Variable Capacity Of Body Patents (Class 296/26.01)
  • Patent number: 11453517
    Abstract: A method of delivering goods, the method comprising the steps of: providing a collapsible carrier bag (20), or providing a collapsible transport container (20), wherein the carrier bag (20) or the transport container (20) is provided in a collapsed state (20A); expanding the collapsible carrier bag or transport container in an environment having a pre-determined condition of the environment; loading chilled or frozen goods into an interior storage space of said transport container or carrier bag; and transporting said loaded transport container (20, 20C) or carrier bag (20, 20C) to a destination (DD).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: IFOODBAG AB
    Inventors: Carl Fallgren, Magnus Gimåker
  • Patent number: 11305681
    Abstract: A resilient seal for living quarters that is for sealing around a slide out room that has an aperture slidably receiving a slide out room. The resilient seal has a pair of attaching members extending along the inside and outside surfaces of the main living area wall at the aperture and includes a connecting member that extends between the attaching members and along the edge of the wall defining the aperture. A wiper seal extends from the connecting member for sealing against a wall of a slide out room. A bulb portion is integrally joined to a bridge wall that is bonded to L-shaped tabs on the attaching portion. The bridge wall may be severed from the L-shaped tabs to reveal a groove connector to receive a separate bulb portion connectable thereto. This facilitates replacement of the integral bulb portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Lifetime Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin E. Ksiezopolski, Kevin J. Ksiezopolski
  • Patent number: 11124107
    Abstract: A drive mechanism for a slide-out room includes top and bottom gear racks secured on sidewalls of the room. A motor is fixed relative to the slide-out room adjacent the sidewall. A drive shaft is coupled with the motor and engages both of a first drive gear and a second drive gear, respectively engaged with the top and bottom gear racks. The gear racks are covered by a suitable cover, and the drive gears extend through the covers into engagement with the racks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: LCI Italy s.r.l.
    Inventors: Lawrence Revelino, Rupert Wilkins, Fabio Romagnoli
  • Patent number: 10882438
    Abstract: A drive assembly utilized in combination with slide out includes a beam attached to a beam guide in an arcuate support rail that is attached to the slide out. The beam may have a first row of teeth and a second row of teeth thereon, where the first row of teeth and the second row of teeth extend parallel to each other on opposite sides of the beam. In addition, the teeth in the first row of teeth are offset relative to the teeth in the second row of teeth. The drive assembly further includes a drive gear having a first gear wheel that engages the first row of teeth and a second gear wheel that engages the second row of teeth, as well as an actuator coupled to the beam to selectively extend and retract the beam. The beam may deflect with respect to the arcuate support rail based on its location and the location of the beam guide to aid in leveling of the slide out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: NORCO INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: Bernard F. Garceau
  • Patent number: 9499086
    Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a seat arrangement, a cargo space situated behind the seat arrangement, an adjustable loading panel arranged inside the cargo space, guide rails located in the cargo space for the adjustable, laterally guided accommodation of the adjustable loading panel, and slide or roller bearings for mounting the adjustable loading panel in the guide rails. An actuating handle is mounted in the adjustable loading panel and movable through exposure to a spring action for swiveling an eccentric mounted in the adjustable loading panel out of a position that fixes the adjustable loading panel in place and into a position that releases the adjustable loading panel for adjustment purposes, and for adjusting the adjustable loading panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Ralf Gaudig, Werner Berhard
  • Patent number: 8985662
    Abstract: A cover affixed to an expansion room of a recreational vehicle (RV) to cover and seal a gap in between the expansion room and a wall of the RV. The cover has a transverse wall to attach to the expansion room. The cover may have one or two bulb seals, and/or a flat seal affixed to the cover and/or the transverse wall to improve the seal against the wall of the RV. An end abutting the wall of the RV may be curved towards the RV to further cover the gap. A secondary cover may be used to cover any exposed fasteners. A plurality of covers may be provided so that when the expansion room is against the wall of the RV, the plurality of covers form an attractive covering frame between the RV and the walls of the expansion room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Trimlok, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth Siegel
  • Patent number: 8978806
    Abstract: A telescopic frame is disclosed, which is applicable to a foldable bicycle or foldable electric vehicle, and includes a front frame, a rear frame and a telescopic device. First guide rails are symmetrically disposed on two sides of the front frame, second guide rails are symmetrically disposed on two sides of the rear frame, and the first guide rails and the second guide rails are fitted together and slidably connected. The telescopic device is fixed on the rear frame, and an output end of the telescopic device is fixed on the front frame to drive the front frame to be unfolded or folded relative to the rear frame. The telescopic frame is simple in structure and capable of being automatically folded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Dongguan Prestige Sporting Products Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Zhao Zhang
