Single Roller Slide-Out Mechanism
AssigneeRBW Industries, Inc.
InventorsLarry Revelino, John Pervorse
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims23
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;
- and
- a 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.
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.
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;
- and
- a 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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.