Motor vehicle means for carrying passengers and cargo

The invention provides a new class of motor vehicle means for carrying passengers and cargo. This new class of motor vehicle provides, in an inventive way, a combination of the passenger-carrying advantages offered by van or minivan type vehicles and the cargo-carrying advantages offered by pickup truck type vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Prior art vehicles for transporting passengers and cargo include motor 
vehicles such as automobiles, minivans, passenger vans, sport-utility 
vehicles, and pickup trucks. Some vehicles such as automobiles, minivans, 
passenger vans and sport-utility vehicles tend to be more suited to 
passenger transport while other vehicles such as pickup trucks tend to be 
more suited to cargo transport. In particular, automobiles, minivans, 
passenger vans and sport-utility vehicles using a shared fully enclosed 
cabin volume for many passenger seats and a limit amount of cargo space 
are not very well suited to carrying oversize or "dirty" cargo such as a 
Queen-size bed, snowmobile, sheets of 4'.times.8' plywood or a load of 
fertilizer. By contrast, a pickup truck is good for carrying oversize or 
"dirty" cargo in its cargo bed, but is deficient in providing really 
comfortable seating for a plurality of passengers. Even full size pickup 
trucks with an extended cab do not offer anything nearly as comfortable as 
bucket seats with good legroom for rear seat passengers. 
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new class of motor 
vehicles which are very well suited to both passenger and cargo transport. 
It is an object of the invention to provide very comfortable seats with 
good legroom for a plurality of passengers, including non-front-seat 
passengers. 
It is an object of the invention to enable transport of oversize or "dirty" 
cargo in a cargo area separate from the passenger seating area. 
It is an object of the invention to provide a versatile capability to 
transport typical cargoes that range from utility cargoes (lawn mower, 
lawn tractor, a stack of 4'.times.8' plywood sheets on edge, a load of 
fertilizer or wood chips) to furniture (Queen or King-size bed on edge, 
sofa, sofabed, dresser, armoire, table, desk, entertainment center) to 
appliances (washer, dryer, combined washer-dryer, refrigerator, 
dishwasher, range-oven) to sport or camping equipment (snowmobile, 
waterscooter, scooter, motorcycle, many bicycles including tandems, 
toboggans, sleds, tents, a canoe, a kayak). 
It is an object of the invention to maximize payload-carrying capability, 
both passenger and cargo, within limited values of overall vehicle length, 
width, and height. 
These and other further objects will become more fully evident in the 
following descriptive portion of the specification, drawings and claims. 
The invention provides a new class of motor vehicles which satisfy the 
above and additional objects, by employing inventive and space-efficient 
configurations to better combine the passenger-carrying advantages offered 
by minivan, passenger van, or sport-utility type vehicles and the 
cargo-carrying advantages offered by pickup truck type vehicles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
FIG. 1A illustrates atypical preferred embodiment of the invention. A motor 
vehicle 1 is shown from a top view in FIG. 1A. The corresponding rear view 
is shown in FIG. 2A, and the corresponding left side view is shown in FIG. 
3A. The general layout of the vehicle can be seen with a vehicle body 2 
including an engine compartment 16 (with a covering hood) in front, front 
bumper 3A and rear bumper 3B, front tires 4, rear left tire 5L and rear 
right tire 5R, front windshield 6, roof 94, forward or front left and 
right seats 8L and 8R, front doors 7 for providing access to these front 
seats and side door means 24 for providing access to non-front seat 
passengers. The particular elements recited immediately above in this 
paragraph are typical elements also used in prior art vehicles. 
Engine and transmission means may be installed in the engine compartment in 
a variety of possible positions and orientations, as is known in the prior 
art. The large width of the engine compartment in this embodiment can be 
used to advantage in fitting in the engine and transmission within a 
relatively short length while still providing good crash loads absorption 
capability (e.g., through the use of a transversely mounted engine). A 
grille (not shown) will typically be provided in front of the engine 
compartment. While a variety of engine types could be used, typically a 
four to ten cylinder spark-ignited or diesel engine will be used. The 
engine will typically be connected to a transmission (either automatic or 
manual, which then transmits torque and power to drive wheels, which may 
be the front wheels, rear wheels, or all wheels of the vehicle depending 
on whether the vehicle is front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, or 
all-wheel drive. 
The front bumper 3A and rear bumper 3B are part of safety-enhancing means 
for contributing to the safety and protection of persons seated in said 
body means (the vehicle body 2). 
The illustrated front tires 4 and rear tires 5L and 5R, along with 
suspension means (not shown) comprise the running gear means for 
permitting said motor vehicle to move and maneuver upon a road surface 15. 
Said running gear means has four tires contacting the road, and includes 
at least three tires which normally contact said road surface. Brakes 92 
will be furnished on at least some of the tires to facilitate vehicle 
stopping. Preferably brakes will be furnished on all tires contacting the 
road surface, and an anti-lock braking system will also preferably be 
provided to improve braking performance under adverse conditions. In the 
illustrated embodiment the front tires 4 are steerable, and are 
illustrated in a steered configuration; and the rear tires may also be 
optionally steerable, as is provided in some current high performance 
automobiles. Large front tire steering angle will preferably be provided 
to enable tight turn and U-turn capabilities. Thus the illustrated motor 
vehicle includes drive means for driving at least one tire using power 
from a motor in said motor vehicle, and includes braking means for braking 
at least one tire of the motor vehicle 1, and includes tire steering means 
acting on at least one tire for permitting the motor vehicle 1 to be 
steered so as to maneuver laterally upon the road surface 15. A driver of 
the vehicle seated in the driver's seat (seat 8L in this embodiment) in 
the body means (vehicle body 2) will have control means to command the 
speed and direction of travel of the motor vehicle 1 upon the road surface 
15, through control commands to the drive means, the braking means, and 
the steering means. 
The suspension means provide means for the tires to support the vehicle 
body 2, and means for enhancing the ride quality and handling qualities of 
the vehicle. In other words, the vehicle 1 includes suspension means 
connecting said running gear means with said body means (vehicle body 2), 
for supporting said body means and for improving the ride quality and 
maneuver handling characteristics of said motor vehicle 1. Illustrated 
shock absorbers 93 for the front wheels and tires are a key part of said 
suspension means. As the vehicle is fairly tall and could be 
asymmetrically loaded (e.g., full passengers and rooftop storage 
compartment and no pickup bed cargo; or heavy pickup bed cargo and no 
passengers or rooftop storage compartment cargo), it may be advantageous 
to have a more sophisticated suspension system especially for the rear 
tires--e.g., extra-heavy-duty shock absorbers, a load-sensing suspension, 
roll compensating/lean-control/vehicle levelling suspension, and/or a 
variable height suspension. The technology for these more sophisticated 
suspension systems does exist in the prior art, for instance a variable 
height suspension was developed by Citroen in France many decades ago. 
The vehicle body 2 serves as body means for carrying a load, which body 
means is supported by said running gear means (described above). The front 
seats comprise a forward or front left seat 8L (typically a driver's seat 
in countries with left hand drive) and a forward or front right seat 8R 
(typically a forward passenger's seat in countries with left hand drive). 
Clearly the configuration can be reversed left-to-right for countries with 
right hand drive. More generally, for left-to-right asymmetric 
configurations such as the FIG. 1A configuration, various left/right 
asymmetrically located features can be switched right/left within the 
spirit and scope of the invention. 
In the FIG. 1A embodiment, a lengthened forward passenger accommodating 
area 54 (extended cab) is provided behind the front left seat 8L. A second 
row forward left seat 23L is illustrated behind the front left seat 8L, in 
a manner similar to a second row forward seat being provided in an 
extended cab pickup truck. Laterally offset and substantially adjacent to 
this seat 23L, another more comfortable bucket seat with more legroom is 
provided--this is the second row forward center seat 23C. A fold-down 
armrest may optionally be provided between seats 23L and 23C. The greater 
legroom for the passenger in 23C is available as the passenger occupying 
this seat can extend his/her legs into the floor area between the front 
seats 8L and 8R. Access to the second row forward seats 23L and 23C is via 
side door means 24 on the right hand side of the vehicle, which may 
typically comprise a sliding or hinged door, and possibly also via an 
increased length front door 7 on the left hand side of the vehicle, as 
illustrated, perhaps also in conjunction with a foldable-forward seatback 
on the front left seat 8L. The increased length front door 7 illustrated 
on the left hand side of the vehicle may optionally be a two door-panel 
door, with the forward panel hinged on its forward end and the aft panel 
hinged on its aft end, as is known in the prior art for some pickup trucks 
with extended cabs. An open cabin floor area is illustrated to the right 
of the seat 23C in the illustrated embodiment and adjacent to side door 
means 24, to facilitate access to seats 23C and 23L and 9C and 9R, and to 
enable large seatback recline of the forward right seat 8R. In variant 
embodiments, an additional seat similar to 23L could be installed in this 
location, or an additional floor mounted storage unit could be installed 
in this location. Side door means 24 provides door means for permitting 
entry into and egress from the at least partially enclosed compartment 
means 2B, for accessing seats 9C and 9R in the at least partially enclosed 
compartment means 2B. 
A forward-facing rear center seat 9C and aft-facing rearmost center seat 
10C are located with their centerlines to the right side of the vehicle 
centerline, and situated behind the front seats 8R and 8L and behind the 
second row forward seats 23C and 23L. Similarly a forward-facing rear 
right seat 9R and aft-facing rearmost right seat 10R are located directly 
or approximately behind the forward right seat 8R, and also behind the 
second row forward seats 23C and 23L. Seats 9C and 9R may be individual, 
adjacent bucket seats, or a combined bench seat. Similarly, seats 10C and 
10R may be individual, adjacent bucket seats, or a combined bench seat. 
