Patent ID: 6729670
Filing Date: 2004-05-04
Classification: B60P

Abstract:
A system for horizontally moving an expandable room structure between a retracted position within a vehicle having a substantially vertical wall and an extended position protruding outwardly from said vertical vehicle wall, the system comprising:the vehicle wall extending substantially vertically; an expandable room having an end wall disposed generally parallel to the vehicle wall and spaced-apart side walls extending generally perpendicular to the end wall; a glide arm moveably disposed in combination with the vehicle wall and adapted to be selectively moveable generally vertically within the vehicle wall; a power cylinder combined with the vehicle wall and operatively connected to the glide arm for extending and retracting the glide arm generally vertically within the vehicle wall; and a linkage assembly for controlling movement of the expandable room, the linkage assembly comprising: a main link having first and second ends and pivotally connected at its first end to the expandable room at a point inwardly from the end wall and rollably combined at its second end with the vehicle wall so as to move vertically as the main link pivots; a first linkage member having first and second ends and pivotally connected at its first end to the main link at the center of the main link and pivotally connected at its second end to the vehicle wall; and a second linkage member having first and second ends and pivotally connected at its first end to the first linkage member intermediate the first and second ends of the first linkage member, the second linkage member also being pivotally combined at its second end with the glide arm and movable with the glide arm as the glide arm is powered by the power cylinder; whereby movement of the glide arm powered by the power cylinder causes the second linkage member to pivot and produce pivotal movement of the first linkage member and the main link to move the expandable room between the retracted and extended positions.