Abstract:
A flush floor device for use on recreational vehicles having slide out rooms includes a floor of the slide out room that according to one embodiment of the invention pivots relative to the slide out room&#39;s outer wall. When the slide out room is extended, the inner edge of the auxiliary floor moves into a flush position with the main floor, and the outer edge of the auxiliary floor deflects downwardly along with the supporting extensible members. An edge unit attached to the main floor includes a nylon camming member which cams against the auxiliary floor in order to smoothly raise or lower the auxiliary floor inner edge as the slide out room is retracted or extended. According to another embodiment of the invention, a system of levers maintains the auxiliary floor generally coplanar with the main floor. According to still another embodiment of the invention, the entire slide out room is raised and lowered while maintaining the floor of the slide out room substantially horizontal.

Description:
This application is a Continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/957,721, filed Oct. 24, 1997 now abandoned and also claims domestic priority based upon U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/069,919, filed Dec. 17, 1997. 
    
    
     This invention relates to a recreational vehicle or manufactured housing unit having a retractable room in which the floor of the retractable room moves into a position flush with the floor of the main living area when the retractable room is extended. 
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The width of recreational vehicles is effectively limited to that which may be accommodated for travel over public roads. Accordingly, it is increasingly common to provide recreational vehicles and manufactured housing units with a slide out room which can be retracted into the main living quarters when the product is being moved or driven, but which can be extended from the main living quarters to provide auxiliary living space when the unit is parked for use or when the manufactured home is assembled at the home site. When the room is retracted into the main living quarters, the floor of the retractable room must slide over the floor of the main living quarters, and hence the level of the retractable room floor must be offset from the main floor when the retractable room is retracted. On the other hand, when the retractable room is extended to provide additional living space, most consumers find difference in floor levels between the main living quarters and the extended room to be quite inconvenient, and thus a variety of mechanisms have been developed in order to bring the slide out room floor flush with the floor of the main living area. 
     One such mechanism to level out the floors is to drop the entire retractable room to a level in which the level of the retractable room floor is flush with the main floor. However, the available headroom in the slide out room is less than that available in the main living area in order to permit the slide out room to retract into the main living area. Furthermore, the entire slide out room tilts during extension and retraction, thus causing furniture and other household goods in the slide out room to sift about. Another such leveling mechanism uses a moveable floor which moves up and down relative to the walls and ceiling of the slide out room as the slide out room is moved into its extended position, which requires a lifting mechanism at both the inner and outer edges of the slide out room floor. 
     The present invention provides a slide out room with a floor area that is flush with the floor in the main living area, yet the present flush floor does not detract from the available headroom in the slide out room. The present flush floor mechanism also dispenses with any lifting and lowering mechanism at the outer edge of the slide out room floor, and is thus more reliable than are prior art methods. The outer edge of the slide out floor is hinged to the outer wall of the slide out room, and the hinge permits the inner edge of the floor to drop automatically into a flush position when the room is extended. Meanwhile, the outer edge of the floor drops by taking advantage of the natural deflection of the support structure, so that the slide out floor is level with the main floor. In some of the embodiments of the present invention, the floor of the slide out room moves relative to the walls; in other embodiments, the entire room shifts vertically but the floor is maintained substantially horizontal. 
     The present invention also allows for the independent adjustment of the slide out room when the room is in the extended position, so that the height of the slide out room can be raised or lowered without adversely affecting the elevation of the floor. Furthermore, some embodiment of the present invention use a novel edge assembly on the side edges of the slide out room floor which permit the floor to float freely and independently of the slide out room walls when the room is extended. When the room is retracted, the edge assembly engages the sidewalls of the slide out room and lifts the inner edge and sidewalls off of the floor of the main living area, which saves wear and tear on the carpet or tile flooring. The edge assembly also incorporates an improved sealing mechanism, which prevents the ingress of water, dirt or other contaminants when the slide out room is extended. Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a slide out room that has a floor that is flush with the floor of the main living quarters. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide a slide out room having a flush floor that dispense with moveable parts or linkage mechanisms on the outer edge of the slide out room floor. 
