Abstract:
A multi-function utility vehicle has a structure and mechanism which allows the vehicle to carry people on a rear-facing seat, and which can quickly and easily be converted to carry cargo on a rear cargo area floor and at the same time carry vertically oriented cargo, such as garbage cans or golf bags, or can be quickly converted for carrying long horizontally oriented cargo. The conversions can be accomplished without removing or adding equipment, and without using tools. A rear mounted cargo area includes a horizontal seat and an associated seatback. The seatback is pivotal to be folded down onto the seat, and the seat and seatback are pivotal about 90 degrees to form a cargo restraining structure, and about 180 degrees to form an extended floor.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to small powered vehicles or carts that can be used for hauling cargo, or transporting people, or transporting people and golf bags.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Utility vehicles, such as the John Deere GATOR®, are known which are adapted to be used in off-road conditions. Such vehicles include an operator&#39;s seat and a cargo area behind the operator&#39;s seat.  
           [0003]    Small vehicles or carts are also known for use in carrying golf bags. In a typical golf cart a front bench seat can hold a driver and a passenger next to the driver. A vertical golf bag support wall or restraining structure is located behind the passengers.  
           [0004]    It is also known for small vehicles or carts to provide a rear-facing seat wherein the rear-facing seat can also be folded down to provide a cargo-holding platform.  
           [0005]    Small carts are known which have a cargo area for cargo, or have provision to carry extra passengers, or can be set up to carry golf clubs; but none of the known carts are capable of doing all these functions without disassembly or modification. This requires either multiple vehicles for multiple functions, or time-consuming change-overs between cargo areas and golf bag carriers and people carriers.  
           [0006]    The present inventors have recognized that people desire to utilize a utility vehicle for multiple uses. The present inventors have recognized the desirability of providing a utility vehicle having multiple functions. The present inventors have recognized the desirability of providing a utility vehicle that can be used to carry golf bags or other vertically oriented cargo, can be used as an open back hauler, and can be used as a people transporting car having a rear-facing seat. The present inventors have recognized the desirability of providing a multifunction vehicle that can be converted from one function to another without the necessity of spare parts or tools to undertake the conversion.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The multi-function utility vehicle of the present invention has a unique structure and mechanism which allows the vehicle to carry people on a rearfacing seat, and which can quickly and easily be converted to carry cargo on a rear cargo area floor and at the same time carry vertically oriented cargo, such as garbage cans or golf bags, or can be quickly converted for carrying long horizontally oriented cargo such as garden tools, a fence post or lumber.  
           [0008]    One advantage of the preferred embodiment of the invention is that the conversions can be accomplished without removing or adding equipment, and without using tools. The conversion requires no extra power, such as electric or hydraulic actuators.  
           [0009]    The rear-facing seat can be configured to enhance rider comfort by use of a seat suspension. The seat suspension improves comfort on rough terrain. The people carrier position provides convenient handholds and foot support to be ergonomically comfortable. A support bar extends vertically from the foot platform. The support bar can be used by a person for support when entering or exiting the rear-facing seat.  
           [0010]    The cargo area is pivotally mounted to the foot platform in order to tilt to a “dump” orientation, as well as to service vehicle components under the cargo area.  
           [0011]    The preferred embodiment of the invention provides a utility vehicle that includes a chassis, a powertrain, and a plurality of wheels, at least one of which is driven by the powertrain. A rear mounted cargo area is convertible to multiple configurations including: a horizontal seat and an associated seatback, an open top enclosed floor for supporting cargo, a restraining structure for cargo to prevent tipping of the cargo, and an open top, open back cargo area with an extended floor. The seatback is pivotal to be folded down onto the seat, and the seat and seatback are pivotal about 90 degrees to form a cargo-restraining structure for restraining cargo from tipping, and pivotal about 180 degrees to form the extended floor. When the seat and seatback are pivoted about 90 degrees, the open top enclosed cargo holding area is formed in front of the cargo-restraining structure. The open top, open back extended floor configuration can also be used to assist in loading cargo into the cargo area, obviating the need to lift the cargo over a sidewall of the cargo area. Also, when the cargo area is tilted to the dump orientation, the open back allows materials within the cargo area to be more easily removed.  
           [0012]    The seat is hinged to the floor along a rear end portion of the floor. The seatback is hinged to the seat. When the seat and seatback are rotated together about 90 degrees, the floor is exposed within the cargo area. A bottom surface of the seat, when rotated about 180 degrees from the normal seating position, comprises an extension of the floor. A front surface of the seatback, when rotated about 180 degrees from the normal seating position, can comprise a contoured golf bag supporting surface and further comprises golf bag-restraining straps engaged to the supporting surface.  
