RV Sliding Mattress Deck Accessory

Abstract

A sliding mattress accessory is used with an existing mattress support system coupled to an RV slide-out. The accessory includes a secondary with a fixed head section and a long deck section coupled with a hinge. The system also includes two long sliding rails longitudinally aligned and mounted to the bottom surface of the secondary deck and the top surface of the primary deck used with the existing mattress support system. The system also includes at least one support mounted on the top surface of the primary deck that supports the fixed head section. The two sliding rails and the fixed support are the same height so that the entire secondary deck is elevated approximately 3 inches above the primary deck. A lock mechanism is provided to prevent the secondary deck from moving longitudinally over the primary deck. When assembled, the secondary platform is aligned and registered over the primary deck, and a mattress is placed over the secondary deck.

Claims

1. A sliding mattress accessory designed to be used with an existing mattress support system coupled to an RV slide-out that includes a storage platform coupled to the RV slide-out that extends and retracts from the body of an RV, and a primary deck mounted over the storage platform, the primary deck includes a fixed deck section and a movable deck section, the accessory comprises: a. secondary deck longitudinally aligned over the primary deck, the secondary deck includes a fixed head section and a long deck section pivotally coupled together that enables the long deck section to pivot upward from the fixed deck section and access the moveable deck second on the primary deck; b. at least two long sliding rails longitudinally aligned and disposed between the long deck section on the secondary deck and the moveable deck section on the primary deck; c. at least one fixed support mounted on the top surface of the fixed deck section on the primary deck, the support configured to support the fixed head section of the secondary deck at the same height as the sliding rails and allow the fixed head section to slide freely thereover; and d. a lock mechanism configured to selectively prevent the secondary deck from sliding longitudinally over said primary deck.

2. The accessory as recited in claim 1, wherein each long slide rail includes a fixed rail member and a sliding rail member.

3. The accessory as recited in claim 1, wherein each said long side rails elevates the secondary deck approximately 3 inches above the primary deck.

4. The accessory as recited in claim 1, wherein said fixed support elevates the fixed deck section the same distance above the primary deck as the two long sliding rails.

5. The accessory as recited in claim 1, wherein the fixed supports are two fixed elongated supports that elevate the fixed deck approximately 3 inches above the primary deck.

6. The accessory as recited in claim 1, wherein said secondary deck includes a fixed head section and a long deck section pivotally attached along an edge.

7. The accessory as recited in claim 6, wherein each said long slide rail includes a fixed rail is attached to the fixed head section and a sliding rail member attached to the long deck section.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] FIGS. 1-4 are illustrations of a towable RV with a slide-out coupled to a storage platform and mattress showing the slide-out being extended and retracted from the RV body.

[0019] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the secondary deck aligned and registered over the primary deck and showing the relative locations of the two fixed support rails and the two sliding rails.

[0020] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the secondary deck and the primary deck shown in FIG. 5 with the secondary deck sliding longitudinally over the primary deck.

[0021] FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the slide-out extended from the RV body and shows the relative position of the mattress when extended and retracted into the living space.

[0022] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a sliding rail that includes a fixed member mounted on the top surface of the moveable lifting deck section, and a sliding member mounted to the bottom surface of the long deck section.

[0023] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a fixed rail support mounted on the top surface of the fixed deck section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

[0024] Shown in FIGS. 5-9, is a sliding mattress deck accessory 10 designed to be used with an existing mattress support system 20 coupled to an RV slide out as shown in FIGS. 1-4. The deck accessory 10 includes a secondary deck 40 designed to fit under and support a mattress 30. The secondary deck 40 includes a short, fixed deck section 41 and a long, lifting deck section 44 coupled with a hinge 47 that enables the opposite edge of the lifting deck section 44 to swing upward selectively. When the free edge of the long deck section 44 is lifted, the user may lift the outer edge of the lifting deck section 25 to access the storage space 21 inside the platform 20

[0025] The deck accessory 10 also includes two long sliding rails 60 longitudinally aligned and mounted to the bottom surface 45 of the long deck section 44 and the top surface of the lifting deck section 25. Mounted on the top surface of the fixed section 23 are two fixed supports 50.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, each long sliding rail 60 includes a fixed slide member 61 and a sliding slide member 64. The fixed slide member 61 is an elongated, u-shaped tube mounted with connectors 64 to the top surface 26 of the lifting desk surface 25. The sliding slide member 64 includes an L-shaped bracket 64 and a sliding arm 66 that engages the sliding member 61 and allows the bracket 64 to move longitudinally over the slide member 61. Connectors 65 attach bracket 64 to the bottom surface 45 of the long deck section 44.

[0027] The fixed deck supports 50 hold the fixed head section in an elevated position over the primary deck's fixed deck section 23. When the secondary deck 40 moves longitudinally over the primary deck 22, the fixed head section 41 slides over the fixed deck support. As the secondary deck 40 slides further, the fixed head section 41 eventually slides over the fixed slide members 61 attached to the top surface of the moveable lifting deck section 25 on the primary deck 22. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the fixed deck support includes two elongated tubes 50 mounted via threaded connectors 52 to the top surface of the fixed deck section 23. It should be understood that the fixed deck support is not limited to one or two elongated tubes 50, and other structures capable of supporting the fixed head section 41 may be used. The two sliding rails 60 and the two elongated tubes 50 are the same height in the preferred embodiment. The entire secondary deck 40 is elevated horizontally, approximately 3 inches above primary deck 22.

[0028] Because the long deck section 40 is connected to the moveable deck section 25, the user may simultaneously lift the long deck section 44 and the lifting deck section 25 to access the storage space 21 inside the storage platform 20.

[0029] An optional lock mechanism 75 is provided that prevents the secondary deck 40 from moving longitudinally over the primary deck 22 In one embodiment, the lock mechanism 75 is incorporated into the one or both slide rails 60. However, it should be understood that other types of lock mechanisms may be used.

[0030] When assembled, the secondary deck 40 is then aligned and registered over the primary deck 22, and a mattress 30 is placed over the top surface of the secondary deck 40. The lock mechanism 75 is locked during use to temporarily hold the secondary deck 40 and mattress 30 over the primary deck 22. When locked, the secondary platform 40 and mattress move back and forth with the movement of the slide-out 14. When desired, the lock mechanism 75 is unlocked, which allows the secondary deck 40 and the mattress 30 to slide longitudinally over the primary deck 22 and away from the slide-out 14 a sufficient distance over the primary deck 22 and out of the slide-out 14 so that the sides and head region of the mattress 30 may be comfortably reached and separated from the sides of the slide-out 14.

[0031] Because an air space 70 is formed between the primary deck 20 and the secondary deck 40 interior, warm, dry air can circulate over the top surface of the primary deck 20, reducing mildew.

[0032] In compliance with the statute, the invention described has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features. It should be understood however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown since the means and construction shown, comprises the preferred embodiments for putting the invention into effect. The invention is therefore claimed in its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the amended claims, appropriately interpreted under the doctrine of equivalents.