     Another object of this invention to provide a slide out room having an improved sealing mechanism. 
     A still further object of this invention is to provide a slide out room that does not inflict excess wear and tear on the flooring of the main living quarters when the slide out room is extended or retracted. 
     These and other objects of the invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of the mobile living quarters incorporating a retractable or slide out room; the slide out room being shown in the retracted position retracted into the main living quarters; 
     FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view similar to that shown in FIG. 1 but showing the slide out room in the extended position; 
     FIG. 3 is a fragmentary exploded view in perspective of the slide out room shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; the outer wall of the slide out room has been cut away for clarity; 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along lines  4 — 4  of FIG. 3 showing the extendable support member attached to the moveable frame and also showing the hinged connection between the auxiliary floor outer edge and the moveable frame assembly; 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective of the hinge connection illustrated in FIG. 4 shown with portions of the slide out room outer wall cut away; 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the circumscribed portion of FIG. 2 showing the interface between the slide out room floor and the main floor when the slide out room is in the extended position; 
     FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the edge unit which attaches to the edge of the main floor; 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged exploded view in perspective of the edge unit for attachment to the edge of the main floor showing the nylon wear bar and the spring loaded sidewall height adjustment mechanism; 
     FIG. 9 is a fragmentary exploded view in perspective of the circumscribed portion of FIG. 3 illustrating the floor edge cover which seals the interface between the moveable floor and the sidewalls and which further engages and lifts the sidewall as the slide out room is retracted; 
     FIG. 10 is a fragmentary top plan view taken along lines  10 — 10  of FIG. 9 showing the inner end of the edge cover; 
     FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along lines  11 — 11  of FIG. 3 showing the alignment rod engaging the sidewall of the slide out room and also showing the height adjuster supporting a portion of the sidewall; 
     FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional view similar to that shown in FIG. 11 but illustrating the alignment rod in a raised position supporting a portion of the sidewall and lifting the sidewall off the height adjuster; 
     FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along the circumscribed portion of FIG. 1 showing the slide out room in the retracted position; 
     FIG. 14 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to that shown in FIG. 13 but showing the slide out room between the extended and retracted positions; the moveable floor is shown camming against the edge of the main floor; 
     FIG. 15 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to that shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 but showing the slide out room in the extended position; 
     FIG. 16 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to that shown in FIG. 15 with the retractable room in the retracted position; the dotted lines illustrate the sidewalls which are supported by the raised floor via the end cover; 
     FIG. 17 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to that shown in FIG. 16 but with the retractable room shown in the extended position; the dotted lines illustrate the sidewalls which are supported by the height adjustment mechanism; 
     FIG. 18 is a schematic view in perspective of a slide out room made pursuant to the teachings of still another embodiment of the present invention, a portion of the wall of the slide out room being cut away to show details of the actuation support mechanism that supports and controls movement of the floor of the slide out room; 
     FIG. 19 is a view taken substantially along lines  19 — 19  of FIG. 18, but illustrating the relative positions of the walls of the slide out room and the main floor when the slide out room is in the fully retracted position; 
     FIGS. 20 and 21 are views similar to FIG. 19, but illustrating the room in intermediate positions between the fully retracted position of FIG.  19  and the fully extended position; 
     FIG. 22 is a view similar to FIG. 19, but illustrating various components of the slide out room in the positions which they assume when the slide out room is in the fully extended position; 