The seat cushion & seat back intersection area for seats 9R and 10R are 
very close to and may be in contact with the top of the wheel well 
enclosure above the rear right tire 5R, and may employ thinned-down 
cushioning in this area A fold-down armrest may optionally be provided 
between seats 9C and 9R, and between seats 10C and 10R. For the sides of 
the seats 9C, 9R, 10C, and 10R which are not adjacent to another seat, 
outboard armrests may be "built-in" to lower windowsill contours of the 
windows adjacent to these seats (not shown). 
The forward-facing rear center seat 9C and aft-facing rearmost center seat 
10C together provide seat means for seating at least two persons 
substantially longitudinally disposed one in front of the other. The 
forward-facing rear right seat 9R and aft-facing rearmost right seat 10R 
similarly together provide seat means for seating at least two persons 
substantially longitudinally disposed one in front of the other. Said seat 
means is intended to include not just the seats, but also means for 
securing said seats to said body means, and seat belt means for 
contributing to the restraint and protection of persons seated in said 
seats in the event of an accident involving said motor vehicle. The seat 
belt means are also part of the safety-enhancing means for contributing to 
the safety and protection of persons seated in said body means (the 
vehicle body 2). The means for securing said seats to said body means will 
preferably also provide means for quickly detaching said seats from said 
body means when it is desired to remove said seats from said motor 
vehicle. 
In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the vehicle body 2 serves 
as body means for carrying a load, wherein said body means comprises at 
least partially enclosed compartment means 2B for housing said seat means 
for seating at least two persons substantially longitudinally disposed one 
in front of the other (in seats 9C and 10C, or in seats 9R and 10R). 
Enclosing wall means 17 serve as means for contributing to enclosing the 
at least partially enclosed compartment means 2B. Rear door means 11, when 
closed behind the aft-facing rearmost center seat 10C and rearmost right 
seat 10R, also serve as means for contributing to enclosing the at least 
partially enclosed compartment means 2B. Rear door means 11 provides door 
means for permitting entry into and egress from the at least partially 
enclosed compartment means 2B, for accessing seats 10C and 10R. Rear door 
means 11 will preferably but not necessarily be hinged on the side toward 
the center of the vehicle. 
The body means also comprises the area of the vehicle body 2 wherein the 
front left seat 8L and front right seat 8R are located, which area can be 
designated as a front at least partially enclosed compartment means for 
housing front seat means (8L and 8R) for seating at least two persons 
substantially laterally disposed one aside the other, which front at least 
partially enclosed compartment means is located substantially contiguously 
and in front of said at least partially enclosed compartment means 2B for 
housing said seat means for seating at least two persons substantially 
longitudinally disposed one in front of the other (e.g., in seats 9C and 
10C, or in seats 9R and 10R). Airbag supplementary restraint systems will 
preferably be provided for the occupants of the front seats 8L and 8R, to 
also serve as part of safety-enhancing means for contributing to the 
safety and protection of persons seated in said body means (the vehicle 
body 2). The front at least partially enclosed compartment means can also 
be construed to include second row forward seats 23L and 23C in this 
extended cab embodiment of the invention. 
A pickup truck type of cargo bed 18, without a permanent covering roof 
structure, is located between the seats 9C, 10C and side wall 12 on one 
side, and cargo bed side wall means 20 on the other side. The rear left 
tire 5L is located in a housing area for the left wheel and tire 5LW, 
outboard of sidewall means 20 in the illustrated embodiment. This 
facilitates a wider minimum width, substantially constant width 
(pickup)cargo bed 18. Thus, said tires of said vehicle include a tire 
which is located substantially to a side of said cargo bed means with the 
outer face of said tire located outboard of the corresponding side of said 
body means, as illustrated. In a variant embodiment, the rear left tire 5L 
and its associated housing area 5LW could be moved to a further aft 
location, in conjunction with an angled rear axle, to provide better load 
support for heavy cargo loads in the pickup or cargo bed, while avoiding 
excessively aft center of gravity locations. 
While the rear left tire and wheel are moved outboard, the rear right tire 
5R is not moved outboard. This facilitates parallel parking of the vehicle 
1 on the right side of a road with a left-hand drive vehicle 
configuration, as illustrated. In alternate embodiments the use of 
outboard located rear tires may occur on the cargo bed and/or non-cargo 
bed side of the vehicle, and on the driver's or non-driver's side of the 
vehicle. 
The cargo bed 18 serves as cargo bed means for carrying cargo thereon, on a 
cargo bed section (essentially the entire cargo bed in this illustrated 
embodiment) at a location which is substantially laterally disposed on a 
side of a person's seat in said seat means (i.e., this could be any of the 
seats 9C, 10C, 9R, 10R in the illustrated embodiment. Thus the cargo bed 
means for carrying cargo thereon includes a cargo bed section which is 
substantially located laterally disposed on a side of a person's seat in 
said seat means in said at least partially enclosed compartment means In 
the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1A, we can also say that said cargo bed 
means comprises means for carrying cargo on a long cargo bed section which 
is substantially laterally disposed on a side of both of two persons' 
seats substantially longitudinally disposed one in front of the other 
(e.g., seats 9C and 10C) in said seat means. Note that the cargo bed 18 
serves as the long cargo bed section, and is at least 5 ft. long (it is a 
bit over 6.5 ft. long in the illustrated embodiment in FIG. 1A). 
In FIG. 1A, said cargo bed means comprises the pickup truck type of cargo 
bed 18, without a permanent covering roof structure. Cargo bed rear 
closure means 14 provides means for enclosing the cargo bed on its rear 
side, and could comprise a tailboard, tailgate, liftgate, or 
sideways-opening door(s). The illustrated cargo bed rear closure means 14 
comprises a tailgate hingedly attached at its lower end to the vehicle 
body just behind the aft end of the cargo bed 18. The tailgate serves as 
gate means for enclosing (he aft portion of) the perimeter of the cargo 
bed means, and its hinged attachment serves as gate movement means for 
enabling said gate means to be moved to an alternate nonenclosing position 
so as to facilitate loading and unloading of cargo onto and from said 
cargo bed means. The forward end of the cargo bed is enclosed by front 
wall means 13. The front wall means 13 and side wall 12 will preferably 
include transparent surfaces (i.e., windows) in their upper parts. The 
combination of the front wall means 13, cargo bed side wall means 20, rear 
closure means 14, and side wall 12 provide wall means and gate means for 
enclosing the perimeter of said cargo bed means. 
Side wall 12 serves as a partition means (e.g., a substantially vertically 
oriented separating wall for separating said cargo bed means from said at 
least partially enclosed compartment means 2B, as described above. In 
other words, side wall 12 serves as partition means with a substantially 
longitudinal orientation for separating said cargo bed section from the 
area of said body means (vehicle body 2) wherein said seat means (for 
seating at least two persons substantially longitudinally disposed one in 
front of the other--e.g., in seats 9C and 10C, or in seats 9R and 10R) are 
located. Seats 9C and 9R in conjunction, or seats 10C and 10R in 
conjunction, comprise two-abreast seats on the side of said partition 
means wherein said seat means are located. Seats 9C and 10C in 
conjunction, or seats 9R and 10R in conjunction, comprise in combination 
both forward-facing and at-facing seats on the side of said partition 
means wherein said seat means are located. 
Similarly, front wall means 13 serves as a partition means (e.g., a 
substantially vertically oriented separating wall) for separating said 
cargo bed means from said front at least partially enclosed compartment 
means, also as described above. 
FIG. 1A also includes in dashed lines an optional pickup bed extension 83, 
which can be deployed to enable carriage of longer items in the pickup or 
cargo bed 18. A pickup bed extension 83 serves as means for extending the 
effective length of said cargo bed 18. A preferred mechanization of the 
pickup bed extension 83 is described in the following. The illustrated 
cargo bed rear closure means 14 comprises a double panel tailgate hingedly 
attached at the bottom of the rear panel to the vehicle structure just 
below the rear extremity of the fixed portion of the cargo bed 18, and 
with the front panel hingedly attached to the rear panel at its upper 
extremity. For normal, non-extended pickup bed use this double panel 
tailgate folds down as a single entity to a horizontal configuration. For 
conversion to the pickup bed extension configuration, the rear panel stays 
folded down to a horizontal configuration to serve as the acting floor of 
the pickup bed extension, and the front panel now folds up to a vertical 
position at the rear end of the rear panel, to serve as the acting 
tailgate of the pickup bed extension 83. The enclosing acting sidewalls of 
the pickup bed extension 83, are preferably formed by rotating back panels 
around a substantially vertical hingeline from the rear sides of the side 
wall 12 and the cargo bed side wall means 20, as illustrated. Mechanical 
means will preferably be provided for securing the acting sidewalls to the 
acting floor of the pickup bed extension, and for securing the acting 
tailgate in its pickup bed enclosing configuration when desired. 
Mechanical means will also preferably be provided for securing the various 
deployable panels which constitute the pickup bed extension 83, in their 
stowed or non-deployed locations. As the pickup bed extension extends 
behind the normal rear end of the vehicle 1, over-length red indication 
flags may optionally be fastened into pockets in the upper corners of the 
acting tailgate panel, for deployment when the pickup bed extension is 
deployed. Additional reflectors or lights may also be built into the rear 
face of the acting tailgate panel when the pickup bed extension is 
deployed (note that this is the forward face of the same panel when the 
pickup bed extension is undeployed, and this front panel is mated flush 
with the rear panel to together form the rear closure means 14 as 
illustrated). The pickup bed extension 83 may, in variant embodiments, be 
formed by telescoping rearward floor and/or sidewall mechanisms in lieu of 
the illustrated folding panels. 
