초록 ▼

The present invention relates to a vehicle having a fixed room and a slide-out room which extends and retracts relative to the fixed room. The fixed room includes a floor section, sidewall sections, and a roof section, and the slide-out room includes a floor section, sidewall sections, and a roof se

The present invention relates to a vehicle having a fixed room and a slide-out room which extends and retracts relative to the fixed room. The fixed room includes a floor section, sidewall sections, and a roof section, and the slide-out room includes a floor section, sidewall sections, and a roof section. A slide-out extension mechanism extends and retracts the slide-out room in a cantilevered manner. In a fully retracted position, the roof section and two of the sidewall sections of the slide-out room are typically concealed from exterior view, and a third sidewall section of the slide-out room forms a portion of the sidewall section of the fixed room. Furthermore, the floor section of the slide-out room is flush with the floor section of the fixed room, and proximal ends of the sidewall sections of the slide-out room are flush with an inner surface of one of the sidewall sections of the fixed room when the slide-out room is fully extended. The slide-out extension mechanism includes a first elongated member which is secured to the fixed room and a second elongated member which is slidingly coupled to the first elongated member. The second elongated member is secured to the slide-out room such that extension and retraction of the second elongated member causes the slide-out room to similarly extend and retract. In order to preferentially strengthen the second elongated tube in the z direction, the second elongated tube includes a first tube fastened to a second tube. An electric motor and brake are coupled to the second elongated member and operate in combination to selectively retract, extend and lock the second elongated member. The slide-out room in the event the motor is inoperable. The manual override system includes a remote brake release system to remotely release the brake.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A slide-out mechanism comprising: a frame; said frame comprising at least one first frame member and at least one second frame member, said at least one second frame member being movable relative to said at least one first frame member; said second frame member comprisi