     FIG. 23 is a view similar to FIG. 19, but illustrating still another embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 24 is a view similar to FIG. 23, but illustrating the various components of the slide out room in the positions which they assume when the slide out room is moved to a position between the fully extended or fully retracted position; 
     FIG. 25 is a view similar to FIGS. 23 and 24, but illustrating the various components of the slide out room in the positions which they assume when the slide out room is in the fully retracted position; and 
     FIG. 26, FIG.  27  and FIG. 28 are views similar to FIG. 23, FIG.  24  and FIG. 25 respectively, but illustrating still another embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 29 is a fragmentary, exploded, view in perspective of a slide out room and a portion of the main living quarters made pursuant to still another embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 30 is an enlarged, fragmentary, view in perspective of a portion of a sidewall and a portion of the floor of the slide out room illustrated in FIG. 29; 
     FIG. 31 is a cross sectional view taken parallel to the front wall of the slide out room through the end wall and a portion of the floor of the slide out room; 
     FIG. 32 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along lines  32 — 32  of FIG.  31  and illustrating the slide out floor in the raised position; 
     FIG. 33 is a view similar to FIG. 32, but illustrating the floor of the slide out room in a lowered position; and 
     FIG. 34 is a view similar to FIGS. 32 and 33, but illustrating the relative position of the actuating members from slide out room in an intermediate position between the raised and lowered positions. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The embodiment described herein is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the precise form disclosed. Rather, the embodiment has been chosen and described to explain the principles of the invention and its application and practical use to best enable others skilled in the art to follow its teachings. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, mobile living quarters generally indicated by the reference numeral  10  includes a frame  12  supported by an axle  14  and wheels  16 . A main floor  18  is supported by the frame  12 , and sidewalls  20 ,  22  and ceiling  24  cooperate with floor  18  to define a main living area  26 . An opening  28  is formed in the sidewall  22  for receiving a slide out or retractable room generally indicated by the reference numeral  30 . The retractable or slide out room  30  includes a ceiling  32 , a floor  34 , an outer wall  36 , and a pair of sidewalls  38 . Sidewalls  38 , floor  34 , and ceiling  32  define an open end  40  such that when the slide out or retractable room  30  is moved into the extended position illustrated in FIG. 2, access is provided into the auxiliary living area  37  from the main living area  26 . A lip  42  carried on the ceiling  32  and sidewalls  38  of the slide out or retractable room  30  extends at least part of the way around the opening  40  and is adapted to seal the interface between sidewall  22  and slide out room  30  at the opening  28 . 
     As shown in FIG. 3, the slide out room  30  is supported on the frame  12  by a pair of extensible members generally indicated by the numeral  44 . Although only a single pair of extensible members  44  is illustrated, additional sets of extensible members  44  may be necessary in order to support the room  30  for movement relative to the unit  10 . The number of extensible members  44  required will depend on the weight of the room and the flexural stiffness of the members  44 . Extensible members  44  further include an outer tube or channel member  46  which is secured to frame  12  and inner tube  48  which is slideably received within, and supported by, the outer tube  46 . The inner tube  48  extends from end  51  of the outer tube  46  and is secured to the outer wall  36  of retractable room  30  to support and guide the latter for movement relative to the frame  12 . Outer wall  36  preferably includes a moveable frame member  37  which strengthens outer wall  36  and which further provides a convenient reinforced attachment point for connecting the inner tube  48  to the outer wall  36 . Room  30  is extended or retracted by one or more hydraulic rams  45  or similar means as are commonly employed in the art. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 8, main floor  18  includes an edge unit  50  having a pair of ends  52 ,  54  and an interconnecting side edge  56 . Each of ends  52 ,  54  and edge  56  has mounted thereon a camming surface or wear bar  58 , which cams against the inner edge of floor  34  as explained in greater detail below. Wear bar  58  is preferably constructed of nylon or any suitable substitute offering a long wearing smooth sliding surface having relatively low surface friction. Wear bar  58  is preferably screwed, bonded, or otherwise secured to edge unit  50 . 
