Flexible plumbing assembly

• US 5,951,082 A
• Filed: 07/24/1998
• Issued: 09/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Monaco Coach Corporation
• Original Assignee: Monaco Coach Corporation
• Inventors: Ward, Thomas J., DiBiagio, Anthony J., Hastings, Gordon G., Krenelka, Todd C.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAPE, JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US09/122,529
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• Field of Search: 296/26.09, 296/26.13, 296/136, 296/165, 296/171, 296/175
• US Class Current: 296/26.13
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 15/00 Arrangements or adaptations of sanitation devices

Abstract

A flexible plumbing assembly 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 comprising 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 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 holds 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 system for use in a recreational vehicle having a fixed cabin including a floor and a wall structure, and a movable cabin having a floor and a wall structure movable between extended and retracted positions relative to the fixed cabin, said flexible plumbing system comprising at least one pipe in the fixed cabin having an opening at one end for enabling the flow of material through the fixed cabin pipe, at least one pipe in the movable cabin having an opening at one end for enabling the flow of material through the movable cabin pipe, a flexible hose having fixed and movable ends, a first connection for connecting the fixed hose end to the opening of the fixed cabin pipe, and a second connection for connecting the movable hose end to the opening of the movable cabin pipe, and support means for operatively supporting at least one of the first and second hose connections relative to the other of the first and second hose connections for enabling material to flow through the flexible hose in a desired direction between the fixed cabin pipe and movable cabin pipe regardless of the location and movement of the movable cabin between the extended and retracted positions.

2. The flexible plumbing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support means supports the second hose connection at an elevation substantially above the first hose connection so that the material flows from the movable pipe opening towards the fixed pipe opening.

3. The flexible plumbing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second hose connection is disposed at a substantially constant elevation relative to the movable cabin floor as the movable cabin extends and retracts.

4. The flexible plumbing system as set forth in claim 1 including a track operatively attached to the wall structure of the movable cabin for receiving the support means, and the track has inboard and outboard ends, and the support means is slidably attached to the track for movement between inboard and outboard ends of the track, wherein the support means moves between the inboard end when the movable cabin is in the retracted position and the outboard end when the movable cabin is in the extended position.

5. The flexible plumbing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the support means supports at least one of the first and second hose connections at a substantially constant elevation relative to the movable cabin floor as the movable cabin moves between the extended and retracted positions.

6. The flexible plumbing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the support means supports the first hose connection for creating a desired drainage slope in the flexible hose.

7. The flexible plumbing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the support means includes a bracket that supports the second hose connection above the first hose connection as the movable cabin moves between the extended and retracted positions.

8. The flexible plumbing system as set forth in claim 7 wherein the bracket is disposed to maintain the elevation of the second hose connection relative to the first hose connection so that the flexible hose forms a slope sufficient to allow material to drain in the desired direction when the movable cabin is positioned between the extended and retracted positions.

9. The flexible plumbing system as set forth in claim 8 wherein the slope is at least about one quarter inch per foot.

10. The flexible plumbing system as set forth in claim 7 wherein the second hose connection is disposed at a substantially constant elevation relative to the movable cabin floor as the movable cabin extends and retracts.

11. The flexible plumbing system as set forth in claim 7 including a track operatively attached to the wall structure of the movable cabin for receiving the bracket, and the track has inboard and outboard ends, and the bracket is slidably attached to the track for movement between the inboard and outboard ends of the track wherein the bracket moves between the inboard end when the movable cabin is in the retracted position and the outboard end when the movable cabin is in the extended position.

12. The flexible plumbing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the support means includes a bracket that supports the first hose connection for creating a drainage slope in the flexible hose.

13. The flexible plumbing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the support means includes a first bracket that supports the first hose connection and a second bracket that supports the second hose connection for creating a drainage slope in the flexible hose.

14. The flexible plumbing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the support means includes a bracket that supports at least one of the first and second hose connections at a substantially constant elevation relative to the movable cabin floor as the movable cabin moves between the extended and retracted positions.

15. The flexible plumbing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the support means includes a bracket disposed to maintain the elevation of the second hose connection relative to the first hose connection so that the flexible hose forms a slope sufficient to allow material to drain in the desired direction when the movable cabin is positioned between the extended and retracted positions.

16. The flexible plumbing system as set forth in claim 1 including a guide engaging at least a portion of the flexible hose between the first and second hose connections to retain the flexible hose at a desired drainage angle as the movable cabin moves between the extended and retracted positions.

17. The flexible plumbing assembly as set forth in claim 16 wherein the guide includes a first guide member disposed near the first hose connection for receiving the flexible hose and retaining the flexible hose at the desired drainage angle.

18. The flexible plumbing assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein the guide includes a second guide member disposed near the second hose connection for receiving the flexible hose and retaining the flexible hose at the desired drainage angle.

19. The flexible plumbing assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the flexible hose between the first and second hose connections is disposed within the wall structure of the fixed and movable cabins at a desired drainage angle as the movable cabin moves between the extended and retracted positions.

20. The flexible plumbing assembly as set forth in claim 19 wherein a plane passing through the first and second hose connections is substantially parallel to walls of the fixed and movable cabins.

21. The flexible plumbing assembly as set forth in claim 1 comprising sliding means for horizontally moving the second hose connection in the movable cabin at a constant elevation relative to the movable cabin floor as the movable cabin pipe moves with the movable cabin between the extended and retracted positions.

22. The flexible plumbing assembly as set forth in claim 21 wherein the support means comprises a bracket and the sliding means comprises a track operatively attached to a wall structure of the movable cabin for receiving the bracket wherein the track has inboard and outboard ends and the bracket is slidably attached to the track for movement between the inboard end when the movable cabin is in the retracted position and the outboard end when the movable cabin is in the extended position.

23. The flexible plumbing system as set forth in claim 1 comprising hose guiding means for holding at least a portion of the flexible hose means for ensuring that material in the flexible hose moves in the desired direction as the movable cabin moves between the extended and retracted positions.

24. The flexible plumbing assembly as set forth in claim 23 wherein the hose guiding means comprises a fixed hose guide disposed near the first hose connection where the flexible hose runs generally horizontal and a movable hose guide disposed near the second hose connection where the flexible hose also runs generally horizontal, wherein both the fixed hose guide and the movable hose guide are adapted to hold the flexible hose so that material in the flexible hose flows in the proper direction.

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

26. The flexible plumbing assembly as set forth in claim 25 wherein said hose guiding means includes a fixed hose guide channel disposed near said fixed hose end, and a movable hose guide channel secured to move with said bracket near said movable hose end wherein portions of the hose lie respectively in the fixed hose guide channel and the movable hose guide channel at desired drainage angles.

27. The flexible plumbing assembly as set forth in claim 26 wherein said guide channels hold said hose in a generally U-shaped bend between said guide channels.