Abstract:
The invention provides a moveable storage compartment designed for camper trailers that provides for top access even when the camper is in use and is folded out and over the top of the compartment. The storage compartment&#39;s unique design and placement on a sliding track allow the user to move the compartment to either side of the trailer in a direction substantially perpendicular to a line running along the length of the trailer. Furthermore, the compartment has one or more lids that allow either side to be accessed depending upon on which side of the trailer access is desired. At least one lid of the compartment may easily convert for use as a table if desired.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/631,313, filed Nov. 29, 2004, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a sliding storage compartment and, in particular, a storage compartment attached to a camping trailer or other vehicle and designed to slide along a track for easier access and use. 
   On folding camper trailers or other vehicles, there may be a stationary locking resin or plastic compartment (also referred to as a “box”) on the back or front of the unit for storage. One problem with the design of these storage compartments of the prior art is that when the camper is open and in use with the bunks folded out, the storage compartment is not accessible from the top. Some compartments seen in the prior art may provide a side door for side access. However, since the compartment may be quite long, extending along the entire width of the camper, it is difficult to access the entire compartment from a side door. Furthermore, due to the angle of access and lack of light entering into the compartment generally from the side, it is difficult for the user to easily view the inside and contents of the compartment from a side door. Accordingly, there is a need for a storage compartment for a camper which is easily accessible throughout the compartment, preferably from the top of the compartment, even when the camper is open and the bunks over the back and front of the camper are folded out. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention, which is defined by the claims set out at the end of this disclosure, is intended to solve at least some of the problems noted above. A storage compartment is provided. The storage compartment includes a compartment having one or more openings on top of the compartment. The compartment is moveable from a first position to a second position in a direction substantially perpendicular to a line running along a length of a vehicle on which the compartment is installed. At least one lid covers the opening. The storage compartment is slidably moveable with a slide mechanism. 
   The slide mechanism includes a first member attached to the compartment and a second member slidably mounted on the first member. The second member is attached to the vehicle to connect the storage compartment to the vehicle. In one embodiment, the first member is a track, which can be attached to a frame of a vehicle, and the second member is a slide rail. A fastener, such as a latch, can be used to restrict movement of the storage compartment relative to the vehicle. A locking mechanism can lock the storage compartment in position with respect to the vehicle. 
   The lids are hingedly attached to the compartment. At least one of the lids can be pivoted about 180 degrees to provide a table formed by the underside of the lid. One or more supports can be used to retain the lid in a pivoted position. 
   A method of storing and accessing materials in a storage compartment is also provided. In the method, the storage compartment is attached to a vehicle. The storage compartment is moved from a first position to a second position in a direction substantially perpendicular to a line running along a length of the vehicle. The storage compartment can also be moved to the second position, such as away from the vehicle on which it is installed. When the storage compartment is in the second position, a first lid of the storage compartment can be opened. The lid can be pivoted about 180 degrees to form a table. Once pivoted, the lid can be supported in the pivoted position. 
   The storage compartment can be moved from the second position to a third position in a direction substantially perpendicular to a line running along a length of the vehicle. In the third position, a second lid of the storage compartment can be opened. The storage compartment can be retained in one of the positions and can also be locked in that position. 
   The sliding storage compartment of the present invention satisfies the need of an adequately accessible storage compartment by providing a compartment having a slideable feature so that the compartment may slide in a direction along the camper width and substantially perpendicular to a line drawn through the center and along the length of the camper trailer. The compartment is slideable for a distance sufficiently beyond the trailer width edges on either side thereof at the user&#39;s option, so that a top lid of the compartment may be opened even when the camper is open and in use. The sliding storage compartment is preferably situated in front of the camper on the trailer and behind the tow hitch mechanism. However, it could be alternatively situated on the rear of the unit or some other location. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a sliding storage compartment made in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, with the sliding storage compartment situated on a front of a camper trailer, which is shown with a pop up tent of the camper trailer in phantom. 
       FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the sliding storage compartment of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the sliding storage compartment of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the sliding storage compartment of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the sliding storage compartment of  FIG. 1 , showing the sliding storage compartment moved into a second position in a direction substantially perpendicular to a line running along the length of the vehicle from the camper trailer. 
       FIG. 6  is an isometric view from a front side of the sliding storage compartment of  FIG. 1 , showing a first lid of the sliding storage compartment in an open position with the first lid being substantially vertical and a second lid of the sliding storage compartment in an open position with the second lid being substantially horizontal such that it can be used as a table. 
       FIG. 7  is an isometric view from a rear side of the sliding storage compartment of  FIG. 1 , showing the second lid of the sliding storage compartment in a substantially horizontal position with supports holding the second lid in the substantially horizontal position. 
       FIG. 8  is a detailed cross-sectional view taken along line  8 — 8  of  FIG. 1  of a hinge mechanism of the sliding storage compartment of  FIG. 1 , showing a lid in phantom in an open position. 
       FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  9 — 9  of  FIG. 1  of the sliding storage compartment of  FIG. 1 , showing a slide mechanism of the sliding storage compartment. 
       FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  10 — 10  of  FIG. 1  of the sliding storage compartment of  FIG. 1 , showing a slide mechanism of the sliding storage compartment. 
       FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  11 — 11  of  FIG. 10  of the sliding storage compartment of  FIG. 1 , showing a slide mechanism of the sliding storage compartment. 
   

   Before explaining embodiments of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments or being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1–5 , a sliding storage compartment  10  includes a compartment  12  having one or more openings  14  on a top of the compartment  10 . The compartment  12  is moveable from a first position to a second position in a direction substantially perpendicular to a line  16  running along a length of a vehicle  18 , such as a camper trailer  18 , on which the compartment  12  is installed. One or more lids  20  cover one or more openings  14  in the compartment  12 . As is explained below, an advantage to this sliding storage compartment  10  is evident in particular with camper trailers  18  having one or more pop up tents  21 , as is shown in phantom in  FIG. 1 , although this sliding storage compartment  10  could be useful in other applications. For example, the compartment  10  could be useful in multiple internal or external recreational vehicle uses, travel trailers or motor homes. The sliding compartment  10  could incorporate a storage center, outdoor center for children, entertainment center with a television or other entertainment center under a lid  20 , or a slide out kitchen center. It is intended that all possible applications be included in the description of the invention. 
   In one embodiment, the sliding storage compartment  10  is a rotocast one-piece compartment manufactured of linear low density polyethylene resin. However, the compartment can be manufactured from other materials and may be manufactured from more than one piece. The sliding storage compartment  10  is generally rectangular in shape. The sliding storage compartment  10  can be contoured for purposes of stiffness and to increase structural strength. Semi-circular channels  22  in a bottom of the compartment  12  can be included as stiffening ribs to add rigidity. The channels  22  could be of different lengths also. 
   In one embodiment, the sliding storage compartment  10  is about 82.25 inches in length and about 24 inches in width, having a storage capacity of 23.7 cubic feet. The sliding storage compartment  10  preferably has a back height of about 24 inches and a front height of about 21 inches, although such dimensions are not intended to be limiting. The sliding storage compartment  10  is designed to be easy and inexpensive to manufacture and to be hardy and weather resistant in use. It is also designed to provide maximum storage capacity and maximum accessibility and multipurpose use. In one embodiment, the load capacity of the sliding storage compartment  10  is about 250 pounds. 
   In one embodiment, two lids  20  are symmetrical in size and shape and configured in a manner to optimize strength and durability and to protect the contents of the compartment  12  from moisture or other elements of nature. However, the compartment  12  does not need to have two or more openings  14  and could only have one lid  20  covering it or a portion of the compartment  12 . In addition, where multiple lids  20  are present, they need not be symmetrical in size and shape and configured in a manner to optimize strength and durability and to protect the contents of the compartment from moisture or other elements of nature. The compartment  12  may be accessed through either top lid  20  by sliding the compartment  12  sufficiently in one direction or the other so that one or the other of the top lids  20  may be pivoted away from the compartment  12  and opened. The interior of the compartment  12  is thereby exposed for easy view and inspection by the user. 