     A retractable height adjuster  60  is mounted to edge unit  50  adjacent each of ends  52 ,  54 . Each adjuster  60  includes an outer tube  62  and an inner member  63  which is reciprocally disposed within tube  62 . A spring  59  is mounted within tube  62  and abuts member  63 , which urges member  63  outwardly away from vehicle  12 . When the slide out room  30  is moved towards the retracted position, a portion of the slide out room contacts adjuster  60  and compresses spring  59 , thus moving adjuster  60  out of the way when the room is in the retracted position. Preferably, tube  62  includes a horizontal guide slot  57  which is engaged by a stop member  55  on member  63 . Stop member  55  and guide slot  57  cooperate to guide and limit the reciprocating movement of member  63  relative to tube  62 . Adjuster  60  includes a housing  65  attached to the end of tube  63 , and a threaded adjustment bolt  64  engages a nut  66  attached to housing  65  so that bolt  64  extends upwardly through housing  65 . A wear member including post  67  having a metal plate or washer  68  is disposed within housing  65  in abutment with bolt  64 . Post  67  is preferably constructed of nylon to provide a smooth, low friction sliding surface for supporting sidewalls  38  of slide out room  30  as will be explained in greater detail below. Rotation of the adjustment bolt  64  raises or lowers post  67  relative to the housing  65  and thus relative to the elevation of main floor  18 . Thus, when sidewalls  38  are supported by post  67  as is shown in FIG. 17, bolt  64  can be used to raise or lower the elevation of slide out room  30 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 14,  16  and  17 , as the slide out room  30  is extended towards the extended position of FIG. 20, the weight of the room  30  causes member  44  to deflect downwardly, which causes outer wall  36  and the sidewalls  38  to deflect downwardly as well. Accordingly, a portion of the sidewalls  38  eventually drop into contact with post  67 , which supports the sidewalls  38  and which minimizes further downward deflection of member  44  and thus outer wall  36  and sidewalls  38 . 
     The outer edge  68  of floor  34  is attached to outer wall  36  by an elongated hinge  70 . The deflection of the member  44  permits the floors  34  of the slide out room  30  to drop into a position substantially flush with the floor  18 . 
     As can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, an angled bracket  72  having an upwardly extending vertical leg  74  and a horizontal leg  76  is screwed, bolted, or otherwise secured to outer edge  68  of floor  34  by a plurality of fasteners (not shown). Similarly, an angled bracket  78  having an downwardly extending vertical leg  80  and a horizontal leg  84  is screwed, bolted, or otherwise secured to outer wall  36  of slide out room  30  by a plurality of fasteners (not shown). Horizontal legs  76 ,  84  of brackets  72 ,  80  each include a series of aligned apertures  86 ,  88 , respectively. A plurality of bolts  90  each having a nut  92  are disposed through apertures  86 ,  88 , and a plurality of resilient grommets or washers  94  engaging bolts  90  are positioned between horizontal legs  76 ,  84  of brackets  72 ,  80 , respectively. Washers  94  are preferably manufactured of a resilient flexible material such as rubber, although suitable commercially available substitutes may be used. Accordingly, the hinge  70  between floor  34  and outer wall  36  permits floor  34  to pivot about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of brackets  72 ,  80 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, a ramp member  96  having a pair of ends  97 ,  99  is screwed, bolted, glued or otherwise secured to inner edge  98  of floor  34 . Member  96  includes an angled portion or ram  100  terminating in a lip  102 . Preferably, floor  34  includes a floor covering  104  which conceals the member  96  and which matches or otherwise complements a similar floor covering  106  on main floor  18 . As shown in FIG. 17, when the slide out room is retracted into the main living area  26 , the angled portion or ramp  100  cams against the wear bar  58  of edge unit  50 , which raises the inner edge  98  of floor  34 . As outlined above, the hinge  70  between floor  34  and outer wall  36  permits floor  34  to pivot about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of brackets  72 ,  80 . When the room is fully extended, end  102  of member  96  rests on wear bar  58 , which allows the inner edge  98  of floor  34  to drop sufficiently such that the floor surfaces  106  and  104  are generally coplanar. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 3,  9  and  10 , an end cover  108 ,  110  is attached to each of sides  110 ,  111 , respectively, of floor  34 . Only cover  108  will be described in detail, but it will be understood that cover  110  is the mirror image of cover  108 . Cover  108  includes inner and outer ends  112 ,  114 , a pair of vertical legs  116 ,  117 , and a pair of horizontal legs  118 ,  119 . Horizontal leg  118  includes a plurality of mounting holes  120  for securing the covers  108 ,  110  to the side edges  122 ,  124 , respectively of floor  34 . End  112  of cover  108  includes a laterally extending portion  126 . Vertical segment  117  has an outwardly extending alignment plug or rod  131  attached thereto, which extends outwardly away from the main living area  26 . Rod  131  fits into and engages a cavity  132  defined by a reinforcing channel  134  attached to the bottom edge  136  of each of the sidewalls  38  of slide out room  30 . Channel  134  includes a central web  138 , and upper and lower flanges  140 ,  142 . As can be seen in FIGS. 11 and 12, as the inner edge  98  of floor  34  raises and lowers relative to sidewalls  38 , covers  108 ,  110  move up and down along with the inner edge  98  of floor  34 . In the process, alignment rod  131  moves vertically within cavity  132  of channel  134 . 
     When the floor  34  is raised sufficiently relative to sidewalls  38 , alignment plug  131  contacts the upper flange  140  of channel  134 . Any further upward motion of floor  34  effectively raises the sidewalls  38 . Alignment rod  131  also prevents any lateral movement of sidewall  38  away from end covers  108 ,  110  or side edges  122 ,  124  of floor  34 , which thus maintains a generally constant gap  139  between leg  116  and channel  138 , and which also prevents the sidewalls  38  from splaying apart as the slide out room  30  is retracted into the vehicle  12 . As shown in FIG. 12, a weather seal  144  is attached to leg  116 , which thus seals the gap  139  between cover  108  and channel  138 . Accordingly, seal  144  prevents the ingress of dirt, water, or other contaminants into the slide out room  30  when the room is extended. 
     In operation, after the vehicle  12  has been parked, the slide out room  30  is extended from the position shown in FIG. 1 towards the position shown in FIG. 2 using the hydraulic rams  45 . As this occurs, the floor  34  moves from the elevated position shown in FIG. 13, in which the floor  34  overlies the main floor  18 , towards the lowered position shown in FIG. 15 in which the floor  34  is generally coplanar with the main floor  18 . As shown in FIG. 14, as the slide out room  30  approaches the extended position, the ramp or angled portion  100  of member  96  slides over the wear bar  58  of edge unit  50  as the inner edge  98  of floor  34  is lowered. The hinge  70  at outer edge  68  permits the floor  34  to pivot relative to the outer wall  36 . At the same time, the weight of the slide out room  30  causes the inner member  46  of extensible supports  44  to deflect downwardly as shown to advantage in FIGS. 13 through 15. This downward deflection essentially lowers the outer edge  68  of floor  34  to a point generally level with or slightly above inner edge  98 . The amount of downward deflection can to some extent be controlled by the number and stiffness of the extensible members. Preferably, the desired amount of downward deflection is then achieved by taking into consideration the weight of the slide out room  30 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 2,  16  and  17 , adjusters  60  permit the operator to adjust the final height of the slide out room  30 . As can be seen in FIGS. 16 and 17, the bottom edge  136  of sidewalls  38  come into contact with and rest upon post  67  of adjusters  60  as the room  30  is extended. If the adjuster  60  is positioned higher, the upward force of post  67  on the inner edges  137  of the sidewalls  38  will cause the outer wall  36  of room  30  to be slanted slightly, such that the lip  42  will contact sidewall  22  earlier. As the room  30  continues to be extended, the room  30  will rotate slightly about the contact point between lip  42  and sidewall  22 , which in effect raises the outer wall  36  upwardly and lessens the downward deflection of the support members  44 . When the post  67  is lowered, the outer wall  36  will have a greater downward deflection, and thus the angle of the floor  34  relative to the main floor  18  can be effectively controlled by raising or lowering the post  67  using adjustment bolt  64 . The spring  59  disposed within tube  62  permits the adjuster  60  to retract against the edge unit  50  when the slide out room  30  is retracted, so that the outer wall  36  will seal flush against the sidewall  22  of main living area  26  when the room  30  is retracted. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 9 through 15, the function and operation of the end covers  108 ,  110  will be explained. When the slide out room  30  is in the fully retracted position shown in FIG. 13, the floor  34  has been raised by the action of member  96  against wear bar  58 . End covers  108 ,  110  move up and down along with the inner edge  98  of floor  34 , thus causing the alignment plug  131  to rise and fall within the cavity  132  of channel  134 . When the floor  34  is raised sufficiently, alignment plug  131  abuts the top flange  140  of channel  134 , thus raising the sidewalls  38  off of the main floor  18 . Accordingly, the type of rollers commonly employed in the industry under the sidewalls are not required in the present application. As the slide out room  30  is extended, the alignment plug  131  of the end covers  108 ,  110  slowly lowers the sidewalls  38  until the sidewalls are supported by the post  67  of adjusters  60  as discussed above. Because the alignment plug  131  also prevents the sidewalls walls from splaying, the gap between the interior floor trim  150  and the sidewall  38  remains constant, and thus there is a better seal between the edges of the floor  34  and the sidewalls of the room  30 , and marring of the interior wall coverings is prevented. 
     Referring now to the embodiments of FIGS. 18-22, a channel member or plate  200  is mounted adjacent each of the side edges  202  of the floor  34  of the slide out room  30 . The channel member or plate  200  extends parallel, and closely adjacent to, another channel member or plate  204  which is integrally mounted within the corresponding wall  38 . A pin  206  projects from the plate  200  in a direction substantially parallel to the floor  34  and engages an elongated, vertically oriented slot  208  of the channel member or plate  204 . A tab  210  is punched out of the plate  200  and extends transversely with respect thereto. The tab  210  is slidably received in an elongated slot  212  which extends vertically substantially parallel to the slot  208 . A coiled spring  214  extends between the tab  210  and a lower transverse end  216  of the plate  204  to thereby yieldably bias the plate  200 , and therefore the floor  13 , upwardly viewing the drawings. The plates  200  and  204 , the pin  206 , the tab  210  and the spring  214  are substantially identical, but of opposite hand, on the opposite sides of the floor  34 . Retractable height adjusters (not shown) similar to the retractable height adjusters  60  are used to support the sidewalls  38  as the slide out room  30  moves into the extended position. 
     When the slide out room  30  is in the extended position (FIG.  22 ), the floor  34  is in the lowered position and is substantially flush with the floor  18  of the main living unit. In this condition, the floor  34  is supported relative to the slide out room  30  by the wear bar  58  and engagement of the pins  206  with the lower end of the corresponding slots  208 . As the extensible members  44  are retracted to retract the slide out room  30  into the main living area, ramp  100  rides up the wear bar  58  as illustrated in FIGS. 20 and 21, thereby causing the pins  206  to ride upwardly in their corresponding slots  208  and also causing the channel members or plates  200  to pivot about the pins  206 , to thereby allow the floor  34  to pivot about the wear bar  58  as illustrated in FIGS. 21 and 22. The spring  214  flexes to allow pivoting of the plate  200  with respect to the plate  202 , and exerts an upwardly biasing force on the floor  34 . Obviously, because of the weight of the floor  34  and any furniture, etc. resting on the floor, the floor will reach a point in which the wear bar  58  acts as a fulcrum to allow the floor to pivot about the wear bar  58  into a substantially horizontal orientation as illustrated in FIG.  19 . The floor will pivot into the horizontal orientation whenever the floor is retracted past the wear bar  58  to an extent that the weight acting on the portion of floor  34  to the left of the wear bar  58  overcomes a force equal to the sum of the force exerted by the spring  214  and the weights acting on the floor  34  to the right of the wear bar  58 . The spring  214  thus acts to bias the floor upwardly as the floor moves into the substantially flat position illustrated in FIG.  19 . When the room is moved from the retracted position of FIG. 19 to the extended position of FIG. 22, the spring  214  cushions and delays movement of the floor into the lowered position so that the floor does not move abruptly into the substantially flat orientation. 