  • Patent number: 8875443
    Abstract: A seal assembly located at the intersection of an extension room and wall of a recreation vehicle, the seal assembly having a flap seal, a bulb snap-in member attached to the flap seal, and a bulb seal member attachable to the bulb snap-in member in a snap-fit manner The flap seal may be made removable from the bulb snap-in member. Two flap seals may be used to attach to either side of the recreation vehicle wall. The two flap seals may be connectable with each other and adjustable via a longitudinal mating shaft on one flap seal and a longitudinal mating shaft receiving member on the second flap seal. The seal assembly may be manufactured by a multi-extrusion process so that various components can be made of different materials, such as different types of plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Trimlok, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth Siegel
  • Patent number: 8840164
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Inventors: Leonard D. Yoder, Borivoj Krobot, Lawrence E. Walls
  • Patent number: 8757458
    Abstract: A storage box comprises a housing with open ends and a tray that slides out either open end and up to at least fifty percent or up to at least sixty percent of the length of the tray may slide out either open end. Latch members operable from either open end of the housing selectively hold the tray in a centered position and can be released to allow the tray to slide out a selected end of the housing. Multiple latch member mating members may be associated with the housing for selective engagement by the latch members to latch the tray in multiple extended positions between the centered position and fully retracted positions out either the first or second open ends. Latch engagement members mounted on the doors engage latches connecting the tray to the housing when the doors are shut to prevent the latches from becoming unlatched when the doors are shut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Lippert Components, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael W. Nebel
  • Patent number: 8632119
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fold out camping trailer which is generally in a tear drop shape, and which expands from a towing or storage configuration into a sleeping or camping configuration. The camping trailer is split into two sections, and the two sections pull apart to extend and provide sleeping space. The frame to which the two sections are attached has a telescoping portion which allows the two body sections to expand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Inventor: Timothy Mazac
  • Patent number: 8608227
    Abstract: A slideout room leveling device for supporting and leveling a slideout room floor of a recreation vehicle. The device may have a base mounted to a threshold of the trailer frame and a support arm that has a friction reducing member mounted to the support arm. A spring member may be mounted on the base to assist in supporting and leveling the slideout room floor. The support arm of the slideout room supporting and leveling device may remain in continuous contact with the floor of a slideout room during extension and retraction in order to support and level the slideout room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Norco Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Bernard F. Garceau
  • Patent number: 8573666
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Lippert Components Manufacturing
    Inventors: Michael A. Schwindaman, Thomas J. Rogers, Michael W. Howard
  • Patent number: 8366168
    Abstract: A sealing system useful for sealing a slide out room in a recreational vehicle (RVs). The sealing system includes a first bulb seal that is adapted for being affixed to a transverse surface that defines an opening in a sidewall of the RV. A second bulb seal is affixed to a peripheral flange that extends from an end wall of the slide out room. Both of the bulb seals have an hourglass shape. The peripheral flange fits within the opening when the slide out room is in its retraced position and the bulb seals meet in a complementary fashion to form a seal. A wedge seal is included spaced inwardly on the sidewalls of the slide out room and is designed to contact the bulb seal attached to the opening when the room is extended. An internal flange is not required for sealing when the slide out room is extended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Lifetime Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin E. Ksiezopolski, Norman L. Newhouse
  • Patent number: 8317250
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Lippert Components Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Schwindaman, Thomas J. Rogers, Michael W. Howard
  • Patent number: 8317249
    Abstract: This invention relates to load bed for a vehicle, and in particular to a load bed adapted to carry elongate articles upon the public roads. The load bed could for example be the trailer of an articulated vehicle, or it could be part of a rigid truck, as desired. The load bed (214) has a set of retaining posts along the longitudinal sides of the bed, and at least one platform (224) is mounted upon the load bed and is movable between a stowed condition and an in use condition, the retaining posts being between the load bed and the platform in its in use condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Inventors: Robert William Slater, Stephen Render
