U.S. patent application number 17/408020 was filed with the patent office on 2021-12-09 for slide-out room mechanism with rack and pinion drive.
The applicant listed for this patent is LCI Italy s.r.l.. Invention is credited to Lawrence Revelino, Fabio Romagnoli, Rupert Wilkins.
Application Number | 20210380031 17/408020 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005787391 |
Filed Date | 2021-12-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210380031 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Revelino; Lawrence ; et
al. |
December 9, 2021 |
SLIDE-OUT ROOM MECHANISM WITH RACK AND PINION DRIVE
Abstract
A drive mechanism for a slide-out room includes a bracket
attachable to a sidewall of the slide-out room and including a
channel, a horizontal gear rack securable to the sidewall in the
channel, and a motor. A drive shaft is coupled with the motor, and
a drive gear coupled with the drive shaft engages the horizontal
gear rack.
Inventors: |
Revelino; Lawrence; (Norco,
CA) ; Wilkins; Rupert; (Mulbarton, GB) ;
Romagnoli; Fabio; (Greve in Chianti, IT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LCI Italy s.r.l. |
Firenze |
|
IT |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005787391 |
Appl. No.: |
17/408020 |
Filed: |
August 20, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
16528786 |
Aug 1, 2019 |
11124107 |
|
|
17408020 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60P 3/34 20130101; F16H
19/04 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60P 3/34 20060101
B60P003/34; F16H 19/04 20060101 F16H019/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 20, 2019 |
IT |
102019000007030 |
Claims
1. A drive mechanism for a slide-out room, the drive mechanism
comprising: a first corner bracket securable at an intersection of
a sidewall and a top wall of the slide-out room, the first corner
bracket including a first channel therein; a second corner bracket
securable at an intersection of the sidewall and a floor of the
slide-out room, the second corner bracket including a second
channel therein; a first horizontal gear rack secured in the first
channel; a second horizontal gear rack spaced from the first
horizontal gear rack and secured in the second channel; a motor; a
drive shaft coupled with the motor; a first drive gear coupled with
the drive shaft and engaging the first horizontal gear rack; and a
second drive gear coupled with the drive shaft and engaging the
second horizontal gear rack.
2. A drive mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising a
first cover positioned over the first horizontal gear rack, and a
second cover positioned over the second horizontal gear rack.
3. A drive mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the first drive
gear extends through the first cover into engagement with the first
horizontal gear rack, and wherein the second drive gear extends
through the second cover into engagement with the second horizontal
gear rack.
4. A drive mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the first cover
and the second cover are secured in the first and second corner
brackets, respectively.
5. A drive mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising a
slider engaging exterior surfaces of each of the first and second
horizontal gear racks.
6. A drive mechanism according to claim 5, wherein the first and
second drive gears are positioned through an opening in each of the
sliders, respectively.
7. A drive mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising a
first gear housing fixed relative to the slide-out room adjacent
the sidewall of the slide-out room and housing the first drive
gear, and a second gear housing fixed relative to the slide-out
room adjacent the sidewall of the slide-out room and housing the
second drive gear.
8. A drive mechanism according to claim 7, wherein the first and
second gear housings include a hole therethrough, and wherein the
drive shaft is positioned through the holes in the first and second
gear housings and through the first and second drive gears.
9. A drive mechanism according to claim 7, further comprising a
slider secured to each of the first gear housing and the second
gear housing, the sliders respectively engaging exterior surfaces
of the first and second horizontal gear racks.
10. A drive mechanism according to claim 9, wherein the first and
second drive gears are positioned through an opening in each of the
sliders, respectively.
11. A slide-out room system for a vehicle, the slide-out room
system comprising: a room defined by a top wall, a floor, and a
pair of sidewalls connected between the top wall and the floor; a
first corner bracket secured at each intersection of the sidewalls
and the top wall of the slide-out room, the first corner brackets
including a first channel therein; a second corner bracket secured
at each intersection of the sidewalls and the floor of the
slide-out room, the second corner brackets including a second
channel therein; a first horizontal gear rack secured in each of
the first channels; a second horizontal gear rack spaced from the
first horizontal gear rack and secured is each of the second
channels; a motor fixed relative to the room adjacent each sidewall
of the room; a drive shaft coupled with each of the motors; a first
drive gear coupled with each of the drive shafts and engaging the
first horizontal gear racks, respectively; and a second drive gear
coupled with each of the drive shafts and engaging the second
horizontal gear racks, respectively.