     Referring now to the embodiment of FIGS. 23-25, extensible members  44  are mounted to wall  36  of slide out room  30  through a bracket  220  mounted on the lower portion of wall  36 . The bracket  220  includes a pair of elongated, vertically oriented slots  222  which slidably receive pins  224  extending from extensible member  44 . The floor  34  is connected to the wall  36  through the hinge  70  as described hereinabove. Accordingly, as the slide out room  30  is retracted from the extended position illustrated in FIG. 25 to the retracted position illustrated in FIG. 23, the floor  34  initially pivots about the hinge  70  as the ramp  100  initially rides up the wear bar  58 . However, at some point during the travel of the wear bar  58  along the ramp  100 , the weight of the floor  34  and the furniture, etc. acting on that portion to the left of the fulcrum provided by the wear bar  58  overcomes the weight of the floor to the right of the fulcrum provided by wear bar  58 , thereby causing the bracket  220  to ride up the pins  224 , thus raising the wall  36  to the position illustrated in FIG. 24, wherein the floor  34  is gradually leveled out. As the room is fully retracted from the FIG. 24 position to the FIG. 23 position, further movement of the ramp  100  up the fulcrum provided by the wear bar  58  continues to raise the room  30  and wall  36  relative to the extensible member  44 , until the pins  224  rest at the bottom of the slots  22 . It will be noted that in the fully extended position, the pins  20  and  24  rest on the top of the slots  222 , thereby supporting the room through the members  44 . As the room is moved into the retracted position, the weight of the room is borne through the floor  34  onto the floor  18 . It will be noted that the embodiment of FIGS. 23-25, since the sidewalls  38  are disconnected from the floor  34 , will require the retractable height adjuster  60  (which are not shown in FIGS. 23-25) to support the walls  38  when the room is moved into the fully extended position. 
     The embodiment of FIGS. 26-28 is identical to the embodiment of FIGS. 23-25, except that the floor  34  of the slide out room is rigidly connected to the wall  36  as at  226 , instead of being connected through the hinge  70 . The floor  34  is also rigidly connected to the sidewalls  38 . Accordingly, the slide out room  30  in the embodiment of FIGS. 26-28 is an integral unit, so that the height adjusters  60  are not necessary. In the embodiment of FIGS. 26-28, the weight of the slide out room  30 , including any furniture situated therein, acting to the left of the fulcrum provided by the wear bar  58  acting against the ramp  100  causes the sliding connection between the extensible members  44  and the wall  36  provided by the pins  224  acting in slots  222  to cause the entire room  30  to move upwardly when the room is retracted and downwardly relative to the extensible members  44  when the room is extended. Accordingly, the pins  224  move from engagement at the top of the slots  222  when the room is fully extended, as illustrated in FIG. 28, and thus the weight of the room is borne through the pins  224  and bracket  220  and also through the wear bar  58 . In the retracted position, the weight of the room is born directly on the floor  18 . 
