Sliding mechanisms and systems

Abstract

A quick-release mechanism that allows a motor to be quickly and easily released from a motorized activation assembly to activate a sliding mechanism thereby extending or retracting a slide-out compartment of a recreational vehicle. The quick-release mechanism includes a coupler adapted to slidingly engage a motor drive shaft and selectively engage a gear drive shaft. A spring urges the coupler into engagement with the gear drive shaft. A cam member supports the biased coupler and permits the coupler to be cammed against the spring bias force such that the coupler slides along the motor drive shaft and, thus, out of engagement with the gear drive shaft.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:  
     
         1 . A quick-release mechanism for manipulating a sliding mechanism to extend and retract a slide-out compartment of a recreational vehicle, the quick-release mechanism comprising: 
 (a) a connector box configured to be attached to the sliding mechanism;    (b) a cam member supported within said connector box, said cam member having a support surface and a cam surface, said cam member pivotal between having said cam surface oriented in a first direction and having said support surface oriented in said first direction;    (c) a coupler supported by the surface of said cam member in said first direction, said coupler being configured to engage a motor drive shaft and for engaging a gear drive shaft that cooperates with the sliding mechanism such that rotation of said gear drive shaft effects movement of the sliding mechanism; and    (d) a spring positioned and tensioned to bias said coupler toward said cam member,    wherein, when said coupler is supported by said support surface of said cam member, said motor drive shaft and said gear drive shaft are engaged to thereby activate said sliding mechanism and, when said coupler is supported by said cam surface of said cam member, said motor drive shaft and said gear drive shaft are disengaged.    
     
     
         2 . The quick-release mechanism in  claim 1 , further comprising a cam lever accessible on said connector box for selectively pivoting said cam member.  
     
     
         3 . The quick-release mechanism in  claim 1 , wherein the cam surface slopes toward the support surface.  
     
     
         4 . The quick-release mechanism in  claim 1 , wherein a second end of said coupler and a first end of said gear drive shaft are adapted to facilitate engagement.  
     
     
         5 . The quick-release mechanism in  claim 1 , wherein a second end of said coupler and an first end of said gear drive shaft have beveled surfaces.  
     
     
         6 . The quick-release mechanism in  claim 1 , wherein a first end of said motor drive shaft is attached to a motor.  
     
     
         7 . A quick-release mechanism for manipulating a sliding mechanism to extend and retract a slide-out compartment of a recreational vehicle, the quick-release mechanism comprising: 
 (a) a connector box configured to be attached to the sliding mechanism;    (b) a cam member supported within said connector box, said cam member having a support surface and a cam surface, said cam member pivotal between having said cam surface oriented in a first direction and having said support surface oriented in said first direction;    (c) a coupler supported by the surface of said cam member in said first direction; and    (d) a spring positioned and tensioned to bias said coupler toward said cam member,    wherein, when said coupler is supported by said support surface of said cam member, said coupler is in a position closer to the sliding mechanism than when said coupler is supported by said cam surface of said cam member.    
     
     
         8 . The quick-release mechanism as recited in  claim 7 , further comprising a cam lever accessible on said connector box for selectively pivoting said cam member.  
     
     
         9 . The quick-release mechanism as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the cam surface slopes toward the support surface.  
     
     
         10 . The quick-release mechanism as recited in  claim 7 , wherein a first end of said coupler and said second end of said gear drive shaft are adapted to facilitate engagement.  
     
     
         11 . A quick-release mechanism for manipulating a sliding mechanism to extend and retract a slide-out compartment of a recreational vehicle, the quick-release mechanism comprising: 
 (a) a connector box configured to be attached to the sliding mechanism;    (b) a cam member supported within said connector box, said cam member having a support surface and a cam surface, said cam member pivotal between having said cam surface oriented in a first direction and having said support surface oriented in said first direction;    (c) a coupler supported within said connector box by the surface of said cam member in said first direction, said coupler having a bore therethrough for slidably engaging a motor drive shaft and selectively engaging a gear drive shaft that cooperates with the sliding mechanism such that rotation of said gear drive shaft effects movement of said sliding mechanism thereby moving the slide-out compartment; and    (d) a spring positioned and tensioned to bias said coupler toward said cam member;    wherein, when said coupler is supported by said support surface of said cam member, said coupler is supported in a position that is closer to the sliding mechanism than when said coupler is supported by said cam surface of said cam member.    
     
     
         12 . The quick-release mechanism in  claim 11 , further comprising a cam lever accessible on said connector box for selectively pivoting said cam member.  
     
     
         13 . The quick-release mechanism in  claim 11 , wherein the cam surface slopes toward the support surface.  
     
     
         14 . The quick-release mechanism in  claim 11 , wherein a second end of said coupler and a first end of said gear drive shaft are adapted to facilitate engagement.  
     
     
         15 . The quick-release mechanism in  claim 11 , wherein a second end of said coupler and an first end of said gear drive shaft have beveled surfaces.  
     
     
         16 . A quick-release mechanism for manipulating a sliding mechanism to extend and retract a slide-out compartment of a recreational vehicle, the quick-release mechanism comprising: 
 (a) a connector box configured to be attached to the sliding mechanism;    (b) a cam member supported at a pivot axis within said connector box, said cam member having a support surface and a cam surface, said cam surface being further from said pivot axis than said support surface, said cam member pivotal between having said cam surface oriented in a first direction and having said support surface oriented in said first direction;    (c) a coupler supported within said connector box by the surface of said cam member oriented in said first direction, said coupler having a bore therethrough for slidably engaging a motor drive shaft and selectively engaging a gear drive shaft that cooperates with the sliding mechanism such that rotation of said gear drive shaft effects movement of said sliding mechanism thereby moving the slide-out compartment; and    (d) a spring positioned and tensioned to bias said coupler toward said cam member and into engagement with the gear drive shaft;    wherein, when said coupler is supported by said support surface of said cam member, said motor drive shaft and said gear drive shaft are engaged to thereby activate said sliding mechanism and, when said coupler is supported by said cam surface of said cam member, said motor drive shaft and said gear drive shaft are disengaged.    
     
     
         17 . The quick-release mechanism in  claim 16 , further comprising a cam lever accessible on said connector box for selectively pivoting said cam member.  
     
     
         18 . The quick-release mechanism in  claim 16 , wherein the cam surface slopes toward the support surface.  
     
     
         19 . The quick-release mechanism in  claim 16 , wherein a second end of said coupler and a first end of said gear drive shaft are adapted to facilitate engagement.  
     
     
         20 . The quick-release mechanism in  claim 16 , wherein a second end of said coupler and an first end of said gear drive shaft have beveled surfaces.