Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Barrier or major section mounted for in situ repositioning;... – Telescoping sub and main enclosures
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-04
2001-03-20
Friedman, Carl D. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Barrier or major section mounted for in situ repositioning;...
Telescoping sub and main enclosures
C296S026080, C296S171000, C296S175000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202362
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to a recreational vehicle or manufactured housing unit having a retractable room in which the floor of the retractable room moves into a position flush with the floor of the main living area when the retractable room is extended.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The width of recreational vehicles is effectively limited to that which may be accommodated for travel over public roads. Accordingly, it is increasingly common to provide recreational vehicles and manufactured housing units with a slide out room which can be retracted into the main living quarters when the product is being moved or driven, but which can be extended from the main living quarters to provide auxiliary living space when the unit is parked for use or when the manufactured home is assembled at the home site. When the room is retracted into the main living quarters, the floor of the retractable room must slide over the floor of the main living quarters, and hence the level of the retractable room floor must be offset from the main floor when the retractable room is retracted. On the other hand, when the retractable room is extended to provide additional living space, most consumers find difference in floor levels between the main living quarters and the extended room to be quite inconvenient, and thus a variety of mechanisms have been developed in order to bring the slide out room floor flush with the floor of the main living area.
One such mechanism to level out the floors is to drop the entire retractable room to a level in which the level of the retractable room floor is flush with the main floor. However, the available headroom in the slide out room is less than that available in the main living area in order to permit the slide out room to retract into the main living area. Furthermore, the entire slide out room tilts during extension and retraction, thus causing furniture and other household goods in the slide out room to sift about. Another such leveling mechanism uses a moveable floor which moves up and down relative to the walls and ceiling of the slide out room as the slide out room is moved into its extended position, which requires a lifting mechanism at both the inner and outer edges of the slide out room floor.
The present invention provides a slide out room with a floor area that is flush with the floor in the main living area, yet the present flush floor does not detract from the available headroom in the slide out room. The present flush floor mechanism also dispenses with any lifting and lowering mechanism at the outer edge of the slide out room floor, and is thus more reliable than are prior art methods. The outer edge of the slide out floor is hinged to the outer wall of the slide out room, and the hinge permits the inner edge of the floor to drop automatically into a flush position when the room is extended. Meanwhile, the outer edge of the floor drops by taking advantage of the natural deflection of the support structure, so that the slide out floor is level with the main floor. In some of the embodiments of the present invention, the floor of the slide out room moves relative to the walls; in other embodiments, the entire room shifts vertically but the floor is maintained substantially horizontal.
The present invention also allows for the independent adjustment of the slide out room when the room is in the extended position, so that the height of the slide out room can be raised or lowered without adversely affecting the elevation of the floor. Furthermore, some embodiment of the present invention use a novel edge assembly on the side edges of the slide out room floor which permit the floor to float freely and independently of the slide out room walls when the room is extended. When the room is retracted, the edge assembly engages the sidewalls of the slide out room and lifts the inner edge and sidewalls off of the floor of the main living area, which saves wear and tear on the carpet or tile flooring. The edge assembly also incorporates an improved sealing mechanism, which prevents the ingress of water, dirt or other contaminants when the slide out room is extended. Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a slide out room that has a floor that is flush with the floor of the main living quarters.
It is another object of this invention to provide a slide out room having a flush floor that dispense with moveable parts or linkage mechanisms on the outer edge of the slide out room floor.
Another object of this invention to provide a slide out room having an improved sealing mechanism.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a slide out room that does not inflict excess wear and tear on the flooring of the main living quarters when the slide out room is extended or retracted.
These and other objects of the invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following description.
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patent: 1470553 (1967-01-01), None
Dewald, Jr. James E.
McManus Martin P.
McManus Patrick W.
Baker & Daniels
Friedman Carl D.
Horton Yvonne M.
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