Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Camper
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-23
2001-03-27
Pedder, Dennis H. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Camper
C296S026050, C254S045000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06206456
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a novel lift for camping trailers of the type having collapsible tops adapted to be raised during use and lowered for travel or storage.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Camping trailers have long been provided with various lift mechanisms for raising and lowering the top. Certain of such mechanisms are disclosed in the present Applicants' prior U.S. patent applications Ser. No. 08/609780 filed Mar. 1, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,704,677, for Drive Assembly For Retractable Tops Of A Mobile Housing and Ser. No. 08/940,139 filed Sep. 29, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,096 for Trailer Top Lift. These prior lifts utilize flexible push-pull rods or elements for actuating telescoping corner posts or jacks which support the trailer top. The flexible elements have usually been in the form of tightly coiled springs which slidably extend through guide conduits from a central actuating mechanism to the telescopic jacks located at the four corners of the trailer body. It is desirable for the guide conduits to fit the push-pull flexible rods or springs closely so as to prevent them from buckling and assuring proper uniform lifting of the top. In the prior lift mechanisms, the guide conduits terminate at the lower ends of the corner jacks which comprise a series of telescoping sections of progressively decreasing diameter from the bottom section to the top or uppermost section. The upper section has an inner diameter which closely fits the push-pull spring which, by way of example, may be about ½ inch in diameter. The remaining two or three lower sections progressively increase in diameter, but have been kept as small as possible so as to minimize buckling of the spring when the top is raised. While such prior lifts have enjoyed considerable success, it has been found that the smallness of the diameters of the sections sometimes does not provide adequate mechanical support and resistance to side sway to assure proper operation of such things as the side door of the trailer.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel trailer top lift structure which utilizes simple and efficient push-pull elements for actuating corner telescopic jacks and wherein the jacks are constructed so as to prevent or minimize buckling of the push-pull elements and at the same time provide improved mechanical support for the top and greater resistance to side sway.
In carrying out the present invention, it is contemplated that the lift may include a plurality of flexible push rods, guide conduits and an actuator mechanism similar to those disclosed in the above identified pending applications, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. The lift includes novel corner posts or jacks, each of which comprises a plurality of telescoping members having sufficient width and reverse bends to obtain the desired strength and rigidity and also including integral sections for snugly receiving and guiding the push-pull elements and preventing them from buckling.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2853338 (1958-09-01), Stanley
patent: 3314715 (1967-04-01), Bontrager
patent: 3495866 (1970-02-01), Bontrager
patent: 3507535 (1970-04-01), Wallace
patent: 3508782 (1970-04-01), Hostetler et al.
patent: 3674305 (1972-07-01), Steury
patent: 3749439 (1973-07-01), Ferguson
patent: 3885826 (1975-05-01), Kropf
patent: 3981529 (1976-09-01), Bontrager
patent: 4171843 (1979-10-01), Steury
patent: 4328989 (1982-05-01), Childers
patent: 795216A (1968-09-01), None
patent: 2524402 (1975-12-01), None
patent: 2500738 (1976-07-01), None
Steury Edwin J.
Steury Virgil H.
Pedder Dennis H.
Trexler, Bushnell Giangiorgi, Blackstone & Marr, Ltd.
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