Latching mechanism for latching a slide out room to main living area

• US 6,227,607 B1
• Filed: 10/14/1998
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lippert Components Manufacturing (LCI Industries)
• Original Assignee: VT Holdings II Inc. (Actuant Corporation)
• Inventors: McManus, Martin P., McManus, Patrick W., Dewald, James E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, D. Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): MORROW, JASON S
• Application Number:
  US09/172,703
• Time in Patent Office: 937 Days
• Field of Search: 296/165, 296/171, 296/175, 296/26.09, 296/26.08, 296/26.03, 296/26.13, 296/26.12, 52/67
• US Class Current: 296/165
• 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

Mobile living quarter incorporates a slide out room which is moveable between an extended position providing auxiliary living quarters when the unit is parked and a retracted position retracted into the main living area when the unit moved. A latching mechanism automatically latches the slide out room to the main living quarters as the slide out room is moved into the fully retracted position, and releases the latch to permit outward movement of the room when the unit is parked and the slide out room is extended.

Claims

1. Mobile living quarters comprising a frame, a main living quarters mounted on said frame and an auxiliary living quarters mounted for movement relative to said main living quarters between a retracted position retracted within the main living quarters when the mobile living quarters is moved and an extended position when the mobile living quarters is parked for use, said auxiliary living quarters having a floor, a ceiling opposite said floor, a front wall and a pair of opposite side walls extending between said floor and said ceiling to define said auxiliary living quarters, drive means engaging a portion of said auxiliary living quarters displaced from said ceiling for moving the auxiliary living quarters between the extended and retracted positions, and a latching mechanism which secures the auxiliary living quarters to the main living quarters in response to movement of the auxiliary living quarters into the retracted position and releases the auxiliary living quarters from the main living quarters in response to movement of the auxiliary living quarters out of the retracted position, said latching mechanism including a lever mounted on one of said living quarters for engaging the other living quarters.

2. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 1, wherein said latching mechanism includes an actuator mounted on said one living quarters displaced from said lever toward said portion of said auxiliary living quarters engaged by said drive means, said actuator being responsive to movement of said auxiliary living quarters to operate said lever and a link extending between the actuator and the lever.

3. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said side walls and said front wall define a corner where the side wall meets the front wall, said front wall including a fascia projecting outwardly from said corner to define a recess, said lever and said link being mounted in said recess.

4. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 2, wherein said lever is responsive to operation of said actuator to move from an engaged position engaging said main living quarters when the auxiliary living quarters is in the retracted position to a disengaged position disengaged from the main living quarters when the auxiliary living quarters is to be moved form the retracted position.

5. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 4, wherein said portion of said auxiliary living quarters moves relative to said lever in response to actuation of said drive means, said actuator being responsive to said relative movement to pivot said lever to the disengaged position.

6. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 4, wherein said lever is pivotally mounted on said auxiliary living quarters.

7. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 4, wherein said actuator is movably mounted on said auxiliary living quarters and engages said main living quarters as the auxiliary living quarters is moved into said retracted position.

8. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 4, wherein said link is a cable, and said actuator includes a cable engaging member slidably mounted on the auxiliary living quarters and responsive to relative movement between the main and auxiliary living quarters for sliding relative to the auxiliary living quarters.

9. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 4, wherein said actuator includes a tab pivotally mounted on said one living quarters, said tab being pivoted by engagement with the other living quarters as said auxiliary living quarters is moved into the retracted position, said lever being pivotally mounted on the one living quarters, and a gear drive drivingly interconnecting the tab with the lever for differential movement of the lever and the tab relative to one another.

10. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 1, wherein said latch includes an electrical actuator engaging said lever with the other living quarters when the auxiliary living quarters is moved into the retracted position and releasing said lever when the auxiliary living quarters is moved from the retracted position.

11. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 10, wherein said main living quarters defines an opening through which said auxiliary living quarters is extended and retracted, said lever including means for aligning said auxiliary living quarters with the opening.

12. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 10, wherein said electrical actuator includes a reversible electric motor mounted on one of said living quarters having a threaded member engaging a mating threaded aperture in the other living quarters.

13. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 10, wherein said electrical actuator is a solenoid actuator having a plunger urged into a corresponding aperture in said auxiliary living quarters when the auxiliary living quarters is retracted into the main living quarters, said solenoid actuator being actuated to withdraw said plunger from the actuator when the auxiliary living quarters is extended from the main living quarters.

14. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lever includes an actuator engaging said main living quarters as said auxiliary living quarters is moved into the retracted position and a detent mechanism for releasably locking said latching mechanism in both engaged and disengaged positions.

15. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 14, wherein said detent mechanism includes means responsive to a smaller force to move the lever into the engaged position and a larger force to move the lever from the engaged to the disengaged position.

16. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 15, wherein said detent mechanism includes a spring loaded member yieldably urging a detent member into engagement with the lever.

17. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 14, wherein said lever includes a member engaging said main living quarters to assist in pulling said auxiliary living quarters into the main living quarters as said auxiliary living quarters is moved into the retracted position.

26. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 12, wherein said mating threaded aperture is a nut mounted on said other living quarters for movement relative thereto.

18. Latching mechanism for latching a slide out room to a main living quarters of a mobile living quarters when the slide out room is retracted into the main living quarters comprising a lever which secures the slide out room to the main living quarters in response to the retraction of the slide out room into a retracted position within the main living quarters and releases the slide out room in response to movement of the slide out room away from the retracted position.

19. Latching mechanism as claimed in claim 18, wherein an actuator is responsive to movement of the slide out room relative to the main living quarters, and a link interconnecting the actuator and the lever so that said actuator causes said lever to latch the slide out room to the main living quarters when the slide out room is retracted into the main living quarters and to disengage said lever when the slide out room is extended from the main living quarters.

20. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 19, wherein said lever is moved by said actuator through an amplifying link such that the lever moves a greater amount than the actuator moves.

21. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 19, wherein a tilting mechanism connects the slide out room to the main living quarters, said tilting mechanism pivoting the slide out room relative to the main living quarters as the slide out room is moved into a fully retracted position.

22. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 18, wherein said lever is operated by an electrical actuator.

23. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 18, wherein said latch includes a detent mechanism for releasably locking said latching mechanism in both engaged and disengaged positions, said detent mechanism including means responsive to a smaller force to move the latch into the engaged position and a larger force to move the latch from the engaged to the disengaged position.

24. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 23, wherein said detent mechanism carries said latching mechanism to pull said slide out room to the fully retracted position.

25. Mobile living quarters comprising a frame, a main living quarters mounted on said frame and an auxiliary living quarters mounted for movement relative to said main living quarters between a retracted position retracted within the main living quarters when the mobile living quarters is moved and an extended position when the mobile living quarters is parked for use, said auxiliary living quarters having a floor, a ceiling opposite said floor, a front wall and a pair of opposite side walls extending between said floor and said ceiling to define said auxiliary living quarters, drive means engaging a portion of said auxiliary living quarters displaced from said ceiling for moving the auxiliary living quarters between the extended and retracted positions, and a latching mechanism responsive to movement of the auxiliary living quarters relative to the main living quarters into the retracted position to secure the auxiliary living quarters to the main living quarters, said latching mechanism releasing in response to actuation of the drive means to move the auxiliary living quarters toward the extended position.

27. Mobile living quarters comprising a frame, a main living quarters mounted on said frame having a main living quarters wall defining an aperture, and a slide out room defining auxiliary living quarters mounted for movement relative to said main living quarters through said aperture between a retracted position retracted within the main living quarters when the mobile living quarters is moved and an extended position extended from said main living quarters through said aperture when the mobile living quarters is parked for use, said auxiliary living quarters having a floor, a ceiling opposite said floor, a front wall and a pair of opposite side walls extending between said floor and said ceiling to define said auxiliary living quarters, said ceiling and both of said side walls of the slide out room cooperating with said main living quarters wall to define a gap therebetween, and a latching mechanism mounted in said gap connected to one of said slide out room and said main living quarters wall for latching said slide out room to said main living quarters when the slide out room is in the retracted position.

28. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 27, wherein said latching mechanism is mounted in a portion of the gap defined between one of the side walls of the slide out room and the main living quarters wall.

29. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 28, wherein said one side wall has an exterior surface, said latching mechanism being mounted on said exterior surface of said one side wall and engages said main living quarters wall to latch the slide out room to the main living quarters.

30. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 29, wherein said main living quarters wall carries a deflectable seal yieldably engaging the slide out room to close said gap, said latching mechanism including a latch deflecting said seal as said slide out room is moved between the extended and retracted positions.

31. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 28, wherein said latching mechanism includes a latch, an actuator displaced from said latch and a link interconnecting the actuator and the latch.

32. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 31, wherein said latch includes a lever pivotally mounted on said exterior surface, said link including a cable.

33. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 28, wherein said latching mechanism includes a latch engaging said main living quarters as said auxiliary living quarters is moved into the retracted position, and a detent mechanism for releasably locking said latch in both an engaged position when the slide out room is in the retracted position and a disengaged position as said slide out room is moved away from the fully retracted position.

34. Mobile living quarters comprising a frame, a main living quarters mounted on said frame having a main living quarters wall defining an aperture, and a slide out room defining auxiliary living quarters mounted for movement relative to said main living quarters through said aperture between a retracted position retracted within the main living quarters when the mobile living quarters is moved and an extended position extended from said main living quarters through said aperture when the mobile living quarters is parked for use, said auxiliary living quarters having a floor, a ceiling opposite said floor, a front wall and a pair of opposite side walls extending between said floor and said ceiling to define said auxiliary living quarters, said ceiling and both of said side walls of the slide out room cooperating with said main living quarters wall to define a gap therebetween, and a latching mechanism mounted on one of said side walls of the slide out room, the latching mechanism latching the slide out room to said main living quarters in response to the slide out room being moved into the retracted position, the room having an upper edge and the aperture having an upper edge, the latching mechanism being positioned near one of the room upper edge and the aperture upper edge.

35. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 34, wherein said latching mechanism includes a lever, an actuator displaced from said lever, and a link interconnecting the actuator and the lever.

36. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 34, wherein said latching mechanism includes a latch engaging said main living quarters as said auxiliary living quarters is moved int the retracted position, and a detent mechanism for releasably locking said latch in both an engaged position when the slide out room is in the retracted position and a disengaged position as said slide out room is moved away from the fully retracted position.

37. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 34, wherein said main living quarters wall carries a deflectable seal yieldably engaging the slide out room to close said gap, said latching mechanism including a latch deflecting said seal as said slide out room is moved between the extended and retracted positions.

38. Mobile living quarters comprising a frame, a main living quarters mounted on said frame and an auxiliary living quarters mounted for movement relative to said main living quarters between a retracted position retracted within the main living quarters when the mobile living quarters is moved and an extended position when the mobile living quarters is parked for use, said auxiliary living quarters having a floor, a ceiling opposite said floor, a front wall and a pair of opposite side walls extending between said floor and said ceiling to define said auxiliary living quarters, drive means engaging a portion of said auxiliary living quarters displaced from said ceiling for moving the auxiliary living quarters between the extended and retracted positions, and a latching mechanism responsive to movement of the auxiliary living quarters relative to the main living quarters to secure the auxiliary living quarters to the main living quarters when the auxiliary living quarters is moved into the retracted position, said latching mechanism including a latch mounted on one of said living quarters for engaging the other living quarters, wherein said latching mechanism includes an actuator mounted on said one living quarters displaced from said latch toward said portion of said auxiliary living quarters engaged by said drive means, said actuator being responsive to movement of said auxiliary living quarters to operate said latch and a driving link extending between the actuator and the latch.

39. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 38, wherein each of said side walls and said front wall define a corner where the side wall meets the front wall, said front wall including a fascia projecting outwardly from said corner to define a recess, said latch and said driving link being mounted in said recess.

40. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 38, wherein said latch is responsive to operation of said actuator to move from an engaged position engaging said main living quarters when the auxiliary living quarters is in the retracted position to a disengaged position disengaged from the main living quarters when the auxiliary living quarters is to be moved form the retracted position.

41. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 40, wherein said portion of said auxiliary living quarters moves relative to said latch in response to actuation of said drive means, said actuator being responsive to said relative movement of said portion relative to said latch to pivot said latch to the disengaged position.

42. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 40, wherein said latch is a lever pivotally mounted on said auxiliary living quarters.

43. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 40, wherein said actuator is movably mounted on said auxiliary living quarters and engaged said main living quarters as the auxiliary living quarters is moved into said retracted position.

44. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 40, wherein said driving link is a cable and said actuator includes a cable engaging member slidably mounted on the auxiliary living quarters and responsive to relative movement between the main and auxiliary living quarters for sliding relative to the auxiliary living quarters.

45. Latching mechanism for latching a slide out room to a main living quarters of a mobile living quarters when the slide out room is retracted into the main living quarters comprising a latch responsive to relative movement of the slide out room relative to the main living quarters for securing the slide out room to the main living quarters when the slide out room is retracted into the main living quarters and for releasing the slide out room when the latter is moved away from the retracted position, an actuator responsive to relative movement of the slide out room relative to the main living quarters, and a driving link interconnecting the actuator and the latch whereby said actuator causes said latch to latch the slide out room to the main living quarters when the slide out room is retracted into the main living quarters and to disengage said latch when the slide out room is extended from the main living quarters, wherein said latch is moved by said actuator through an amplifying link such that the latch moves a greater amount than the actuator moves.

46. Latching mechanism for latching a slide out room to a main living quarters of a mobile living quarters when the slide out room is retracted into the main living quarters comprising a latch responsive to relative movement of the slide out room relative to the main living quarters for securing the slide out room to the main living quarters when the slide out room is retracted into the main living quarters and for releasing the slide out room when the latter is moved away from the retracted position, wherein said latch is operated by an electrical actuator.

47. Latching mechanism for latching a slide out room to a main living quarters of a mobile living quarters when the slide out room is retracted into the main living quarters comprising a latch responsive to relative movement of the slide out room relative to the main living quarters for securing the slide out room to the main living quarters when the slide out room is retracted into the main living quarters and for releasing the slide out room when the latter is moved away from the retracted position, wherein said latch includes a detent mechanism for releasably locking said latching mechanism in both engaged and disengaged positions, said detent mechanism including means responsive to a smaller force to move the latch into the engaged position and a larger force to move the latch from the engaged to the disengaged position.

48. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 47, wherein said detent mechanism carries said latching mechanism to pull said slide out room to the fully retracted position.

49. Mobile living quarters comprising a frame, a main living quarters mounted on said frame having a main living quarters wall defining an aperture, and a slide out room defining auxiliary living quarters mounted for movement relative to said main living quarters through said aperture between a retracted position retracted within the main living quarters when the mobile living quarters is moved and an extended position extended from said main living quarters through said aperture when the mobile living quarters is parked for use, said auxiliary living quarters having a floor, a ceiling opposite said floor, a front wall and a pair of opposite side walls extending between said floor and said ceiling to define said auxiliary living quarters, said ceiling and both of said side walls of the slide out room cooperating with said main living quarters wall to define a gap therebetween, and a latch mechanism mounted in said gap for latching said slide out room to said main living quarters when the slide out room is in the retracted position, said latching mechanism being mounted in a portion of the gap defined between one of the side walls of the slide out room and the main living quarters wall, wherein said one side wall has an exterior surface, said latching mechanism being mounted on said exterior surface of said one side wall and engages said main living quarters wall to latch the slide out room to the main living quarters.

50. Movable living quarters as claimed in claim 49, wherein said main living quarters wall carries a deflectable seal yieldably engaging the slide out room to close said gap, said latching mechanism including a latch deflecting said seal as said slide out room is moved between the extended and retracted positions.

51. Mobile living quarters comprising a frame, a main living quarters mounted on said frame having a main living quarters wall defining an aperture, and a slide out room defining auxiliary living quarters mounted for movement relative to said main living quarters through said aperture between a retracted position retracted within the main living quarters when the mobile living quarters is moved and an extended position extended from said main living quarters through said aperture when the mobile living quarters is parked for use, said auxiliary living quarters having a floor, a ceiling opposite said floor, a front wall and a pair of opposite side walls extending between said floor and said ceiling to define said auxiliary living quarters, said ceiling and both of said side walls of the slide out room cooperating with said main living quarters wall to define a gap therebetween, and a latch mechanism mounted in said gap for latching said slide out room to said main living quarters when the slide out room is in the retracted position, said latching mechanism being mounted in a portion of the gap defined between one of the side walls of the slide out room and the main living quarters wall, said latching mechanism includes a latch, an actuator displaced from said latch, and a driving link drivingly interconnecting the actuator and the latch, wherein said latch includes a lever pivotally mounted on said exterior surface, said driving link including a cable.

52. Mobile living quarters including a main living quarters and an auxiliary living quarters mounted for movement relative to the main living quarters between a retracted position retracted within the main living quarters and an extended position extended from the main living quarters, the auxiliary living quarters being movable transversely through an opening in the main living quarters between the extended and retracted positions, and a latching mechanism including a latch for securing the auxiliary living quarters to the main living quarters when the auxiliary living quarters is in the retracted position, the latch being responsive to movement of the auxiliary living quarters.

53. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 52, wherein the auxiliary living quarters has a top edge and the opening has a top edge, the latch being positioned near one of the top edge of the auxiliary living quarters and the top edge of the opening.

54. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 52, wherein the latch compresses an upper edge of the auxiliary living quarters and a wall of the main living quarters defining the opening.

55. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 52, wherein the auxiliary living quarters has a lower edge and the opening has a lower edge, the latching mechanism further including an actuator mounted near one of the lower edge of the auxiliary living quarters and the lower edge of the opening.

56. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 55, wherein the auxiliary living quarters has an upper edge and the opening has an upper edge, the actuator transferring force to the latch which is mounted near one of the upper edge of the auxiliary living quarters and the upper edge of the opening.

57. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 55, wherein the latching mechanism includes an amplifying link connected between the actuator and the latch such that movement of the actuator of a first distance causes movement of the latch of a second distance which is greater than the first distance.

58. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 52, wherein the latching mechanism includes a detent member for retaining the latch in an engaged position when the auxiliary living quarters is in the retracted position and a disengaged position when the auxiliary living quarters is moved from the retracted position.

59. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 58, wherein the latching mechanism includes a spring for urging the detent member into engagement with the latch.

60. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 52, wherein the latching mechanism includes a tab pivotally mounted on the auxiliary living quarters, the tab being pivoted by engagement with the main living quarters wall defining the opening as the auxiliary living quarters is moved into the retracted position, and a gear drive connecting the tab and the latch for differential movement of the latch relative to the tab.

61. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 52, wherein movement of the auxiliary living quarters into the retracted position causes the latching mechanism to draw the auxiliary living quarters into engagement with a peripheral seal around the opening.

62. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 61, wherein the latch is sized to pass through the opening without interfering with the seal and is actuated after passing through the opening to draw an upper edge of the auxiliary living quarters into engagement with the seal.

63. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 52, wherein the latch is mounted on the auxiliary living quarters such that a portion of the latch passes through the opening before responding to movement of the auxiliary living quarters to secure the auxiliary living quarters in the retracted position.

64. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 55, wherein the latch is mounted on the auxiliary living quarters such that a portion of the latch passes through the opening before the actuator operates the latch as the auxiliary living quarters is moved into the retracted position.

65. Mobile living quarters as claimed in claim 52 wherein a tilting mechanism connects the auxiliary living quarters to the main living quarters, the tilting mechanism pivoting the auxiliary living quarters relative to the main living quarters as the auxiliary living quarters is moved into the retracted position.

66. Mobile living quarters including auxiliary living quarters movable through an opening formed in a wall of the mobile living quarters between a retracted position within a main living area of the mobile living quarters and an extended position laterally spaced apart from the main living area, the auxiliary living quarters having an upper edge and the opening having an upper edge, the mobile living quarters including a latching mechanism having a latch positioned near one of the upper edge of the auxiliary living quarters and the upper edge of the opening which secures the auxiliary living quarters to the main living area when the auxiliary living quarters is in a retracted position and releases the auxiliary living quarters from the main living area when the auxiliary living quarters is moved out of the retracted position.