fixed cabin, the extensible cabin having a movable rigid plumbing means, said flexible plumbing assembly comprising:

a flexible hose having a fixed end connected to the fixed rigid plumbing means and an opposite movable end connected to the movable rigid plumbing means; and

sliding means for moving the movable end at a constant elevation relative to the fixed end as the extensible cabin rigid plumbing moves with the extensible cabin between the extended and retracted positions.

2. The flexible plumbing assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sliding means includes a support bracket secured to move with said extensible cabin and a track secured to said fixed cabin, wherein the support bracket holds said moveable end of said flexible hose and is slidably attached to the track.

3. The flexible plumbing assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said track is disposed generally horizontally.

4. The flexible plumbing assembly as set forth in claim 1, further comprising hose guiding means holding at least a portion of the flexible hose at a desired drainage angle as the extensible cabin moves between the extended and retracted positions.

5. The flexible plumbing assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said hose guiding means includes a fixed hose guide channel disposed near said fixed end of the flexible hose, and a movable hose guide channel secured to move with said support bracket near said movable end of said flexible hose, wherein portions of the hose lie respectively in the fixed hose guide channel and the movable hose guide channel at desired drain angles.

6. The flexible plumbing assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein said guide channels hold said hose in a generally U-shaped bend between said guide channels.

7. The flexible plumbing assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said flexible hose connects rigid drain plumbing in said extensible cabin to rigid drain plumbing in said fixed cabin.

8. The flexible plumbing assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said flexible hose connects rigid propane plumbing in said extensible cabin to rigid propane plumbing in said fixed central cabin.

9. The flexible plumbing assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said flexible hose connects rigid sewage plumbing in said extensible cabin to rigid sewage plumbing in said fixed cabin.

10. The flexible plumbing assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said flexible hose connects rigid hot and cold water supply plumbing in said extensible cabin to rigid hot and cold water supply plumbing in said fixed cabin.

11. A plumbing assembly for use in a recreational vehicle having a fixed cabin and an extensible cabin which is movably mounted to the fixed cabin, the fixed cabin including fixed rigid plumbing mounted thereto and the extensible cabin including movable rigid pluming mounted thereto, the plumbing assembly comprising:

a flexible hose having a fixed end connected to the fixed rigid plumbing and a movable end connected to the movable rigid plumbing;

a generally straight fixed guide channel mounted to the fixed cabin and receiving at least a portion of the flexible hose near the first end; and

a generally straight moveable guide channel mounted move with to the extensible cabin and receiving a portion of the flexible hose near the second end, the guide channels being generally facing each other and holding the flexible hose generally in a U-shape.

12. The plumbing assembly according to claim 11, wherein each of the guide channels holds the respective portion of the flexible hose at an angle to promote drainage through flexible hose.