Securing mechanism for recreational vehicle slide outs

• US 6,886,875 B1
• Filed: 09/16/2003
• Issued: 05/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alfa Leisure Inc
• Original Assignee: Alfa Leisure Inc
• Inventors: Crean, Johnnie R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coletta, Lori L.
• Application Number:
  US10/663,192
• Time in Patent Office: 595 Days
• Field of Search: 296/26.13, 296/26.12, 296/26.01, 296/165, 296/171, 296/175, 52/67
• US Class Current: 296/26.13
• 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

A securing mechanism for use with a recreational vehicle (RV) slide out assembly. The securing mechanism structurally interconnects the slide out assembly to the RV when the slide out assembly is in a retracted position and when it is in an extended position. Specifically, loads in the RV induced from the road, from passengers, from equipment, and other various sources are distributed through the slide out assembly. Advantageously, flexure of the RV walls around the slide out opening is reduced. As a result, walls and their fixtures are less likely to be damaged due to flexure, seals between the RV walls and the slide out are more likely to stay intact, and the size of slide outs can be increased without compromising the structural integrity of the RV.

Claims

1. A recreational vehicle comprising:

a main housing having a plurality of walls that are joined together so as to define an interior living space with a floor and a roof, wherein the plurality of walls includes a first wall having an opening formed therein so as to define upper and lower portions of the first wall;

a slide-out housing positioned in the opening in the first wall so as to be movable between a retracted position and an extended position, the slide-out housing having upper and lower outer edges that are positioned adjacent the upper and lower portions of the first wall when the slide-out housing is in the retracted position;

a securing mechanism having a first plurality of securing components positioned adjacent the upper and lower portions of the first wall and a second plurality of securing components positioned adjacent the upper and lower outer edges of the slide-out housing, wherein the second plurality of securing components engages with the first plurality of securing components when the slide-out housing is in the retracted position so as to couple the upper and lower outer edges of the slide-out housing to the upper and lower portions of the first wall to thereby inhibit movement between the upper and lower portions of the first wall when the slide-out housing is in the retracted position;

wherein the second plurality of securing components comprises a plurality of securing members, and wherein the first plurality of securing components comprises a plurality of securing receptacles that receive the plurality of securing members when the slide-out housing is in the retracted position.

2. The recreational vehicle of claim 1, wherein the plurality of securing members extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first wall.

3. The recreational vehicle of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of securing members includes a cylindrically shaped post, and wherein each of the plurality of receptacles defines an elongated slot having horizontal and vertical dimensions, and wherein the horizontal dimension is selected so as to restrict the horizontal movement of the securing members once positioned inside the receptacles.

4. The recreational vehicle of claim 3, further comprising one or more bolts mounted adjacent one or more of the receptacles and adapted to extend horizontally and generally perpendicular to the axis of the cylindrical post into the elongated slot thereby reducing the vertical dimension of the elongated slot so as to limit the vertical movement of the one or more securing members positioned within the one or more receptacles.

5. The recreational vehicle of claim 1, wherein the recreational vehicle further comprises a chassis having first and second ends and first and second lateral sides.

6. The recreational vehicle of claim 5, wherein the securing mechanism is positioned proximate a midpoint of the slide-out housing along a direction extending between the first and second ends of the chassis.

7. The recreational vehicle of claim 5, wherein the recreational vehicle further comprises a plurality of wheels attached to the chassis so as to permit rolling movement of the recreational vehicle over the ground.

8. The recreational vehicle of claim 5, wherein the floor of the main housing is positioned on the chassis, and wherein the plurality of walls further includes a second wall positioned opposite the first wall, and wherein the roof is mounted atop the plurality of walls so as to define the interior living space.

9. The recreational vehicle of claim 5, wherein the opening formed in the first wall extends a lateral distance and a vertical distance in the first wall such that the opening defines the upper and lower portions of the first wall.