A variant embodiment with the cargo bed on the right side of the vehicle 
and the rear passenger compartment on the left side of the vehicle is also 
possible, as are other left/right side switches for other elements of this 
and other embodiments of the invention, within the spirit and scope of the 
invention defined herein. The illustrated right side location of the rear 
passenger seating area in conjunction with a left-hand drive configuration 
has the advantage of the passengers being able to board from the curb side 
rather than the road side of the vehicle. The same advantage would occur 
for a vehicle with a left side location of the rear passenger seating area 
in conjunction with a right-hand drive configuration. 
Some additional features of the FIG. 1A embodiment will be described in the 
following. Representative head lights 59 and tail lights 59T are 
illustrated at the front and rear ends of the vehicle, respectively. The 
illustrated preferred tail light assembly is narrow and tall, to minimize 
width intrusions into the cargo bed rear closure means 14 or into the rear 
door means 11. The illustrated left tail light assembly is shown 
projecting to the left of the cargo bed side wall means 20 a small amount, 
so that it can be of sufficient width without penetrating into the area of 
the cargo bed rear closure means 14, and as the left mirror housing 60 and 
the housing area for the left wheel and tire 5LW already project to the 
left of the cargo bed side wall means 20 by a greater amount, as 
illustrated in FIG. 1A. Also illustrated are a wheel housing front light 
64F and a wheel housing back (or rear) light 64B, to provide visibility of 
the wheel housing to other vehicle drivers at night. Additional lights and 
reflectors including parking lights, back-up lights, turn signal lights, 
and a high elevation brake light can be furnished according to known 
approaches in the prior art. 
In addition to a conventional internal rearview mirror (not shown), the 
vehicle of FIG. 1A is fitted with two external rearview mirrors housed in 
the left mirror housing 60 and the right mirror housing 61, respectively. 
The mirror housings will preferably fold back rather than break when 
impacted, and have a spring-back-to-position or snap-back-to-position 
feature as is know in the prior art. As the right mirror housing adds to 
the width of this wide vehicle, optional motor driven, 
remotely-controlled-by-driver mirror housing retraction means may be 
furnished to retract the mirror when driving into a narrow garage door 
opening or other width-restricted area. The left mirror housing 60 may be 
fitted with an optional flexible or bendable wand of a kind known in the 
prior art (not shown), extending outward from the mirror housing out to 
substantially the width of the housing area 5LW for the left wheel and 
tire, so as to help a driver guage wheel housing clearance to a garage 
door frame when driving into a garage. Variant embodiments of the 
invention may utilize a periscope or video camera in lieu of a 
conventional internal rearview mirror. 
In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1A, a floor-mounted 
transmission shifter control 81 is shown on the right side of the front 
left (driver's) seat 8L. This may comprise a one-degree-of-freedom shifter 
control for an automatic transmission, or a two-degree-of-freedom shifter 
control for a manual transmission. Of course, a steering wheel column or 
front console mounted shifter (not shown) may be used in lieu of the 
illustrated floor mounted shifter. A conventional floor-mounted parking 
brake handle (not shown) may also be provided adjacent to the illustrated 
floor-mounted transmission shifter control 81. A floor-mounted storage. 
compartment 46F is also illustrated, which may include enclosed and/or 
open-top storage for audio tapes or CDs, (compact discs) a tissue box, 
trash container, mug/cup-holders, cold/hot insulated or refrigerated 
storage, coin storage, and miscellaneous storage. This storage compartment 
may alternatively be structurally supported from its forward side rather 
than from the floor of the vehicle. 
The embodiment of FIG. 1A also illustrates an optional built-in rooftop 
storage compartment 75 running longitudinally above the right hand side of 
the vehicle. This rooftop storage compartment 75 serves as enclosable 
storage compartment means for carrying and storing articles at a location 
above the at least partially enclosed compartment means 2B. The 
illustrated enclosed rooftop storage compartment is quite large, and could 
carry six full-size suitcases or long items such as skis for all the 
passengers. Access to this storage compartment will preferably be provided 
from the right hand side of the vehicle. Radio antenna(s) may optionally 
be mounted pointing down or up from the front end of the rooftop storage 
compartment, in lieu of more conventional mounting on a side of the hood 
to the engine compartment 16. A variant embodiment could feature a roof 
rack in lieu of the illustrated rooftop storage compartment 75, or in 
addition to the rooftop storage compartment 75 but located on the roof 
above the front left seat 8L. 
Roll-bar means 38 serve as means for contributing to the protection of 
occupants of the vehicle in the event of a roll-overtype accident The 
roll-bar means enhance the safety of the vehicle in the event of a 
roll-over-type of accident, and are illustrated running across the top of 
the vehicle body 2 just behind the front seats 8L and 8R. The roll-bar 
means may be located below, at, or above the ceiling panel, and below or 
above the rooftop storage compartment 75. Alternate variant embodiments 
may be fitted with multiple roll bars instead of a single roll bar--e.g., 
at different longitudinal locations along the length of the vehicle and 
possibly connected longitudinally as well to form a roll cage type of 
protective structure around the passenger and driver seating areas. 
Various combinations, locations, and orientations of roll-bars, and/or use 
of roll-cage type structures, may be used within the spirit and scope of 
this invention. These roll protection enhancement devices also serve as 
part of the safely-enhancing means for contributing to the safety and 
protection of persons seated in said body means (vehicle body 2). Airbag 
supplementary restraint systems, anti-lock brakes, and daytime running 
lights will also preferably be provided to serve as safely-enhancing means 
for contributing to the safety and protection of persons seated in said 
body means (vehicle body 2). 
A spare tire 84 is illustrated located under the pickup or cargo bed 18. 
This spare tire is accessible from behind the vehicle, and a front-hinged, 
drop-down cradle fitting for supporting the spare tire may be provided to 
facilitate removal or reinsertion of the spare tire into its under-cargo 
bed holding position. Alternate spare tire locations could be under the 
passenger cabin floor under seats 10C and 10R; behind or in the rear door 
means 11; on the front wall means 13 of the cargo bed; outside the cargo 
bed side wall means 20 just ahead of the left wheel housing 5LW; on the 
roof above the left front seat 8L; or in the rooftop storage compartment 
75. A license plate holder plate 82 is illustrated in or under the rear 
bumper 3B. 
Some typical dimensions of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1A are cited 
below. Please note that these typical dimensions are not to be construed 
as limiting in terms of the invention as defined in the accompanying 
claims, The typical overall length is 199 inches, the typical body width 
(excluding rearview mirrors and the left wheel housing) is 79 inches, and 
the typical overall height including the rooftop storage unit 75 is 79 
inches. These typical dimensions make the vehicle "garagable" in a typical 
garage, and comparable in overall size to current minivans, sport-utility 
vehicles, passenger vans, and full-size pickup trucks--for example, 
length.times.width.times.height of the 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan is 
199.6".times.76.8".times.68.5"; the Ford Expedition is 
204.6".times.77.5".times.764"; the GMC Suburban is 
219.5".times.76.7".times.71.3"; the Chevrolet Express passenger van is 
218.7".times.79.2".times.80.7"; the Ford F-150 pickup truck is 
202.2".times.78.4".times.72.4"; and the Dodge RAM pickup truck is 
204.1".times.79.4".times.71.9" (source: Popular Mechanics New Car and 
Truck Buyer's Guide 1997, Popular Mechanics, 224 W. 57th St., New York, 
N.Y. 10019). 
Seats 9C, 9R, 10C and 10R are constrained in width, and in the illustrated 
embodiment have typical seat width dimensions of 19.75 inches, which is 
wider than the widest known airplane economy class seat (the Boeing 777's. 
With bucket seat contouring and generous legroom, these seats should be 
very comfortable despite their constrained width. The illustrated pickup 
(cargo) bed has typical dimensions of 33" wide by 78.5" long, and with the 
pickup bed extension 83 deployed, 33".times.101". Thus the vehicle with 
this pickup bed could typically carry either 6.5 ft. long cargo or 8 ft. 
long cargo (or still more if "long" cargo extends forward over the vehicle 
rod). Typical cargo that could be carried ranges from utility cargoes 
(lawn mower/tractor, a stack of 4".times.8" plywood sheets, a load of 
fertilizer or wood chips) to furniture (Queen or King-size bed, sofa, 
sofabed, dresser, armoire, table, desk entertainment center) to appliances 
(washer, dryer, refrigerator, dishwasher, range-oven) to sport or camping 
equipment (snowmobile, waterscooter, motorcycle, many bicycles including 
tandems, canoe/kayak, toboggans/sleds, tents), etc. Additional enclosed 
storage can be provided in the rooftop storage compartment 75, which could 
have typical internal maximum dimensions of 163" (length).times.38" 
(width).times.13.25 (height) to enable carriage of typically six full size 
suitcases, or multiple pairs of skis and ski equipment. 
FIG. 1B shows a top view of an embodiment of the invention which is a 
variant of the FIG. 1A embodiment A longer (pickup) cargo bed 18 is 
provided in FIG. 1B, which may for instance be 96.5" long instead of 78.5" 
long, while retaining an exemplary width of 33". Once again, these 
dimensions are cited for example and should not be construed to limit the 
invention. This longer pickup bed is possible even without increasing the 
overall length of the vehicle, because the embodiment of FIG. 1B no longer 
has the lengthened forward passenger accommodating area (extended cab) 54, 
nor the seats 23L and 23C that were fit in the extended cab. With the 
longer pickup cargo bed, the embodiment of FIG. 1B could carry a stack of 
4".times.8" plywood sheets (on edge), within the length of the pickup bed 
terminated in the rear by the tailgate or cargo bed rear closure means 14, 
even without the need for something like the pickup bed extension 83 
illustrated in the FIG. 1A embodiment. 
