Telescoping room for travel trailers

Abstract

A room section having a ceiling, floor, opposed side walls and an outer end wall, fits freely in an opening in a wall of a travel trailer for reciprocative movement between a position extended from the trailer, to provide increased living area, and a position retracted into the trailer for travel. The room section is supported for such movement by mechanism located under the trailer floor and connected to the room section at the outer wall of the latter.

Having now described my invention and the manner in which it may be used, I claim: 
     
       1. In combinations with a travel trailer or the like having a floor, upstanding side and end walls and a ceiling and an opening in one of said upstanding walls, (a) a room section having a ceiling, a floor, side walls, an outer end wall and an open inner end, the room section extending freely through said opening in the trailer wall,   (b) first support means secured to the trailer under the floor thereof and including a tubular member rigidly attached to the travel trailer under the floor thereof and an elongated beam extending slidably through the tubular member and rigidly attached at its outer end to the end wall of the room section below the floor thereof for supporting the room section for reciprocation therewith between a position extending outwardly from the trailer wall and a position retracted into the trailer, and rollers rotatably mounted on the tubular member and engaging the upper and lower surfaces of said beam, and   (c) second support means between the trailer floor and overlying room extension floor for supporting the latter above the trailer floor during reciprocation of the room section.   
     
     
       2. The combination of claim 1 including reciprocative drive means under the trailer interconnecting the room section and the travel trailer for moving the room section between its extended and retracted positions. 
     
     
       3. The combination of claim 2 wherein the drive means comprises a double-acting fluid operated piston-cylinder unit, the cylinder being attached to the travel trailer and the piston being attached to the outer end wall of the room section. 
     
     
       4. The combination of claim 3 including adjustment means interconnecting the piston-cylinder unit and the travel trailer for adjustng the amount of travel of the room section upon actuation of the piston-cylinder unit. 
     
     
       5. The combination of claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.2 .Iaddend.wherein there are two first support means, one located near each side of the room section and one reciprocative drive means located intermediate the two first support means. 
     
     
       6. The combination of claim 1 wherein the second support means comprises a support member secured to the trailer floor adjacent the opening in the wall thereof slidably supporting the underside of the room extension floor for reciprocation of the room section between retracted and extended positions. 
     
     
       7. In combination with a travel trailer or the like having a floor, upstanding side and end walls and a ceiling and an opening in one of said upstanding walls, (a) .Iadd.a .Iaddend.room section having a ceiling, a floor, side walls, an outer end wall and an open inner end, the room section extending freely through said opening in the trailer wall and the floor of the room section being located above and .[.closely.]. adjacent the floor of the trailer and having an inner fixed margin portion angled downward toward the trailer floor,   (b) first support means .Iadd.including an outer, tubular guide member .Iaddend.secured to the trailer under the floor thereof and .[.including.]. an .Iadd.inner, .Iaddend.elongated reciprocative member .Iadd.telescopically received in said tubular guide member, said .Iaddend.reciprocative member .Iadd.being .Iaddend.secured at its outer end to the .[.floor.]. .Iadd.room .Iaddend.section adjacent the outer end wall and below the floor thereof for supporting the room section for reciprocation therewith between a position extending outwardly from the trailer wall and a position retracted into the trailer, .[.and.].   (c) second support means between the trailer floor and overlying room extension floor for supporting the latter .[.above.]. .Iadd.on .Iaddend.the trailer floor during reciprocation of the room section .Iadd., and .Iaddend.   (.Iadd.d) .Iadd.a frame member attached to said trailer and said guide member, said frame member mounting said guide member beneath said trailer floor with said guide member cantilevering from said frame member.Iaddend.. .Iadd.8. The combination of claim 7 including drive means interconnecting the room section and the travel trailer for moving the room section between its extended and retracted positions..Iaddend. .Iadd.9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said drive means comprises power reciprocative drive means under the trailer floor..Iaddend. .Iadd.10. The combination of claim 8 wherein said drive means comprises a first member mounted on said travel trailer under the floor thereof and an inner member telescopically received in said outer member and attached to said room section..Iaddend. .Iadd.11. The combination of claim 10 wherein the drive means comprises a double-acting fluid operated piston-cylinder unit, the cylinder being attached to the travel trailer and the piston being attached to the outer end wall of the room section..Iaddend.   
     