     Referring now to the embodiment of FIGS. 29-34, the slide out room generally indicated by the numeral  30  is adapted to be extended and retracted between the positions illustrated in FIG.  1  and FIG.  2 . Extensible support members  44  mounted on main frame members  12  (not shown in FIGS. 29-34) are attached to the lower frame member  37  of outer wall  36 . The floor  34  is adapted to move vertically with respect to the walls  36  and  38  and is connected thereto by connecting mechanisms  226 , which moveably connect opposite sides of the moveable floor  34  to corresponding sidewalls  38 . As described above, the moveable floor  34  includes a ramp  96  including an angled portion  100 , that is adapted to ride up and over the wear bar  58  when the room  30  is retracted into the main living quarters, thus elevating the moveable floor  34  from a flush position in which the floor  34  is substantially flush with the main floor  18  to a raised or sliding position in which the floor  34  can slide along the main floor  18 . The operation of the floor  34 , wear bar  58 , and ramp  96  is more fully described above. 
     The connecting mechanisms  226  include floor side members  228 , each of which includes an upwardly extending flange  230  extending along the sides  232  of the floor  234 . The flange  230  may be concealed by a baseboard  231 . Each of the floor side members  228  further includes a horizontally extending flange  234  that projects from the flange  230  to attach the floor side members  228  to the floor  34  via fasteners  236 . Transversely extending flanges  238  project outwardly from the flanges  230  and extend over the ends  240  of the sidewalls  38 . 
     Connecting mechanisms  226  further include box channel members  242 , which are installed within the lower most portions of the sidewalls  38 . Each of the box channel members include inner and outer vertically extending walls  244 ,  246 , which are interconnected by top and bottom walls  248 ,  250 . A pair of levers  252 ,  254  are installed within the box channel members and are pivotally connected to sidewalls  244 ,  246  by pivot pins  256 ,  258 . Accordingly, each of the levers  252 ,  254  may pivot about their corresponding pivots  256 ,  258  their movement being restricted by the top and bottom walls  248 ,  250 . A pivot pin  260  interconnects adjoining ends of the levers  252  and  254 , the lever  254  having an oversized opening  262  to allow the levers to pass through an overcenter position so that the levers can be pivoted from the position illustrated in FIG.  32  through the position illustrated in FIG. 34 to the position illustrated in FIG.  33 . The wall  244  of each of the channel members includes an elongated, vertically oriented slot  262 , which receives a pin  264  that projects from the corresponding flange  230  to the corresponding slot  262  and into an elongated aperture  266  the corresponding end of the lever  254 . 
     The end of lever  252  opposite the end connected to lever  254  via pivot pin  260  includes a portion  268  that projects from the end of the box channel member  242  and engages an elongated, vertically directed slot  270  in the flange  238 . Accordingly, when the floor  34  is in the lowered or flush position when the slide out room  30  is extended, the levers  252 ,  254  assume the position illustrated in FIG. 33, it being remembered that the end portion  268  of lever  252  is engaged with the slot  270 . As the slide out room is retracted, the ramp surface  100  rides up the wear bar  58 , thus causing the end portion  268  of lever  252  to be urged upwardly viewing the figures by engagement of the end portion  262  by the lower edge of the slot  270 . As the ramp  100  rides up the wear bar  58 , the levers  252 ,  254  pass through the position illustrated in FIG. 34, and when the floor  34  is moved to the upwardmost sliding position in which the floor  34  may slide on the main floor  18 , the levers are in the upper position illustrated in FIG.  32 . Accordingly, as the ramp surface  100  rides up the wear bar  58 , upward movement the ramp surface  100  is transferred by operation of the levers  252 ,  254  and the pin  264  to also raise the out edge of the floor  34  adjacent the outer wall  36 . In this way, the floor  34  is maintained substantially level as the slide out room is retracted. Conversely, when the slide out room is extended, the ramp surface  100  rides down the wear bar  58  thus pivoting the lever  252  (and thereby lever  254 ) from the upper position illustrated in FIG. 32 to the lower position illustrated in FIG. 33, thereby lowering the edge of the floor  34  adjacent the wall  38  as the ramp surface  100  descends, again maintaining the floor  34  at a substantially horizontal orientation, thus preventing shifting of furniture or other household goods stored on the floor  34 . 
     It is understood that the above description does not limit the invention to the above-given details, but may be modified within the scope of the following claims.