Expandable travel trailer

• US 6,854,787 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2003
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Columbia Northwest, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fleetwood Folding Trailers, Inc.
• Inventors: Thompson, Robert H., Hall, James R., Turner, David R., Gehman, Dana K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, D. Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gutman, H.
• Application Number:
  US10/435,868
• Publication Number:
  US 20030193213A1
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 296/26.01, 296/26.08, 296/26.09, 296/177, 296/156, 296/164, 296/165, 296/188, 296/170, 296/172, 296/173, 296/175, 296/176
• US Class Current: 296/171
• 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

The travel trailer includes a chassis having wheels and a trailer body attached to the chassis. The trailer body includes sidewalls, a front end wall, a rear end wall, a roof, and a floor. The sidewalls, end walls, roof, and floor form an internal living space of the trailer body. A slide-out area is slidably extendable outward from the trailer body. The slide-out area is extendable from a retracted position received substantially within the trailer body to an extended position extended outward from the trailer body. The slide-out area has a roof, sidewalls, a bottom wall, and a front end wall. The front end wall of the slide-out areas is adapted to seal against the trailer body in the retracted position.

Claims

1. A travel trailer, comprising:

a chassis having wheels;

a trailer body attached to the chassis and comprising rigid sidewalls, a rigid front end wall, a rigid rear end wall, a rigid non-peaked roof, and a floor, the sidewalls, end walls, roof, and floor defining an internal space of the trailer body;

a slide-out area extendable outward from the trailer body, the slide-out area extendable from a retracted position received substantially within the trailer body to an extended position extended outward from the trailer body, the slide-out area comprising;

a rigid peaked roof;

rigid sidewalls connected to the roof;

a rigid bottom wall connected to the sidewalls; and

a rigid front end wall connected to the roof, sidewalls, and bottom wall; and

a removable external support for supporting the slide-out area in the extended position, the support comprising;

a support member configured for removable connection to the trailer body; and

a leg member connected to the support member, the leg member configured for removable connection to the chassis for supporting the slide-out area in the extended position,

wherein the slide-out area is extendable from an end wall of the trailer body, the trailer body end wall defining an opening for receiving the slide-out area into the trailer body, and the front end wall of the slide-out area adapted to seal against the trailer body end wall in the retracted position, and

wherein the leg member is pivotally connected to the support member.

2. The travel trailer of claim 1, further comprising an external roller attached to the front end wall of the slide-out area, the external roller positioned to coact with the support member such that when the slide-out area is moved between the extended and retracted positions the external roller is guided along the support member.

3. A travel trailer, comprising:

a chassis having wheels;

a trailer body attached to the chassis and comprising rigid sidewalls, a rigid front end wall, a rigid rear end wall, a rigid non-peaked roof, and a floor, the sidewalls, end walls, roof, and floor defining an internal space of the trailer body;

a slide-out area extendable outward from the trailer body, the slide-out area extendable from a retracted position received substantially within the trailer body to an extended position extended outward from the trailer body, the slide-out area comprising;

a rigid peaked roof;

rigid sidewalls connected to the roof;

a rigid bottom wall connected to the sidewalls; and

a rigid front end wall connected to the roof, sidewalls, and bottom wall; and

at least one clamping device attached to the slide-out area, the at least one clamping device comprising a first member attached to the slide-out area and a second member pivotally connected to the first member, the second member having a threaded tube, and the at least one clamping device further comprising a threaded member coacting with the threaded tube such that rotation of the threaded member in a first direction extends the threaded member to contact the trailer body and applies tension force between the slide-out area and the trailer body for reducing vibration therebetween,

wherein the slide-out area is extendable from an end wall of the trailer body, the trailer body end wall defining an opening for receiving the slide-out area into the trailer body, and the front end wall of the slide-out area adapted to seal against the trailer body end wall in the retracted position.

4. A travel trailer, comprising:

a chassis having wheels;

a trailer body attached to the chassis and comprising rigid sidewalls, a rigid front end wall, a rigid rear end wall, a rigid roof, and a floor, the sidewalls, end walls, roof, and floor defining an internal space of the trailer body;

a slide-out area extendable outward from one of the end walls of the trailer body, the slide-out area extendable from a retracted position received substantially within the trailer body to an extended position extended outward from the trailer body, the slide-out area comprising;

a rigid roof;

rigid sidewalls connected to the roof;

a rigid bottom wall connected to the sidewalls; and

a rigid end wall connected to the roof, sidewalls, and bottom wall, and

at least one support leg pivotally attached to the bottom wall of the slide-out area and configured to removably connect to the chassis for supporting the slide-out area in the extended position,

wherein the slide-out area is supported in the extended position by at least one external support comprising a support member extending from the trailer body end wall and a leg member connected to the support member.

