Slide-out mechanisms and systems

• US 6,976,721 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2004
• Issued: 12/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lippert Components (LCI Industries)
• Original Assignee: Happijac Co. (LCI Industries)
• Inventors: Rasmussen, C. Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): MORROW, JASON S
• Application Number:
  US10/795,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20040174031A1
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 296/165, 296/172, 296/176, 296/26.1, 296/26.09, 296/26.12, 296/26.14, 296/26.13, 52/67, 52/795
• US Class Current: 296/26.14
• 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 land vehicle includes a first floor, a second floor, a first support member, a second support member, and a gear. The first support may be coupled to the land vehicle and sloped relative to the first floor. The second support member may be supported by the first support member and coupled to the second floor. The second support member may include an engaging portion. The gear may cooperate with the engaging portion to move the second support member relative to the first support member and thus move the second floor between a first position where the second floor is positioned adjacent to the first floor and a second position where the second floor is substantially level with the first floor.

Claims

1. A recreational vehicle comprising:

a first floor;

a second floor;

a first support member coupled to the vehicle and sloped relative to the first floor;

a second support member supported by the first support member and coupled to the second floor, the second support member comprising a plurality of holes; and

a gear which cooperates with the plurality of holes to move the second support member relative to the first support member and thus move the second floor between a retracted position where the second floor is positioned adjacent to the first floor and an extended position where the second floor is substantially level with the first floor.

5. The recreational vehicle according to claim 1 comprising

a plurality of first support members;

a plurality of second support members;

a plurality of gears; and

a drive assembly comprising the plurality of gears, the drive assembly being used to move the plurality of gears in unison.

6. The recreational vehicle according to claim 5 wherein the drive assembly is selectively adjustable between a first orientation where the plurality of gears move in unison and a second orientation where one of the plurality of gears is movable independent of another one of the plurality of gears.

7. The recreational vehicle according to claim 1 wherein a root diameter of the gear is not greater than about 2 inches.

8. The recreational vehicle according to claim 1 comprising a motor which is used to drive the gear.

9. The recreational vehicle according to claim 1 comprising

a first frame rail;

and

a second frame rail;

wherein the first support member is pivotally coupled to the first frame rail and is coupled to the second frame rail; and

wherein the first support member is movable at the second frame rail in a direction that is perpendicular to the first floor.

10. The recreational vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the first support member and the second support member are tubes.

11. The recreational vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the second floor is a slide-out patio.

2. A recreational vehicle comprising:

a frame which includes a first frame rail and a second frame rail;

a first floor supported by the frame;

a second floor movable between a retracted position where the second floor is positioned adjacent to the first floor and an extended position where the second floor is substantially level with the first floor;

a first support member pivotally coupled to the first frame rail and extending through the second frame rail, the first support member being movable at the second frame rail in a direction that is perpendicular to the first floor; and

a second support member supported by the first support member and coupled to the second floor, the second support member moving relative to the first support member to move the second floor between the retracted position and the extended position.

12. The recreational vehicle according to claim 2 comprising

a plurality of first support members;

a plurality of second support members; and

a drive assembly which is used to move the plurality of second support members in unison.

13. The reactional vehicle according to claim 12 wherein the drive assembly is selectively adjustable between a first orientation where the second support members move in unison and a second orientation where one of the plurality of second support members is movable independent of another one of the plurality of second support members.

14. The recreational vehicle according to claim 2 wherein the first support member and the second support member are sloped relative to the first floor.

15. The recreational vehicle according to claim 2 comprising a gear which cooperates with an engaging portion of to second support member to move the second support member relative to the first support member.

16. The recreational vehicle according to claim 15 wherein the engaging portion comprises a plurality of holes which cooperate with the gear to move the second support member relative to the first support member.

17. The recreational vehicle according to claim 15 wherein a root diameter of the gear is not greater than about 2 inches.

18. The recreational vehicle according to claim 2 comprising a motor which is used to move the second support member relative to the first support member.

19. The recreational vehicle according to claim 2 wherein the second support member is movably coupled to the second floor.

3. A recreational vehicle comprising:

a frame which includes a first frame rail and a second frame rail;

a slide-out compartment which is movable between a retracted position and an extended position;

a plurality of first support members coupled to the first frame rail and extending through the second frame rail;

a plurality of second support members supported by the first support members and coupled to the slide-out compartment, each second support member comprising a plurality of holes; and

a drive assembly comprising a plurality of gears which cooperate with the plurality of holes in corresponding second support members to move the second support members relative to the first support members and thus move the slide-out compartment between the retracted and the extended position, the drive assembly being used to move the plurality of gears in unison, the drive assembly also being selectively telescopically adjustable between a first orientation where the plurality of gears move in unison and a second orientation where one of the plurality of gears is movable independent of another one of the plurality of gears.

20. The recreational vehicle according to claim 3 wherein the drive assembly comprises a coupler, a first drive member, and a second drive member, and wherein the coupler is selectively telescopically adjustable between the first orientation where the first drive member and the second drive member move in unison and the second orientation where the first drive member is movable independent of the second drive member.

