Granted Patent B1

US 7,150,482 · App. 10/920,556 · Granted Dec 19, 2006

Abstract

Claims (35)

1. A slide-out mechanism comprising:

a vehicle having a main floor and a side wall;

an opening for receiving a slide-out room disposed in said side wall;

a slide-out room slidably positioned within said opening and having a slide-out floor;

a moving member disposed on said vehicle at said opening and movable into and out of said vehicle, said moving member connected to said slide-out room;

a vertically movable bearing assembly interposed between a top surface of said moving member and a bottom surface of said slide-out room; and

said movable bearing assembly being vertically movable relative to said opening on said vehicle to lower said slide-out room floor to an elevation substantially level with said main floor of said vehicle as said slide-out room is approaching an extended position;

wherein said top surface of said moving member includes a depression for receiving said vertically movable bearing assembly as said slide-out room approaches said extended position.

2. The slide-out mechanism of claim 1 wherein said bearing assembly includes a bar vertically movable within a sleeve mounted to said vehicle.

3. The slide-out mechanism of claim 2 , wherein said bearing assembly includes a tubular bar having a roller disposed on a top and a bottom end of said tubular bar.

4. The slide-out mechanism of claim 1 , wherein said depression has a depth substantially equal to the distance required to lower said slide-out room to an elevation substantially level with said main floor.

5. The slide-out mechanism of claim 1 , wherein said moving member extends at an angle relative to said main floor of said vehicle.

6. The slide-out mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising at least one support roller disposed on said vehicle to support said slide-out room.

7. The slide-out mechanism of claim 6 , further comprising a depression located in an underside bottom surface of said slide-out room surface, said depression sized to receive said roller as said slide-out as said slide-out room is approaching an extended position.

8. The slide-out mechanism of claim 7 , wherein said depression is an angled depression.

9. The slide-out mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising a bracket connecting said moving member to said slide-out room; said bracket connecting said moving member to said slide-out room through an elongated slot disposed on said bracket so as to allow movement of said slide-out room relative to said moving member.

10. The slide-out mechanism of claim 9 , wherein said elongated slot is sized to allow vertical movement of said slide-out room relative to said moving member an amount substantially equal to the distance required to lower said slide-out room to an elevation substantially level with said main floor.

11. The slide-out mechanism of claim 10 , further comprising a latch assembly disposed on said bracket, said latch assembly being movable between a latched position and an unlatched position, said latched position preventing any movement of said slide-out room relative to said moving member along said slot.

12. The slide-out mechanism of claim 11 , wherein said latch is automatically movable between said latched and said unlatched position corresponding to a retracted and extended position of said slide-out room, respectively.

13. The slide-out mechanism of claim 1 , further including a flexible member fixed to said latch assembly at one end and to said vehicle at an opposite end, said flexible member of a length to lift said latch assembly into said unlatched position when said slide-out is in a fully extended position.

14. A method of moving a slide-out room relative to a vehicle body comprising:

providing a slide-out support member movable into and out of said vehicle body;

providing a slide-out room connected to said support member;

providing a bearing assembly on said vehicle body between said support member and said slide-out room;

supporting said slide-out room at least partially on said bearing assembly;

lowering said bearing assembly relative to said vehicle body as said slide-out room approaches an extended position out of said vehicle body; and

lowering said slide-out room relative to said vehicle body and said slide-out support member.

15. A method according to claim 14 , wherein the lowering of said bearing assembly includes lowering said slide-out room until a floor of said slide-out room is substantially flush with a floor of said vehicle body.

16. A method according to claim 15 , wherein the lowering of said bearing assembly includes automatically lowering said slide-out room when said slide-out room approaches an extended position out of said vehicle body.

17. A method according to claim 14 , wherein the providing of a slide-out support member includes providing said slide-out support member at an angle relative to said vehicle body.

18. A method according to claim 14 , further comprising lowering of a distal end of said slide-out room at substantially the same time as the lowering of said bearing assembly.

19. A method according to claim 18 , further comprising supporting a proximal end of said slide-out room with a stationary support mounted on said vehicle body during extension and retraction of said slide-out room.

20. A method according to claim 19 , wherein the supporting of a proximal end of said slide-out room with a stationary support includes supporting said proximal end with a roller.

21. A method according to claim 14 , further comprising latching said slide-out room in an upper position relative to said slide-out support member until said slide-out room approaches said extended position.

22. A method according to claim 21 , further comprising unlatching said slide-out room from said slide-out support member as said slide-out room approaches said extended position, thereby allowing said slide-out room to lower into a position substantially flush with a floor of said vehicle.

Assignments (14)