  • Patent number: 8267453
    Abstract: A hard cover roof to cover the open top of a pop-out and is rotatably hingeably affixed to the roof of the trailer and slidably engaged with the pop-out through mating track mechanisms on the underside of the roof and the top exterior rear wall of the poop-out so that the roof track mechanism can slide relative to the track retaining mechanism of the pop-out so that it covers the top opening the pop-out is in the fully extended condition and rests over the exterior rear wall of the pop-out when the pop-out is in the retracted condition within the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Inventor: Michael Helgesen
  • Patent number: 8215691
    Abstract: An improved access and retention system for sedans includes a protective cover for safeguarding a lower peripheral region of a rear cargo region while loading, unloading, and transporting cargo. The protective cover can conveniently and remotely stow within the cargo region. An integral tie-down assembly, exposed by deploying the protective cover, secures cargo loaded in the rear cargo region and cargo placed along the protective cover. The system also includes a double hinging rear closure member which has a rear facing portion which can be locked in open and closed positions. Arranging the rear facing portion in the open position is particularly advantageous for hauling oversized cargo articles which may extend from the rear of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Kip Alan Ewing
  • Patent number: 8141927
    Abstract: A control system for a slide-out room of a recreational vehicle includes a number of room slides which move the slide-out room between retracted and extended positions. If multiple room slides are used, a controller synchronizes the movement of the room slides to prevent damage to the components of the system. The retracted and extended positions of the slide-out room can be reset by the end user. The controller is also capable of detecting faults and communicating faults to the user via LEDs on a control panel. The controller automatically stops the motion of the slide-out room if a fault is detected. The control system includes a lock which is automatically disengaged before motion of the slide-out room. The lock is also automatically engaged when the slide-out room moves to the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Actuant Corporation
    Inventor: Craig J. Kreil
  • Patent number: 8096600
    Abstract: A pick-up style utility vehicle has a driver's seat, a seat next to the driver's seat, one or more passenger seats behind the driver's seat, and a cargo bed. Each of all the passenger seats and the seat next to the driver's seat is independently changeable between a first state in which the seat is seatable and a second state in which the seat is retracted so that an occupied space of the seat can be used as part of the cargo bed. Preferably, a screen shield partitioning the cargo bed and a riding space in front of the cargo bed is provided. The screen shield is divided into left and right screen shield members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideaki Shinnoki, Takao Kawabata, Eiji Ihara, Hidekazu Yasui, Shinichi Tamba, Masaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8091940
    Abstract: An apparatus for moving an expandable room of a vehicle between a raised position and a lowered position is disclosed. The apparatus comprises at least one lift station attachable to the vehicle, an arm combined with the lift station, a rotatable member rotatably combining the at least one lift station and the arm, wherein the lift station rotates the arm between the raised position and the lowered position, and a support member fixed to the arm and engaging the expandable room, wherein the support member supports the expandable room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: HWH Corporation
    Inventors: Vincent Buls, Paul Edmund Hanser
  • Publication number: 20110209418
    Abstract: A light weight modular enclosure that may be easily assembled by a user and mounted on a utility trailer or pickup truck includes a plurality of modular foam-encapsulated side panel assemblies and two foam-encapsulated corner panel assemblies arranged in adjacent positions in U-shaped anchor channels secured along three edges of a rectangular floorboard to form a front wall and two side walls of the modular enclosure. The side panel and corner panel assemblies each include a plurality of molded key pins and key sockets that are positioned for mating engagement to secure the panel assemblies in strict alignment when adjacently positioned in the anchor channels. A door frame assembly fits into the open rear end of the modular enclosure. A pop-up canopy assembly is installed over the top of the modular enclosure to provide additional head room during use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Inventor: Lawrence V. Drake
  • Publication number: 20110156419
    Abstract: The present invention is a pick-up style utility vehicle with an expandable cargo bed, including a stationary cargo bed part serving as a bottom face and a side face of the cargo bed, a movable cargo bed part serving as the bottom face and the side face of the expanded cargo bed, and a cargo bed support mechanism for supporting the movable cargo bed part at a normal position and an expansion position set on the rear side of the normal position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventors: KIYOHITO TAKANO, SATOSHI TAKAYA, KIYOAKI MAEDA, KOUSEI HOKARI, GEOFFREY EWING, JUNHEI ASAHI, NAOKI TAMAI, KENJI ODA
  • Patent number: 7967369