10. The recreational vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of securing components includes at least one receptacle formed in the upper portion of the first wall and at least one receptacle formed in the lower portion of the first wall, and wherein the second plurality of securing components includes at least one securing member mounted to the upper outer edge of the slide-out housing that is positionable within the at least one receptacle formed in the upper portion of the first wall when the slide-out housing is in the retracted position and at least one securing member mounted to the lower outer edge of the slide-out housing that is positionable within the at least one receptacle formed in the lower portion of the first wall when the slide-out housing is in the retracted position such that the slide-out housing is interconnected to the upper and lower portions of the first wall so that the slide-out housing inhibits movement between the upper portion of the first wall and the lower portion of the first wall when the slide-out is in the retracted position.

11. The recreational vehicle of claim 1, wherein the slide-out housing includes upper and lower inner edges that are positioned adjacent the upper and lower portions of the first wall when the slide-out housing is in the extended position.

12. The recreational vehicle of claim 11, wherein the securing mechanism includes at least one third securing component positioned adjacent the upper portion of the first wall and at least one fourth securing component positioned adjacent the upper inner edge of the slide-out housing, wherein the fourth securing component engages with the third securing component when the slide-out housing is in the extended position so as to interconnect the upper inner edge of the slide-out housing to the upper portion of the first wall to thereby inhibit movement between the upper and lower portions of the first wall when the slide-out housing is in the extended position.

13. The recreational vehicle of claim 12, wherein the at least one third securing component includes at least one receptacle formed in the upper portion of the first wall and the at least one fourth securing component includes at least one securing member mounted to the upper inner edge of the slide-out housing, and wherein the at least one-securing member is positionable within the at least one receptacle when the slide-out housing is in the extended position such that the slide-out housing is interconnected to the upper portion of the first wall so that the slide-out housing helps to maintain the upper portion of the first wall at a selected distance from the lower portion of the first wall.

14. A recreational vehicle comprising:

a chassis having a plurality of wheels;

a coach having a plurality of walls that are joined together so as to define an interior living space with a floor and a roof, wherein the plurality of walls includes a first wall having an opening formed therein so as to define upper and lower portions of the first wall;

a slide-out positioned within the opening formed in the first wall so as to be movable between a retracted and extended position, the slide-out having a plurality of walls including an outer wall with upper and lower edges that are positioned adjacent the upper and lower portions of the first wall of the coach when the slide-out is in the retracted position;

a securing assembly having a first plurality of securing components positioned adjacent the upper and lower portions of the first wall of the coach and a second plurality of securing components positioned adjacent the upper and lower portions of the outer wall of the slide-out, wherein the second plurality of securing components engage with the first plurality of securing components when the slide-out housing is in the retracted position to thereby interconnect the upper portion of the first wall to the lower portion of the first wall via the outer wall of the slide-out when the slide-out is in the retracted position;

wherein the first plurality of securing components includes at least one first receptacle and the second plurality of securing components includes at least one first member that is positionable within the at least one first receptacle when the slide-out is in the retracted position to thereby interconnect the lower portion of the first wall of the coach to the lower edge of the outer wall of the slide-out.

15. The recreational vehicle of claim 14, wherein the first plurality of securing components further includes at least one second receptacle and the second plurality of securing components further includes at least one second member that is positionable within the at least one second receptacle when the slide-out is in the retracted position to thereby interconnect the upper portion of the first wall of the coach to the upper edge of the outer wall of the slide-out.

16. The recreational vehicle of claim 15, wherein the interconnection of the at least one first receptacle and at least one first member and the interconnection of the at least one second receptacle and the at least one second member interconnects the upper portion of the first wall to the lower portion of the first wall via the outer wall of the slide-out.

17. The recreational vehicle of claim 14, further comprising at least one inner securing component mounted on an inner portion of the slide-out that is adapted to engage with at least one of the first securing components so as to interconnect the slide-out with the upper portion of the first wall when the slide out housing is in the extended position.

