Drop room flat floor system employing biasing and cushioning arrangement

Abstract

A vehicle having a slide-out room section includes an operating mechanism for moving the slide-out room section laterally relative to the stationary room section for expanding the interior volume of the vehicle. The slide-out room section has an outer end which is mounted via a vertically movable connection arrangement to the operating mechanism, and a cooperative support arrangement is provided for the inner end of the slide-out room section to enable the slide-out room section to be vertically dropped when fully extended to place the slide-out room section floor flush with the floor of the stationary room section. The vertically movable connection arrangement includes a support member interconnected with the extension member and movable therewith, and a mounting member secured to the movable room section and engaged with the support member. A biasing and cushioning arrangement is provided for urging the movable room section upwardly as the movable room section is moved to its retracted position and for preventing shock to the vehicle as the movable room section is lowered to its extended position. Wedges are provided beneath the movable room section to help lift and lower the movable room section when it is retracted and extended, and to support the movable room, and seal it to the stationary room, when retracted. The invention provides a flat floor arrangement for a slide-out room section without any significant modifications to existing slide-out room section operating mechanisms.