21. The recreational vehicle according to claim 3 wherein a root diameter of each of the gears is not greater than about 2 inches.

22. The recreational vehicle according to claim 3 wherein the drive assembly comprises a motor which is used to drive the gears.

23. The recreational vehicle according to claim 3 wherein the second support members are pivotably coupled to the slide-out compartment.

24. The recreational vehicle according to claim 3 wherein the first support members are pivotally coupled to the first frame rail and are vertically adjustable at the second frame rail.

25. The recreational vehicle according to claim 3 wherein the frame supports a main floor, and wherein the first support members and the second support members are sloped relative to the main floor.

26. The recreational vehicle according to claim 3 comprising

a main floor supported by the frame;

wherein the slide-out compartment comprises a slide-out floor; and

wherein the slide-out floor is positioned adjacent to the main floor when the slide-out compartment is in the retracted position and the slide-out floor is substantially level with the main floor when the slide-out compartment is in the extended position.

4. A recreational vehicle comprising:

a frame which includes a first frame rail and a second frame rail, the second frame rail including a first side and a second side;

a slide-out floor which is movable between a refracted position and an extended position;

a first support member coupled to the first frame rail and extending through the second frame rail;

a second support member supported by the first support member and coupled to the slide-out floor, the second support member comprising an engaging portion; and

a mounting assembly comprising a gear which cooperates with the engaging portion to move the second support member relative to the first support member and thus move the slide-out floor between the retracted position and the extended position, the mounting assembly being used to couple the first support member to the second frame rail, the mounting assembly being configured to be selectively coupled to the first side or the second side of the second frame rail.

27. The recreational vehicle according to claim 4 comprising

a plurality of first support members;

a plurality of second support members;

a plurality of mounting assemblies; and

a drive member coupled to the mounting assemblies and used to move the gear of each mounting assembly in unison.

28. The recreational vehicle according to claim 27 wherein the drive member is selectively adjustable between a lint orientation where the gears of the mounting assemblies move in unison and a second orientation where one gear of one mounting assembly is movable independent of another gear of another mounting assembly.

29. The recreational vehicle according to claim 4 wherein the slide-out floor is a slide-out patio.

30. The recreational vehicle according to claim 4 comprising a slide-out compartment which includes the slide-out floor.

31. The recreational vehicle according to claim 4 wherein the engaging portion comprises a plurality of holes which cooperate with the gear to move the second support member.

32. The recreational vehicle according to claim 4 wherein a root diameter of the gear is not greater than about 2 inches.

33. The recreational vehicle according to claim 4 wherein the mounting assembly comprises a motor which is used to drive the gear.

34. The recreational vehicle according to claim 4 wherein the first support member is pivotally coupled to the first frame rail and is vertically adjustable at the second frame rail.

35. The recreational vehicle according to claim 4 wherein the frame supports a main floor, and wherein the first support member and the second support member are sloped relative to the main floor.

36. The recreational vehicle according to claim 4 comprising a main floor supported by the frame, and wherein the slide-out floor is positioned adjacent to the main floor when the slide-out floor is in the retracted position and the slide-out floor is substantially level with the main floor when the slide-out floor is in the extended position.

37. The recreational vehicle according to claim 4 wherein the first support member is a first tube and the second support member is a second tube which moves inside the first tube, the first tube comprising an opening through which the gear accesses the engaging portion of the second tube, the opening being sized to permit the mounting assembly to be selectively coupled to the first side or the second side of the second frame rail.

38. A recreational vehicle comprising:

a first floor;

a second floor;

a first support member coupled to the vehicle and sloped relative to the first floor;

a second support member supported by the first support member and coupled to the second floor, the second support member comprising a plurality of holes; and

a tooted wheel which cooperates with the plurality of holes to move the second support member relative to the first support member and thus move the second floor between a refracted position where the second floor is positioned adjacent to the first floor and an extended position where the second floor is substantially level with the first floor.

39. The recreational vehicle according to claim 38 comprising

a plurality of first support members;

a plurality of second support members;

a plurality of toothed wheels; and

a drive assembly comprising the plurality of toothed wheels, the drive assembly being used to move the plurality of gears in unison.

40. The recreational vehicle according to claim 38 wherein the drive assembly is selectively adjustable between a first orientation where the plurality of toothed wheels move in unison and a second orientation where one of the plurality of toothed wheels is movable independent of another one of the plurality of toothed wheels.

41. The recreational vehicle according to claim 38 wherein a root diameter of the toothed wheel is not greater than about 2 inches.

42. The recreational vehicle according to claim 38 comprising a motor which is used to drive the toothed wheel.

43. The recreational vehicle according to claim 38 comprising

a first frame rail;

and

a second frame rail;

wherein the first support member is pivotally coupled to the first frame rail and is coupled to the second frame rail; and

wherein the first support member is movable at the second frame rail in a direction that is perpendicular to the first floor.

44. The recreational vehicle according to claim 38 wherein the first support member and second support member are tubes.