18. A recreational vehicle comprising:

a chassis having a plurality of wheels;

a coach mounted to the chassis, the coach having a plurality of walls that are joined together so as to define an interior living space with a floor and a roof, wherein the plurality of walls includes a first wall having an opening formed therein so as to define upper and lower portions of the first wall;

a slide-out positioned in the opening in the first wall so as to be movable between a retracted and extended position, the slide-out having a plurality of walls including an outer wall with upper and lower edges that are positioned adjacent the upper and lower portions of the first wall of the coach when the slide-out is in the retracted position;

a securing mechanism having a first plurality of securing components mounted on the upper portion of the first wall of the coach and on a portion of the chassis adjacent the lower portion of the first wall of the coach and a second plurality of securing components mounted on the outer wall of the slide-out such that the second plurality of securing components engage with the first plurality of securing components when the slide-out is in the retracted position to thereby interconnect the upper portion of the first wall of the coach to the chassis via the outer wall of the slide-out when the slide-out is in the retracted position;

wherein the first plurality of securing components includes at least one first receptacle formed in the upper portion of the first wall and the second plurality of securing components includes at least one first member positioned on the upper edge of the outer wall of the slide-out, and wherein the at least one first member is positionable within the at least one first receptacle when the slide-out is in the retracted position to thereby interconnect the upper portion of the first wall of the coach to the upper edge of the outer wall of the slide-out.

19. The recreational vehicle of claim 18, wherein the first plurality of securing components further includes at least one second receptacle formed on a portion of the chassis adjacent the lower portion of the first wall and the second plurality of securing components includes at least one second member positioned on the lower edge of the outer wall of the slide-out, wherein the at least one second member is positionable within the at least one second receptacle when the slide-out is in the retracted position to thereby interconnect at least a portion of the chassis to the lower edge of the outer wall of the slide-out.

20. The recreational vehicle of claim 19, wherein the interconnection of the at least one first member and the at least one first receptacle and the interconnection of the at least one second member and the at least one second receptacle interconnects the upper portion of the first wall to at least a portion of the chassis via the outer wall of the slide-out.

21. The recreational vehicle of claim 18, further comprising at least one inner securing component mounted on an inner portion of the slide-out that is adapted to engage with at least one of the first securing components so as to interconnect the slide-out with the upper portion of the first wall when the slide out housing is in the extended position.

22. A recreational vehicle comprising:

a main housing having a plurality of walls that are joined together so as to define an interior living space with a floor and a roof, wherein the plurality of walls includes a first wall having an opening formed therein so as to define upper and lower portions of the first wall;

a slide-out housing positioned in the opening in the first wall so as to be movable between a retracted position and an extended position, the slide-out housing having upper and lower outer edges that are positioned adjacent the upper and lower portions of the first wall when the slide-out housing is in the retracted position; and

a securing mechanism having at least one first securing component positioned adjacent the upper portion of the first wall and at least one second securing component positioned adjacent the upper outer edge of the slide-out housing, wherein the at least one second securing component comprises at least one securing member, and wherein the at least one first securing component comprises at least one securing receptacle that receives the at least one securing member when the slide-out housing is in the retracted position, such that the at least one second securing component engages with the at least one first securing component when the slide-out housing is in the retracted position to thereby inhibit movement along a selected direction between the upper outer edge of the slide-out housing and the upper portion of the first wall when the slide-out housing is in the retracted position.

23. The recreational vehicle of claim 22, further comprising at least one third securing component positioned adjacent the lower portion of the first wall and at least one fourth securing component positioned adjacent the lower outer edge of the slide-out housing, wherein the at least one third securing component comprises at least one securing receptacle that receives the at least one fourth securing component when the slide-out housing is in the retracted position.

24. The recreational vehicle of claim 22, wherein the at least one securing member comprises a cylindrically shaped post, and wherein the at least one receptacle defines an elongated slot having horizontal and vertical dimensions, and wherein the horizontal dimension is selected so as to restrict the movement of the at least one securing member along the selected direction that is generally horizontal once positioned inside the at least one receptacle.

25. The recreational vehicle of claim 24, further comprising one or more bolts mounted adjacent the at least one receptacle and adapted to extend horizontally and generally perpendicular to the axis of the cylindrical post into the elongated slot thereby reducing the vertical dimension of the elongated slot so as to limit the vertical movement of the at least one securing member positioned within the at least one receptacle.

