Self-aligning system to adjust occupancy space in a vehicle

• US 5,915,774 A
• Filed: 09/24/1996
• Issued: 06/29/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lippert Components Manufacturing (LCI Industries)
• Original Assignee: Kwikee Products Co., Inc. (Enerpac Tool Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Tiedge, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pike, Andrew C.
• Application Number:
  US08/725,208
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: 296/26, 296/156, 296/164, 296/165, 296/171, 296/172, 296/173, 296/175, 296/176, 296/26.09, 296/26.1, 296/26.13, 296/26.14, 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 system varies space of a vehicle having a first portion with occupiable space and a number of ground engaging wheels coupled to the first portion. A second occupiable portion is coupled to the first portion and configured to move relative thereto to adjust volume of an occupiable living space defined by both portions. A pair of support arms are coupled to the first portion which each have a bearing member engaging a guide of the second portion. Each bearing member is permitted to move relative to an axis perpendicular to an axis of travel of the second portion to relieve stress from forces acting on the system which are nonparallel to the axis of travel. The arms are positioned by an operator controlled positioning mechanism. In another system, an arrangement of telescoping arms is disclosed for positioning a first occupiable portion relative to a second occupiable portion. This arrangement includes an operator positioning mechanism with a rotatable member formed from a self-lubricating polymeric material. The rotatable member is configured to movably engage at least one arm and correspondingly position the first portion relative to the second portion to adjust volume of an occupiable living space defined by the first and second portions.

Claims

1. A system for varying space in a vehicle, said system comprising:

an occupiable first section with a number of ground engaging wheels and a first wall connected to a first floor;

an occupiable second section coupled to said first section and configured to move along a first axis from a first position to a second position relative to said first section to adjust volume of an occupiable living space defined by said first and second sections, said second section being occupiable in said first and second positions and having a second wall, a second floor connected to said second wall, and a guide;

a pair of load bearing arms, a first end of each of the load bearing arms being fixedly coupled to said first section and configured to support said second section, each of said arms including a bearing member pivotably mounted thereto distal to the first end thereof, each of said bearing members engaging said guide to move said second section along said first axis, each of said bearing members being permitted to move along a second axis in response to a force component acting perpendicular to said first axis when said second section is moved, said second axis being generally perpendicular to said first axis; and

an operator controlled positioning mechanism operatively coupled to said arms to selectively position said arms and correspondingly position said second section relative to said first section.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said second section includes a pair of opposing walls connected to said second floor and said second wall, said second floor slidingly engaging at least a portion of said first floor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said guide includes a rail and each of said bearing members engages said rail during adjustment of said occupiable living space.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said guide includes a rail and each of said bearing members includes a block slidingly engaging said rail.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said guide includes a channel defined between a pair of rails along said second axis and each of said bearing members includes a pivotally mounted block slidingly engaging said channel, each of said blocks being at least partially formed from a self-lubricating polymeric material.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein:

said guide includes a channel and each of said bearing members engages said channel; and

said arms each has a tube fixed to said first section and a moveable segment at least partially nested within said tube, and said moveable segment is configured to move along said first axis in response to said mechanism.

7. A system for varying space in a vehicle, said system comprising:

a first portion with a number of ground engaging wheels and a first floor connected to a first wall;

a second portion coupled to said first portion and having a second floor connected to a second wall, a first load bearing guide and a second load bearing guide being mounted on said second portion along a first axis, and wherein said first and second guides are each defined by a corresponding portion of an elongate channel defined along said first axis;

a first support arm coupled to said first portion and having a first bearing member engaging said first guide;

a second support arm coupled to said first portion and having a second bearing member engaging said second guide; and

an operator controlled actuator configured to selectively position said first and second arms and correspondingly move said second portion relative to said first portion along a second axis with said first and second bearing members to adjust volume of an occupiable living space defined by said first and second portions, said first and second bearing members being configured to move relative to said first axis in response to a force component acting along said first axis during adjustment of said second portion along said second axis, said second axis being generally perpendicular to said first axis.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said second portion includes a pair of opposing walls joined to said second floor and said second wall, said second portion being at least partially nested within said first portion.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein said first guide includes a rail and said first bearing member includes a pivotally mounted block slidingly engaging said rail during adjustment of said occupiable living space.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein each of said first and second bearing members includes a block slidingly engaging said channel, and said block is at least partially formed from a self-lubricating polymeric material.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein each of said first and second arms has a tube fixed to said first portion and a moveable segment configured to telescopically move relative to said tube thereof along said second axis in response to said actuator.

12. A system for varying space in a vehicle, said system comprising:

an occupiable first portion with a number of ground engaging wheels;

an occupiable second portion coupled to said first portion to define an occupiable living space and configured to move along a first axis from a retracted position to an expanded position relative to said first portion, said second portion being occupiable in said retracted and expanded positions, said second portion including a first load bearing guide and a second load bearing guide;

a first support arm with a first tube fixed to said first portion, and a first movable section at least partially nested within said first tube and configured to move telescopically relative to said first tube along said first axis, said first movable section engaging said second portion in a load bearing relationship, said first arm including a first bearing member engaging said first guide to move said second portion relative to said first portion, said first bearing member being permitted to move relative to a second axis during adjustment of said occupiable living space;

a second support arm coupled to said first portion and configured to movably engage said second portion, said second arm including a second bearing member engaging said second guide to move said second portion relative to said first portion said second bearing member being permitted to move relative to said second axis during adjustment of said occupiable living space; and

an operator controlled positioning mechanism, said mechanism including a first rotatable member being configured to rotate about the second axis approximately perpendicular to said first axis and engaging said first movable section to selectively position said first movable section along said first axis and correspondingly position said second portion in relation to said first portion.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein:

said second arm further includes a second tube fixed to said first portion and a second movable section at least partially nested within said second tube and configured to telescopically move relative thereto, said second movable section engaging said second portion in a load bearing relationship; and

said mechanism further includes a second rotatable member said second axis and engaging said second movable section to selectively position said second movable section along said first axis and correspondingly position said second portion in relation to said first portion.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said mechanism further includes an operator control operatively coupled to an electric motor with a shaft, and said shaft is coupled to said first and second rotatable members to selectively turn said first and second rotatable members in response to said operator control.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the first rotatable member and the second rotatable member are both formed from a self-lubricating polymeric material.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein said first rotatable member includes a number of radial teeth and said first movable section includes a number of apertures spaced along said first axis, said apertures each being configured for load bearing engagement by at least one of said teeth.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein said first rotatable member is formed from ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein said first portion has a first floor with a first load bearing surface, said second portion has a second floor with a second load bearing surface, said first floor slidingly engages said second floor, and at least one of said first and second load bearing surfaces is formed from a self-lubricating polymeric material.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein:

said second arm includes a second tube fixed to said first portion and a second movable section at least partially nested within said second tube and configured to telescopically move along said first axis in relation to said second tube, said second movable section engaging said second portion in a load bearing relationship;

said mechanism further includes a second rotatable member being generally configured to rotate about said second axis and engaging said second movable section to selectively position said second movable section along said first axis and correspondingly position said second portion in relation to said first portion; and

said mechanism further includes an operator control operatively coupled to an electric motor with a shaft, and said shaft is coupled to said first and second rotatable members to selectively turn said first and second rotatable members in response to said operator control.

20. The system of claim 12 wherein the first and second bearing members are formed from a self-lubricating polymeric material.