Abstract: An apparatus for configuring the cargo area of a vehicle includes an expansion portion or movable cover for increasing and decreasing the cargo area upon movement between a retracted position and an extended position.

Abstract: A passenger vehicle including a body having a longitudinal axis and an expansion portion connected to the body. The expansion portion is configured to move substantially along the longitudinal axis between a retracted position wherein the body and the expansion portion define a first volume of interior space, and an extended position wherein the body and the expansion portion define a second volume of interior space, the second volume being larger than the first volume.

Abstract: An adjustable seat for a vehicle includes a first support and a second support connected to the first support to form a seat, a mount for attachment to the vehicle floor; and an adjustment mechanism. The seat is movable between a forward orientation wherein the second support faces forward and a rearward orientation wherein the first support faces rearward.

Abstract: An apparatus for configuring the cargo area of a vehicle includes an expansion portion or movable cover for increasing and decreasing the cargo area upon movement between a retracted position and an extended position.

Abstract: An adjustable seat for a vehicle includes a first support and a second support connected to the first support to form a seat, a mount for attachment to the vehicle floor; and an adjustment mechanism. The seat is movable between a forward orientation wherein the second support faces forward and a rearward orientation wherein the first support faces rearward.

Abstract: A passenger vehicle including a body having a longitudinal axis and an expansion portion connected to the body. The expansion portion is configured to move substantially along the longitudinal axis between a retracted position wherein the body and the expansion portion define a first volume of interior space, and an extended position wherein the body and the expansion portion define a second volume of interior space, the second volume being larger than the first volume.

Abstract: A lifting mechanism elevates a slide-out room above the floor of a vehicle as the room is moved between an extended and retracted position. The lifting assembly in one embodiment includes a pair of rollers which support the room and which move vertically to elevate the slide-out room. In other embodiments of the invention, the rollers are attached to rotatable levers, which rotate upon retraction of the slide-out room to elevate the slide-out room floor. Accordingly, the room is moved between the extended and retracted positions with minimal damaging contact with the finished floor surface of the vehicle.

Abstract: An open-loop system for synchronizing movement of a slide out room includes a pair of motors connected to extendable members which support the room during movement between an extended and a retracted position for driving the extendable members, a controller connected to the motors, and a plurality of switches connected to the controller for permitting operator control of the system. The controller provides synchronized output signals to the motors which have known output characteristics depending upon the motor inputs. The controller thus ensures the motors move substantially in unison without requiring feedback from the motors or the extendable members. The system may be initialized to establish stop positions of the extendable members which are stored in the controller.

Abstract: A recreational vehicle includes a main living area and a slide out room that slides between an extended and retracted position relative to the main living area. At least one extendable support member is mounted within the floor of the main living area, and is connected to the slide out room so that the weight of the slide out room is transferred to the extendable support member as the room slides to the extended position. The extendable support member bends in response to the weight transfer such that the room floor is substantially flush and level with respect to the main living area floor. The extendable support includes an inner support connected to the room and the outer support connected to the vehicle. The shape of the inner support may be such that the end connected to the room drops vertically as the inner support is extended from the outer support.

Abstract: Transportable living quarters includes a main frame supporting a main living area and a slide out room which slides between an extended and retracted position relative to the main living area. An extendable member is mounted on the main frame and is rigidly connected to the slide out room floor, so that the weight of the slide out room is transferred from the floor of the main living to the extendable member as the slide out room slides between the retracted and extended positions. In one embodiment of the invention, the floor of the slide out room is leveled with respect to the floor of the main living area when the slide out room is moved to the extended position by bending of the extendable support member in response to the weight transfer.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for transportable living quarters having a main living area and a slide-out room includes a plurality of actuators connected between the main living area and the slide-out room to move the room between a retracted position retracted within the main living area and an extended position extended from the main living area, a plurality of position sensors associated with the plurality of actuators, each position sensor outputting a position signal representing a position of its associated actuator, a plurality of valves connected to the plurality of actuators, each valve being adjustable to either enable or inhibit movement of its corresponding actuator, and a controller for adjusting the valves in response to the position signals to synchronize movement of the actuators.

Abstract: A mobile living quarters unit incorporates a slide-out room which is moveable between an extended position providing an auxiliary living area when the unit is parked and a retracted position retracted into the unit when the unit is moved. A latching mechanism automatically latches the slide-out room to the mobile living quarters as the slide-out room is moved into the retracted position, and releases the room to permit outward movement of the slide-out room when the unit is parked and the slide-out room is extended.