    Abstract: A fold-out trailer, including a trailer frame, the trailer frame having a tongue joined to a hitch, the tongue being joined to a stationary platform, and the stationary platform having a major surface defining a stationary plane, a plurality of side edges, a front edge and a back edge; at least one primary folding platform, the primary platform having a major surface defining a primary plane, an inside edge, an outside edge, a front edge, and a back edge, the inside edge of the primary platform being joined to one side edge of the stationary platform, the primary platform having a folded position; and a trunk, the trunk defined by the stationary platform, a front cover, and primary platforms when the primary platforms are in the folded position, the trunk having a generally triangular cross-section and being accessible via a back cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Awol Outdoors Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Davidson
  • Patent number: 7931323
    Abstract: An electromechanical travel bar lock assembly disables the flow of power to the power drive that moves a RV slide-out room between the traveling position and the deployed position. The assembly includes a bar for removably securing between the wall of the vehicle and the facer board of the slide-out room to prevent the room from moving. The travel bar is provided with an actuator that actuates, directly or indirectly, a switch means incorporated into the circuitry of the power drive so that power is not permitted to flow from its source to the drive, and the slide-out room cannot be moved when the travel bar is positioned between the vehicle wall and the facer board. The actuator, switch, and circuitry may embody any one of several different configurations and/or combinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Dicor Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas L. Del Vecchio
  • Patent number: 7922229
    Abstract: A vehicle has a body with a body opening and a reconfigurable body exterior panel that is mountable over the opening in first and second panel positions. The panel is pivotable about a panel pivot axis and is mounted on a pair of swing arms that are pivotable relative to the body about a bodyside pivot axis. The swing arms are Z-shaped and interact with stops to orient the panel in the first and second panel positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Brian V. Castillo, Wade W. Bryant
  • Patent number: 7784845
    Abstract: An expandable vehicle-mounted shelter is a construction connected to a vehicle, in which a shelter container body 2 thereof is laterally enlarged to have an enlarged internal space in which special equipment, such as communication equipment, medical equipment, etc., and other equipment is provided, or otherwise to be utilized as a compartment for carrying goods. In the shelter container body, expandable frames are laterally oppositely provided, each frame having folding sections. In each of the folding sections, a support plate is pivotably connected, at the upper or lower end thereof, to the body via hinge means, and at least one folding plate is foldably connected to the support plate, so that the folding section can be pivoted around the hinge means to spread out, thereby enlarging the space inside the shelter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Mirae S&T Inc.
    Inventors: Baekhee Kim, Wanyong Rha
  • Patent number: 7731256
    Abstract: A recreational vehicle slide out system includes a mobile dwelling assembly with an outer wall having an opening extending therethrough. An extension is slidably mounted to the dwelling assembly. The extension includes an upper wall, a lower wall and an exterior wall. The exterior wall forms a covering for the opening when the extension is in a stored position. A lateral wall includes a first side edge and a second side edge. The first side edge is hingedly coupled to a lateral edge of the exterior wall. The lateral wall is pivotable into a closed position extending between the exterior wall and the outer wall when the extension is in an extended position. The lateral wall is pivoted to a position approximately orientated parallel to the exterior wall when the extension is in the stored position to prevent the lateral walls from substantially extending into the mobile dwelling assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Inventor: Gerald P. Wivinis
  • Patent number: 7717485
    Abstract: A mechanism to affect the coordinated movement of an expandable room in a recreational vehicle. The mechanism comprises a drive chain assembly and a lift assembly. The drive chain assembly has a pair of drive chains (upper and lower) that move generally vertically along vehicle structural members and then the chains are redirected for horizontal travel as the main hydraulic cylinders are actuated to extend or retract the expandable room. The movement of the upper and lower drive chains is synchronized by a rack-and-pinion mechanism. The lift assembly controls vertical movement of the room so that when the room is fully extended, the floor of the vehicle and the floor of the expandable room are substantially flush. The lift assembly comprises at least one lift cylinder for raising and lowering the room. The lift cylinder is vertically combined with the lower end of the structural member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: HWH Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Edmund Hanser, Vincent Buls
  • Publication number: 20100023372