     
        .Iadd.  .  The combination of claim 7 wherein there are two first support means, one located near each side of the room section..Iaddend. .Iadd.13. The combination of claim 12 wherein the reciprocative drive means is separate from and located intermediate the two first support means..Iaddend. .Iadd.14. The combination of claim 7 including a room section beam attached to the room section below the floor thereof adjacent the room section outer end wall and extending along said outer end wall, said reciprocative member being attached at its outer end to said room section beam..Iaddend. .Iadd.15. The combination of claim 14 wherein said reciprocative member abuts said room section beam..Iaddend. .Iadd.16. The combination of claim 15 wherein said room section beam comprises a hollow box beam..Iaddend. .Iadd.17. The combination of claim 14 wherein said room section beam is positioned in spaced relation below the room section floor..Iaddend. .Iadd.18. The combination of claim 17 wherein said room section floor includes a structural joist and upper and lower decks attached to said structural joist..Iaddend. .Iadd.19. The combination of claim 18 wherein said room section floor includes a plurality of spaced, transversely-extending floor joists located between said upper and lower decks..Iaddend. .Iadd.20. The combination of claim 7 wherein said inner fixed margin portion is tapered downward from said room section floor toward the trailer floor..Iaddend. .Iadd.21. The combination of claim 7 wherein the second support means comprises a support member secured to the trailer floor adjacent the opening in the wall thereof slidably supporting the underside of the room section floor for reciprocation of the room 
     
     
        section between retracted and extended positions..Iaddend. .Iadd.22.  The combination of claim 7 wherein said frame member extends longitudinally with respect to said trailer and said guide member extends transversely with respect to said frame member..Iaddend. .Iadd.23. The combination of claim 22 wherein said frame member is spaced inwardly from said one trailer wall..Iaddend. .Iadd.24. The combination of claim 7 including: (a) said frame member comprising a first frame member; and   (b) a second frame member attached to said trailer floor and said guide member, said second frame member mounting said guide member below said trailer floor..Iaddend. .Iadd.25. The combination of claim 24 wherein said guide member is supported by said frame members substantially independently of said trailer floor..Iaddend. .Iadd.26. The combination of claim 7 wherein said frame member is adapted for mounting said guide   
     
     
        member in spaced relation below said trailer floor..Iaddend. .Iadd.27.  In combination with a travel trailer or the like having a floor, upstanding side and end walls and a ceiling and an opening in one of said upstanding walls, (a) a room section having a ceiling, a floor, side walls, an outer end wall and an open inner end, the room section extending freely through said opening in the trailer wall and the floor of the room section being located above and closely adjacent the floor of the trailer and having an inner fixed margin portion angled downward toward the trailer floor,   (b) first support means including an outer, tubular guide member secured to the trailer under the floor thereof and an inner, elongated reciprocative member telescopically received in said tubular guide member, said reciprocative member being secured at its outer end to the room section adjacent the outer end wall and below the floor thereof for supporting the room section for reciprocation therewith between a position extended outwardly from the trailer wall and a position retracted into the trailer,   (c) second support means between the trailer floor and overlying room extension floor for supporting the latter on the trailer floor during reciprocation of the room section, and   (d) adjustment means interconnecting the room section and the travel trailer for adjusting the amount of travel of the room section..Iaddend.   
     