           [0013]    A foot platform is arranged adjacent to the cargo area, below the seat adjacent to a rear end portion of the vehicle. A skirt panel extends substantially vertically from the foot platform up to the cargo area floor.  
           [0014]    According to the invention, a method is provided of converting a rear-facing seat of a utility vehicle to multiple uses. The method comprises the steps of: providing a normally horizontal seat with a normally rear-facing seatback; folding the seatback down on the seat and folding up the seat and seatback together about 90 degrees to expose a floor area; locking the seat and seatback at about 90 degrees and providing at least one cargo-restraining strap on a rearward facing side of the seatback; and then folding the seat and seatback down in a direction away from the floor to orient a backside of the seat horizontally facing upwardly to form an extension to the floor.  
           [0015]    A utility vehicle of the invention provides a three-position seat assembly wherein the seat assembly is pivotal from a first position forming a rearward-facing seat arrangement, to a second position forming a cargo-retaining wall, and to a third position forming an extended floor. When the seat arrangement is in the second position, an enclosed, open top cargo area is formed adjacent to the cargo-retaining wall.  
           [0016]    Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, from the claims and from the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a utility vehicle in accordance with the present invention illustrating a rear portion of the vehicle in a seating configuration;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rear portion shown in FIG. 1 with the seat removed to show underlying structure;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2A is a sectional view of the seat cushion taken generally along line  2 A- 2 A of FIG. 1;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rear portion shown in FIG. 1 illustrating a seatback being partially folded onto the seat;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the rear portion shown in FIG. 3 with the seatback completely folded down onto the seat;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the rear portion of FIG. 4 with the seat and seatback pivoted together a partial rotation;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the rear portion shown in FIG. 5 with the seat and seatback pivoted to a vertical position;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the rear portion shown in FIG. 6 with the seat and seatback pivoted a further partial rotation;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the rear portion shown in FIG. 7 with the seat and seatback pivoted completely to a horizontal orientation;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a latching arrangement as taken generally along line  9 - 9  of FIG. 2;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 9A is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view taken from FIG. 2;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a latching arrangement as taken generally along line  10 - 10  of FIG. 4;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a latching arrangement as taken generally along line  11 - 1   1  of FIG. 6;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 11A is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view taken from FIG. 6;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a latching arrangement as taken generally along line  12 - 12  of FIG. 8;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 13 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of the cargo area in the position shown in FIG. 11;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 14 is a fragmentary rear perspective view of the foot platform as shown in FIG. 2;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 15 is a front perspective view of a foot platform shown in FIG. 14. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0035]    While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings, and will be described herein in detail, specific embodiments thereof with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 1 illustrates a utility vehicle  20  in accordance with the present invention. The utility vehicle  20  includes a front driver&#39;s area  22  and a cargo area  26 . The cargo area  26  can be in the form sometimes referred to as a “cargo box”. The front driver&#39;s area  22  includes a front seat  28 , controls  30  and a steering wheel  32 . The driver&#39;s area  22  and a cargo area  26  are mounted on a chassis  36  which is carried on four wheels  40 . A powertrain (not shown) is carried by the chassis  36  and can include a motor, such as an internal combustion engine or an electric motor, a transmission, and a differential as applicable.  
         [0037]    The cargo area  26  includes a seat  46  and an associated seatback  48 . The seat  46  can include a seat cushion  47 . The seatback  48  can include a seatback cushion  49 .  
         [0038]    A foot platform  54  is mounted to the chassis  36  rearward of the cargo area  26 . A skirt panel  52  extends substantially vertically downward from the seat  46  to the foot platform  54 . A support bar  56  extends vertically from the foot platform  54 . A person sitting on the seat  46  can rest his or her feet on the foot platform  54 . The support bar  56  can be used by a person for support during ingress and egress from the cargo area  26 .  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 2 illustrates the cargo area  26  with the seat cushion  47  removed to show the underlying structure of the seat  46 . A seat support platform or support frame  60  underlies the seat cushion  47 . A variety of resilient supports  62  are carried by the platform below the seat cushion  47 . The resilient support  62  can be elastomeric bumpers, dampers, coil springs or other springs, or combinations of these elements.  
         [0040]    As illustrated in FIG. 2A, the seat cushion  47  comprises a resilient cushion layer  47   a  resting on a board  47   b , all covered by a skin or fabric  47   c . According to one aspect of the invention, the board  47   b  is a ⅜ inch recycled polyethylene board. The board  47   b  is more resistant to rot than the heretofore known wooden boards.  