The body means (vehicle body 2) now includes an area of the vehicle body 2 
comprising a forward left section, forward center section, and forward 
right section wherein up to three forward or front seats comprising a 
forward or front left seat 8L, an optional forward or front center seat 
8C, and a forward or front right seat 8R are located. Thus in the motor 
vehicle 1 of FIG. 1B, the vehicle body 2 serves as body means for carrying 
a load, wherein said body means comprises at least partially enclosed 
compartment means 2B for housing seat means for seating at least two 
persons substantially longitudinally disposed one in front of the other 
(in seats 9C and 10C, or in seats 9R and 10R), and wherein said 
compartment means also includes contiguously a forward center section and 
two forward side sections which are the forward left section and forward 
right section, and wherein said forward left section, forward center 
section, and forward right section together provide means for 
accommodating a forward left seat (8L) and a forward right seat (8R) which 
is substantially located laterally disposed relative to said forward left 
seat. The illustrated embodiment in FIG. 1B includes (optional) forward 
center seat 8C located substantially in the forward center section between 
said forward left seat 8L and said forward right seat 8R. Said forward 
left seat 8L or said forward right seat 8R serves as a drivers seat, 
depending on whether the vehicle is intended for use in jurisdictions with 
left-hand drive or right-hand drive. In addition to seat and shoulder 
belts, preferably airbag supplementary restraint systems will be provided 
for the occupants of each of the forward or front seats 8L, 8C, and 8R. 
Preferably means for disabling the airbag SRS for the front center seat 8C 
or the front passenger seat (e.g., 8R, in jurisdictions with left-hand 
drive where the driver's seat is 8L) will be provided, for cases when a 
child or infant seat is installed in the front center seat or front 
passenger seat. 
In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1B, said seat means for seating at 
least two persons (in seats 9C and 10C, or in seats 9R and 10R) is 
contained in a rear side section of said compartment means substantially 
located behind a forward side section (the forward right section 
containing seat 8R), and said cargo bed section in cargo bed 18 is 
substantially located laterally disposed on a side of said rear side 
section of said compartment means. 
FIG. 2A shows a rear view of the FIG. 1A embodiment. The vehicle body 2 
includes at least partially enclosed compartment means 2B, located on one 
side of the cargo bed 18. A typical transparency/window in the rear door 
means is designated 11T, and is contained in the rear door means 11. The 
rear door means 11 in turn is contained in the rear wall means 11W. A 
typical transparency/window in the front wall means is designated 13T, and 
is contained in the front wall means 13 at the forward end of the cargo 
bed 18. As described with reference to FIG. 1A, the illustrated taillights 
59T use a preferred tail light assembly which is narrow and tall, to 
minimize width intrusions into the cargo bed rear closure means 14 or into 
the rear door means 11. Representative triple lights are shown in each 
assembly, which may for example be a red taillight cum brake light, amber 
turn indicator light, and white back-up light. The cargo bed rear closure 
means 14 is seen at the aft end of the cargo bed 18. 
Side impact energy absorbing panel means 29 are also illustrated, which 
provide means for enhancing side impact protection for passengers seated 
in compartment means 2B. (Such side impact energy absorbing panel means 
may also of course be used on either or both sides of the vehicle in this 
or other embodiments within the spirit and scope of the invention). The 
side impact energy absorbing panel means 29 serve as safety-enhancing 
means for contributing to the safety and protection of persons seated in 
said body means. 
FIG. 2B shows a rear view of the same embodiment as FIG. 1A and FIG. 2A, 
now carrying a representative cargo load 57B in the cargo bed 18. The 
illustrated representative cargo load comprises a Queen size bed set, with 
a mattress and boxspring each measuring about 80".times.60".times.9" on 
their sides, and a disassembled bed frame in a box on the cargo bed 18 to 
the left of the mattress and boxspring. Tie-down means 52 such as 
cable/cord means are illustrated for securing the representative cargo 
load in the cargo bed 18, and serve as securing means for securing 
articles on said cargo bed means. Other elements which may be used in said 
securing means and said tie-down means could include tethers, straps, 
hooks, clamps, nets, locks, reel-out means such as reel-out cables, 
straps, tethers or sheets, tie-down means, and mechanical or magnetic 
means. These securing means elements may be connected to one or more of 
the following: to the pickup cargo bed 18, to the side wall 12, to the 
front wall means 13, to the cargo bed side wall means 20, to the cargo bed 
rear closure means 14 (see FIG. 2A) or the pickup bed extension 83, to the 
rooftop storage compartment 75, to the roof 94, and to the representative 
cargo load 57B. The tie-down means and securing means elements preferably 
serve as means for preventing the representative cargo load 57B from 
excessive movement in or falling off from the pickup cargo bed 18, even 
when the motor vehicle experiences longitudinal acceleration or braking, 
and/or traverses grades and/or bumpy roads, and/or negotiates turning 
maneuvers with significant lateral acceleration levels. For example, the 
tie-down means 52 may include tethers in tension running over the top of 
and running behind the rear end of the representative cargo load 57B, as 
illustrated. 
The pickup bed extension 83 described with reference to FIG. 1A is shown in 
its deployed position in FIG. 2B, as opposed to FIG. 2A where ft is not 
deployed and hence not visible. While the illustrated representative cargo 
load comprises a Queen bed set, the illustrated cargo bed is of sufficient 
size (typical dimensions of 33" wide.times.101" long with the pickup bed 
extension 83 deployed .times.unlimited height as there is no roof above 
the pickup cargo bed) to provide a versatile capability to transport 
typical cargoes that range from utility cargoes (lawn mower, lawn tractor, 
a stack of 4'.times.8' plywood sheets on edge, or a load of fertilizer or 
wood chips, or a ladder which may extend above the roof 94 if it is very 
long) to furniture (Queen or King-size bed on edge, sofa, sofabed, 
dresser, armoire, table, desk or an entertainment center) to appliances 
(Washer, dryer, combined washer-dryer, refrigerator, dishwasher, or a 
range-oven) to sport or camping equipment (snowmobile, waterscooter, 
scooter, motorcycle, many bicycles including tandems, toboggans, sleds, 
tents, or a canoe or a kayak which may extend above the roof 94 if it is 
very long). The absence of a wheel housing intruding into the pickup cargo 
bed makes it particularly useful and versatile. Please note also that 
while the representative 33" wide pickup cargo bed illustrated in FIG. 2B 
is less wide than in current large pickup trucks, it should still be 
sufficient to accommodate most furniture and appliances, which are 
generally designed to fit through typical 32" wide household doorways. To 
summarize, the illustrated cargo bed means for carrying cargo (cargo bed 
18) comprises means for carrying utility cargoes such as a lawn mower, 
lawn tractor, a stack of 4'.times.8' plywood sheets on edge, or a load of 
fertilizer or wood chips; or furniture such as a Queen-size bed on edge, 
sofa, sofabed, dresser, armoire, table, desk, or entertainment center; or 
appliances such as a washer, dryer, combined washer-dryer, refrigerator, 
dishwasher, or range-oven; or sport or camping equipment such as a 
snowmobile, waterscooter, scooter, motorcycle, many bicycles including 
tandems, toboggans, sleds, or tents. The illustrated cargo bed means for 
carrying cargo (cargo bed 18) is also sufficient to carry cargo of a size 
measuring at least 2 ft..times.3 ft..times.4 ft. 
FIG. 2B also shows how the illustrated motor vehicle has an at least 
partially enclosed compartment means 2B which comprises a tall compartment 
for housing seat means for seating at least two persons substantially 
longitudinally disposed one in front of the other (in seats 9C and 10C, or 
in seats 9R and 10R in FIG. 1A) which tall compartment is bounded on the 
rear by rear wall means 11W and rear door means 11, wherein a side wall of 
said tall compartment (side wall 12) can act to provide lateral physical 
restraint for tall cargo (such as the Queen bed representative cargo load 
57B) carried on said cargo bed section in said cargo bed means (cargo bed 
18), and further comprising securing means (e.g., tie-down means 52) for 
permitting said tall cargo to be secured in said cargo bed means against 
said side wall of said tall compartment. Thus this new type of vehicle 
with a tall (passenger seating) compartment located to one side of a 
pickup cargo bed can actually carry tall cargo better than a current 
pickup truck, as this tall cargo can be leaned against and secured against 
the side wall of the tall (passenger seating) compartment. A typical 
height of a tall (passenger seating) compartment is 3.5 ft to 4.5 ft high, 
to comfortably accommodate seated passengers within, though variations in 
height outside these typical limits are possible within the spirit and 
scope of the invention. 
FIG. 2C shows a variant of the FIG. 2A embodiment, also fitted with cargo 
bed cover means 31 and a loading ramp 42. The illustrated cargo bed cover 
means 31 comprises cover panel means which can be in a folded and latched 
down configuration to cover the cargo bed 18, or folded up (as 
illustrated) to enable carriage of taller cargo loads on the cargo bed 18. 
In the folded up configuration the cover panel means can also serve as 
means for providing (additional side restraint/support for cargo loads on 
the cargo bed 18, and as means for protecting windows and paint on the 
sidewall 12 from impact and potential damage by such cargo loads. 
