Slidable room assemblies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12503033-B2
Application number	US-202418608413-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 18, 2024
Priority date	Sep 22, 2017
Publication date	Dec 23, 2025
Grant date	Dec 23, 2025

Abstract

A drive assembly for reciprocating a slide-out room, the slide-out room having a pair of opposing sidewalls and being insertable within an opening in a vehicle body. The drive assembly includes a drive member coupled to at least four drive cables including a first, second, third, and fourth drive cable. The first and third drive cables are connected to the drive member and extend to a first end of the slide-out room. The second and fourth drive cables are connected to the drive member and extend to a second end of the slide-out room opposite the first end. The first and second drive cables extend in opposite directions, and the third and fourth drive cables extend in opposite directions. Actuation of the drive member in the first direction engages one of the four drive cables to move the slide-out room, thereby engaging at least one of the remaining drive cables.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A drive assembly for reciprocating a slide-out room, the slide-out room having a pair of opposing sidewalls and being insertable within an opening in a vehicle body, the drive assembly comprising:
a jamb assembly arranged in the opening; a drive member coupled to at least four drive cables, the at least four drive cables extending in the jamb assembly and including:
a first drive cable connected to the drive member and extending therefrom to a first end of the slide-out room,
a second drive cable connected to the drive member and extending therefrom to a second end of the slide-out room, the second end of the slide-out room being opposite the first end of the slide-out room,
a third drive cable connected to the drive member and extending therefrom to the first end of the slide-out room, and
a fourth drive cable connected to the drive member and extending therefrom to the second end of the slide-out room,
wherein the first drive cable and the second drive cable extend in opposite directions outside of the jamb assembly,
wherein the third drive cable and the fourth drive cable extend in opposite directions outside of the jamb assembly,
wherein actuation of the drive member in the first direction engages one of the four drive cables to move the slide-out room, and movement of the slide-out room engages at least one of the remaining four drive cables,
wherein the drive member is a strand of chain having a first chain end and a second chain end that is opposite the first chain end, wherein the first drive cable and the fourth drive cable are attached to the strand of chain at the first chain end, and the second drive cable and the third drive cable are attached to the strand of chain at the second chain end, and
wherein the first drive cable and the fourth drive cable extend in opposite directions within the jamb assembly, and the third drive cable and the second drive cable extend in opposite directions within the jamb assembly;
a drive sprocket configured to receive and drive the strand of chain in a first plane; and a first cable guide configured to receive the first drive cable in a second plane parallel to the first plane.

2 . The drive assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a motor configured to actuate the drive sprocket.

3 . The drive assembly of claim 1 , wherein a first length of the first drive cable and a second length of the second drive cable extend in the opposite directions, and a third length of the third drive cable and a fourth length of the fourth drive cable extend in the opposite directions, wherein the first length and the second length are oriented above the third length and the fourth length.

4 . The drive assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least four drive cables is adjustably connected to the slide-out room.

5 . The drive assembly of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the at least four drive cables is adjustably connected to a bracket that is secured to one of the pair of opposing sidewalls.

6 . The drive assembly of claim 4 , wherein each of the at least four drive cables includes an end at which it is adjustably connected to the slide-out room, at least one of the four drive cables further comprising:
a threaded stud attached to the end, and a nut arranged around the threaded stud, wherein the nut includes a threaded bore that corresponds with a thread of the threaded stud.

7 . The drive assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least four drive cables is adjustably connected to the drive member.

8 . The drive assembly of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the at least four drive cables is adjustably connected to a connector that is secured to the drive member.

9 . The drive assembly of claim 8 , wherein the connector adjustably connects the first drive cable and the second drive cable or adjustably connects the third drive cable and the fourth drive cable.

10 . The drive assembly of claim 1 , wherein the strand of chain is arranged around at least a portion of the drive sprocket.

11 . The drive assembly of claim 1 , wherein the jamb assembly comprises a front region and a rear region, the front region being positioned closest to the first end of the slide-out room and the rear region being positioned closest to the second end of the slide-out room, wherein the second drive cable and the third drive cable extend within the rear region of the jamb assembly, and the first drive cable and the fourth drive cable extend within the front region of the jamb assembly.

12 . The drive assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an upper cable guide arranged at an upper end of the jamb assembly, a lower cable eguide arranged at a lower end of the jamb assembly, and a cable idler arranged proximate to the upper cable guide, wherein the cable idler and the upper cable guide receive and redirect the first and second drive cables, and wherein the lower cable guide receives and redirects the third and fourth drive cables.

13 . A drive assembly for reciprocating a slide-out room, the slide-out room having a pair of opposing sidewalls and being insertable within an opening in a vehicle body, the drive assembly comprising:
a jamb assembly arranged in the opening; at least four drive cables and a drive member, each of the at least four drive cables extending within the jamb assembly and having a first end coupled to the drive member and a second end coupled to the slide-out room, wherein the drive member is configured to tension or slacken the at least four drive cables upon actuation of the drive member, wherein actuation of the drive member in a first direction tensions at least one of the at least four drive cables to move the slide-out room relative to the opening in the vehicle body, and movement of the slide-out room tensions at least one of the remaining at least four drive cables, wherein a first drive cable of the at least four drive cables extends from the drive member in a direction opposite of a second drive cable of the at least four drive cables, and wherein the drive member is a strand of chain having a first chain end and a second chain end that is opposite the first chain end, wherein the first drive cable is attached to the strand of chain at the first chain end, and the second drive cable is attached to the strand of chain at the second chain end; a drive sprocket configured to receive and drive the strand of chain in a first plane; and a first cable guide configured to receive the first drive cable in a second plane parallel to the first plane.

14 . The drive assembly of claim 13 , wherein the strand of chain is arranged around at least a portion of a drive sprocket.

15 . The drive assembly of claim 13 , wherein a third drive cable of the at least four drive cables is attached to the strand of chain at the second chain end, and a fourth drive cable of the at least four drive cables is attached to the strand of chain at the first chain end.

16 . The drive assembly of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the at least four drive cables is adjustably connected to a bracket that is secured to one of the pair of opposing sidewalls.

17 . The drive assembly of claim 16 , wherein each of the at least four drive cables includes an end at which it is adjustably connected to the slide-out room, at least one of the four drive cables further comprising:
a threaded stud attached to the end, and a nut arranged around the threaded stud, wherein the nut includes a threaded bore that corresponds with a thread of the threaded stud.

18 . The d

Assignees

• Norco Ind Inc

Inventors

• Garceau Bernard F

Classifications

• F16H7/06 Primary

  with chains · CPC title

• B60P3/34 Primary

  the living accommodation being expansible, collapsible or capable of rearrangement ({B60P3/38} takes precedence; tents supported at least partially by vehicles E04H15/06) · CPC title