    Abstract: A linked mobile business and advertising unit that can sell products, services, and/or publicity. A plurality of units, together with a control unit, can form a chain. The control unit can sell time and space for the publicity devices controlled by the units. It can run publicity campaigns selecting geographical zones, market segments, times, and dates, while measuring the effect on sales. It can remotely turn on/off publicity devices. The control unit can suggest new locations, optimize inventory levels, and centralize customer information and transaction history. The units don't require foundation and can install/uninstall themselves rapidly, leaving no trace. The units are self-sufficient in services such as water, electricity, gas and drain; and, have flexibility to use these services when available. The units can transform themselves to ease transportation, to optimize operation or to protect against vandalism. The units can be configured as drive-thru, drive-in, or drive-inside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventor: Marcelo Morales Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 7651148
    Abstract: A passenger vehicle trunk structure is provided with a trunk lid, a vehicle body, a hinge arrangement and a tool free hinge release mechanism. The vehicle body defines an interior cargo area with an exterior trunk access opening. The hinge arrangement is pivotally coupling the trunk lid to the vehicle body with the trunk lid being movable between a closed position that covers the exterior trunk access opening and an open position that exposes the exterior trunk access opening to provide access to the interior cargo area through the exterior trunk access opening. The tool free hinge release mechanism is operatively coupled to the hinge arrangement to release the trunk lid from the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Hustyi, Andy Christensen, Heather S. Konet
  • Patent number: 7637358
    Abstract: A motor and brake assembly having a disengaging mechanism for use with RV's are disclosed. The assembly includes a motor and a disengaging mechanism that is mounted thereon. The disengaging mechanism includes a motor mount comprised of a cylindrical piece with a plurality of holes disposed on the periphery of an outer flange of the cylindrical piece. The cylindrical piece extends over the barrel of the motor and is secured to the barrel with a plurality of screws. Through manipulation of the cylindrical piece, the user can selectively engage or disengage the brake from the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: AL-KO Kober Corporation
    Inventors: Larry Revelino, Bob Arnett
  • Patent number: 7614675
    Abstract: An expandable vehicle has slide-out sections in which one or more cog tracks are driven by a modular cog wheel drive assembly to move the slide-out sections in and out. The cog tracks can be integrated into the structure of the slide-out sections, and the slide-out sections are supported against tipping down both upon extension and retraction by a cable system that exerts a counter-moment on them in both directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Actuant Corporation
    Inventor: James R. Kunz
  • Patent number: 7607709
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a body defining a vehicle interior and a cargo bed, and a reversible bulkhead assembly that is positioned between the interior and the cargo bed. The bulkhead rotates with respect to the vehicle body to alternately provide a first cargo bed configuration and a different second cargo bed configuration. A concave side of the bulkhead is rotated adjacently to the vehicle interior to decrease the length of the cargo bed and increase the size of the vehicle interior in one configuration, and adjacently to the cargo bed to increase the length of the cargo bed while decreasing the size of the vehicle interior in another configuration. An optional pivoting mechanism can slow the rotation of the bulkhead, and can also or alternately prevent rotation of the bulkhead in one direction to facilitate repositioning of the bulkhead between the two positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Inventor: Wade W. Bryant
  • Patent number: 7540549
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: RBW Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Revelino, John Pervorse
  • Publication number: 20090134670
    Abstract: A seal between a base structure and a slide out structure of a recreational vehicle includes a panel section mounted to the base structure, the panel section including a front edge, a rear edge, a first side and a second side. A sealing element extends from the panel section, between the front edge and the rear edge, in a direction from the first side toward the second side of the panel section, the sealing element extending to contact the slide out structure and wipe moisture therefrom upon relative movement of the slide out structure and base structure. A catch flange extends upwardly from the rear edge of the panel section. A first side basin detail extends from the first side of the panel section, and a second side basin detail extends from the second side of the panel section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventors: Gregory M. Clark, James T. Clark, II, Jeff A. Lippus
  • Patent number: 7527313
    Abstract: A cable operated slide-out mechanism for a recreational vehicle has a linear actuator mounted in a fixed channel alongside the room or compartment and an end of each cable is fixed to the channel. Four cables are provided on each side of the slide-out, with two of the cables on each side fixed to the frame on the top and going to the outside of the slide-out, on the top and bottom, and the other two cables fixed to the frame on the bottom and going to the inside of the room on the top and bottom. Pulleys are provided at each end of the actuator rod to pull on the cables so as to move the room such that the room movement is double the stroke of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Actuant Corporation
    Inventor: Gary D. Peter