Abstract: A recreational vehicle includes structure defining side walls of a main living unit mounted on a frame and a slide-out room which extends and retracts through an aperture in one of the side walls. Adjustments are provided to adjust the angular orientation of the slide-out room without respect to the side wall of the main living unit, to adjust the vertical position of the slide-out room in the extended position and to adjust the tilt of the slide-out room. Further adjustments are also provided to adjust the position of the back wall of the slide-out room in the retracted position to assure that trim and decals applied to the side wall of the unit and extending over the back wall of the slide-out room are properly aligned.

Abstract: A mobile living quarters unit incorporates a slide-out room which is moveable between an extended position providing an auxiliary living area when the unit is parked and a retracted position retracted into the unit when the unit is moved. A latching mechanism automatically latches the slide-out room to the mobile living quarters as the slide-out room is moved into the retracted position, and releases the room to permit outward movement of the slide-out room when the unit is parked and the slide-out room is extended.

Abstract: Transportable living quarters includes a main frame supporting a main living area and a slide-out room that slides between an extended and retracted position relative to the main living area. The actuation mechanism for extending and retracting the slide-out room includes a curved slider arm that causes the slide-out room to tilt slightly when moving into the fully extended or retracted positions. Upon extension, the slide-out room tilts outwardly to compress an inner compressible seal between sealing surfaces on the main living area and the slide-out room inner flange. Upon retraction, the slide-out room tilts in the opposite direction to compress an outer compressible seal between sealing surfaces on the outside of the main living area and the outer flange of the slide-out room. This tilting of the room results in a tighter seal at the top of the slide-out room that better isolates the living area from the outside elements.

Abstract: A drive unit for a recreational vehicle slide out room comprises actuation members having linear gears fixed thereto. A drive mechanism is comprised of a transverse mounted unit having a fluid operated cylinder which drives an externally threaded rod. The externally threaded rod is cooperable with an internally threaded drive gear, which in turn meshes with a drive gear mounted to a transverse drive shaft. The transverse drive shaft has gears mounted at opposite ends which mesh with the linear gear teeth.

Abstract: A drive mechanism is shown for transportable living quarters. An outer tube is oriented so that the corresponding inner tube extends downwardly relative to the main living area, lowering the slide-out room back wall and causing the slide-out room to tilt slightly outward in its extended position to compress an inner compressible seal between sealing surfaces on the main living area and the slide-out room inner flange. Similarly, upon retraction, the back wall is raised relative to the main living area, tilting the room in the opposite direction to compress an outer compressible seal between sealing surfaces on the outside of the main living area and the outer flange of the slide-out room. The mechanism may include an adjustment mechanism to adjust the angle of the outer tube for optimal sealing. The mechanism may also be used in conjunction with a wear bar attached to the edge of the main living area floor to increase the tilt applied to the slide-out room for added pressure on the compressible seals.

Abstract: A recreational vehicle includes structure defining side walls of a main living unit mounted on a frame and a slide-out room which extends and retracts through an aperture in one of the side walls. Adjustments are provided to adjust the angular orientation of the slide-out room without respect to the side wall of the main living unit, to adjust the vertical position of the slide-out room in the extended position and to adjust the tilt of the slide-out room. Further adjustments are also provided to adjust the position of the back wall of the slide-out room in the retracted position to assure that trim and decals applied to the side wall of the unit and extending over the back wall of the slide-out room are properly aligned.

Abstract: A recreational vehicle is shown having an opening through one of the side walls to access the main room of the recreational vehicle. A slide out room is expandable through the opening, between a retracted and expanded position to increase the living space of the main room when in the expanded position. A ceiling member is positioned between the recreational vehicle and the slide out room to seal the main room when the slide out room is in the fully retracted position. A plurality of mechanisms are disclosed herein which changes the relative position of the ceiling member and a corresponding ceiling surface when the slide out room is in the retracted position.

Abstract: A lifting mechanism for elevating a slide-out room above the floor of a vehicle as the room is moved between an extended and retracted position. The lifting assembly in one embodiment includes a pair of rollers which support the room and which move vertically to elevate the slide-out room. In other embodiments of the invention, the rollers are attached to rotatable levers, which rotate upon retraction of the slide-out room to elevate the slide-out room floor. Accordingly, the room is moved between the extended and retracted positions with minimal damaging contact with the finished floor surface of the vehicle.