Alternative cargo bed cover means may use slidable panels, roll-away 
sheets which retract around one or more rollers, fastenable tarps, and/or 
other closure elements in lieu of the illustrated cover panel means. The 
loading ramp 42 is illustrated in its deployed (as opposed to retracted) 
configuration. A sideways opening cargo bed rear closure means 14S is 
shown in its open configuration, to enable cargo to be loaded 
into/unloaded from the cargo bed 18 from/to the road surface 15 via the 
loading ramp 42. The sideways opening cargo bed rear closure means 14S may 
comprise a single or dual sideways opening door or gate means. Thus the 
illustrated motor vehicle has wall means (12, 13,20) and gate means (14S) 
for enclosing the perimeter of said cargo bed means (18), and with gate 
movement means (the sideways opening feature here) for enabling said gate 
means to be moved to an alternate nonenclosing position so as to 
facilitate loading and unloading of cargo onto and from said cargo bed 
means When undeployed (i.e., retracted), the loading ramp 42 can be 
slidably retracted and housed in loading ramp housing means 43. 
Conventional manual, power assisted, or powered retraction & deployment 
means may be provided for retraction and deployment of the loading ramp 
42. Conventional means may also be provided for lifting the upper lip of 
the ramp from below the level of the rear bumper 3B to a deployed position 
above the level of the rear bumper 3B and substantially level with the 
level of the cargo bed 18. 
FIG. 2D shows another variant of the FIG. 2A embodiment, also fitted with 
cargo bed cover means 31 and cargo lift means 44. The illustrated cargo 
bed cover means 31 comprises cover panel means which can be in a folded 
and latched down configuration (as illustrated) to cover the cargo bed 18, 
or folded up to enable carriage of taller cargo loads on the cargo bed 18. 
The cargo It means 44 serves as means for enabling cargo to be lifted from 
substantially the level of the road surface 15 to substantially the level 
of the cargo bed 18, to facilitate loading of cargo onto the cargo bed. 
The cargo lift means 44 is supported and driven by cargo lift support and 
drive means 45 The cargo lift platform can optionally also be rotatable 
from a horizontal up to a vertical orientation so as to serve as a cargo 
bed rear closure means (e.g., tailgate), when the vehicle is in its 
drivable configuration. Thus here again the illustrated motor vehicle has 
wall means (12, 13, 20) and gate means (the cargo lift platform in a 
substantially vertical tailgate configuration) for enclosing the perimeter 
of said cargo bed means (18), and gate movement means (the substantially 
vertical to substantially horizontal rotating feature of the cargo lift 
platform here) for enabling said gate means to be moved to an alternate 
nonenclosing position so as to facilitate loading and unloading of cargo 
onto and from said cargo bed means. 
FIG. 3A shows a side view of the FIG. 1A and FIG. 2A embodiment. Some 
preferred features of this embodiment are better seen in this side view, 
and will be described below. The rooftop storage compartment 75 is shown 
to have a converging nose section and a tapering rear section, for 
aerodynamic drag reduction and styling purposes. Optional side window 
elements of conventional types are shown incorporated into surfaces such 
as the illustrated transparency/window in the front door 7T, the 
transparency/window in the extended cab 54T, and the transparency/window 
in the side wall 12T. While the illustrated lower sill of the side wall 
window 12T is sufficiently low to permit outward visibility for passengers 
in seats 9C and 10C, a still lower and possibly contoured lower sill line 
may be used for the side wall window 12T, wherein the lower window sill is 
sufficiently low and suitably shaped to serve as an armrest for passengers 
seated in seats 9C and 10C. A sloping, minivan style of hood is shown 
above the engine compartment 16 in this illustration--however, a flatter, 
pickup truck or sport-utility vehicle type of hood line may alternatively 
be used. The spatial relationship between the illustrated (left) front 
door 7, the front left seat 8L, and the second row forward left seat 23L 
is visible here, and it is self evident that the use of a foldable-forward 
seatback on seat 8L will facilitate access to seat 23L through door 7. The 
forward-facing rear center seat 9C and the aft-facing rearmost center seat 
10C are visible in side view, above a seating area floor 85 and in an at 
least partially enclosed compartment means 2B. Said compartment means 2B 
includes closure element means on the bottom (seating area floor 85), 
sides (side wall 12 visible, enclosing wall means 17 not visible), and 
back (rear door means 11) of said compartment means, for contributing 
toward enclosing said compartment means. Note that at least some of said 
closure element means include transparent closure element means such as 
windows (e.g., 12T) for permitting persons inside said compartment means 
to see outside said compartment means. Note that this embodiment also 
includes additional closure element means such as a roof (94) for 
contributing toward enclosing said compartment means (2B) on top and for 
protecting occupants of said seat means (9C, 10C) from precipitation such 
as rain, snow, or sleet. Some storage area is available under seats 9C and 
10C and above the seating area floor 85. Note that in the illustrated 
embodiment the seating area floor 85 is shown at a lower level than the 
floor of the cargo bed 18. This enables a taller height in the seating 
compartment area, useful for taller passengers, while still not increasing 
the overall height of the vehicle too much (e.g., to a level where it 
won't fit into a typical 80" tall garage entrance opening). The 
illustrated slightly higher level of the floor of the cargo bed 18 leaves 
enough room for the spare tire 84 under the cargo bed while still 
maintaining adequate ground clearance and left rear shock absorber 
bottoming clearance for situations when heavy cargo loads are carried in 
the cargo bed 18. The level of the cargo bed 18 is also determined in part 
from the desirability of flat-surface cargo loading with the tailgate 14 
or pickup bed extension 83 lying flat above the rear bumper 3B. In variant 
embodiments the seating area floor may be at the same level or even at a 
higher level than the floor of the cargo bed 18. The illustrated cargo bed 
side wall means 20 (and the pickup bed extension 83) have typical vertical 
heights of approximately 21", sufficient to contain cargo in the pickup 
bed but not so high as to hinder rear visibility for the driver of the 
vehicle. The vehicle undersurface 86 is also illustrated in this side 
view. Fuel tank(s) are not illustrated, but will typically be under the 
vehicle and ahead of the rear axle, with a filler pipe and cap on a side 
of the vehicle. A variety of fuel tank and filler designs which provide 
sufficient fuel capacity along with good safety, are known in the prior 
art and can be applied to this motor vehicle. Similarly, a variety of 
prior art exhaust system (e.g., tailpipe, muffler) designs and 
configurations can be applied to this motor vehicle. 
FIG. 3B shows a side view of the FIG. 2C variant embodiment. The length and 
slope of the loading ramp 42 can be varied within the spirit and scope of 
the invention. FIG. 3C shows a side view of the FIG. 2D variant 
embodiment. The length and configuration (e.g., single element vs. 
multiple foldable or slidable lengthening elements) of the cargo lift 
means 44 can be varied within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
FIG. 4 illustrates another typical preferred embodiment representing 
another class of embodiments of the invention. A motor vehicle 1 is shown 
from a top view. The general layout of the vehicle can be seen with a 
vehicle body 2 including an engine compartment 16 in front, front bumper 
3A and rear bumper 3B, front tires 4 and rear tires 5, front windshield 6, 
front doors 7, and front seats 8L, 8C and 8R. The particular elements 
recited immediately above in this paragraph are typical, and should not be 
construed as limiting the present invention. The front tires 4 and rear 
tires 5 comprise part of the running gear means for permitting the motor 
vehicle to move and maneuver upon a road surface 15. While a single rear 
tire 5 is shown on each side of the vehicle, in a variant embodiment dual 
rear tires could be furnished on each side of the vehicle, under the seats 
9L and 10L on the left side and under the seats 9R and 10R on the right 
side of the vehicle. The front tires 4 are preferably steerable, and are 
illustrated in a steered configuration. The vehicle body 2 serves as body 
means for carrying a load, which body means is supported by the running 
gear means described above. The front seats 8 comprise a forward left seat 
8L (typically driver's seat in countries with left hand drive), optional 
forward center seat 8C, and forward right seat 8R (typically driver's seat 
in countries with right hand drive). A forward-facing rear left seat 9L 
and aft-facing rearmost left seat 10L are located substantially behind the 
forward left seat 8L. Similarly a forward-facing rear right seat 8R and 
aft-facing rearmost right seat 10R are located substantially behind the 
forward right seat 8R. The forward-facing rear left seat 9L and aft-facing 
rearmost left seat 10L together provide seat means for seating at least 
two persons substantially longitudinally disposed one in front of the 
other. The forward-facing rear right seat 9R and aft-facing rearmost right 
seat 10R similarly together provide seat means for seating at least two 
persons substantially longitudinally disposed one in front of the other. 
Because this configuration features several seats without adjacent seats, 
an optional intercom system may be provided for enabling voice 
communications between occupants of different seats in the vehicle. Means 
for providing audio and/or video entertainment to the occupants of various 
seats may also optionally be provided--for example personal video screens 
and audio headsets may be provided as is known in the art for passenger 
airliners. 
