Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Variable capacity of body
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-28
2001-06-26
Dayoan, D. Glenn (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Variable capacity of body
C296S172000, C296S176000, C296S026130, C296S026140
Reexamination Certificate
active
06250701
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to movable extension units for creating additional interior space within a structure providing living space. More particularly, the invention relates to movable extension units for recreational vehicles, manufactured housing, and specialty trailers.
2. Description of the Related Art
Physical dimensional restrictions limit the amount of interior space within many structures providing living space. For example, recreational vehicles, manufactured housing, and specialty trailer structures are restricted in their width dimension because of space restrictions upon the highways upon which those structures are transported. However, once the recreational vehicle, manufactured housing, or specialty trailer component has completed its transport, either temporarily or permanently, the structure no longer has a width restriction. In fact, the occupants of those structures would prefer to have a greater amount of interior living space.
To accommodate the desire for additional interior space, several different configurations have been employed. One example involves creating a pop-out compartment formed by the extension of side walls from the recreational vehicle. In the side walls' retracted position, the side walls form interior partitions within the vehicle. These interior partitions limit the amount of interior space within the vehicle when the compartment is retracted.
Another example involves a tent camper with a lateral slide-out room. The tent camper includes a camper main body that is pulled in a longitudinal direction by a towing vehicle. A roof, aligned above the camper main body, is movable between a lowered, storage or transport position and a raised, camping or deployed position. The lateral slide-out room, coupled to the camper body, is movable in a lateral direction between a retracted, storage position and an extended, operational position. This allows the lateral slide-out to extend and provide additional living space within the camper. The interior space of the camper is not habitable in the retracted, transport position, the overlap or interior partition of the slide-out side walls within the camper is not an issue.
A further example involves a mobile accommodation structure such as a caravan or motor home with a foldable extension for enlarging the volume of the vehicle. A wall panel is attached to guide rails on the side of the vehicle for pivotal and sliding movement over the vehicle side wall. Another wall panel is only pivotally connected to the side wall, while the middle wall panel is pivotally connected to both other wall panels. The roof of the accommodation structure is hinged on the vehicle roof edge to be able to move from a position overlying the vehicle roof to a position covering the trapezoidal recess formed by the side walls when deployed. The floor is hinged on the floor edge so that it is capable of moving from a position parallel to the vehicle side wall to a position co-planar with the vehicle floor.
Each of these prior structures includes drawbacks in terms of the use and reliability of the extension unit. In most recreational vehicles, the creation of interior partitions in the retracted position diminishes the utility of the extension, as often such interior partitions interfere with the amount of the space within the vehicle during transport, either as living or storage space. The deployment mechanisms, such as the pivotal and sliding connection on the body of a recreational vehicle, require manufacturing complication and expense to create the extension unit. Also, the movable connections of the wall panels with the vehicle require seals to prevent the penetration of moisture and the elements into the interior region. Finally, the difficulty of deploying the additional interior space often involves complex mechanisms requiring application of significant force on the mechanism. However, for convenience of use, units which may be deployed using only the equipment associated with the structure are preferred.
What is needed in the art is an extension unit which provides the desired additional interior space without creating interior partitions, which minimizes leakage points into the interior space, and which accomplishes these goals with a minimal increase in complication and expense.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention involves an extension unit for a building or vehicle structure with a floating corner biased into the exterior wall of the structure. In the retracted position, the extension unit is deployed flat against the side of the structure, suitable for transport. In the deployed position, the extension unit protrudes from the side of the structure and wall panels press together to create the floating corner. A biasing mechanism maintains the integrity of the floating corner, urging the wall panels together.
One of the panels of the extension unit is pivotally connected to either a second extension unit panel or the structure. That first extension unit panel then forms the floating corner with the other one of the second extension unit panel or structure. Flexible seals are present at the floating corners to prevent the penetration of moisture and debris into the interior of the structure.
The floor and roof of the extension unit may be pulled out and extended to match the outline of the walls of the extension unit. A biasing mechanism links the floor and the structure so that as the extension unit is moved into its deployed position, side portions of the floor are urged from the rectangular floor panel outward to completely cover the bottom of the extension unit. The roof is biased against the side walls and moved upward upon the deployment of the extension unit. In the retracted position, the side portions of the floor fold into the rectangular floor panel while the roof folds down over the side walls.
The floor panel is operatively connected to a shaft which is rotatably coupled to a motor. The shaft can be turned in a first direction to urge the floor panel outwardly and deploy the extension unit. The side portions of the floor, also connected to the side panels of the extension unit, are automatically pivoted outward following the movement of the side panels. The biasing mechanism in the floor is also coupled to the floor side panels to bias the wall side panels into the exterior of the structure. With each end of the wall side panels having a floating seal, the biasing accentuates the sealing created by the flexible seals.
The extension unit forms a trapezoidal additional interior space by having a center wall panel pivotally connected to a pair of side wall panels with floating corners. All three wall panels of the extension unit have windows, so the deployed extension unit provides a walled area, in the contour of a bay window, within the interior of the structure. The deployed floor has support beams extending from the structure which allows the extension unit to be supported off the ground. Also, the deployed roof extends above and over the extension unit, protecting the walls, containing the bay windows, from the elements with an overhang.
The present invention, in one form, involves an extension unit for a structure. The extension unit provides additional interior space for the structure in a deployed position, and comprises two walls, a pivotal connection, and a biasing mechanism. The pivotal connection links a first wall and one of a second wall and the structure's exterior wall, allowing the first and second walls to extend from the structure to create interior space beyond the exterior wall of the structure. The biasing mechanism biases the first wall into the other of the second wall and the exterior wall of the structure in the deployed condition.
The present invention, in another form, involves an extension unit for a structure. The extension unit provides additional interior space for the structure in a deployed position, and comprises a plurality of movable walls and a floor panel. One of the walls is movable
ASV Plastics, Inc.
Baker & Daniels
Coletta Lori L.
Dayoan D. Glenn
LandOfFree
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