System for preventing damage to recreational vehicle slide-outs
First Claim
1. A recreational vehicle comprising:
- a chassis having a plurality of rotatable wheels extending therefrom;
a main housing member disposed above the chassis, said main housing member comprising a plurality of walls that define a main interior living space therebetween and an opening that extends from the main interior living space;
a slide-out member disposed within the opening of the main housing member, said slide-out member comprising a plurality of walls that define a supplemental living space therebetween, wherein the slide-out member is movable between (a) a retracted position such that a substantial portion of the slide-out is disposed within the main interior living space and (b) a deployed position such that a substantial portion of the slide-out is disposed outside of the main interior living space so as to provide the vehicle with an increased overall living space that includes the main interior living space of the main housing member and the supplemental living space of the slide-out member. an actuator assembly that, when activated, urges the slide-out member to move between the retracted position and the deployed position; and
a damage avoidance system that reduces the likelihood that the slide-out member will be damaged as a result of the slide-out member colliding with an object disposed in the path of the slide-out member.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A recreational vehicle having an extendable slide-out controlled by an actuator assembly is provided with a damage avoidance system. The damage avoidance system determines if the slide-out is in an adverse state and, if the adverse state is detected, inhibits the actuator assembly from moving the slide-out. The slide-out is in the adverse state if (a) a collision between the slide-out and a nearby object is imminent, (b) a collision has recently occurred, or (c) a resistive force is acting on the slide-out which substantially inhibits the actuator assembly from moving the slide-out. The damage avoidance system comprises a sensor module for monitoring the state of the slide-out and for providing an override signal to the actuator assembly, wherein the override signal is indicative of the slide-out being in the adverse state. In one embodiment, the sensor module comprises a position sensor disposed adjacent an interior swivel chair of the recreational vehicle, wherein the sensor module generates the override signal if the position sensor detects that the chair is not facing forward. In another embodiment, the sensor module comprises a shock sensor coupled to the slide-out. In yet another embodiment, the sensor module comprises a load sensor that monitors the mechanical load imposed on the actuator assembly.
132 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A recreational vehicle comprising:
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a chassis having a plurality of rotatable wheels extending therefrom;
a main housing member disposed above the chassis, said main housing member comprising a plurality of walls that define a main interior living space therebetween and an opening that extends from the main interior living space;
a slide-out member disposed within the opening of the main housing member, said slide-out member comprising a plurality of walls that define a supplemental living space therebetween, wherein the slide-out member is movable between (a) a retracted position such that a substantial portion of the slide-out is disposed within the main interior living space and (b) a deployed position such that a substantial portion of the slide-out is disposed outside of the main interior living space so as to provide the vehicle with an increased overall living space that includes the main interior living space of the main housing member and the supplemental living space of the slide-out member. an actuator assembly that, when activated, urges the slide-out member to move between the retracted position and the deployed position; and
a damage avoidance system that reduces the likelihood that the slide-out member will be damaged as a result of the slide-out member colliding with an object disposed in the path of the slide-out member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A recreational vehicle comprising:
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a chassis having a plurality of rotatable wheels extending therefrom;
a main housing member disposed above the chassis, said main housing member comprising a plurality of walls that define a main interior living space therebetween and an opening that extends from the main interior living space;
a slide-out member disposed within the opening of the main housing member, said slide-out member comprising a plurality of walls that define a supplemental living space therebetween, wherein the slide-out member is moveable between (a) a retracted portion such that a substantial portion of the slide-out is disposed within the main interior living space and (b) a deployed position such that a substantial portion of the slide-out is disposed outside of the main interior living space so as to provide the vehicle with an increased overall living space that includes the main interior living space of the main housing member and the supplemental living space of the slide-out member. an actuator assembly that, when activated, urges the slide-out member to move between the retracted position and the deployed position; and
a damage avoidance system that reduces the likelihood that the slide-out member will be damaged as a result of the slide-out member colliding with an object disposed in the path of the slide-out member, wherein the damage avoidance system comprises a sensor module for determining if the slide-out member is in an adverse state, said sensor module inhibiting the actuator assembly from applying a force onto the slide-out member when the slide-out is in the adverse state. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
a strip of metal mounted on the chair in a location wherein the slide out member will contact the strip of metal when the slide out member is being retracted and the chair is in the first orientation; and
a limit switch positioned within the chair such that when the slide out member contacts the strip of metal, the strip of metal contacts the limit switch and causes the limit switch to send a signal to the actuator assembly to disengage the actuator assembly.
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Specification