Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Camper
Reexamination Certificate
2001-12-27
2003-05-13
Dayoan, D. Glenn (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Camper
C296S026090
Reexamination Certificate
active
06561570
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an expandable travel trailer and, more particularly, a travel trailer having slide-out areas extendable from the body of the travel trailer.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the recreational vehicle industry, folding camping trailers are generally characterized by a solid lower body structure, a vertically extendable solid roof structure, longitudinally and/or laterally extendable sleeping areas or dining areas, and tented sections extending between the lower body and roof. Folding camping trailers form an enclosed temporary living area commonly used for camping.
In the recreational vehicle industry, travel trailers are generally characterized by four solid full-height walls, a solid floor, and a solid roof that together define a temporary living area. Travel trailers are also commonly used for camping. Travel trailers are known to include expandable areas commonly referred to as “slide-outs” to expand the usable living area once the travel trailer is parked and ready for occupancy. When the travel trailer is in storage or in transit, the slide-outs are retracted into the body of the travel trailer. Slide-outs are known to extend longitudinally and/or laterally from the body of the travel trailer.
A recent evolution in the recreational vehicle industry combines the solid walled features of a travel trailer and the lighter weight expandability of folding camping trailers in a single unit. These units are commonly referred to as hybrid travel trailers. These units have the appearance of a generic travel trailer but when set up for occupancy they feature sleeping areas that fold down from the front and rear end walls of the trailer to create a tent enclosed sleeping area. This creates additional sleeping areas that fold into the body of the trailer when not in use. U.S. Pat. No. 5,992,920 to Bailey et al. discloses one embodiment of such a hybrid travel trailer.
A common structure for these fold-down sleeping areas includes a solid platform mattress deck that hinges downward from the front and/or rear end wall of the trailer. The front and rear end walls of the trailer feature a large opening that is revealed as the mattress deck is pivoted downward. A folded tent enclosure is typically located in this opening. The mattress deck hinges downward to a horizontal plane and is often supported by several “prop rods” that attach to the chassis or end wall of the trailer. The folded tent enclosure is typically concealed behind the mattress deck and is unfolded and erected over the mattress deck to create the sleeping area. The extended sleeping areas are accessed from the main living space of the trailer.
A known disadvantage with trailers having tent enclosed sleeping areas is that there is often water leakage in the area where the tent enclosure meets the solid end walls of the trailer body and, further, where the hinged mattress deck meets the solid end wall of the trailer body. In addition, the beds of these trailers cannot be occupied or used until the trailer is fully set up with all beds extended.
In view of the foregoing, an object of the present invention is to provide a travel trailer having extendable slide-out areas for increasing the usable living space of the travel trailer. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a travel trailer with extendable slide-out areas having improved water leakage characteristics through the use of improved latching and gasketing in the travel trailer. In addition, it is an object of the present invention to reduce or prevent the collection of dirt and debris on the roof of the extendable slide-out area. Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a travel trailer having a slide-out area with an improved sliding mechanism for ease of use. It is another object of the present invention to provide a travel trailer having a slide-out area that is usable both before the trailer is fully set up and after the slide-out area is extended.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above objects are accomplished with a travel trailer made in accordance with the present invention. The travel trailer includes a chassis having wheels and an extended portion with a trailer hitch for towing the travel trailer. The travel trailer further includes a trailer body attached to the chassis and having 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 define an internal 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 within the trailer body to an extended position extended outward from the trailer body.
The slide-out area preferably includes a rigid peaked roof, rigid sidewalls connected to the peaked roof, and a rigid bottom wall connected to the sidewalls. A rigid front end wall is connected to the roof, sidewalls, and bottom wall of the slide-out area. The front end wall has a flange extending around the perimeter of the front end wall. A sealing gasket is attached to the flange to face the trailer body for sealing against the trailer body in the retracted position of the slide-out area. The sealing gasket may include a wiper seal configured to engage the trailer body in the retracted portion of the trailer body.
The front end wall of the trailer body may define an opening for receiving the slide-out area into the trailer body in the retracted position. The travel trailer may further include a pair of substantially horizontal guide rails attached, respectively, to internal surfaces of the sidewalls of the trailer body. A pair of rollers may be attached, respectively, to lateral sides of the bottom wall of the slide-out area and may be received, respectively, in the guide rails for providing slidable movement of the slide-out area relative to the trailer body.
The travel trailer may further include a removable external support for supporting the slide-out area in the extended position. The support may include a support member configured for removable connection to a bracket attached to the front end wall of the trailer body. The support may further include a leg member connected to the support member. The leg member may be configured for connection to the extended portion of the chassis for supporting the slide-out area in the vertical direction when the slide-out area is in the extended position. The leg member may be pivotally connected to the support member.
An external roller may be attached to a bottom edge of the flange of the front end wall of the slide-out area. The external roller is preferably positioned to coact with a top surface of 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 top surface of the support member.
At least one and, preferably, a pair of clamping devices may be attached to the bottom wall of the slide-out area. The clamping devices may include a first member fixedly attached to the bottom wall of the slide-out area and a second member rotatably connected to the first member. The second member may define a threaded tube having a screw positioned therein. The screw may have an end configured to coact with the front end wall of the trailer body and a handle for rotating the screw within the threaded tube. The threaded connection between the screw and the threaded tube may be configured such that rotation of the screw in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction causes the end of the screw to contact the front end wall of the trailer body. Thus, further clockwise rotation (or counterclockwise rotation) of the screw may apply longitudinally directed force to the slide-out area relative to the trailer body for substantially eliminating vibration of the slide-out area relative to the trailer body. The clamping devices may be further used to compress sealing gaskets attached to the slide-out area, the trailer body, or both.
The pair of in
Gehman Dana K.
Hall James R.
Thompson Robert H.
Turner David R.
Carpenter Scott
Fleetwood Folding Trailers, Inc.
Webb Ziesenheim & Logsdon Orkin & Hanson, P.C.
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