Abstract:
An improved slide out for food trucks, recreational vehicles, buses, and trailers is described in which the slide out that extends from below to above the top of the vehicle&#39;s wheels.

Description:
This application is based upon and claims priority from U.S. Provisional application Ser. No. 61/890,534, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     Applicant&#39;s invention is related to an improved slide out for food trucks, recreational vehicles, buses, and trailers. More particularly, it relates to a slide out that extends below the top of the vehicle&#39;s wheels. 
     2. Background Information 
     Many trucks and trailers have slide outs. Slide outs have been referred to by many different terms, such as slide out units, bump outs, glide outs, room additions, and others. As referred to herein, “slide out” is intended to mean any of these types of bus and trailer, room expanders. Further, there are many types of vehicles that incorporate slide outs. Specifically, food trucks, recreational vehicles, buses, trailers, and like vehicles, all have incorporated slide outs to expand the interior space of the vehicle. As described herein, the present invention is described as applicable to slide outs for food trucks. However, the invention and descriptions are equally applicable to any room expanders for any of the described vehicles. Thus, as used herein, “vehicle” refers to either or both automobiles (a wheeled, self-powered motor vehicles used for transporting passengers or cargo) and trailers (a wheeled, unpowered vehicle pulled behind a self-powered motor vehicle). 
     Conventional slide outs have their base above the vehicle&#39;s wheels. The present invention provides a novel slide out in which the top of the slide out is above the top of one or more wheels and the bottom of the slide out is below the top of one or more wheels. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is intended to conform to standard curb heights of six to eight inches; however, it is anticipated it can be conformed to other curb heights as well. In the food truck, the improved slide out provides a step for workers in the food truck to step down onto the floor of the improved slide out. In the slide out, common tools and machines necessary for the conduction of the food truck operation are provided, such as drawers, quick-serve dispenser items, soda fountains, and the like. 
     The slide out moves outwardly from the side of the food truck due to one or more motors. Four motors may be used at or near the corners of the slide out. Gears drive the slide out in and out from the body of the vehicle. The slide out runs on tracks. The improved slide out can be advantageous because sites and events often charge food trucks by the length of the vehicle. The improved slide out expands the interior of the food truck by widening it rather than lengthening it. However, when on the road and the slide out is not deployed, the truck box is of standard width. 
     The lower tracks and gears are below the top of the wheels of the vehicle. 
     The slide out may incorporate fire retardant in the fiberglass of the walls. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention with the slide out extended. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the present invention with the slide out withdrawn. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the present invention with the slide out extended. 
         FIG. 4  is a back view of the present invention with the slide out extended. 
         FIG. 5  is a cutaway, perspective view of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 10 
                 slide out 
               
               
                 12 
                 slide out front 
               
               
                 14 
                 slide out window 
               
               
                 16 
                 slide out walls 
               
               
                  16A 
                 slide out roof 
               
               
                  16B 
                 slide out floor 
               
               
                  16C 
                 slide out front wall 
               
               
                  16D 
                 slide out back wall 
               
               
                 18 
                 tire 
               
               
                  18A 
                 tire top 
               
               
                 20 
                 vehicle front 
               
               
                 22 
                 vehicle 
               
               
                 24 
                 wheel well 
               
               
                  24A 
                 wheel weel top 
               
               
                 26 
                 vehicle rear 
               
               
                 28 
                 slide out interior 
               
               
                 30 
                 tracks 
               
               
                 100  
                 curb 
               
               
                 105  
                 roadway 
               
               
                 110  
                 curb level 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the improved slide out  10  can be extended from the side of the vehicle  22 . The bottom  16 B of the improved slide out  10  is designed to extend from below the top of the vehicle tires  18 A, while the roof  16 A of the slide out  10  is above the top of the wheel wells  24 A. It is anticipated that the slide out  10  can be situated on the vehicle  22  either between the wheel well  24  and the front  20  of the vehicle  10 , between the wheel well  24  and the rear  26  of the vehicle  22 , or in front or behind the wheel well  24  and extending over the wheel well  24 . The present invention is intended to include more than just a facia in which the slide out front  12  extends below the top of the wheel well  24 A. It is intended that the slide out interior  28 , created by the slide out walls  16 , extend both above and below the top of the wheel well  24 A. 
     The lower slide out floor  16 B, as compared to conventional slide outs, allows for the food truck worker to be at or near eye level with customers who may be standing on the roadway  105 , on the curb  100 , or at curb level  110 . This can be important for customer service reasons because the slide out window  14  is at a lower level relative to potential customers as compared to conventional food truck slide outs. Additionally, food items, including potentially hot items capable of burning customers, are held in front of the customer rather than high above their heads. Thus, the likelihood of the customer accidentally spilling scalding liquids or other food items on themselves less likely. It also makes ordering items easier because the worker and the customer can see each other&#39;s face and hear each other better through the window  14 . It is important to note that the improved slide  10  out does not just have a front that extends below the top of the adjacent tires  18  but, rather, the interior room extends from above to below the top of the tires  18 . Thus, the bottom  16 B, or floor, of the improved slide out  10  is at a level lower than the top of the vehicle&#39;s  22  adjacent wheel wells  24  while the top  16 A, or roof, is above the wheel wells  24 . However, the front  12  may extend beyond the walls  16  such that the slide out appears larger than the interior  28 . The front  12  may extend from as far as the top of the vehicle  22  to its bottom. 
     It is anticipated that the slide out interior  28  created by the slide out walls  16  will be sized in order to allow a worker stand inside the slide out interior  28 . Further, the floor  16 B of the improved slide out  10  is within 18 inches of the top of a standard six- to eight-in curb  100 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the improved slide out  10  and shows it in the closed position. As an example,  FIG. 2  illustrates a slide out front  12  that extends from the bottom of the vehicle  22  upward to near the top of the vehicle  22 . While shown in  FIG. 2  as placed toward the front  20  of the vehicle  22  in front of the wheel wells  24  and tires  18 , is anticipated that the slide out  10  could also be manufactured toward the back  26  of the vehicle  22  behind the wheel wells  24 , or directly above the wheel wells  24  and extending below the wheel wells  24  either to the front or back of the wheel wells  24  such that the lowest portion of the slide out floor  16 B is below the top of the wheel well  24 A. Thus, the slide out floor  16 B may extend from directly above the wheel well  24  downwardly, either to the front or rear of said wheel well  24 , to below level with the wheel well top  24 A. 
       FIG. 3  shows a top view of the vehicle  22  with the slide out  10  in the extended position. As shown in this figure, the walls  16 A,  16 B,  16 C, and  16 D form an interior  28  that extends from the standard vehicle  22  interior. The slide out front  12  completes the front of the interior  28 . The interior  28  is open to the interior of the vehicle  22  and can be accessed from the vehicle&#39;s interior, generally using a step down. As discussed previously, the slide out  10  may be positioned anywhere along the side of the vehicle  22 . However, it will generally be advantageous for the slide out  10  to be positioned on the curb  100  side of the vehicle. The curb  100  side of the vehicle may change depending upon local law and driving standards. 
       FIG. 4  is a rear view of the vehicle  22  and illustrates the slide out  10  in the extended position from the rear  26 . As can be seen from this figure, the slide out  10  extends outwardly from the vehicle  22  and additional space is created by the slide out walls  16  which define the slide out interior  28 . Customers can stand on the outside of the vehicle  22  looking into the window  14  at a position closer to eye level than conventional slide out which said above the top of the tires  18 A. This figure includes ghosted images of the top portion of the tires  18  in dotted lines in order to better illustrate how the slide out  10  extends above and below the top of the tires  18 A. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective, cutaway view of the vehicle showing the interior of the vehicle  22 . In order to manufacture the improved slide out  10 , modifications to the vehicle  22  are required that are not seen on conventional vehicles. The lower gearing and slides or tracks  30  for the slide out  10  must be below the top  18 A of the vehicle&#39;s wheel wells  24 . Thus, the bottom of the slide out is near or slightly above the height of a standard curb. The bottom of the slide out may be 4 to 26 inches above the roadway or ground level  105 . Upper gearing and slides or tracks (not shown) that are complementary to the bottom tracks  30  may also be provided near the top of the slide out  10  and extending into the vehicle  22  near the top. It is generally anticipated that the tracks  30 , both upper and lower, will be positioned near the corners of the slide out  10 , and where at least one of said tracks  30  is below said top  24 A of said wheel well  24 , and at least one of said tracks  30  is above said top  24 A of said wheel well  24 . 
     The interior of the vehicle may provide a step-down into the improved slide out  10  interior  28 . Tools and equipment in the improved slide out  10  interior  28  are arranged or deployed such that when the slide out  10  is retracted, the equipment will not hinder retraction of the slide out  10 . Storage is also available under the floor of the vehicle&#39;s interior and may be accessible from the interior  28  the slide-out  10 . Tools and equipment desirable for use in the slide out  10 , can be stored out of the way, then accessed when the slide out  10  is extended from the side of the vehicle  22 .