Abstract: An upper deck frame assembly for a trailer chassis includes a flushed floor section defining a first floor height, and a header section, with a header, forward of the flushed floor section and defining a second floor height above the first floor height. A towing assembly may be secured to the header. A reduced size header section increases usable floor space, and the towing assembly is securable to the header.

Abstract: A fold assist bimini top includes a bimini frame with a front bow, a front support, a rear bow, and a rear support. The bimini frame is displaceable between an extended position and a retracted position. A canopy secured over the bimini frame is displaceable with the bimini frame between the extended position and the retracted position. A pair of assist straps are configured to facilitate displacement of the bimini frame from the extended position to the retracted position. One of the pair of assist straps is manually displaceable, and one of the assist straps is elastic and is secured at ends thereof to the bimini frame. The elastic assist strap biases the bimini frame toward the retracted position.

Abstract: An awning keder includes an awning bead extending along a length of the keder that is sized for insertion into a keder rail, and a connecting panel coupled with the awning bead and extending along the length of the keder. The awning bead and the connecting panel are integrated into a one-piece keder. The one-piece component does not require additional assembly or alteration before welding onto a vinyl canopy, thereby cutting down on production time. The keder is also more durable and less susceptible to expansion or shrinkage resulting from environmental changes.

Abstract: A sofa bed with three moving seat bases that transforms between a bed configuration and a sofa configuration. The sofa bed includes supporting legs and armrest. The armrest does not extend to the floor and allows the set of rails to form a notch such that the back end of the sofa bed may be installed on a raised area. Each of the seat bases, and corresponding cushions, are located between the armrests. The seat bases are interconnected with a set of slide rails that allow the seat bases to move relative to one another. The sofa bed also includes a locking mechanism to hold the sofa bed in the sofa configuration.

Abstract: A seatback shell mounting device removably secures a seatback shell to a seatback frame. The seatback shell includes a support member with a base secured to the seatback shell and an outwardly extending arm with an elbow. The elbow is shaped to mate with an upper seatback frame element. A fastening member has a base secured to the seatback shell and an outwardly extending resilient lever arm with a cam surface and a step formed on an underside. The lever arm is shaped to define an underside cradle. The mounting device facilitates assembly and removal of a seatback shell onto a seatback frame.

Abstract: A tire engaging brake for use with a vehicle having a vehicle frame supporting a tire from a suspension includes a base securable to the vehicle frame, a brake pad mounting arm pivotally connected to the base, and a brake pad connected to the brake pad mounting arm. An over-center linkage has an inner link pivotally connected at an inner end to the base at a position spaced from the pivotal connection of the brake pad mounting arm to the base. An outer link of the over-center linkage is pivotally connected at an inner end to the inner link and is pivotally connected at an outer end to the brake pad mounting arm. A lever arm is cooperable with the inner link for pivoting the inner link, the outer link and the brake pad mounting arm between a retracted position and a tire engaging position in which the inner link and the outer link extend in an over-center condition.

Abstract: A sofa that transitions between a sitting position and a sleeping position. The sofa includes a frame with a bracket and multiple arms and support bases that allow the frame to move from the sitting position and the sleeping position, and the reverse, by allowing the multiple arms to rotate and support bases to rotate about the bracket at attachment points where the bracket and arms are connected by fasteners. In some embodiments, a back support portion of the sofa is hingedly moveable into first and second positions to optionally reduce the vertical height of the back support to allow easier transport (i.e., in boxes and shipping containers) and movement (i.e., through small doorways and spaces) of the sofa, as described herein. In some embodiments the sofa has a space or notch underneath that is configured to be fastened or otherwise affixed to a platform, such as a bump out in a recreational vehicle, wherein the notch is configured to provide the sofa with a lower profile.

Abstract: A system and method for leveling a selected surface of a structure. The system includes a handheld mobile device and a platform leveling assembly (PLA) supportable on a structure to be leveled. The PLA includes a PLA controller and a PLA receiver communicatively coupled with the PLA controller. The handheld mobile device includes a tilt sensor configured to sense an attitude of a selected surface on which the handheld mobile device is placed; and a mobile device controller communicatively coupled to the tilt sensor and the transmitter and configured to receive signals from the tilt sensor indicating the attitude of the selected surface on which the handheld mobile device is placed.

Abstract: An awning connector assembly includes a mounting bracket having first and second elongated and parallel beads, and an extension bracket defining first and second elongated and parallel grooves configured to slidingly receive the first and second beads in laterally locked engagement. The mounting bracket can be secured to a slide-out room by the vehicle manufacturer to facilitate after-purchase installation of an awning assembly if desired by the vehicle owner.

Abstract: A bug screen frame assembly includes a front frame portion defining an exterior of the bug screen frame assembly, a rear frame portion received by the front frame portion, and a mesh screen captured between the front frame portion and the rear frame portion. One of the front frame portion and the rear frame portion includes a plurality of spikes extending toward the other of the front frame portion and the rear frame portion, and the other of the front frame portion and the rear frame portion comprises a groove that receives the spikes. The spikes extend through the mesh screen to retain the mesh screen. The overall assembly has a clean appearance with a self-tensioning screen without any visible clamps or screws.