12. A slide-out room system according to claim 11, further
comprising a first cover positioned over each of the first
horizontal gear racks, and a second cover positioned over each of
the second horizontal gear racks.
13. A slide-out room system according to claim, 12, wherein the
first drive gears extend through the first covers into engagement
with the first horizontal gear racks, and wherein the second drive
gears extend through the second covers into engagement with the
second horizontal gear racks.
14. A slide-out room system according to claim 12, wherein the
first covers are secured in the first corner brackets adjacent the
first horizontal gear racks, and wherein the second covers are
secured in the second corner brackets adjacent the second
horizontal gear racks.
15. A slide-out room system according to claim 11, wherein the
first corner brackets and the second corner brackets are
rounded.
16. A drive mechanism for a slide-out room, the drive mechanism
comprising: a bracket attachable to a sidewall of the slide-out
room and including a channel; a horizontal gear rack securable to
the sidewall in the channel; a motor; a drive shaft coupled with
the motor; and a drive gear coupled with the drive shaft and
engaging the horizontal gear rack.
17. A drive mechanism according to claim 16, further comprising a
cover positioned over the horizontal gear rack.
18. A drive mechanism according to claim 17, wherein the drive gear
extends through the cover into engagement with the horizontal gear
rack.
19. A drive mechanism according to claim 17, wherein the cover is
secured in the bracket.
20. A drive mechanism according to claim 16, wherein the bracket
comprises a corner bracket attachable between the sidewall of the
slide-out room and a top wall or a floor of the slide-out room.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 16/528,786 filed Aug. 1, 2019, pending, which
claims the benefit of Italian Patent Application No.
102019000007030, filed May 20, 2019, the entire contents of each of
which are herein incorporated by reference.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] (NOT APPLICABLE)
BACKGROUND
[0003] The invention relates to a slide-out or retractable room for
mobile living quarters, such as a recreational vehicle.
[0004] Recreational vehicles, such as motor homes, fifth-wheel
trailers, and travel trailers may be provided with a retractable or
slide-out room for increasing the living space of the vehicle. The
retractable or slide-out room is extended for use when the vehicle
is parked and is retracted into the main living area of the vehicle
when the vehicle is in transit. Slide-out rooms typically require
substantial space for mounting large electrical motors and
hydraulic units that require the construction of expensive covers
and thus reduce the overall space inside the vehicle.
[0005] Existing mechanisms for extending and retracting slide-out
rooms utilize a drive screw that is designed to stay in tension.
When improperly constructed, the screw can compress, which causes
the screw to bow and contact the housing. Additionally, it is
typical for the motor on the screw drive to move with the room,
which also requires the wires to move.
[0006] Other problems with existing systems include undesirably
exposed operating components when the room is expanded as well as
inadequate sealing during transition between retracted and expanded
positions.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0007] It would thus be desirable for a slide-out room system that
overcomes the shortcomings of existing systems. In some
embodiments, the drive system for the slide-out room may utilize a
rack and pinion drive system to eliminate use of the conventional
drive screw. Actuating mechanisms may be installed on opposite side
walls of the slide-out room and the adjoining portions of the wall
of the main living area through which the slide-out room extends
and retracts. Each of the actuating assemblies include a pair of
pinion gears mounted on a rotatable torque shaft/drive shaft, which
are supported for rotation in the main living quarters adjacent the
opening in the wall of the main living quarters through which the
slide-out room extends and retracts. The two pinion gears are
meshed with the teeth of corresponding gear racks, which are
mounted on the adjacent sidewall of the slide-out room. The gear
racks may be covered with respective cover members through which
the pinion gears extend to engage the racks.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] These and other aspects and advantages will be described in
detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the drive mechanism and
slide-out room with the slide-out room in an extended position;
[0010] FIG. 2 shows components of the drive mechanism with the
slide-out room in a retracted position;
[0011] FIG. 3 shows one corner of the slide-out room and the
components of the drive mechanism;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a sectional view through one corner of the drive
mechanism components;
[0013] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the slide-out room system;
[0014] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of an upper corner showing the
drive mechanism components; and
[0015] FIG. 7 is an exploded view showing a lower corner of the
drive mechanism components.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a slide-out room system 10
for a vehicle. The system 10 includes a room defined by a top wall
12, a bottom wall or floor 14 and a pair of sidewalls 16 connected
between the top wall 12 and the floor 14. In FIG. 1, the slide-out
room is shown in an extended or expanded position. The slide-out
room extends through an opening in a wall W typically in the side
of the vehicle. The view in FIG. 1 shows an interior of the vehicle
wall W.