5. A sealing arrangement for a travel trailer comprising a trailer body with a slide-out area, the trailer body defining an opening for receiving the slide-out area into the trailer body, and the slide-out area movable between a retracted position received substantially within the trailer body and an extended position extending outward from the trailer body, the sealing arrangement comprising:

a first flange plate connected to the trailer body and extending into the opening in the trailer body accommodating the slide-out area, the first flange plate having a pair of sealing gaskets attached to opposite sides thereof; and

a second flange plate attached to an end of the slide-out area received within the trailer body,

wherein when the slide-out area is in the extended position the second flange plate engages one of the sealing gaskets attached to the first flange plate to provide a substantially weather tight seal between the slide-out area and trailer body, and wherein when the slide-out area is in the retracted position a front end wall of the slide-out area engages the other of the pair of sealing gaskets to provide a substantially weather tight seal between the slide-out area and trailer body.

6. The sealing arrangement of claim 5, wherein the sealing gaskets comprise wiper seals for wiping rigid walls of the slide-out area as the slide-out area is moved between the extended and retracted positions.

7. The sealing arrangement of claim 5, further comprising an additional sealing gasket attached to the slide-out area for engaging the trailer body in the retracted position of the slide-out area.

8. A travel trailer, comprising:

a chassis having wheels;

a trailer body attached to the chassis and comprising rigid sidewalls, a rigid front end wall, a rigid rear end wall, a rigid roof, and a floor, the sidewalls, end walls, roof, and floor defining an internal space of the trailer body; and

a slide-out area extendable outward from the trailer body, the slide-out area extendable from a retracted position received substantially within the trailer body to an extended position extended outward from the trailer body, the slide-out area comprising;

a rigid roof;

rigid sidewalls connected to the roof;

a rigid bottom wall connected to the sidewalls; and

a rigid end wall connected to the roof, sidewalls, and bottom wall,

wherein the slide-out area is supported in the extended position by at least one external support comprising a support member extending from the trailer body end wall and a lea member connected to the support member, and

wherein the leg member is pivotally connected to the support member.

9. The travel trailer of claim 8, wherein the end wall of the slide-out area is adapted to seal against the trailer body end wall in the retracted position.

10. The travel trailer of claim 8, wherein the support member is configured for removable connection to the trailer body end wall.

11. The travel trailer of claim 8, wherein the leg member is configured for removable connection to the chassis for supporting the slide-out area in the extended position.

12. The travel trailer of claim 8, wherein the end wall of the slide-out area comprises a flange extending around the perimeter of the end wall of the slide-out area and a sealing gasket attached to the flange for sealing against the trailer body end wall in the retracted position of the slide-out area.

13. The travel trailer of claim 8, wherein a slidable connection between the slide-out area and the trailer body comprises:

a pair of substantially horizontal guide rails; and

a pair of rollers received in the guide rails for providing slidable movement of the slide-out area relative to the trailer body.

14. A travel trailer, comprising:

a chassis having wheels;

a trailer body attached to the chassis and comprising rigid sidewalls, a rigid front end wall, a rigid rear end wall, a rigid roof, and a floor, the sidewalls, end walls, roof, and floor defining an internal space of the trailer body;

a slide-out area extendable outward from the trailer body, the slide-out area extendable from a retracted position received substantially within the trailer body to an extended position extended outward from the trailer body, the slide-out area comprising;

a rigid roof;

rigid sidewalls connected to the roof;

a rigid bottom wall connected to the sidewalls; and

a rigid end wall connected to the roof, sidewalls, and bottom wall, and

an external roller attached to the end wall of the slide-out area, the external roller positioned to coact with a support member such that when the slide-out area is moved between the extended and retracted positions the external roller rolls along the support member,

wherein the slide-out area is supported in the extended position by at least one external support comprising the support member extending from the trailer body end wall and a leg member connected to the support member.

15. The travel trailer of claim 14, wherein the end wall of the slide-out area is adapted to seal against the trailer body end wall in the retracted position.

16. The travel trailer of claim 14, wherein the support member is configured for removable connection to the trailer body end wall.

17. The travel trailer of claim 14, wherein the leg member is configured for removable connection to the chassis for supporting the slide-out area in the extended position.

18. The travel trailer of claim 14, wherein the end wall of the slide-out area comprises a flange extending around the perimeter of the end wall of the slide-out area and a sealing gasket attached to the flange for sealing against the trailer body end wall in the retracted position of the slide-out area.

19. The travel trailer of claim 14, wherein a slidable connection between the slide-out area and the trailer body comprises:

a pair of substantially horizontal guide rails; and

a pair of rollers received in the guide rails for providing slidable movement of the slide-out area relative to the trailer body.

20. A travel trailer, comprising:

a chassis having wheels;

a trailer body attached to the chassis and comprising rigid sidewalls, a rigid front end wall, a rigid rear end wall, a rigid roof, and a floor, the sidewalls, end walls, roof, and floor defining an internal space of the trailer body;

a slide-out area extendable outward from the trailer body, the slide-out area extendable from a retracted position received substantially within the trailer body to an extended position extended outward from the trailer body, the slide-out area comprising;

a rigid roof;

rigid sidewalls connected to the roof;

a rigid bottom wall connected to the sidewalls; and

a rigid end wall connected to the roof, sidewalls, and bottom wall, and

a latching device associated with the trailer body end wall and the end wall of the slide-out area for securing the slide-out area in the retracted position,

wherein the slide-out area is supported in the extended position by at least one external support comprising a support member extending from the trailer body end wall and a leg member connected to the support member.

21. The travel trailer of claim 20, wherein the end wall of the slide-out area is adapted to seal against the trailer body end wall in the retracted position.

22. The travel trailer of claim 20, wherein the support member is configured for removable connection to the trailer body end wall.

23. The travel trailer of claim 20, wherein the leg member is configured for removable connection to the chassis for supporting the slide-out area in the extended position.

24. The travel trailer of claim 20, wherein the end wall of the slide-out area comprises a flange extending around the perimeter of the end wall of the slide-out area and a sealing gasket attached to the flange for sealing against the trailer body end wall in the retracted position of the slide-out area.

25. The travel trailer of claim 20, wherein a slidable connection between the slide-out area and the trailer body comprises:

a pair of substantially horizontal guide rails; and

a pair of rollers received in the guide rails for providing slidable movement of the slide-out area relative to the trailer body.

26. The travel trailer of claim 20, wherein the latching device comprises a rod operatively associated with at least one cam action engagement, such that rotational movement of the rod causes the at least one cam action engagement to exert compressive pressure on the slide-out area relative to the trailer body end wall.

27. The travel trailer of claim 26, further comprising a lever arm associated with the rod for imparting the rotational movement to the rod.

28. The travel trailer of claim 26, wherein the rod is disposed on the end wall of the slide-out area and the at least one cam action engagement is disposed on the trailer body end wall.

29. A travel trailer, comprising:

a chassis having wheels;

a trailer body attached to the chassis and comprising rigid sidewalls, a rigid front end wall, a rigid rear end wall, a rigid roof, and a floor, the sidewalls, end walls, roof, and floor defining an internal space of the trailer body;

a slide-out area extendable outward from one of the end walls of the trailer body, the slide-out area extendable from a retracted position received substantially within the trailer body to an extended position extended outward from the trailer body, the slide-out area comprising;

a rigid roof;

rigid sidewalls connected to the roof;

a rigid bottom wall connected to the sidewalls; and

a rigid end wall connected to the roof, sidewalls, and bottom wall; and

a latching device associated with the trailer body end wall and the end wall of the slide-out area for securing the slide-out area in the retracted position,

wherein the latching device comprises a rod operatively associated with at least one cam action engagement, such that rotational movement of the rod causes the at least one cam action engagement to exert compressive pressure on the slide-out area relative to the trailer body end wall.

30. The travel trailer of claim 29, further comprising a lever arm associated with the rod for imparting the rotational movement to the rod.

31. The travel trailer of claim 33, wherein the rod is disposed on the end wall of the slide-out area and the at least one cam action engagement is disposed on the trailer body end wall.