Abstract: A telescopic linear actuator includes a rotational drive mechanism specially adapted and assembled within a tubular housing to reduce noise and vibration of the actuator during its operation. The rotational drive mechanism includes an electric motor adapted for low current operation, a gearbox containing a planetary gear axially connected to the motor with a stepped-up gear ratio, and a drive screw member operatively connected to the gearbox to extend longitudinally through the tubular housing. The drive screw is provided with a specially configured threaded surface formed along the screw member having a reduced thread count and associated increased thread pitch to operatively engage and drive a movable piston member through the tubular housing.

Abstract: A distributed safety lockout system for a vehicle, such as a recreational vehicle (RV), that includes a plurality of networked devices communicatively coupled via a communications network, and that is configured to implement a method for controlling an electromechanical operation of an electromechanical device based on a safety lockout condition determined through use of a consensus protocol in which a safety lockout status is agreed upon by the networked devices. The safety lockout status may be escalated by a safety lockout condition detection device that detects a safety lockout condition, such as movement of the RV. The safety lockout status may be de-escalated through a network contention mode of the consensus protocol in which each of the networked devices agree to de-escalate the safety lockout status.

Abstract: An upper deck frame assembly for a trailer chassis includes a flushed floor section defining a first floor height, and a header section, with a header, forward of the flushed floor section and defining a second floor height above the first floor height. A towing assembly may be secured to the header. A reduced size header section increases usable floor space, and the towing assembly is securable to the header.

Abstract: A combination radar arch and bimini top includes a radar arch securable on a boat deck over a boat cabin and a bimini top assembly secured to the radar arch. The bimini top assembly includes at least one bimini top base secured on the radar arch, a bimini arm pivotally connected to the bimini top base, and a spring-loaded roller assembly secured to the radar arch and including a canopy connected between the radar arch and the bimini arm. The bimini top base has a drive mechanism coupled with the bimini arm that is configured to displace the bimini arm between a retracted position and an extended position.

Abstract: A shock absorbing pin box system includes a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and an upper wall. The first sidewall defines at least a first plurality of apertures arranged in first column, and the second sidewall defines at least a second plurality of apertures arranged in a second column. A plurality of tubes extend from each of the first plurality of apertures and the second plurality of apertures. A plurality of flexible and resilient tubular bushings are received in a corresponding one of the plurality of tubes. A plurality of bolts are received within corresponding ones of the pluralities of apertures of the pin box and the plurality of tubes.

Abstract: A structure such as a recreational vehicle includes a guide member coupled to a wall of the structure, a carriage member slidingly coupled to the guide member, a mounting bracket, and a bed coupled to the mounting bracket. The mounting bracket includes a support base configured to be coupled to the carriage member and a support arm rotatably coupled to the support base. The support arm is configured to rotate between a first position where the support arm extends horizontally from the support base and a second position where the support arm extends vertically from the support base.

Abstract: A hitch system for distributing weight from a trailer to the wheels of a towing vehicle. The system has a hitch head that is pivotally connected to a hitch bar and is pivotable about a hitch head axis with respect to the hitch bar. A hitch pin is rotatably fixed to the hitch head and the hitch pin is rotatable with respect to the hitch head about a hitch pin axis. The hitch pin axis is transverse to the hitch head axis. A single spring is pivotally connected to the hitch head and is pivotable with respect to the hitch head about a spring axis. A distal end of the spring spaced from the spring axis is connectable to the trailer when the trailer is connected to the hitch pin and the spring can provide a biasing force when the distal end of the spring is moved nearer the trailer.

Abstract: A valance kit and mounting assembly secure a valance adjacent a window frame. A mounting block is securable in a clamp ring cavity of the window frame and includes a snap connector on the frame side thereof and a valance groove in each of the top and bottom sides thereof. The valance grooves extend in a width direction across the mounting block and have a depth dimension parallel with a plane of the window opening. A valance assembly includes a plurality of shrouds that together define the valance. Each of the shrouds is provided with a pair of snap ridges disposed facing each other and spaced substantially corresponding to a space between the top and bottom sides of the mounting block. The snap ridges are sized and positioned to engage the valance grooves in a snap fit. The universal mounting block is suitable for mounting various types of window treatments.

Abstract: A system for mounting a window treatment to a structure includes a beam supporting or forming a portion of the window treatment, a flange of a trim ring or an accessory thereof, and a clip connectable to the beam and to the flange.

Abstract: A trailer oscillation and stability control device including an accelerometer and an angular rate sensor. An oscillation detection discriminator detects oscillatory lateral trailer motion in response to trailer displacement data derived from inputs from the angular rate sensor and acceleration signals received from the accelerometer, and then generates corresponding oscillatory event data. A brake controller generates a braking control signal in response to oscillatory event data received from the oscillation detection discriminator.