         [0041]    The seatback cushion  49  is attached to a support panel or seatback frame  68 . The support panel  68  is hinged along a hinge line  72  to the support platform  60 . Preferably, the support panel  68  is hinged by a plastic living hinge  73  to the platform  60 . The living hinge  73  can be a separate plastic strip and can extend across the width of the support panel  68  and can be secured to the support panel  68  and platform  60  by fasteners (not shown) The platform  60  and the support panel  68  are both located between sidewalls  80 ,  82  of the cargo area  26 .  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 3 illustrates the seatback  48  released and pivoted partially downward onto the seat cushion  47 .  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 4 illustrates the seatback  48  fully folded down onto the seat cushion  47 . The support panel  68  includes a central rib  84  that stiffens the support panel  68 . A front wall  88  of the cargo area  26  includes a groove  90  which receives a portion of the rib  84 . The engagement of the rib  84  and a groove  90  further laterally stabilizes the seatback  48 . A convenience tray  94  is also provided in the front wall  88  of the cargo area  26 . The tray  94  is accessible from the driver&#39;s area  22  and useful to hold small articles.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 5 illustrates a further manipulation of the seat  46  and seatback  48 . The platform  60  of the seat  46  is hinged to a cargo area bed or floor  95  (shown in FIG. 6 and  11 ) by a hinge. Preferably, the platform  60  is hinged to the floor  95  using a plastic living hinge  98 . The living hinge  98  can be a separate plastic strip and can extend the width of the platform  60  and can be secured to the platform  60  and to the floor  95  by fasteners (not shown). FIG. 5 illustrates the seat  46  and seatback  48  together as a seat assembly  46 ,  48  being pivoted about the hinge  98  toward a vertical orientation.  
         [0045]    The cargo area  26  is hinged to the chassis via the foot platform  54  by hinge assemblies  106 ,  108 . The cargo area  26  can be pivoted upwardly at a front end thereof to assist in dumping, or cleaning the floor  95  and to expose vehicle systems located beneath the cargo area  26  for service.  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 6 illustrates the seat and seatback pivoted to a substantially vertical orientation. In this orientation the assembled seat and seatback are latched against the sidewalls  80 ,  82  by releasable latches, an example of such being described below and illustrated in FIGS.  9 - 13 . Two cargo-restraining strap assemblies  110 ,  112  are provided on the seatback support panel  68 . For simplicity, the strap assemblies  110 , 112  are only shown in FIG. 6. The strap assemblies  110 ,  112  can include adjustable straps  110   a ,  110   b ;  112   a ,  112   b  that can be attached to a surface of the panel  68  or can be automatically retractable within the panel by a spring mechanism (not shown) when not in use. The strap pairs  110   a ,  110   b ;  112   a ,  112   b  can include a length adjustment buckle  110   c ,  112   c  or other device to snugly encircle and hold a golf bag or other cargo. The rib  84  can function to separate two golf bags or other cargo arranged vertically side-by-side. For example, two golf bags can be supported on the foot platform  54 , leaned against the support panel  68  and the rib  84 , and restrained by the straps  110 ,  112 .  
         [0047]    The vertically arranged seat assembly  46 ,  48  exposes the cargo area floor  95  between the seat assembly  46 ,  48  and the front wall  88 , forming an open top, enclosed cargo area  116 .  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 7 illustrates the cargo area  26  with the seat assembly  46 ,  48  further pivoted about the hinge  98  toward a horizontal orientation.  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 8 illustrates the seat assembly  46 ,  48  completely folded down to a horizontal orientation with the seat  46  now above the seatback  48 . A bottom surface of the seat  46  is exposed showing the resilient elements  62 . During travel in the position shown in FIG. 1, the elements  62  are supported directly on the floor  95 . The floor  95  includes ribs to increase strength and toughness of the cargo area  116  to avoid denting. In the position shown in FIG. 8, a back side  132  of the seat  46  increases the effective length of the cargo area  116  and acts as a cargo area extension. A pair of knee-brace rods or straps  142 ,  144  can be provided to add strength to the otherwise cantilevered assembly  46 ,  48 . The straps  142 ,  144  can be attached to the sidewalls  80 ,  82  respectively. The straps  142 ,  144  can be separable from the seat  46  so that the seat can be folded back to the position of FIG. 1.  
         [0050]    FIGS.  9 - 13  illustrate a latching arrangement useful to accomplish and hold the range of positions and configurations of the cargo area  26  heretofore illustrated and described.  