     
        .Iadd.28.  The combination of claim 27 wherein said adjustment means comprises rod means interconnecting said trailer and said room section..Iaddend. .Iadd.29. The combination of claim 28 including said rod means having a threaded portion and nut means threadably received on said rod portion for adjusting the position of said threaded portion with respect to one of said trailer and said room section..Iaddend. .Iadd.30. The combination of claim 27 wherein said adjustment means extends transversely with respect to said trailer..Iaddend. .Iadd.31. The combination of claim 27 wherein said trailer includes a frame member attached to said trailer floor and said adjustment means extends through said frame member..Iaddend. .Iadd.32. The combination of claim 27 wherein said adjustment means is secured to the room section adjacent the outer end wall and below the floor thereof..Iaddend. .Iadd.33. The combination of claim 27 including a box member interconnecting said room section outer end wall, said reciprocative member and said adjustment means..Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd.34.  The combination of claim 27 including drive means interconnecting the room section and the travel trailer for moving the room section between its extended and retracted positions, said drive means being associated with said adjustment means..Iaddend. .Iadd.35. In combination with a travel trailer or the like having a frame to which wheel means is mounted, a floor, upstanding side and end walls and a ceiling and an opening in one of said upstanding walls, (a) a room section having a ceiling, a floor, side walls, an outer end wall and an open inner end, the room section extending freely through said opening in the trailer wall and the floor of the room section being located above and closely adjacent the floor of the trailer and having an inner fixed margin portion angled downward toward the trailer floor,   (b) first support means including an outer, tubular guide member secured to the trailer under the floor thereof and an inner, elongated reciprocative member telescopically received in said tubular guide member, said reciprocative member being secured at its outer end to the room section adjacent the outer end wall and below the floor thereof for supporting the room section for reciprocation therewith between a position extended outwardly from the trailer wall and a position retracted into the trailer,   (c) second support means between the trailer floor and overlying room extension floor for supporting the latter on the trailer floor during reciprocation of the room section, and   (d) said frame having a structural frame member positioned beneath said trailer floor and having an opening, said tubular guide member being attached to said frame member and extending through said opening   
     
     
        thereof..Iaddend. .Iadd.36.  The combination of claim 35 wherein said frame member is spaced inwardly from said trailer wall..Iaddend. .Iadd.37. The combination of claim 35 wherein said guide member is fixedly attached to said structural frame member adjacent to said opening..Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd.  .  The combination of claim 35 including: (a) said frame member comprising a first frame member; and   (b) a second frame member positioned beneath said trailer floor with said guide member attached thereto..Iaddend. .Iadd.39. The combination of claim 38 wherein said guide member is supported by said frame members substantially independently of said trailer floor..Iaddend. .Iadd.40. The combination of claim 35 wherein said guide member is positioned in spaced relation beneath said trailer floor..Iaddend. .Iadd.41. The combination of claim 35 wherein said frame member extends longitudinally with respect to said trailer and said guide member extends transversely with respect to said trailer..Iaddend. .Iadd.42. The combination of claim 35 wherein said guide member cantilevers from said frame member..Iaddend. .Iadd.43. The combination of claim 35 including a box member interconnecting said room section outer end wall and said reciprocative member..Iaddend. .Iadd.44. The combination of claim 35 including a lip projecting outwardly from said   
     
     
        one trailer side wall over said opening therein..Iaddend. .Iadd.45.  The combination of claim 35 including an upwardly-extending flange located above the room section ceiling adjacent said room section open inner end and adapted for abutting said one trailer side wall with said room section in its extended position..Iaddend. .Iadd.46. The combination of claim 35 including power reciprocative drive means for moving the room section between its extended and retracted positions, said drive means being connected to said frame member and said room section..Iaddend. .Iadd.47. In combination with a travel trailer or the like having a floor, upstanding side and end walls and a ceiling and an opening in one of said upstanding walls, (a) a room section having a ceiling, a floor, side walls, an outer end wall and an open inner end, the room section extending freely through said opening in the trailer wall and the floor of the room section being located above and adjacent the floor of the trailer and having an inner fixed margin portion angled downward toward the trailer floor,   (b) first support means including an outer, tubular guide member secured to the trailer under the floor thereof and an inner, elongated reciprocative member telescopically received in said tubular guide member, said reciprocative member being secured at its outer end to the room section adjacent the outer end wall and below the floor thereof for supporting the room section for reciprocation therewith between a position extended outwardly from the trailer wall and a position retracted into the trailer,   (c) second support means between the trailer floor and overlying room extension floor for supporting the latter on the trailer floor during reciprocation of the room section, and   (d) a frame member comprising a hanger attached to said trailer and said guide member, said frame member mounting said guide member beneath said trailer floor and suspending said guide member adjacent said one trailer   
     