In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the vehicle body 2 serves 
as body means for carrying a load, wherein said body means comprises at 
least partially enclosed compartment means 2B for accommodating the 
aforementioned seat means for seating at least two persons. Please note 
that in this embodiment there are two at least partially enclosed 
compartment means 2B, one on the left side of the vehicle (2BL) and one on 
the right side of the vehicle (2BR), and that these could alternatively be 
described as the rear left section (2BL) and rear right section (2BR) of a 
single at least partially enclosed compartment means 2B. Enclosing wall 
means 17 serve as means for contributing to enclosing the at least 
partially enclosed compartment means 2B. Rear door means 11 behind the 
aft-facing rearmost left seat 10L and rearmost right seat 10R provide 
access to those seats and also serve as means for contributing to 
enclosing the at least partially enclosed compartment means 2B on either 
side of the vehicle. Side door means 24 provide access to forward-facing 
rear left and right seats 9L and 9R and also serve as means for 
contributing to enclosing the at least partially enclosed compartment 
means 2B on either side of the vehicle. A pickup truck type of cargo bed 
18 is located between the seats 9L, 10L one one side and the seats 9R, 10R 
on the other side, and separated from the seating compartments by side 
walls 12. The cargo bed 18 serves as cargo bed means for carrying cargo 
thereon, which cargo bed means includes a cargo bed section (essentially 
the entire cargo bed in this illustrated embodiment) which is 
substantially located laterally disposed on at least one side of a 
person's seat in said seat means for seating at least two persons (i.e., 
this could be any of the seats 9L, 10L, 9R, or 10R in the illustrated 
embodiment). The location of the cargo bed between two tall passenger 
compartments provides advantages for this embodiment of a central cargo 
load location for better balance and cornering stability, and good 
containment for taller cargo loads which could lean against one or both 
compartment means 2B on either side of the cargo bed 18. Optional 
retractable sheets or deployable panels or various conventional types (not 
illustrated) may be used to protect the side walls 12 and any windows 
therein from damage by tall cargo loads when such cargo loads are carried. 
Cargo bed rear closure means 14 provides means for enclosing the cargo bed 
on its rear side, and could comprise a tailgate or liftgate. The forward 
end of the cargo bed is enclosed with front wall means 13. Roll-bar means 
38 serve as means for contributing to the protection of occupants of the 
vehicle in the event of a roll-over type accident. Roll-bar means are 
provided at two longitudinal locations in the illustrated embodiment, but 
could alternatively be provided at one or more longitudinal locations (not 
necessarily two). 
Thus FIG. 4 shows a motor vehicle 1 comprising running gear means 
(including front tires 4 and rear tires 5) for permitting said motor 
vehicle to move and maneuver upon a road surface and body means for 
carrying a load (vehicle body 2) which body means is supported by said 
running gear means, wherein said body means comprises (i) left at least 
partially enclosed compartment means 2L for housing left seat means (seats 
9L, 10L) for seating at least two persons substantially longitudinally 
disposed one in front of the other, (ii) right at least partially enclosed 
compartment means 2BR for housing right seat means (seats 9R, 10R) for 
seating at least two persons substantially longitudinally disposed one in 
front of the other, and (iii) cargo bed means (cargo bed 18) for carrying 
cargo thereon which cargo bed means includes a cargo bed section which is 
substantially located between said left at least partially enclosed 
compartment means 2BL and said right at least partially enclosed 
compartment means 2BR. FIG. 4 further shows (iv) front at least partially 
enclosed compartment means 2BF for housing front seat means (e.g., 8L, 8R) 
for seating at least two persons substantially laterally disposed one 
aside the other, which front at least partially enclosed compartment means 
2BF is located substantially contiguously and in front of said left at 
least partially enclosed compartment means 2BL, said right at least 
partially enclosed compartment means 2BR, and said cargo bed section (in 
the cargo bed 18). 
FIG. 5 shows a rear view of the FIG. 4 embodiment. The vehicle body 2 
includes at least partially enclosed compartment means 2B, on either side 
of the cargo bed 18. Aft-facing rearmost left seat 10L and aft-facing 
rearmost right seat 10R can be seen (through typical windows) within the 
compartment means 2B, and the rear door means 11 can be seen aft of the 
rearmost left and right seats 10L and 10R. The cargo bed rear closure 
means 14 is seen at the aft end of the cargo bed 18, and the front wall 
means 13 at the forward end of the cargo bed. The rear door means 11 and 
front wall means 13 are illustrated with optional, typical window elements 
incorporated in them. Side impact energy absorbing panel means 29 are also 
illustrated on both the left and right sides of the vehicle, which provide 
means for enhancing side impact protection for passengers seated in 
compartment means 2B. (Such side impact energy absorbing panel means may 
also of course be used in other embodiments within the spirit and scope of 
the invention). Again, roll-bar means 38 serve as means for contributing 
to the protection of occupants of the vehicle in the event of a roll-over 
type of accident. 
FIG. 6A shows a side view of the FIG. 4 embodiment. FIG. 6B shows a variant 
of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6A, with a storage compartment 46 in front 
of and above each of the two at least partially enclosed compartment means 
2B, on either side of the vehicle. Thus two storage compartments 46 are 
provided, one each on the left and right sides of the vehicle, in the FIG. 
6B embodiment. These storage compartments 46 serve as enclosable storage 
compartment means for carrying and storing articles at a location above 
said at least partially enclosed compartment means 2B. Access to the 
storage compartments may be from the outer sides of the vehicle, and/or 
from inside the vehicle through the rear side of the storage compartment. 
The storage compartments may also be of an optionally vertically 
expandable (i.e., "pop-top") type. The illustrated embodiment shows an 
increased size side window in the rear part of the enclosing wall means 
17, adjacent to the aft-facing rearmost left seat 10L. The FIG. 6B 
embodiment also shows a potential active suspension means 47, which can 
reduce undesirable lean of a relatively high center-o-gravity vehicle in 
turns, and can also potentially raise or lower ground clearance, provide 
automatic load adjustment or compensation, and enhance ride quality and 
handling qualities. 
FIGS. 7a, 7b, and 7c show embodiments of a vehicle with a vehicle body 2 
which serves as body means for carrying a load, wherein said body means 
comprises at least partially enclosed compartment means 2B for 
accommodating seat means for seating at least two persons substantially 
longitudinally disposed one in front of the other, for example in front 
seat 8 and rear seat 9. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 7A the 
enclosed compartment means 2B is of an elongated configuration--i.e., long 
and "skinny", and compartment means 28 further comprises means for seating 
additional persons in 3rd row seat 40 and optional forward-facing rearmost 
seat 10ff. Alternate embodiments may accommodate not just two, three or 
four, but five, six, or even more persons in longer bodies. Enclosing wall 
means 17 serve as means for contributing to enclosing the at least 
partially enclosed compartment means 2B. Cargo bed means for carrying 
cargo thereon are provided, which cargo bed means includes a cargo bed 
section, such as optional left (or right) side cargo bed 18L (or 18R), 
which is substantially located laterally disposed on at least one side of 
a person's seat in said seat means for seating at least two persons 
substantially longitudinally disposed one in front of the other (for 
example, this could be any of the seats 8, 9, 40, or 10ff in the 
illustrated embodiment). The illustrated cargo bed means further includes 
a second cargo bed section, in optional right (or left) side cargo bed 18R 
(or 18L), which is substantially located laterally disposed on the 
opposite side of said side of a person's seat in said seat means in said 
at least partially enclosed compartment means 2B. The left and right side 
cargo beds 18L and 18R could optionally have walls or railings 41 on their 
outer sides, front sides, and/or back sides. The left and right side cargo 
beds 18L and 18R could optionally be foldable against the sides of 
compartment means 2B using fold hinge lines 49, when not in use for 
carrying cargo. The left and right side cargo beds 18L and 18R could 
optionally be fitted with additional seat means 50 (possibly foldable, and 
fitted with seatbelts), for seating additional person(s) sidecar-style. A 
variety of known types of access door means 51 may be provided for access 
into compartment means 2B, including forward hingeline doors, aft 
hingeline doors, sliding doors, upward opening doors (Lamborghini Countach 
style), gull-wing doors, opening canopies, or other known types of access 
means, on the left and/or right hand sides or top of said compartment 
means 2B. Vertically sliding or rotating doors have the advantage of 
providing access without sweeping into the cargo holding volumes above the 
cargo beds 18L and 18R. If direct door access is not provided to some 
particular seat (e.g., seat 10FF), the seatback of the seat in front of it 
(e.g., seat 40) may be of a folding seatback configuration to enable 
access to the seat behind. External lights such as headlights, taillights, 
turn signal lights, parking lights, reflectors, and backup lights may be 
installed on the vehicle body 2 and/or at more outboard locations on or 
near the walls or railings 41 or tires 4 or 5 or bumpers 3A or 3B. In 
similar manner external lights can be installed in a variety of locations 
on the various embodiments of this invention. 
In the embodiment of FIG. 7A, the motor vehicle 1 is supported by two front 
tires 4 and two rear tires 5. The word "tire" (also spelled as "tyre" in 
some places) is to be construed to include any combination of a wheel 
and/or a tire for the embodiments of this and other Figures. The tire may 
be pneumatic, semi-pneumatic, rigid, or of other type. The front tires are 
steerable and the rear tires are optionally steerable. Each front tire 4 
is connected to the vehicle body 2 via the front axle 4A, which may 
contain single or dual axle elements, Each rear tire 5 is similarly 
connected to the vehicle body 2 via the rear axle 5A. The embodiment of 
FIG. 7A has an engine compartment 16 in a forward location, but alternate 
embodiments with rear or mid engine locations are also possible. The 
embodiment of FIG. 7A also features front and rear bumpers 3A and 3B, 
front windshield 6, and roll bar means 38 comprising 2 illustrated roll 
bars, though multiple roll bars or a roll cage may also be used. 