26. The recreational vehicle of claim 22, wherein the recreational vehicle further comprises a chassis having first and second ends and first and second lateral sides.

27. The recreational vehicle of claim 26, wherein the securing mechanism is positioned proximate a midpoint of the slide-out housing along a direction extending between the first and second ends of the chassis.

28. The recreational vehicle of claim 24, wherein the recreational vehicle further comprises a plurality of wheels attached to the chassis so as to permit rolling movement of the recreational vehicle over the ground.

29. The recreational vehicle of claim 26, wherein the floor of the main housing is positioned on the chassis, and wherein the plurality of walls further includes a second wall positioned opposite the first wall, and wherein the roof is mounted atop the plurality of walls so as to define the interior living space.

30. The recreational vehicle of claim 26, wherein the opening formed in the first wall extends a lateral distance and a vertical distance in the first wall such that the opening defines the upper and lower portions of the first wall.

31. The recreational vehicle of claim 22, wherein the slide-out housing includes upper and lower inner edges that are positioned adjacent the upper and lower portions of the first wall when the slide-out housing is in the extended position.

32. The recreational vehicle of claim 31, wherein the securing mechanism further includes at least one inner securing component positioned adjacent the upper inner edge of the slide-out housing such that the at least one inner securing component engages with the at least one securing component when the slide-out housing is in the extended position so as to interconnect the upper inner edge of the slide-out housing to the upper portion of the first wall.

33. A recreational vehicle comprising:

a chassis having a plurality of wheels;

a coach mounted to the chassis, the coach having a plurality of walls that are joined together so as to define an interior living space with a floor and a roof, wherein the plurality of walls includes a first wall having an opening formed therein so as to define upper and lower portions of the first wall;

a slide-out positioned in the opening in the first wall so as to be movable between a retracted and extended position, the slide-out having a plurality of walls including an outer wall with upper and lower edges that are positioned adjacent the upper and lower portions of the first wall of the coach when the slide-out is in the retracted position; and

a securing mechanism comprising at least one first securing component mounted on the upper portion of the first wall, and at least one second securing component mounted on the upper portion of the outer wall of the slide-out, wherein the second securing component comprises at least one securing member, and wherein the first securing component comprises at least one securing receptacle that receives the securing member when the slide-out housing is in the retracted position, such that the second securing component engages with the first securing component when the slide-out housing is in the retracted position to thereby inhibit movement along a selected direction between the upper portion of the slide-out housing and the upper portion of the first wall when the slide-out housing is in the retracted position.

34. The recreational vehicle of claim 33, further comprising at least one third securing component positioned on a portion of the chassis and at least one fourth securing component positioned adjacent the lower outer edge of the slide-out housing, wherein the third securing component comprises at least one securing receptacle that receives the fourth securing component when the slide-out housing is in the retracted position.

35. The recreational vehicle of claim 33, wherein the at least one securing member comprises a cylindrically shaped post, and wherein the at least one receptacle defines an elongated slot having horizontal and vertical dimensions, and wherein the horizontal dimension is selected so as to restrict the movement of the at least one securing member along the selected direction that is generally horizontal once positioned inside the at least one receptacle.

36. The recreational vehicle of claim 35, further comprising one or more bolts mounted adjacent the at least one receptacle and adapted to extend horizontally and generally perpendicular to the axis of the cylindrical post into the elongated slot thereby reducing the vertical dimension of the elongated slot so as to limit the vertical movement of the at least one securing member positioned within the at least one receptacle.

37. The recreational vehicle of claim 33, wherein the slide-out housing includes an upper inner edge that is positioned adjacent the upper portion of the first wall when the slide-out housing is in the extended position.

38. The recreational vehicle of claim 37, wherein the securing mechanism further includes at least one inner securing component positioned adjacent the upper inner edge of the slide-out housing such that the at least one inner securing component engages with the at least one securing component when the slide-out housing is in the extended position so as to interconnect the upper inner edge of the slide-out housing to the upper portion of the first wall.