Single Roller Slide-Out Mechanism

Abstract

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a slide-out system comprising an inner rail that slides into and out of an inner rail. The inner rail is supported within the outer rail by a single support roller and a retaining slide, while a rail gear drives a gear rack on the inner rail to cause extension or retraction. This arrangement allows the rails of the slide-out system to be narrower than those used in many popular flush-floor slide-out systems in use today.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a vehicle with a slide-out system according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the slide-out system according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the slide-out system according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a side perspective view of the slide-out system according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates an end view of the slide-out system according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a bottom perspective view of the slide-out system according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates an enlarged view of area 7 in FIG. 6 according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates an enlarged view of area 8 in FIG. 6 according to the present invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of the slide-out system according to the present invention;

FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective view of another slide-out system according to the present invention;

FIG. 11 illustrates a perspective view of the slide-out system of FIG. 10 according to the present invention;

FIG. 12 illustrates a perspective view of the slide-out system of FIG. 10 according to the present invention;

FIG. 13 illustrates a profile view of the slide-out system of FIG. 10 according to the present invention;

FIG. 14 illustrates a back profile view of an outer rail of the slide-out system of FIG. 10 according to the present invention;

FIG. 15 illustrates a perspective view of a chassis plate of the slide-out system of FIG. 10 according to the present invention;

FIG. 16 illustrates a perspective view of a stop bracket of the slide-out system of FIG. 10 according to the present invention;

FIGS. 17-19 illustrate various views of the slide-out system of FIG. 10 according to the present invention;

FIG. 20 illustrates a perspective view of a slide-out system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 21 illustrates an enlarged view of area 21 of FIG. 20 according to the present invention.

Claims

1. A slide-out mechanism for a vehicle comprising: an outer member;an inner member positioned at least partially within said outer member, including a rack member disposed along a bottom surface of said inner member;an axle rotatably mounted within a bracket and positioned beneath said inner member;a gear disposed on said axle and positioned to engage said rack member; anda roller disposed on said axle and positioned to contact said bottom surface of said inner member;wherein said gear is positioned immediately between said roller and a first side of said bracket.

2. The slide-out mechanism of claim 1 wherein said bracket is disposed on said outer member.

3. The slide-out mechanism of claim 1 wherein said roller is positioned immediately next to a second side of said bracket.

4. The slide-out mechanism of claim 1 wherein said gear is coupled to a motor.

5. The slide-out mechanism of claim 1 further comprising a retaining clip disposed on said inner member to engage a lip on said outer member.

6. The slide-out mechanism of claim 5 further comprising a second roller disposed on said inner member to contact a bottom surface of said outer member.

7. The slide-out system of claim 1 wherein said outer member includes a bottom lip contacting a portion of said bottom surface of said inner member.

8. The slide-out system of claim 1 wherein said rack member is selected from a group consisting of: a gear rack, a chain and a punched metal rack.

9. A method of moving an extendable room of a vehicle comprising: providing a vehicle having an extendable room and an outer member, said outer member having a retaining lip;supporting an inner rail coupled to said extendable room with a single roller coupled to said outer member;supporting said inner rail with said retaining lip of said outer member;rotating a gear positioned adjacent to said single roller to extend or retract said inner member from said outer member.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said supporting said inner rail with said retaining lip of said outer member includes supporting said inner rail with a retaining slide engaged with said retaining lip.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said supporting said inner rail with said retaining lip of said outer member includes contacting a bottom surface of said inner member with said retaining lip.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising contacting an inner surface of said outer member with a second roller.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein said supporting an inner rail coupled to said extendable room with a single roller coupled to said outer member includes supporting said single roller from said outer rail.

14. A system for expanding and retracting a slide-out room of a vehicle comprising: an outer rail coupled to a vehicle;an inner rail at least partially positioned within said outer rail and including a gear rack disposed along a bottom surface of said inner rail, said inner rail coupled to a slide-out room; anda bracket fixed to said outer rail, including a gear positioned to engage said gear rack and a roller positioned to contact said bottom surface of said inner rail adjacent to said gear rack;wherein said gear is positioned directly adjacent said roller on a first side of said gear and directly adjacent to said bracket on a second side of said gear.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising a retaining ridge extending along a length of said outer rail and a retaining member disposed on said inner rail to engage said retaining ridge.

16. The system of claim 14 further comprising a stop member positioned on said inner rail.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein said outer rail includes an elongated portion having two sides positioned perpendicular to said elongated portion.

18. The system of claim 14 wherein said inner rail is an I-beam.

19. The system of claim 14 wherein said gear and said roller are fixed to a single axle.

20. The system of claim 14 further including a hydraulic drive configured to expand and retract said inner rail.

21. The system of claim 14 further comprising a motor coupled to said gear, said motor including a removable motor brake.

22. The system of claim 14 further comprising a second roller rotatably disposed on said inner rail to contact a retaining ridge extending along the length of said outer rail.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein said retaining ridge includes a main region and an end region; said end region disposed at an angle relative to said main region.