Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Variable capacity of body
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-28
2001-05-01
Dayoan, D. Glenn (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Variable capacity of body
C296S171000, C296S175000, C296S165000, C296S026030, C296S026120, C052S067000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06224126
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to trailers including travel trailers, motor homes, recreational vehicles, and fifth wheel trailers and, more particularly to such trailers provided with extensible cabin portions.
Many trailers provide cabin portions commonly referred to as “slide-outs” which extend the interior cabin volume while the trailer is parked. This design allows the trailer to maintain a minimal size while in transit, and expand to allow for extended interior volume while parked. The slide-out cabin portion is typically supported so as to slide along the floor of the main room for movement between a retracted position and an extended position. The present inventors have recognized a need to secure the slide-out in a retracted position such that the slidable mechanism is locked and incapable of advancing the extensible portion toward its extended position.
Further, The present inventors have recognized a need to provide a mechanism that minimizes vibration to reduce risk of damage to the slide-out or other components of the trailer and to pull the top portion of the slide-out tight against the main cabin to prevent leaks between the main cabin wall opening and the slide-out.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to trailers including travel trailers, motor homes, recreational vehicles, and fifth wheel trailers provided with slide-out cabin portions and an automated locking mechanism arranged to secure the slide-out cabin portion in a retracted position.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle includes a main cabin wall with a wall opening extending therethrough. A slide-out cabin comprising an extensible portion is laterally movable through the main cabin wall opening from a retracted position substantially interior to the wall opening, to an extended position substantially exterior to the wall opening. A slide-out lock is included to secure the extensible cabin portion of the slide-out in the retracted position. The slide-out lock comprises a lock door pivotally rotatable from an unlocked position dissociated with the wall opening periphery to a locked position engaged with the wall opening periphery.
Preferably, the slide-out lock utilizes a motor which connects to a drive shaft. A drive catch is engaged with the drive shaft such that the rotational motion of the motor translates to linear motion of the drive catch along the drive shaft. An arm linkage couples the lock door to the drive catch. The lock door is hinged to a lock door housing which comprises a frame around the lock door. The door hinge axis traverses the frame and is positioned adjacent a frame edge so that the linear movement of the drive catch translates to rotational motion of the door which is pivotally rotatable about the door axis.
The slide-out may include multiple locks arranged to lock the slide-out extensible portion of the slide-out. An optional controller programmed to prevent the slide-out locks from transitioning to the locked position unless all slide-out locks are in the unlocked position may thus be implemented. Preferably, this is accomplished by a limit switch arranged to be engaged by the drive catch. When the drive catch is positioned such that the lock door is closed, the drive catch contacts the limit switch closing the limit switch contact. As the drive catch transitions away from the limit switch towards a door open position, the limit switch contact is opened.
The slide-out may include an extensible portion front end positioned external to the main cabin wall opening where the extensible portion front dimensions exceed the dimensions of the main cabin wall opening. The wall opening through which the extensible slide-out cabin portion is movable is preferably provided with a wall opening seal.
The slide-out further comprises a first extensible portion side wall and a second extensible portion side wall. The slide-out lock further comprises a first slide-out lock positioned along the surface of the first extensible portion side wall and a second slide-out lock positioned along the surface of the second extensible portion side wall. The first and second slide-out locks are arranged such that when the first and second slide-out locks are in the locked position and the extensible portion is in the retracted position, the lock doors engage the wall opening periphery. Optionally, the extensible portion of the slide-out further comprises an extensible portion front end positioned external to the wall opening and arranged such that when the extensible portion is in the retracted position, the extensible portion front end contacts the external wall periphery, thus the wall periphery is pinched between the slide-out locks inside the main cabin, and the extensible portion front end outside the main cabin. The slide-out locks are positioned along the extensible portion side walls such that the first slide-out lock is positioned vertically near the top portion of the first extensible side wall, and the second slide-out lock is positioned vertically near the top portion of the second extensible side wall. A wall opening seal may additionally be provided such that the wall opening is completely sealed when the extensible portion is in the retracted position and the first and second slide-out locks are in the locked position.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle includes a main cabin wall including a wall opening extending therethrough. A slide-out cabin comprising an extensible portion is laterally movable through the wall opening from a retracted position substantially interior to the wall opening, to an extended position substantially exterior to the wall opening. The extensible portion includes a first extensible portion side wall and a slide-out locking mechanism. The slide-out locking mechanism comprises a first slide-out lock arranged to secure the extensible cabin portion in the retracted position. The first slide-out lock comprises a lock door pivotally rotatable from an unlocked position proximate the first extensible portion side wall, to a locked position substantially displaced from the first extensible portion side wall.
The extensible portion may comprise a second extensible portion side wall. A second slide-out lock would then be included in the locking mechanism arranged to secure the extensible cabin portion in the retracted position. The second slide-out lock comprises a second slide-out lock door pivotally rotatable from an unlocked position substantially proximate the second extensible portion side wall, to a locked position substantially displaced from the second extensible portion side wall. The first and second slide-out locks are positioned along the surface of the extensible portion side walls such than when the extensible portion is in the retracted position and the slide-out locks are in the locked position, the lock doors engage the wall opening periphery. The first slide-out lock is positioned vertically near the top portion of the first extensible side wall, and the second slide-out lock is positioned vertically near the top portion of the second extensible side wall. A controller programmed to prevent the slide-out locks from transitioning to the locked position unless all slide-out locks are in the unlocked position may be included.
Preferably, the extensible portion further comprises an extensible portion front end positioned external to the wall opening and arranged such that when the extensible portion is in the retracted position, the extensible portion front end contacts the external wall periphery. A wall opening seal may be provided such that the wall opening is completely sealed when the extensible portion is in the retracted position and the slide-out locking mechanism is in the locked position.
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle comprises a main cabin wall, a wall opening extending therethrough, and a wall opening periphery. A slide-out cabin comprising an extensible portion is laterally mov
Carpenter David Erwin
Hyndman Michael Charles
Martin Larry Allan
Blankenship Greg
Dayoan D. Glenn
Killworth, Gottman Hagan & Schaeff, L.L.P.
Thor Tech, Inc.
LandOfFree
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