Securing mechanism for recreational vehicle slide outs

• US 7,083,213 B1
• Filed: 04/01/2005
• Issued: 08/01/2006
• 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): LYJAK, LORI LYNN
• Application Number:
  US11/096,968
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 296/26.01, 296/26.12, 296/26.13, 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, 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 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 slider assembly configured to allow movement of the slide-out housing between the retracted and extended positions;

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, such that the securing mechanism acts a load-bearing device, thereby reducing a load placed on the slider assembly.

2. The recreational vehicle of claim 1, wherein the securing mechanism further comprises an upper flange plate positioned along the upper outer edge of the slide-out housing, and a lower flange plate positioned along the lower outer edge of the slide-out housing, wherein the second plurality of securing components are attached to the upper and lower flange plates.

3. The recreational vehicle of claim 1, wherein the securing mechanism further includes a second upper flange plate positioned along the upper portion of the first wall, wherein at least some of the first plurality of securing components are attached to the second upper flange plate.

4. The recreational vehicle of claim 1, wherein the reduced load on the slider assembly reduces the likelihood that the slider assembly will deform or malfunction.