  • Patent number: 7493727
    Abstract: An extendable and retractable enclosure provides an additional storage or work area in a structure which has a limited amount of available space, such as a motor home or trailer. The enclosure is installed in an opening, such as for a window, and can be selectively moved to an extended position where the enclosure extends outside the structure, or to a retracted position where the enclosure is positioned inside the structure. Two spaced apart swing arms pivotally mount the enclosure to the structure, and allow the enclosure to be selectively moved to the extended or retracted positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Inventor: Frederick Broussard
  • Patent number: 7490885
    Abstract: A vehicle body basically has a first body panel section, a second body panel section, an expandable body panel section and an actuation device. The first and second body panel sections have first and second exterior surfaces. The expandable body panel section has a third exterior surface disposed between the first and second exterior surfaces of the first and second body panel sections to form a contiguous vehicle exterior. The actuation device is operatively coupled to at least one of the body panel sections to move the first body panel section with respect to the second body panel by stretch the expandable body panel section from a first surface area with the first body panel section being in a first location to a second larger surface area with the first body panel section being in a second location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Heather S Konet
  • Publication number: 20090001743
    Abstract: A load bearing cover assembly for use with a vehicle having a floor, having a storage compartment. The load bearing cover assembly includes a cover member having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the cover member being substantially rigid and adapted for connection to the vehicle such that the cover member may be positioned to at least partially cover the storage compartment, a first support rib may be attached to the first side of the cover member; and a second support rib may be attached to the second side of the cover member, the first support rib and the second support rib each having an aperture for selectively attaching a cargo securing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: International Automotive Components Group North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Sturt, Christopher Jones
  • Patent number: 7469948
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided that offers a flexible amount of vehicle cargo space, allowing a vehicle user the option of additional vehicle cargo space when needed. A first member is operatively connected to the vehicle door, is nestable within a door cavity within the door, and is selectively movable to an extended position for partially defining an exterior cargo space. Preferably, a second member is substantially nested within an additional cavity formed in the first member and is selectively movable to an extended position for partially enclosing the exterior cargo space. Preferably, a second vehicle door substantially identical and adjacent to the first vehicle door includes members substantially identical to the first and second members postionable to define, along with the first and second members and the doors, the exterior cargo space. A method for achieving this flexible cargo space is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Senthil N. Karuppaswamy
  • Patent number: 7431366
    Abstract: The invention provides an innovative and practical new class of crossover motor vehicles for carrying passengers and for carrying cargo in a cargo or pickup bed, while still being of sufficiently small dimensions as to be garage-able in many home garages. Representative embodiments can carry 6 or 7 or 9 persons in comfortable seats all with adjacent or facing seats for companions; plus substantial varied cargos, which can potentially include sporting or recreational equipment such as bicycles or a powered waterscooter or snowmobile or motorcycle; camping gear including a 9-person tent; furniture such as a Queen bed set; appliances such as a washer and dryer; utility equipment such as a snowblower or riding lawnmower; or substantial quantities of items such as lumber, bark or fertilizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: RSV Invention Enterprises
    Inventors: Mithra M. K. V. Sankrithi, Siva Usha Mithra Sankrithi
  • Patent number: 7427092
    Abstract: A hydraulic synchronization system for a slide-out portion of a recreational vehicle has at least two cylinders spaced apart and reversed in orientation with respect to one another. The bore sides of the cylinders are connected and the rod sides of the cylinders are connected such that hydraulic fluid is pumped from the rod side of one cylinder to the rod side of the other cylinder and from the bore side of one cylinder to the bore side of the other cylinder upon extension and retraction of the slide-out portion to keep the slide-out portion synchronized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Actuant Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew James Wolf, John D. Franzini
  • Patent number: 7419202
    Abstract: A seal assembly primarily for recreational vehicles that have an expandable room. The seal assembly seals the opening in a fixed wall of the vehicle through which the expandable room extends. The seal assembly includes a retainer that is attached to a fixed wall of the vehicles, the retainer holding a bulb-type seal properly in place. The retainer securely holds the bulb seal in place until it is compressed by the expandable room, and the retainer further functions to prevent the bulb seal from being crushed which could cause premature failure of the seal. The seal assembly also provides for relative movement in different directions between the meeting surfaces of the fixed room and moveable room. In this way, it acts as a low friction bearing surface while still maintaining a complete and positive seal at all times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: HWH Corporation
