Abstract: A seat pedestal includes an open base upon which a plate assembly is mounted for translational movement upon the base. The plate assembly includes a bottom plate, a seat mount for supporting a seat, and a bearing means between the bottom plate and the seat mount to permit the seat mount to rotate. One lock releasably secures the plate assembly in the driving position and another, which is self-actuating, releases the seat mount so that it can rotate freely when it is in the resting position. A stop carried by the seat mount defines a range in which the seat may be rotated. At least one pair of interlocking members couples the seat mount with the bottom plate to transfer lateral loads born by the seat to the base. The bottom plate, the bearing means, and the seat mount have concentric openings through which wires may pass for accessories such as power/heated seats, headrests, and computer screens and related accoutrements.

Abstract: A lift mechanism for an RV holds the elevation of a lift mechanism for a period of time after the operator releases the switch to give the operator time to secure the elevation.

Abstract: An apparatus for moving a slide-out room disposed in an aperture of a side wall of a vehicle from a retracted position to an extended position in a drive direction. The apparatus includes a drive assembly supported by the side wall of the vehicle and a driven assembly driven by the drive assembly. The driven assembly is connected to a wall of the slide-out room such that the slide-out room moves with the driven assembly from the retracted position to the extended position in the drive direction and the driven assembly is movable in a transverse direction generally perpendicular to the drive direction relative to the wall of the slide-out room.

Abstract: A bed lift system for a vehicle includes a first moving member, a guide member, a second moving member, and a flexible drive member. The first and second moving member are configured to be coupled to a bed. The guide member is configured to be coupled to the vehicle and cooperate with the first moving member to guide vertical movement of the bed. The flexible drive member is coupled to the first moving member and the second moving member. The bed lift system is configured so that raising the first moving member exerts tension on the flexible drive member which raises the second moving member and lowering the first moving member releases tension on the flexible drive member which lowers the second moving member.

Abstract: A post mount includes a base configured for attachment to a ramp door of a vehicle and a paddle pivotally connected to the base. The base and paddle cooperate to receive a shaft and flange of a post. The paddle may be pivoted and flexed with respect to the base to allow release of the post from the post mount.

Abstract: A retractable awning system includes an awning and a support structure therefor. The support structure includes a base and first, second, and third support arms. The awning is attached to a roller connected to the third support arm and to another structure. A telescopic actuator coupled to the first and second support arms is configured to bias the first, second, and third support arms to a deployed state. The awning may be wound onto the roller. Tension in the awning resulting from the rolling process causes the support structure to transition to a collapsed position.

Abstract: A bed lift system for a vehicle includes a first moving member, a guide member, a second moving member, and a flexible drive member. The first and second moving member are configured to be coupled to a bed. The guide member is configured to be coupled to the vehicle and cooperate with the first moving member to guide vertical movement of the bed. The flexible drive member is coupled to the first moving member and the second moving member. The bed lift system is configured so that raising the first moving member exerts tension on the flexible drive member which raises the second moving member and lowering the first moving member releases tension on the flexible drive member which lowers the second moving member.

Abstract: An apparatus for moving a slide-out room disposed in an aperture of a side wall of a vehicle from a retracted position to an extended position in a drive direction. The apparatus includes a drive assembly supported by the side wall of the vehicle and a driven assembly driven by the drive assembly. The driven assembly is connected to a wall of the slide-out room such that the slide-out room moves with the driven assembly from the retracted position to the extended position in the drive direction and the driven assembly is movable in a transverse direction generally perpendicular to the drive direction relative to the wall of the slide-out room.

Abstract: A slide-out or retractable room for a mobile living quarters, such as a recreational vehicle, is provided with actuating assemblies mounted on opposite side walls of the slide-out room and the adjacent wall of the main living area. The actuating assemblies include a pair of parallel gear racks mounted on the side wall, which are engaged by pinions rotated by torque shafts mounted on the main living quarters. Each torque shaft is rotated by a separate motor. A roller engages a bearing surface on the lower portion of the gear racks. Accordingly, the slide-out room is extended and retracted by rotating the torque shafts to cause the gear racks and the attached slide-out room to extend and retract. The weight of the slide-out room is supported by the rollers, thereby supporting the slide-out room off of the floor of the main living quarters as it extends and retracts. A synchronizing control operates the motors.

Abstract: A structure such as a toy hauler recreational vehicle includes a bed lift that moves a bed vertically between a lowered position, a raised position, and an upright position. The bed is oriented horizontally and positioned to receive one or more persons to sleep on it in the lowered position. The bed is oriented horizontally and stowed adjacent to a ceiling of the vehicle in the raised position. At least a portion of the bed is oriented vertically and stowed adjacent to a wall of the structure when the bed is in the upright position. The bed lift can include a mounting member that: (a) moves between a first position where the bed is oriented horizontally and a second position where the bed is oriented vertically and/or (b) is vertically offset to allow the bed to be lowered below or adjacent to the bottom of the bed lift.