     
        wall..Iaddend. .Iadd.48.  The combination of claim 7 wherein said frame member has an opening with said tubular guide member extending therethrough..Iaddend. .Iadd.49. The combination of claim 7 including adjustment means interconnecting the room section and the travel trailer for adjusting the amount of travel of the room section..Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd.     The combination of claim 35 including drive means interconnecting the room section and the travel trailer for moving the room section between its extended and retracted positions..Iaddend. .Iadd.51. The combination of claim 50 wherein said drive means comprises a first member mounted on said travel trailer under the floor thereof, and an inner member telescopically received in said outer member and attached to said room section..Iaddend. .Iadd.52. The combination of claim 51 wherein the drive means comprises a double-acting, fluid operated, piston-cylinder unit, the cylinder being attached to the travel trailer and the piston being attached to the outer end wall of the room section..Iaddend. .Iadd.53. The combination of claim 35 wherein there are two first support means, one located near each side of the room section..Iaddend. .Iadd.54. The combination of claim 53 which includes drive means separate from and located intermediate the two front support means for moving the room section between its extended and retracted 
     
     
        positions..Iaddend. .Iadd.55.  The combination of claim 7 including a room section beam attached to the room section below the floor thereof adjacent the room section outer end wall and extending along said outer end wall, said reciprocative member being attached at its outer end to said room section beam..Iaddend. .Iadd.56. The combination of claim 55 wherein said reciprocative member abuts said room section beam..Iaddend. .Iadd.57. The combination of claim 56 wherein said room section beam comprises a hollow box beam..Iaddend. .Iadd.58. The combination of claim 55 wherein said room section beam is positioned in spaced relation below the room section floor..Iaddend. .Iadd.59. The combination of claim 35 wherein said room section floor includes a structural joint and upper and lower decks attached to said structural joist..Iaddend. .Iadd.60. The combination of claim 59 wherein said room section floor includes a plurality of spaced, transversely-extending floor joists located between said upper and lower decks..Iaddend. .Iadd.61. The combination of claim 35 wherein said inner fixed margin portion is tapered downward from said room section floor 
     
     
        toward the trailer floor..Iaddend. .Iadd.62.  The combination of claim 35 wherein the second support means comprises a support member secured to the trailer floor adjacent the opening in the wall thereof, the support member slidably supporting the underside of the room section floor for reciprocation of the room section between retracted and extended positions..Iaddend. .Iadd.63. The combination of claim 35 including hanger means suspending said guide member adjacent said one trailer wall..Iaddend. .Iadd.64. The combination of claim 35 including adjustment means interconnecting the room section and the travel trailer for adjusting the amount of travel of the room section..Iaddend. .Iadd.65. The combination of claim 47 including: (a) said hanger comprising a first frame member; and   (b) a second frame member positioned in spaced relation from said hanger, said guide member being attached to said second frame member..Iaddend. .Iadd.66. The combination of claim 47 including adjustment means interconnecting the room section and the travel trailer for adjusting the   
     
     
        amount of travel of the room section..Iaddend. .Iadd.67.  The combination of claim 47 including power reciprocative drive means interconnecting the room section and the travel trailer for moving the room section between its extended and retracted positions..Iaddend.