FIG. 7B shows an embodiment similar to FIG. 7A, but with the two front 
tires 4 replaced with a single front tire 4, which is steerable and shown 
in a steered configuration. Two closely spaced side-by-side tires may be 
used in place of the single front tire 4, to serve a similar function. The 
front bumper 3A is shown in a two-part configuration, with one pan on 
either side of the front tire 4. A rear location engine compartment 16 is 
shown in FIG. 7B, and a rear window 6R is located behind 3rd row seat 40 
and ahead of and above the engine compartment 16. 
FIG. 7C shows an embodiment similar to FIG. 7A, but with the two outboard 
located rear tires 5 replaced with centrally located closely-spaced dual 
tires 5 (which may also be replaced by a single rear tire 5). The rear 
tire(s) may optionally be steerable, and if they are the front tires 4 may 
be optionally steerable or non-steerable. FIG. 7C also illustrates a 
steering control rod 72 used to control the steering angle of the 
steerable front tires 4. FIG. 7C also shows the optional use of a possibly 
retractable auxiliary support wheel and tire 71 under the outer undersides 
of the left and right side cargo beds 18L and 18R. The rear bumper 3B is 
illustrated as a two part unit, straddling on either side of the centrally 
located rear tire(s) 5. 
Front-, rear-, or all-wheel drive versions of the embodiments of FIGS. 7A, 
7B, 7C and other embodiments are possible within the spirit and scope of 
the invention. 
FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C show rear views of the embodiments of the motor 
vehicle 1 shown in FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C respectively, driving on road 
surface 15. The seatback top and headrest of seat 10FF is visible in FIGS. 
8A and 8C, and the seatback top and headrest of seat 40 is visible in FIG. 
8B. Note that alternate seatback and headrest configurations may be used 
within the spirit and scope of the invention. Minimalist type seatbacks 
with a single or dual narrow, upward-oriented backrest spine(s) and 
cross-members at selected vertical locations including headrest locations, 
could alternatively be used. The headrest configuration will preferably be 
designed to provide adequate whiplash protection in the event of a 
rear-end type of collision. Each seat may be fitted with conventional 
automobile style seat and shoulder belts, or possibly with race car type 
four or five-point safety harnesses. FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C show use of 
roll-bar means 38 or other roll-cage means to protect occupants of the at 
least partially enclosed compartment means 2B. The above described safety 
features serve as safety-enhancing means for contributing to the safety 
and protection of persons seated in said body means FIG. 8C also 
illustrates optional tie-down means 52 such as cable/cord means, which may 
be elastic to some extent, which may be of-a reel-out kind, and which have 
means for being fastened/connected to said vehicle 1 on either end of each 
cable/cord. Cargo tie-down nets or tarps may also be used in lieu of the 
illustrated tie-down cables/cords 52. FIG. 8C also illustrates an openable 
rear window hatch 53, which could be used to load small articles into the 
at least partially enclosed compartment means 2B in the small space behind 
the optional forward-facing rearmost seat 10FF, or in the space of the 
optional seat 10FF when it is not there. 
FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C show side views of the embodiments of the motor vehicle 
1 shown in FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C and in FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C respectively. 
FIGS. 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 10E, 10F, 10G, 10H, and 10I show top views of 
embodiments in the same general class as the FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B 
embodiments. Some also feature a lengthened forward passenger 
accommodating area (extended cab) 54, which features additional 
longitudinal space behind the forward seats 8L, 8C and 8R and ahead of the 
front wall means 13, in which a second row of forward seats optionally can 
be fitted. For example, a second row of forward seats could comprise a 
second row forward left seat 23L, a second row forward center seat 23C, 
and a second row forward right seat 23R, as illustrated in FIG. 10A. With 
the three forward seats, three second row forward seats, the two 
forward-facing rear seats 9C and 9R, and the two aft-facing rearmost seats 
10C and 10R, the illustrated embodiment in FIG. 10a has a nominal seating 
capacity of 10 persons. Access to the second row seats 23L, 23C and 23R 
and to the forward-facing rear seats 9C, 9R is by means of left side door 
means 24L and right side door means 24R (of which two are shown in the 
illustrated embodiment). The right side door means 24R providing access to 
one or both the second row seats and the forward-facing rear seats, may be 
a minivan style out-and-back opening sliding door or a conventional hinged 
door. 
As in FIG. 1, the motor vehicle 1 shown in FIG. 10a can be seen to have a 
vehicle body 2 including an engine compartment 16 in front, front bumper 
3A and rear bumper 33, front tires 4 and rear left tire 5L and rear right 
tire 5R, front windshield 6, and front doors 7. The particular elements 
recited immediately above in this paragraph are typical, and should not be 
construed as limiting the present invention. The front tires 4 and rear 
tires 5L and 5R comprise part of the running gear means for permitting the 
motor vehicle to move and maneuver upon a road surface. The front tires 4 
are preferably steerable, and are illustrated in a steered configuration. 
The vehicle body 2 serves as body means for carrying a load, which body 
means is supported by the running gear means described above. As in FIG. 
1A, the forward-facing rear center seat 9C and the aft-facing rearmost 
center seat 10C together provide seat means for seating at least two 
persons substantially longitudinally disposed one in front of the other. 
In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the vehicle body 2 serves 
as body means for carrying a load, wherein said body means comprises at 
least partially enclosed compartment means 2B for accommodating the 
aforementioned seat means for seating at least two persons. Enclosing wall 
means 17 serve as means for contributing to enclosing the at least 
partially enclosed compartment means 2B. Rear door means 11 behind the 
aft-facing rearmost center seat 10C and rearmost right seat 10R also serve 
as means for contributing to enclosing the at least partially enclosed 
compartment means 2B. A pickup truck type of cargo bed 18 is located 
between the seats 9C, 10C and side wall 12 on one side, and cargo bed side 
wall means 20 on the other side. The rear left tire 5L is located in a 
housing area for the left wheel and tire 5LW, outboard of sidewall means 
20 in the illustrated embodiment. This facilitates a wider minimum width 
and substantially constant width configuration of the cargo bed 18. While 
the rear left tire and wheel are moved outboard, the rear right tire 5R is 
not moved outboard so as to facilitate parallel parking on the right side 
of a road in a left-hand drive vehicle configuration. The cargo bed 18 
serves as cargo bed means for carrying cargo thereon, which cargo bed 
means includes a cargo bed section (essentially the entire cargo bed in 
this illustrated embodiment) which is substantially located laterally 
disposed on at least one side of a person's seat in said seat means (i.e., 
this could be any of the seats 9C, 10C, 9R, 10R in the illustrated 
embodiment). Cargo bed rear closure means 14 provides means for enclosing 
the cargo bed on its rear side, and could comprise a tailgate or liftgate. 
The forward end of the cargo bed is enclosed with front wall means 13. 
Roll-bar means 38 serve as means for contributing to the protection of 
occupants of the vehicle in the event of a roll-over type accident. 
Multiple roll-bars and/or a roll cage could be used alternatively. 
FIG. 10B shows an embodiment of a motor vehicle 1 similar to FIG. 10A, also 
fitted with an attachable upward wall extension 55 above the cargo bed 
sidewall means 20 and with attachable railing/fence means 56 above the 
cargo bed rear closure means 14. The attachable upward wall extension 55 
and attachable railing/fence means 56 can serve as means for better 
containing cargo loads within the area above the cargo bed 18. This is 
especially so for large or tall cargo loads. Either wall extension or 
railing/fence means may optionally be used above both the side wall means 
20 and the cargo bed rear closure means 14. FIG. 10B also shows window 
protection means 57 for protecting the side wall 12 (and optional side 
windows in it) on the at least partially enclosed compartment means 2B 
from contact, abrasion, or damage by cargo loads above the cargo bed 18. 
The window protection means may comprise bar-like, grid-like, fence-like, 
or sheet-like structures, which may be attachable, reelably deployable, 
foldably deployable, and/or slidably deployable to their protective 
configuration. The wall extension, railing/fence means, and side window 
protection means may also be used in other embodiments, within the spirit 
and scope of the invention. 
FIG. 10C shows a further lengthened configuration relative to the FIG. 10a 
embodiment, with added third row left, center, and right seats 67L, 67C 
and 67R. Left and right side door means 24L and 24R here include one 
conventional hinged door 24R and two conventional sliding doors 24L and 
24R, which serve as door means for 4 permitting entry into and egress from 
said compartment means 2B. Said door means includes at east two doors on 
one side of said compartment means, at least one door on the other side of 
said compartment means, and at least one door (rear door means 11) at the 
back of said compartment means, all in conjunction to provide easy entry 
into and egress from various seats housed in said compartment means. 
Roll-bar means 38 are provided at two longitudinal positions for this very 
long body configuration, and serve as contributory safety-enhancing means 
for contributing to the safety and protection of persons seated in said 
body means. While bucket seats are illustrated for all seat locations, 
some could be combined into bench seats for this and other embodiments. 
The motor vehicle 1 of FIG. 10C has tires including a tire (5L) which is 
located substantially to a side of the cargo bed means (cargo bed 18) with 
the outer face of said tire located outboard of the corresponding side of 
said body means (the cargo bed side wall means 20). The motor vehicle 1 of 
FIG. 10C also includes drive means for driving at least one tire (of 4 and 
5L and 5R) using power from a motor in (engine compartment 16 o) said 
motor vehicle, braking means for braking at least one tire (of 4 and 5L 
and 5R) of said motor vehicle, and further comprising tire steering means 
acting on at least one tire (of 4 and 5L and 5R) for permitting said motor 
vehicle to be steered so as to maneuver laterally upon said road surface. 
In this embodiment all four tires 4 and 5L and 5R are acted on by said 
steering means, with rear wheel steering means (to enable the illustrated 
steered configuration of the rear wheels and tires 5L and 5R) being shown 
provided for improving the maneuverability d this very long motor vehicle 
configuration. 