Abstract: A retractable awning having a roller, a flexible canopy having one end secured to the roller and rollable onto the roller, and a motor operable to rotate the roller to roll the flexible canopy onto or off the roller. The motor includes a protective housing, with a manual motor override on the motor within the housing. An aperture in the housing proximate the override is aligned with and permits access to the override through the aperture.

Abstract: A convertible sofa and sofa frame deployable between a sofa orientation and a bed orientation. The frame has a base frame with a seat extension frame comprising a seat frame and a mid-frame pivotally secured to the base frame. Cushioning is on one side of the base frame. A seat back frame is pivotally secured to the base frame, the second cushioning on what is a back side when in the sofa orientation. Removable seat back cushions engage the front side of the seat back frame in the sofa orientation. In the bed orientation, the seat frame is extended, the seat back portion is pivoted horizontally, and the removable seat back cushions are located on the mid-frame between the seat frame and the seat back frame.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for leveling a vehicle when stationary. The system includes three zones with a first zone at the front end, and the second and third zones on opposite sides of the vehicle. All zones include leveling jacks, each having a blind side and a rod side. At least one leveling jack is located in the first zone, and at least two leveling jacks are located in each of the second and third zones. The blind sides of the jacks in each zone are connected together. The rod sides of all of the jacks are connected to a common fluid line, which typically is at low fluid pressure or pressure-free. The method involves extending all of the jacks from retracted positions to extended positions until they meet the surface upon which the vehicle is located. Fluid is then applied to the blind sides of either the second or third zone leveling jacks to raise the lower of the two sides. If the front end is lower than the rear end, fluid is applied to the blind side of the leveling jack in the first zone.

Abstract: A seal assembly for sealing an interface between a structure having a side wall having an opening therein and a slide-out compartment that may be extended and retracted through the opening includes a first channel attached to the side wall and a complementary second channel attached to the compartment. The first channel includes a pair of wiper seals. The second channel is movable with respect to the first channel such that a flange of the second channel may be received within an interior of the first channel in engagement with the pair of wiper seals.

Abstract: A leveling jack for a vehicle, such as a recreational vehicle, includes a leveling piston and cylinder, a bi-directional, reversible pump, and a reservoir within a common sealed housing that does not require exterior fluid connections. The piston is extended from the housing to contact the ground and effect leveling by operating the pump in one direction, and is retracted into the cylinder by operating the pump in the other direction. Accordingly, the leveling jack is a self-contained unit, and does not require a central hydraulic unit and the necessary hoses between the jack and the central hydraulic unit as needed in the prior art.

Abstract: A motorized retractable step apparatus includes one or more steps that move between a retracted position and a deployed position. The step apparatus includes a drive member that spans the length of the step apparatus and rotates to retract or deploy the steps. The step apparatus uses a direct drive configuration to transfer power from an electric motor to the drive member. The step apparatus can also includes a brake coupled to the electric motor and/or extruded aluminum steps. These features simplify construction of the step apparatus and make it more reliable than conventional motorized steps.

Abstract: A slide-out or retractable room for a mobile living quarters, such as a recreational vehicle, is provided with actuating assemblies mounted on opposite side walls of the slide-out room and the adjacent wall of the main living area. The actuating assemblies include a pair of parallel gear racks mounted on the side wall, which are engaged by pinions rotated by torque shafts mounted on the main living quarters. Each torque shaft is rotated by a separate motor. A roller engages a bearing surface on the lower portion of the gear racks. Accordingly, the slide-out room is extended and retracted by rotating the torque shafts to cause the gear racks and the attached slide-out room to extend and retract. The weight of the slide-out room is supported by the rollers, thereby supporting the slide-out room off of the floor of the main living quarters as it extends and retracts. A synchronizing control operates the motors.

Abstract: A motorized retractable step apparatus includes one or more steps that move between a retracted position and a deployed position. The step apparatus includes a drive member that spans the length of the step apparatus and rotates to retract or deploy the steps. The step apparatus uses a direct drive configuration to transfer power from an electric motor to the drive member. The step apparatus can also includes a brake coupled to the electric motor and/or extruded aluminum steps. These features simplify construction of the step apparatus and make it more reliable than conventional motorized steps.

Abstract: An apparatus for moving a slide-out room disposed in an aperture of a side wall of a vehicle from a retracted position to an extended position in a drive direction. The apparatus includes a drive assembly supported by the side wall of the vehicle and a driven assembly driven by the drive assembly. The driven assembly is connected to a wall of the slide-out room such that the slide-out room moves with the driven assembly from the retracted position to the extended position in the drive direction and the driven assembly is movable in a transverse direction generally perpendicular to the drive direction relative to the wall of the slide-out room. The room is extended and retracted horizontally and moved between upper and lower positions vertically in a square Z or square h pattern.