The invention claimed is: 1. A slide-out mechanism comprising: a frame; said frame comprising at least one first frame member and at least one second frame member, said at least one second frame member being movable relative to said at least one first frame member; said second frame member comprising: a first support rail having an elongated shape and a longitudinal axis extending along said longitudinal shape; a second support rail having an elongated shape and a longitudinal axis extending along said longitudinal shape; said first support rail being fixedly connected to said second support rail along longitudinally opposing sides of said first support rail and said second support rail at a connecting area; said connecting area having an elongated shape and a longitudinal axis along said longitudinal shape, said longitudinal axis of said connecting area being substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of each of said first and second support rails; said connecting area comprising at least one connecting member; said first support rail located at substantially the same height as said second support rail such that a top surface of said first support rail is positioned at substantially the same height as a top surface of said second support rail; and a floor structure connected to said second frame member. 2. The slide out mechanism of claim 1, wherein said longitudinal axis of said first support rail is parallel to said longitudinal axis of said second support rail. 3. The slide out mechanism of claim 1, wherein said connecting member is a weld. 4. The slide out mechanism of claim 1, wherein said first support rail and said second support rail have a rectangular cross section. 5. The slide out mechanism of claim 4, wherein said first support rail and said second support rail have a closed rectangular cross section. 6. The slide out mechanism of claim 1, wherein said connecting member comprises a third support rail fixed between said first support rail and said second support rail. 7. The slide out mechanism of claim 6, further comprising a gear rack disposed at least partially on said connecting area. 8. The slide out mechanism of claim 1, wherein said at least one first frame member is fixed to a vehicle. 9. The slide out mechanism of claim 1, wherein said second frame member telescopes relative to said first frame member. 10. The slide out mechanism of claim 9, wherein said second frame member telescopes inside of said first frame member. 11. A method of moving a slide out compartment on a vehicle comprising: providing a slide out frame having at least two stationary members and at least two movable members; urging said at least two movable members outwardly from the vehicle; and, distributing a weight of said slide out compartment over at least two longitudinally extending support rails which are laterally joined to each other at a connecting area having a longitudinal axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of each of said two longitudinally extending support rails, said connecting area comprising at least one connecting member; said two longitudinally extending support rails being at substantially the same height such that a top surface of each of said support rails is positioned at substantially the same height and which are included as part of each of said at least two movable members. 12. A method according to claim 11, wherein said connecting member comprises at least one of the following: a. at least one weld; and b. a third support rail fixed between said first support rail and said second support rail. 13. A method according to claim 11, wherein the providing of a slide out frame comprises providing a gear rack at least partially disposed on said connecting area. 14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the urging of said at least two movable members includes causing a motive force to act on said gear rack. 15. A method according to claim 11, wherein the distributing of said weight includes distributing said weight over support rails that have a substantially rectangular cross-section. 16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the distributing of said weight includes distributing said weight over support rails that have a substantially closed rectangular cross-section. 17. A method according to claim 11, wherein the distributing of said weight includes distributing weight over support rails that have a tubular configuration. 18. A method according to claim 11, wherein the urging of said at least two movable members includes continuing moving the two movable members outwardly until a floor of said compartment is flush with a floor of said vehicle. 19. A method of moving a slide out compartment on a vehicle comprising: providing a slide out frame having a stationary member and a movable member; urging said movable member outwardly from the vehicle; and, distributing a weight of said slide out compartment over at least two longitudinally extending support rails having substantially the same height, and fixed to each other along a linking portion positioned between said at least two longitudinally extending support rails; said linking portion further positioned parallel to a longitudinal axis of each of said two longitudinally extending support rails and which are included as part of said movable member. 20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the distributing of said weight includes distributing said weight over said support rails and wherein said support rails are connectively spaced from each other by said linking portion. 21. A method according to claim 19, wherein the providing of a slide out frame includes providing a gear rack at least partially disposed on said linking portion. 22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the urging of said movable member includes causing a motive force to act on said gear rack. 23. A method according to claim 19, wherein the distributing of said weight includes distributing said weight over support rails that have a substantially rectangular cross-section. 24. A method according to claim 23, wherein the distributing of said weight includes distributing said weight over support rails that have a substantially closed rectangular cross-section. 25. A method according to claim 19, wherein the distributing of said weight includes distributing weight over support rails that have a tubular configuration. 26. A method according to claim 19, wherein the urging of said movable member includes continuing moving the movable member outwardly until a floor of said compartment is flush with a floor of said vehicle. 27. A slide-out mechanism comprising: a frame; said frame comprising at least one first frame member and at least one second frame member, said at least one second frame member being movable relative to said at least one first frame member; said second frame member comprised of a first support rail and a second support rail, said first and second support rails being fixedly connected to each other at a connection portion; said connection portion having an elongated axis positioned parallel to a longitudinal axis of each of said two longitudinally extending support rails such that a load encountered by said second frame member is distributed laterally across a top surface of said first and second support rails; said first and second support rails fixed at substantially the same height; and, a floor structure connected to said second frame member wherein said connection portion is disposed at the junction of said first support rail and said second support rail. 28. The slide out mechanism of claim 27, wherein a gear rack is disposed on said connection portion. 29. The slide out mechanism of claim 27, wherein said connection portion is selected from a group consisting of: a. a weld; and b. a third support rail. 30. A slide-out mechanism comprising: a frame; said frame comprising at least one first frame member and at least one second frame member, said at least one second frame member being movable relative to said at least one first frame member; said second frame member comprised of a first support rail and a second support rail, said first and second support rails being fixedly connected to each other along a junction positioned parallel to a longitudinal axis of each of said two longitudinally extending support rails; and, a floor structure connected to said second frame member; wherein said first support rail and said second support rail have a rectangular cross section. 31. The slide out mechanism of claim 30, wherein said first support rail and said second support rail have a closed rectangular cross section. 32. A method of moving a slide out compartment on a vehicle comprising: providing a slide out frame having at least two stationary members and at least two movable members; urging said at least two movable members outwardly from the vehicle; and, distributing a weight of said slide out compartment over at least two longitudinally extending support rails which are laterally joined to each other along a junction; a longitudinal axis of said junction positioned parallel to a longitudinal axis of each of said two longitudinally extending support rails; said two longitudinally extending support rails being at substantially the same height and which are included as part of each of said at least two movable members; wherein the distributing of said weight includes distributing said weight over said support rails that have a substantially rectangular cross-section. 33. A method according to claim 32, wherein the distributing of said weight includes distributing said weight over support rails that have a substantially closed rectangular cross-section. 34. A method of moving a slide out compartment on a vehicle comprising: providing a slide out frame having at least two stationary members and at least two movable members; urging said at least two movable members outwardly from the vehicle; and, distributing a weight of said slide out compartment over at least two longitudinally extending support rails which are laterally joined to each other along a junction; a longitudinal axis of said junction positioned parallel to a longitudinal axis of each of said two longitudinally extending support rails; said two longitudinally extending support rails being at substantially the same height and which are included as part of each of said at least two movable members; wherein the distributing of said weight includes distributing weight over support rails that have a tubular configuration. 35. A method of moving a slide out compartment on a vehicle comprising: providing a slide out frame having at least two stationary members and at least two movable members; urging said at least two movable members outwardly from the vehicle; and, distributing a weight of said slide out compartment over at least two longitudinally extending support rails which are laterally joined to each other along a junction; a longitudinal axis of said junction positioned parallel to a longitudinal axis of each of said two longitudinally extending support rails; said two longitudinally extending support rails being at substantially the same height and which are included as part of each of said at least two movable members; wherein the urging of said at least two movable members includes continuing moving the two movable members outwardly until a floor of said compartment is flush with a floor of said vehicle. 36. A method of moving a slide out compartment on a vehicle comprising: providing a slide out frame having a stationary member and a movable member; urging said movable member outwardly from the vehicle; and, distributing a weight of said slide out compartment over at least two longitudinally extending support rails having substantially the same height, and which are fixed to each other along a vertical direction and which are included as part of said movable member; and, wherein the distributing of said weight includes distributing said weight over support rails that have a substantially rectangular cross-section. 37. A method according to claim 36, wherein the distributing of said weight includes distributing said weight over support rails that have a substantially closed rectangular cross-section. 38. A method of moving a slide out compartment on a vehicle comprising: providing a slide out frame having a stationary member and a movable member; urging said movable member outwardly from the vehicle; and, distributing a weight of said slide out compartment over at least two longitudinally extending support rails having substantially the same height, and which are fixed to each other along a vertical direction and which are included as part of said movable member; and, wherein the distributing of said weight includes distributing weight over support rails that have a tubular configuration. 39. A method of moving a slide out compartment on a vehicle comprising: providing a slide out frame having a stationary member and a movable member; urging said movable member outwardly from the vehicle; and, distributing a weight of said slide out compartment over at least two longitudinally extending support rails having substantially the same height, and which are fixed to each other along a vertical direction and which are included as part of said movable member; and, wherein the urging of said movable member includes continuing moving the movable member outwardly until a floor of said compartment is flush with a floor of said vehicle.