         [0051]    In FIG. 9, the seatback  48  is in an upright position. The seatback  48  is held in this position by at least one strap  170  having an end  171  fastened to a top of the seatback support  68 . A snap fastener  172  is located near a respective opposite end of the strap  170 . The snap fastener  172  engages a mating snap fastener  173  that is fastened to a short strap  174 . The short strap  174  is secured to the front wall  88  of the cargo area  26 . A handle strap  176  is provided for manually disengaging the snap fastener  172  to release the strap  170  from the short strap  174 . The strap  170  is also shown in the released position as marked as  170 ′.  
         [0052]    A Y-shaped bracket  180  is fixed to the support platform  60  of the seat  46  at a pivot point  182 . The pivot point  182  allows a resilient rotation of the bracket  180  and/or a resilient downward movement of the pivot point  182  with respect to the support platform  60 . In this regard, appropriate torsion and support springs are provided within the seat  46 , which bias the bracket  182  to its latching position. An identical Y-shaped bracket  190  is arranged in mirror image fashion on the other side of the support platform  60  (see FIG. 9A). A handle rod  192  extends between, and is fixed to, the brackets  180 ,  190  (see FIG. 9A). A tubular lug  194  extends from a rear lobe of each of the brackets  180 ,  190 . A substantially hook-shaped catch  196 , in the form of a thin plate is fixed to the cargo area floor  95  and is positioned to have a concavity or overhang portion  198  that engages the lug  194  of the bracket  180 .  
         [0053]    As illustrated in FIG. 9A, an identical hook shaped catch  204  is arranged on an opposite side of the support platform  60  to engage the lug  194  of the bracket  190 . The arrangement of the hook shaped catches  196 ,  204  which engage the brackets  180 ,  190  holds the seat  46  down onto the floor  95 .  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 10 illustrates the seatback  48  folded down onto the seat  46 . The strap  170  can now be engaged to a short strap  216  fixed to and extending from the floor  95 . The short strap  216  can have a compatible fastener  217 , to engage the fastener  172  to hold the seatback  48  and seat  46  together.  
         [0055]    To position the seatback  48  and seat  46  together to a vertical position to expose the floor  95 , the handle rod  192  is depressed downwardly. The brackets  180 ,  190  will pivot and/or move downwardly, against resilient force of the torsion and support seat springs (not shown) until the lugs  194  of the brackets  180 ,  190  escape the respective catches  198 ,  204 . The seatback  48  and seat  46  can now be rotated upwardly about the hinge  98  to the vertical position shown in FIG. 11.  
         [0056]    As illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 11A, the lugs  194  snap into slots or depressions  220  formed into the respective cargo area sidewalls  80 ,  82 . The slots  220  act to hold the seat assembly  46 ,  48  upright. To release the seat assembly  46 ,  48  from the position shown in FIG. 11, the handle rod  192  is pulled up or forward to pivot the brackets  180 , 190  about the points  182  to allow the lugs  194  to escape the depressions  220 . The seat assembly  46 ,  48  can then be returned to the previously described position or folded down as per FIG. 12.  
         [0057]    To fold the seat assembly  46 ,  48  down flat to an extended floor position as shown in FIGS. 8 and 12, the handle rod  192  is pulled up or forward to pivot the brackets  180 , 190  about the points  182  to raise the lugs  194  out of the slots  220 . The seat assembly  46 ,  48  can then be pivoted rearward.  
         [0058]    [0058]FIG. 14 illustrates the cargo area  26  mounted to the platform  54 . The platform  54  is fixedly secured to the chassis  36  of the vehicle. The cargo area  26  is pivotally mounted to the platform  54  by the hinge assemblies  106 , 108  such that the cargo area  26  can be pivoted up at the front end thereof to assist in dumping and cleaning the cargo area or to expose components located beneath the cargo area for service. The hinge assemblies  106 ,  108  each include two lobes  250 ,  252  arranged as a pair mounted to the cargo area  26 , and two lugs  266 ,  268  arranged as a pair mounted to the platform  54 , which face outside faces of the lobes  250 ,  252 . Each of the lobes  250 ,  252  and lugs  266 ,  268  has a center hole for the receipt of a hinge pin (not shown). Once the hinge pin is inserted through the lobes and lugs on each side of the cargo area  26  and platform  54 , the cargo area is pivotally mounted to the foot platform  54 .  
         [0059]    [0059]FIG. 15 illustrates a backside of the platform  54 . Eight attachment holes  80  are provided for fasteners (not shown) to rigidly secure the platform  54  to the vehicle chassis  36 . The two pair of lugs  266 ,  268  rotationally mount the cargo area  26  to the platform  54 .  
         [0060]    From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.