Slide out kitchen for motor homes and the like

• US 6,098,346 A
• Filed: 12/01/1997
• Issued: 08/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Newmar Corporation (Winnebago Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Newmar Corporation (Winnebago Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Miller, William J., Nisley, Kenneth W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HORTON, YVONNE MICHELE
• Application Number:
  US08/980,639
• Time in Patent Office: 981 Days
• Field of Search: 52/67, 52/79.1, 52/143, 296/22, 296/24.1, 296/26, 296/171, 296/175, 296/156, 285/272, 285/275, 285/282
• US Class Current: 52/67
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/36 Auxiliary arrangements; Arrangements of living accommodation toilet or washing arrangements B60R15/00; Details
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 15/00 Arrangements or adaptations of sanitation devices

Abstract

A plumbing assembly is provided which is formed from a plurality of rigid pipe sections, connected between a movable sink and a relatively fixed fluid outlet. These pipe sections are joined together by swivel fittings that permit the pipe sections to rotate with respect to each other. In this manner, different distances between the sink and the fluid outlet are accommodated by a folding and unfolding motion of the plumbing assembly in a minimum of space behind the wall of an expandable portion of the room. Fluid supply lines for providing hot and cold water to the sink faucet can be mounted within the same spacial area by means of similar swivel fittings that create an offset parallelogram structure. The lengths of at least the fluid draining pipe sections and the supporting structure behind the wall are selected such that a downward slope is maintained over the entire fluid flow path between the sink and the fluid outlet regardless of sink position during usage.

Claims

1. A plumbing assembly comprising:

a fluid outlet,

a fluid inlet mounted at a location that is movable with respect to the fluid outlet, and

fluid conducting means connected between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet for maintaining a non-positive slope and continuous connection therebetween regardless of the position of the fluid inlet.

2. The plumbing assembly according to claim 1 wherein the fluid outlet is adapted to be mounted to a first portion of a vehicle and the fluid inlet is adapted to be mounted to a second portion of the vehicle that is movable with respect to the first portion of the vehicle.

3. The plumbing assembly according to claim 1 wherein the fluid conducting means includes a plurality of rigid pipe sections that are sealingly connected so as to be rotatable with respect to each other.

4. The plumbing assembly according to claim 1 including three pivotable connections between four rigid lengths of pipe disposed such that the pipe orientation changes with the position of the fluid inlet but avoids creating an elevational rise toward the fluid outlet in any of the pipe lengths, regardless of the fluid inlet position.

5. A slide out kitchen adapted for a vehicle, comprising:

a fluid outlet assembly fixedly mounted with respect to the vehicle,

a kitchen cabinet section movably mounted with respect to the vehicle between at least two usage positions and including a sink basin, the sink basin having a drain opening therein, and

a plumbing assembly connected between the drain opening and the fluid outlet assembly, the plumbing assembly providing means for transporting fluid from the sink basin to the fluid outlet assembly without creating an elevation in the path of the fluid which retains fluid intermediate the drain opening and the fluid outlet assembly, regardless of the usage position of the cabinet section with respect to the vehicle.

6. The kitchen assembly according to claim 5 also including at least one fluid supply assembly fixedly mounted with respect to the vehicle, a faucet mounted adjacent the sink basin for providing fluid thereto, and the plumbing assembly also including means for connecting the fluid supply assembly to the faucet so as to permit fluid flow therebetween.

7. The kitchen assembly according to claim 6 wherein the plumbing assembly is mounted in a behind the wall construction and the plumbing assembly is disposed such that the means for connecting the fluid supply assembly to the faucet and the means for transporting fluid from the sink basin to the fluid outlet assembly are confined to approximately the same spacial area.

8. A slide out kitchen, comprising:

a fluid outlet;

a sink mounted in a cabinet, that cabinet being slidable into a plurality of positions with respect to the fluid outlet;

a fluid drain assembly connected between the fluid outlet and the sink, including;

a first length of rigid pipe connected to the sink for receiving fluid therefrom;

a second length of rigid pipe, pivotably connected to the first length of rigid pipe at a location intermediate any bends in either of those pipes, for receiving fluid therefrom;

a third length of rigid pipe, pivotably connected to the second length of rigid pipe at a location intermediate any bends in either of those pipes, for receiving fluid therefrom; and

a fourth length of rigid pipe, pivotably connected to the third length of rigid pipe and pivotably connected to the fluid outlet at a location intermediate any bends in either of those pipes.

9. The slide out kitchen according to claim 8, further comprising:

first and second fluid supply inlets;

at least one faucet mounted adjacent the sink for providing fluid to the sink;

first supply pipe assembly connected between the first fluid supply inlet and the faucet;

second supply pipe assembly connected between the second supply inlet and the faucet;

the first and second supply pipe assemblies each being formed from a plurality of rigid pipe sections that are pivotably connected together and each such assembly is oriented with respect to the other assembly so as to form an offset parallelogram to decrease spacial displacement of the combined structure.