[0017] Components of the drive mechanism will be described with
reference to the side wall 16 shown in FIG. 1, it being understood
that identical components for the drive mechanism are associated
with the opposite sidewall.
[0018] First or upper corner brackets 18 are provided at an
intersection of each of the sidewalls 16 and the top wall 12, and
second or lower corner brackets 20 are provided at an intersection
of each of the sidewalls 16 and the bottom wall 14. In some
embodiments, the corner brackets 18, 20 provide a rounded
transition between the top wall 12 and the sidewalls 16 and between
the bottom wall 14 and the sidewalls 16, respectively.
[0019] A first or upper horizontal gear rack 22 is secured on the
sidewall 16 via a channel 24 in the corner bracket 18 (see FIG. 4).
A second or lower horizontal gear rack 26 is spaced from the first
horizontal gear rack 22 and is secured on the sidewall 16 via a
similar channel in the lower corner bracket 20.
[0020] Inside the vehicle on an interior of the vehicle wall W, a
motor 28 is fixed to the wall W via a motor bracket 30 and anchor
brackets 32. The motor 28 is thus fixed to the wall W relative to
the slide-out room adjacent the sidewall 16. A fluted motor shaft
or drive shaft 34 is coupled with the motor 28 for rotation by the
motor.
[0021] The drive shaft 34 extends through a correspondingly shaped
opening in a first drive gear 36 that engages the first horizontal
gear rack 22. The drive shaft 34 also extends through a second
drive gear 38 engaging the second horizontal gear rack 26.
[0022] A gear housing 40 is fixed to the wall W of the vehicle
adjacent the sidewall 16 of the slide-out room. The gear housing 40
includes a first compartment 42 in which the first drive gear 36 is
disposed. A second gear housing 44 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) similarly
includes a compartment in which the second drive gear 38 is
disposed. As shown in FIGS. 5-7, the gear housings 40, 44 include a
hole 46 therethrough, where the drive shaft 34 is positioned
through the holes 46 in the first and second gear housings and
through the first 36 and second 38 drive gears.
[0023] With continued reference to FIG. 4, a slider 48 may be
secured to each of the first gear housing 40 and the second gear
housing 44. The sliders 48 respectively engage exterior surfaces of
the first 22 and second 26 horizontal gear racks. As shown in FIGS.
6 and 7, the sliders 48 may be formed in multiple pieces. The drive
gears 36, 38 are positioned through an opening in each of the
sliders 48, respectively.
[0024] A cover 50 is secured in suitable channels of the corner
brackets 18, 20 and is positioned over each of the first horizontal
gear rack 22 and the second horizontal gear rack 26. The covers 50
conceal the gear racks 22, 26. As shown in FIG. 4, the drive gears
36, 38 extend through the covers 50 into engagement with the first
and second horizontal gear racks 22, 26, respectively. The covers
50 cover the entire lengths of the respective horizontal gear racks
22, 26.
[0025] FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing the components of the
slide-out room system. A narrow frame member 52 is secured in the
opening in the vehicle wall W, and a seal member such as a V-shaped
seal or "V seal" 54 is positioned between the narrow frame 52 and
the slide-out room. Since the frame 52 and seal 54 are fixed in the
vehicle opening, the slide-out room is displaceable relative to the
seal 54, and the slide-out room remains sealed in the retracted
position, the extended position and while transitioning between the
retracted and extended positions.
[0026] As described, electric motors 28 are connected to drive
gears 36, 38 that engage the first and second gear racks 22, 26
respectively, driving movement of the slide-out room. This movement
may be distributed or synchronized with the lower portion of the
room with the first drive gear 36 engaged with the first gear rack
22 and the second drive gear 38 engaged with the second gear rack
26. In some embodiments, the drive shaft 34 may not be directly
connected to the motor 28 such that the drive shaft 34 acts solely
as a secondary synchronization mechanism between the top and bottom
of the room. An equalizing or synchronizing assembly that transfers
some of the force/movement delivered to the lower portion of the
slide-out room to the upper portion of the room is described in
U.S. Pat. No. 9,221,378, the contents of which are hereby
incorporated by reference.
[0027] The use of a rack and pinion drive eliminates problems with
existing systems utilizing a drive screw. Another advantage is the
use of two motors rather than four motors. A drive shaft connects
two sets of gearing for each of the two motors. Moreover, the
motors are fixed relative to the slide-out room and thus do not
move with the room, resulting in a simplified and more reliable
assembly.
[0028] While the invention has been described in connection with
what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be
limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is
intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements
included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *