Slide-out room mechanism with rack and pinion drive

Abstract

A drive mechanism for a slide-out room includes a bracket attachable to a sidewall of the slide-out room and including a channel, a horizontal gear rack securable to the sidewall in the channel, and a motor. A drive shaft is coupled with the motor, and a drive gear coupled with the drive shaft engages the horizontal gear rack.

1 . A drive mechanism for a slide-out room, the drive mechanism comprising:
 a first corner bracket securable at an intersection of a sidewall and a top wall of the slide-out room, the first corner bracket including a first channel therein;   a second corner bracket securable at an intersection of the sidewall and a floor of the slide-out room, the second corner bracket including a second channel therein;   a first horizontal gear rack secured in the first channel;   a second horizontal gear rack spaced from the first horizontal gear rack and secured in the second channel;   a motor;   a drive shaft coupled with the motor;   a first drive gear coupled with the drive shaft and engaging the first horizontal gear rack; and   a second drive gear coupled with the drive shaft and engaging the second horizontal gear rack.   
     
     
         2 . A drive mechanism according to  claim 1 , further comprising a first cover positioned over the first horizontal gear rack, and a second cover positioned over the second horizontal gear rack. 
     
     
         3 . A drive mechanism according to  claim 2 , wherein the first drive gear extends through the first cover into engagement with the first horizontal gear rack, and wherein the second drive gear extends through the second cover into engagement with the second horizontal gear rack. 
     
     
         4 . A drive mechanism according to  claim 2 , wherein the first cover and the second cover are secured in the first and second corner brackets, respectively. 
     
     
         5 . A drive mechanism according to  claim 1 , further comprising a slider engaging exterior surfaces of each of the first and second horizontal gear racks. 
     
     
         6 . A drive mechanism according to  claim 5 , wherein the first and second drive gears are positioned through an opening in each of the sliders, respectively. 
     
     
         7 . A drive mechanism according to  claim 1 , further comprising a first gear housing fixed relative to the slide-out room adjacent the sidewall of the slide-out room and housing the first drive gear, and a second gear housing fixed relative to the slide-out room adjacent the sidewall of the slide-out room and housing the second drive gear. 
     
     
         8 . A drive mechanism according to  claim 7 , wherein the first and second gear housings include a hole therethrough, and wherein the drive shaft is positioned through the holes in the first and second gear housings and through the first and second drive gears. 
     
     
         9 . A drive mechanism according to  claim 7 , further comprising a slider secured to each of the first gear housing and the second gear housing, the sliders respectively engaging exterior surfaces of the first and second horizontal gear racks. 
     
     
         10 . A drive mechanism according to  claim 9 , wherein the first and second drive gears are positioned through an opening in each of the sliders, respectively. 
     
     
         11 . A slide-out room system for a vehicle, the slide-out room system comprising:
 a room defined by a top wall, a floor, and a pair of sidewalls connected between the top wall and the floor;   a first corner bracket secured at each intersection of the sidewalls and the top wall of the slide-out room, the first corner brackets including a first channel therein;   a second corner bracket secured at each intersection of the sidewalls and the floor of the slide-out room, the second corner brackets including a second channel therein;   a first horizontal gear rack secured in each of the first channels;   a second horizontal gear rack spaced from the first horizontal gear rack and secured is each of the second channels;   a motor fixed relative to the room adjacent each sidewall of the room;   a drive shaft coupled with each of the motors;   a first drive gear coupled with each of the drive shafts and engaging the first horizontal gear racks, respectively; and   a second drive gear coupled with each of the drive shafts and engaging the second horizontal gear racks, respectively.   
     
     
         12 . A slide-out room system according to  claim 11 , further comprising a first cover positioned over each of the first horizontal gear racks, and a second cover positioned over each of the second horizontal gear racks. 
     
     
         13 . A slide-out room system according to claim,  12 , wherein the first drive gears extend through the first covers into engagement with the first horizontal gear racks, and wherein the second drive gears extend through the second covers into engagement with the second horizontal gear racks. 
     
     
         14 . A slide-out room system according to  claim 12 , wherein the first covers are secured in the first corner brackets adjacent the first horizontal gear racks, and wherein the second covers are secured in the second corner brackets adjacent the second horizontal gear racks. 
     
     
         15 . A slide-out room system according to  claim 11 , wherein the first corner brackets and the second corner brackets are rounded. 
     
     
         16 . A drive mechanism for a slide-out room, the drive mechanism comprising:
 a bracket attachable to a sidewall of the slide-out room and including a channel;   a horizontal gear rack securable to the sidewall in the channel;   a motor;   a drive shaft coupled with the motor; and   a drive gear coupled with the drive shaft and engaging the horizontal gear rack.   
     
     
         17 . A drive mechanism according to  claim 16 , further comprising a cover positioned over the horizontal gear rack. 
     
     
         18 . A drive mechanism according to  claim 17 , wherein the drive gear extends through the cover into engagement with the horizontal gear rack. 
     
     
         19 . A drive mechanism according to  claim 17 , wherein the cover is secured in the bracket. 
     
     
         20 . A drive mechanism according to  claim 16 , wherein the bracket comprises a corner bracket attachable between the sidewall of the slide-out room and a top wall or a floor of the slide-out room.