   Each lid  20  may be locked in place when in closed position with keyed access to prevent unauthorized access to the compartment contents. As can best be seen in  FIGS. 4 and 8 , each lid  20  is attached to the compartment by a hinge mechanism  24  extending along the length thereof, forming an axis of attachment between the compartment  12  and the lid  20 . Each lid  20  is pivotable around its axis of attachment with the compartment  12  in a direction away from the compartment  12 . When the compartment  12  is in an accessible position when the camper trailer  18  is open and unfolded, the lid  20  of the compartment  12  on the side that has been sufficiently extended beyond the width of the camper trailer  18  to allow free pivoting of the lid  20  may be pivoted to a position about 180 degrees from the closed position. In a preferred embodiment, each of the lids  20  has a hinge mechanism  24  that is integrated with the storage compartment  10 . The hinge  24  has a built-in safety feature that causes it to “bottom out” on itself when rotated just past the horizontal (180°) position, making the lids  20  unable to rotate much beyond this position. 
   When in the rotated position, referring now to  FIG. 7 , the lids  20  may be placed on supports  26 , such as steel rods  26 , attached to and stored in a back  28  of the compartment  12  to provide for a table  30  secured by such supports  26  and created from the flat surface of an underside  32  of the lid  20 . If desired, the compartment  12  may be moved to the opposite side of the camper trailer  18 , where the other lid  20  may be alternatively pivoted and used as a table  30  in the same manner. 
   Each steel rod  26  may be stored in a depression  38  on the back  28  of the compartment  12 . The steel rods  26  are pivotally attached to the back  28  of the compartment  12  and fold and store within the depression  38 . When the steel rods  26  are desired for support, they can be pivoted out and up to support the inner lid surface as a table  30  by placing the outer and unattached ends thereof in two indentations  42  in the outer top of each lid  20 . Each support rod  26  is attached in the depression  38  of the compartment  12  so that, when they are not in use, they will stay firmly in place. 
   As shown in  FIG. 6 , the table  30  that is formed from the lid  20  includes useful features. For example, an outer generally rectangular lip  33  is provided on the inside of each lid  20 , as well as two indentations  34  in the lid  20  intended for use as cup holders, if desired, in a size and generally round shape for this purpose. Each lid  20  further has a seal (not shown) around the edge thereof for the purpose of keeping moisture out of the compartment  12 . The front of each side of the compartment  12  further has locking latches  46  that can be locked with a key (not shown) for purposes of security. 
   It should be noted that in one embodiment, the compartment  12  is divided on its upper surface into two identical openings  14  with an integrally molded middle surface divider  48 , as can be seen in  FIGS. 4 and 6 . In this embodiment, each opening  14  is covered by two identical lids  20  made from the same material as the compartment  12 , each lid  20  is contoured on the outside for physical strength and appearance and is generally flat on the inside surface, and the hinge mechanisms  24  are substantially identical on each side. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the sliding storage compartment  10  is removably affixed to the camper trailer  18  by a slide mechanism  50  that includes a first member  52  and a second member  54 . In one embodiment, the first member  52  is a track  52 , and the second member  54  is a slide rail  54 , which is received in the track  52 . The track  52  is attached to a frame  56  on a front of the camper trailer  18 . In one embodiment, the sliding storage compartment  10  extends along the front width of the trailer  18 . Where the frame  56  includes a unit  57  ( FIG. 1 ) for storing propane tanks (not shown), the track  52  can be attached between the camper trailer  18  and the storage unit  57 . The track  52  can be attached to the frame  56  with bolts  58 , as is shown in  FIG. 9 . The slide rail  54  is attached to the compartment  12  such as by connecting it with rivets  60 , as is shown in  FIG. 9 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the slide rail  54  includes a wheel carriage  76  bearing two wheels  78 . The wheels  78  rest on a C-channel bracket  80  mounted on the track  52  and retains the wheels  78  therein. The wheels  78  roll in the C-channel bracket  80  and permit the compartment  12  to slide along the track  52  attached to the trailer frame  56 . The track  52  and slide rail  54  can be made from steel or other suitable material. 