    Inventors: Paul E. Hanser, Vincent Buls
  • Patent number: 7396064
    Abstract: A collapsible enclosure is appended to a vehicle, such as a cargo type trailer, for example, for the purpose of providing living space in association with the vehicle. The vehicle includes a ramp that offers ingress to and egress from the interior of the vehicle through an access opening in the body of the vehicle for loading and unloading the vehicle, and the collapsible enclosure is appended to the vehicle at the access door opening and the ramp. Access to the interior of the collapsible enclosure can be had from the interior of the vehicle through the access opening. The size of the collapsible enclosure is adjustable so that the enclosure may be used with vehicles having ramps and access openings of different sizes. The ramp, which can be supported in a position substantially parallel to the surface on which the vehicle rests, serves as the floor of the additional living space that is created within the collapsible enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Dometic Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Hicks
  • Patent number: 7387325
    Abstract: A slide assembly is provided to couple a slide-out component disposed in an opening of a vehicle body to the vehicle body. The slide assembly includes a complementary contoured guide member, roller(s), and a support member, all generally enclosed by a mountable housing. The support member and roller(s) are coupled to roll along the guide member. In a particular embodiment, rollers are mounted in pairs on the top and bottom sides of the guide member. Due to the complementary contours of the roller and guide member, the slide assembly has a self-aligning characteristic. In one embodiment, the guide member includes a single portion that is horizontal with respect to the vehicle body, and only allows movement of the slide-out component in a horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Inventors: William W. Herson, Robert A. Nolen
  • Publication number: 20080116707
    Abstract: The present application discloses several embodiments of sealing assemblies and sealing components. In various embodiments, sealing assemblies are provided which include a frame assembly and at least one sealing component selected from a wiper seal and a bulb seal. In additional embodiments, a bulb seal is provided alone separate from a sealing assembly. In additional embodiments, a wiper seal is provided alone separate from a sealing assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Applicant: Mantaline Corporation
    Inventors: Zachary T. Boaz, Jason C. Dennison
  • Patent number: 7374218
    Abstract: A slide-out drive member controllably moves a slide-out section that is associated with a vehicle, such as a recreational vehicle, from a retracted position to an extended position. The slide-out drive member includes an inner driven member with embedded teeth with tips that are preferably substantially flush with a bottom surface of the inner driven member; and an outer member that houses the inner driven member along with a gear mechanism that engages with the teeth in the inner driven member to drive the inner driven member, thereby driving the slide-out section. The present slide-out tube overcomes the deficiencies of conventional slide-out tubes by driving the slide-out section in a smooth, uniform, even manner while providing a low profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Lippert Components, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Schneider
  • Patent number: 7354088
    Abstract: A slidable room assembly comprises a vehicle body having an opening formed in an exterior wall, and a reciprocable slideout unit or compartment disposed in the opening and slidable between a retracted position and an extended position. Sliding movement of the slideout unit is controlled by means of a drive mechanism that includes two sets of cabling. The drive mechanism includes a frame installed about the opening in the vehicle body. The frame includes a header, a sill and two pre-assembled jambs. The pre-assembled jambs have a plurality of pulleys with a plurality of cables pre-installed inside the jambs around the pulleys. One end of the cables, attached to the slidable room, is pre-strung through a cable extension hole. The other end of the cables extends out an end of the jamb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Norco Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard F. Garceau, Jeffrey P. Few, Mark D. Howie, James D. Smith, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20080073925
    Abstract: A resilient seal for mobile living quarters seals around a slide-out room includes a pair of attaching members extending along the inside and outside surfaces of the main living area wall at an aperture through which the slide-out room moves and further includes a connecting member extending between the attaching members and along the edge of the wall defining the aperture. A wiper seal extends from the connecting member to flex against the walls of the slide-out room, and the connecting member further includes an accordion pleat for adjusting the distance between the attaching members to thereby accommodate walls of different thicknesses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Inventors: Edwin E. Ksiezopolski, Norman L. Newhouse