Patent ID: 6173812
Filing Date: 2001-01-16
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
A fifth wheel camper with a fire escape system comprising:a fifth wheel camper having an elevated compartment extending outwardly from a main cabin area, the elevated compartment having a bottom wall that is elevated with respect to a floor of the main cabin area, the elevated compartment having an egress window in a side wall of the elevated compartment; anda fire escape system comprising:a pair of substantially parallel tracks mounted on an underside of the bottom wall of the elevated compartment;a platform slidably coupled to said track for extending outwardly beyond the side wall of said elevated compartment;a ladder extended from said platform, said ladder being pivotable relative to said platform such that a distal end of the ladder is adapted for positioning against a surface below said platform;said platform being substantially vertically aligned with the egress window of the elevated compartment such that the platform is adapted for facilitating exit of a user through the egress window;each said track being generally L-shaped, each track having a side wall and a supporting flange extending outwardly from said side wall, each said support flange supporting said platform when said platform is in a retracted position defined by said platform being positioned in said tracks beneath the elevated compartment, each said support flange further is for supporting said ladder when said ladder is in a retracted position defined by said ladder is positioned in said tracks and beneath said elevated compartment;each said track having a stopping portion extending between an end of said side wall and an associated end of said support flange;said platform including a pair of roller connection members, each roller connection member extending outwardly from a respective side of said platform in alignment with an associated one of said pair of tracks whereby a distal end of said roller connection member is positioned for contacting an associated one of said stopping portions;a roller assembly extending between said roller connection members such that said roller assembly is supported by said support flanges of said pair of tracks for facilitating extension and retraction of said platform;said platform having a pair of ladder connection members extending outwardly from said platform, said ladder being pivotally coupled to said ladder connection members;each of said ladder connection members having an upper flange extending orthogonally outward from said platform such that said upper flange extends past a proximal end of said ladder when said ladder is coupled to said ladder connection member, said upper flange being coplanar with an upper surface of said platform for preventing said distal end of said ladder from pivoting above a horizontal plane in which said platform lies;said tracks each including a respective securing aperture;said ladder including a pair of holes, said holes being alignable with said securing apertures when said ladder is in said retracted position;a fastener assembly for extending through said securing apertures and ladder holes for holding said ladder in said retracted position during periods of non-use;said fastener assembly including a pin member for inserting through an associated aligned securing aperture and ladder hole, said pin member having a receiving hole extending through a distal end of said pin member;a clip member insertable through said receiving hole whereby said pin member is engagable to said ladder and said track for holding said ladder in a static position;said ladder including a pair of spaced legs and a pair of pin receiver plates, each pin receiver plate extending outwardly from an associated one of said legs;each said hole in said ladder being located in a respective one of said pin receiver plates; anda plurality of generally L-shaped mounting brackets coupling said tracks to the underside of the bottom wall of the elevated compartment of the camper.