The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 15, 2002
Filed:
Nov. 23, 1999
C. Martin Rasmussen, Fruit Heights, UT (US);
Happijac Company, Kaysville, UT (US);
Abstract
A sliding mechanism for extending and retracting a slide-out compartment comprising a guide member having two securing flanges separated by a gap that communicates with an interior channel. A slider rail is disposed within the interior channel and has a middle portion adapted with a plurality of holes formed therein. Extending from the middle portion are two securing members that cooperate with the securing flanges of the guide member to maintain slider rail within the interior channel as middle portion extends into the gap. Disposed within the interior channel at one end of the guide element is a gear mechanism. The gear mechanism includes a gear shaft and a gear attached to the gear shaft. The gear mechanism drivingly engages a plurality of teeth on the gear within the plurality of holes in the middle portion of the slider rail to extend or retract the slide-out compartment. A timing assembly is attached to the gear shaft to allow two or more gear shafts to be timed relative to one another. Attached to the second end of the gear shaft is a manual activation assembly, such as a hand crank. Alternatively, a motorized activation assembly may be attached to gear shaft. One embodiment of the motorized activation assembly includes a quick-release arrangement that allows a motor to be quickly and easily released from the gear shaft or a motorized activation assembly.