   The track  52  includes projections  62 , such as bump out stops  62 , which can be made from nylon or other suitable material. An outside edge of the track  52  includes a fastener, such as a latch  66 , that is mounted on the track  52  by a pin  82  or the like. The fastener  66  is received in one of the bump out stops  62  to retains the sliding storage compartment  10  in locked position. A biasing element  84 , such as a spring  84 , biases the latch  66  toward the bump out stop  62 . Depression of the latch  66  allows sliding to continue in the desired direction. In one embodiment, the slide mechanism  50  is preferably 75.5 inches long, and the compartment  12  is capable of sliding a total of 50.5 inches or 67% of its total length in either direction, where it can be locked in position by another bump out stop  62  in the track  52 . When the camper trailer  18  is in motion, the sliding storage compartment  10  is locked in a fixed position. For example, a fastener  68 , such as a locking pin  68  or a padlock, is installed in a hole  70  in the track  52  and a hole  72  in the slide rail  54  when the camper trailer  18  is in motion to further prevent sliding of the sliding storage compartment  10  when the camper trailer  18  is in transit. If desired, the latch  66  can be depressed to fully remove the sliding storage compartment  10  from the track. 
   In a preferred embodiment, when the camper trailer  18  is stationary and open and the user desires to access the sliding storage compartment  10 , the user has the option of sliding the sliding storage compartment  10  in either direction along the track  52  in order to open one or the other of the lids  20  of the sliding storage compartment  10 . For instance,  FIG. 5  shows the sliding storage compartment  10  moved to one side of the camper trailer  18 . In order to move the sliding storage compartment  10  along the track  52 , the latch  66  must be depressed. This allows the sliding storage compartment  10  to move slightly more than half way in one direction or the other to either side of the camper trailer  18 . This movement in either direction allows one of the lids  20  to be completely accessible beyond the width of the trailer camper  18  so that it may be opened completely by pivoting the lid  20  about 180 degrees to a generally horizontal position with the underside of the lid  20  facing up. However, other embodiments of this invention include an embodiment where the sliding storage compartment  10  slides out to the side of the camper trailer  18  in only one direction and then back to its original position along the front width of the camper trailer  18 . Alternatively, the storage compartment  10  could have only one lid  20  that could open, could be slidable in only one direction to allow access to the one lid  20  that can be opened, or could have only one lid  20  that could convert into a table. 
   The sliding storage compartment  10  also provides for molded indentations  74  on each opposite shorter side thereof to provide a grip handle  74  to slide and/or lift the compartment  12 . The compartment  12  is fully detachable from the camper trailer  18 , if desired, by use of the latch  66 . 
   The sliding storage compartment  10  is accessible even when the camper trailer  18  is open and unfolded. Ordinarily, the tent  21  of the trailer camper  18  where a bunk (not shown) is located would be covering the sliding storage compartment  10  making lid entry inaccessible. The sliding storage compartment  10  is configured so that the generally entire length of the sliding storage compartment  10  is accessible from either opening  14 . The openings  14  in the top of the compartment allow entry to the sliding storage compartment  10 . Once the compartment  12  is extended as a first step beyond the width of the camper trailer  18 , it can further be removed and detached, if desired, by suppressing the latch  66  further. 
   It is understood that the various preferred embodiments are shown and described above to illustrate different possible features of the invention and the varying ways in which these features may be combined. Apart from combining the different features of the above embodiments in varying ways, other modifications are also considered to be within the scope of the invention. 
   The invention is not intended to be limited to the preferred embodiments described above, but rather is intended to be limited only by the claims set out below. Thus, the invention encompasses all alternate embodiments that fall literally or equivalently within the scope of these claims