Patent ID: 6616207
Filing Date: 2003-09-09
Classification: B62D,Y10S

Abstract:
A utility vehicle comprising:a load-carrying platform; a pair of side plates, each side plate disposed on opposite sides of the load-carrying platform; a gate disposed on a rear end of the load-carrying platform, the gate being supported on and swingable about a laterally extending support rod for opening and closing; a pair of gate locking bolts mounted on the gate, each gate locking bolt engaging corresponding side plate to hold the gate when closed, the gate locking bolt being axially movable in lateral directions between a locking position where a head portion thereof projects laterally outward from a corresponding side end of the gate and engages the corresponding side plate and a retracted position where the head portion thereof is separated from the corresponding side plate, the gate locking bolt being biased toward the locking position by a spring, and the gate locking bolt being configured to be urged toward the retracted position by the corresponding side plate that engages the head portion of the gate locking bolt just before the gate is joined to the pair of side plates as the gate is swung closed; a pair of handles, each handle connected to a corresponding gate locking bolt, the corresponding gate locking bolt being configured to be moved to the retracted position by operating the handle; and a pipe attached to the gate in a horizontal position, the gate locking bolt and the spring being inserted in the pipe, the pipe having a slot through which the handle projects outside from the pipe, the slot having an axial guide section extending parallel to an axis of the pipe for enabling the handle to move laterally and a transverse guide section transverse to and continuous with the axial guide section, the transverse guide section extending vertically downward from the axial guide section when the gate is closed, the handle being configured to be held by the transverse section so that the gate locking bolt is fixed at the locking position, the axial guide section having an outer end portion extending laterally outward beyond a line aligned with an outer edge of the transverse guide section.