FIG. 10D shows a top view of an embodiment of the invention similar to the 
FIG. 10a embodiment, with a wider cargo bed 18 and a right passenger 
accommodating area 35R at the rear of the vehicle which only accommodates 
one person abreast rather than two abreast. The illustrated right 
passenger accommodating area 35R accommodates one rearward-facing 
passenger in rearward-facing right seat 40RR, and one forward-facing 
passenger in forward-facing rearmost right seat 10FR, in seat means for 
seating at least two persons substantially longitudinally disposed one in 
front of the other. Thus the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 10D shows a 
motor vehicle 1 with a one-abreast seat on the side of said partition 
means (side wall 12) wherein said seat means are located, and further 
shows in combination both forward-facing and aft-facing seats on the side 
of said partition means (side wall 12) wherein said seat means are 
located. Access to the area 35R for these passengers is provided via right 
side door means 24R and a step 76. The right tire 5R and wheelwell or 
housing area for the right wheel and tire 5RW are offset forward relative 
to the left tire 5L, so as to minimize interference with the door 24R and 
step 76 behind the wheelwell and with the seat 40RR forward of the 
wheelwell. The illustrated left tire 5L has a lateral location which is 
neither fully inboard nor fully outboard relative to the left cargo bed 
sidewall means 20, and a housing area 5LW for the left wheel and tire 
(i.e., left wheelwell which is also neither fully inboard nor fully 
outboard relative to the sidewall means 20. Thus the motor vehicle 1 of 
FIG. 10D also has tires including a tire (5L) which is located 
substantially to a side of the cargo bed means (cargo bed 18) with the 
outer face of said tire located outboard of the corresponding side of said 
body means (the cargo bed side wall means 20). This type of lateral wheel 
and tire location can also be used in other embodiments within the spirit 
and scope of the invention. The illustrated embodiment features a raised 
ceiling 63 above the right passenger accommodating area 35R, which then 
extends forward into a rooftop storage compartment 75, located above the 
seats 23R and 8R and high above the engine compartment 16. This rooftop 
storage unit is similar to the storage compartment 46 illustrated in FIG. 
6B, and serves as enclosable storage compartment means for carrying and 
storing articles at a location above said at least partially enclosed 
compartment means 2B. Access means to the storage compartment 75 can be 
from the side, above doors 7 and 24R, and/or from inside the vehicle at 
the forward end of the raised ceiling 63 above the right passenger 
accommodating area 35R. Two roll-bar means 38 at two different 
longitudinal positions are illustrated in this embodiment, and a sunroof 
37 (preferably of the slide-back type) is also illustrated above seats 8L 
and 8C. 
FIG. 10E shows an embodiment similar to FIG. 10D, but without the storage 
compartment 75 or sunroof 37. In this embodiment, the rearward-facing 
right seat 40RR is angled slightly toward the center of the vehicle to 
reduce interference of the right wheel housing 5RW with the left thigh of 
a seated passenger, and forward-facing rearmost right seat 10FR is also 
angled slightly toward the center of the vehicle to provide better leg 
room and space for the feet of a passenger, without their right foot 
tending to fall into the step 76. In this embodiment, the left tire 5L and 
left wheel and tire housing 5LW are now further inboard, and do not extend 
outward beyond the cargo bed side wall means 20. A vehicle of this type of 
embodiment could typically have dimensions of approximately 80 inches 
width by approximately 210 inches length, comparable to current full-size 
pickup trucks such as the Ford F-150, Chevy C-1500, or Dodge RAM models. 
These dimensions are representative and should not be taken to constrain 
the invention. The active suspension means of FIG. 6B may also be 
beneficially included in this FIG. 10E and other embodiments of the 
invention. 
FIG. 10F illustrates an embodiment of the invention with features similar 
to those shown in FIGS. 10D and 10E, and the following differences. The 
front center seat 8C is replaced by a child seat module 87S. The child 
seat module 87S provides means for accommodating and securing a child in 
said child seat module and in said motor vehicle 1 while providing 
adequate safety and protection to said child in the event of an accident 
involving said motor vehicle. The word "child" is construed to include an 
infant, toddler, or child of sufficiently small age, size and weight as 
would typically be accommodated in a child safety seat in a motor vehicle. 
The child seat module will preferably be firmly securable to the (floor) 
structure of the motor vehicle cabin, and could feature a built-in child 
safety seat or just be a firm foundation on which a child safety seat can 
be secured by securing means such as rigid securing means or a seatbelt. 
The child safety seat could be a rearward-facing infant seat, 
forward-facing child seat, forward-facing booster seat, convertible seat, 
or other type of child safety seat Preferably, no airbag will be installed 
or deploy into the area immediately in front of the location of the child 
seat module 87S, to avoid the possibility of 
airbag-deploying-into-childseat types of problems which have occurred in 
the past when child seats were installed on front passenger seats with 
airbags in front of them. An optional feature would allow another type of 
module such as a storage container (e.g., similar to floor mounted storage 
compartment 46F described with respect to FIG. 1A) to be secured in the 
same location and to the same attachment fittings as the child seat module 
87S. 
FIG. 10F also illustrates the use of a rear bench seat 23B in lieu of rear 
bucket seats, behind the front seats 8L and 8R. A rooftop storage 
compartment 75 is shown, along with representative doors 75D for the 
rooftop storage compartment, which together provide enclosable storage 
compartment means for carrying and storing articles at a location above at 
least partially enclosed compartment means 2B. A high door over a 
wheelwell 24A (over the housing area 5RW for the right wheel and tire) is 
shown, along with step/rung/ladder means 24S and handhold means 24H for 
facilitating entry into and egress from the seating compartment (at least 
partially enclosed compartment means 2B) wherein seat means (seats 40RR 
and 10FR) are located. Side wall 12 serves as a partition means with a 
substantially longitudinal orientation for separating a cargo bed section 
(the cargo bed 18) from the area of said body means wherein said seat 
means are located (compartment means 2B).The compartment means 2B 
comprises in combination both forward-facing (10FR) and aft-facing (40RR) 
seats on the side of said partition means (side wall 12) wherein said seat 
means are located. The step/rung/ladder means 24S may be removable or 
retractable to facilitate changing the right rear tire 5R when required. 
The handhold means 24H may be of rigid or belt-like construction, and may 
be located either within or outside the seating compartment. Seats 40RR 
and 10FR may optionally be foldable or have foldable seat-bottoms, to 
facilitate use of the area they normally occupy for enclosed storage 
purposes. 
FIG. 10G illustrates an embodiment of the invention somewhat similar to 
that of FIG. 10E, with the following significant differences. Small front 
tires 4S and small rear tires 5S are used, which fit substantially under 
the vehicle and require no or minimal wheelwells intruding into the body 
of the vehicle. The small tires will be of smaller diameter than standard 
tires, and may be of greater, substantially equal, or smaller width 
relative to standard tires. Far example, small tires may have typical or 
representative dimensions of 16" diameter and 11" width, as compared to 
standard tires with typical or representative dimensions of 25" diameter 
and 85" width. Two small rear tires 5S are shown in tandem on each side of 
the vehicle in the illustrated embodiment, but alternately a single tire 
on each side or two side-by-side "dually" type small tires may be used on 
each side of the vehicle, Thus the illustrated embodiment provides running 
gear means which includes at least three tires (six illustrated) which 
normally contact said road surface. A small-diameter spare tire 84S is 
illustrated fitted in a housing or holder in rear wall means 30. The use 
of small rear tires 5S provides means for having a full-width cargo bed 18 
without an intruding wheelwell or wheel housing and without requiring 
additional vehicle width associated with moving a rear wheel outboard 
relative to the vehicle body (e.g., as was the case in FIGS. 10C and 10D). 
In addition to rearward-facing rear seat 40RR, a rearward-facing center 
seat 40RC is added; and in addition to forward-facing rearmost right seat 
10FR, forward-facing rearmost center seat 10FC is added in this 
embodiment. The use of small rear tires 5S provides means for persons to 
enter the partially enclosed compartment means wherein their seats (e.g., 
40RR, 40RC, 10FR, 10FC) are located without having to step over a 
relatively tall housing for a rear tire (as was the case in the embodiment 
of FIG. 10F). The second row seats 23L, 23C, and 23R of FIG. 10E are also 
not included in this embodiment of FIG. 10G. 
In addition to seat and shoulder belts, preferably airbag supplementary 
restraint systems will be provided for the occupants of each of the 
forward or front seats 8L, 8C, and 8R. Preferably means for disabling the 
airbag SRS for the front center seat 8C or the front passenger seat (e.g., 
8R, in jurisdictions with left-hand drive where the driver's seat is 8L) 
will be provided, for cases when a child or infant seat is installed in 
the front center seat or front passenger seat. Means for controlling and 
annunciating this airbag enable/disable preferably will also be provided 
for this and other embodiments of the invention. Means may be provided for 
sliding the front center seat 8C or the front passenger seat aft on track 
mechanisms known in the prior art, for cases when a child or infant seat 
is installed thereon. This aft translation may be provided in addition to 
(preferable) or in lieu of the airbag disabling feature. 
FIGS. 10H and 10I illustrate two configurations of an embodiment of the 
invention similar to the embodiment of FIG. 1A. The inventive feature 
illustrated here is the use of a laterally translatable rear wheel and 
wheel housing or wheelwell, to provide means for concurrently varying the 
minimum width of the cargo bed 18 and the maximum width of the vehicle 1. 
In FIG. 10H, the rear left tire 5L and the housing area 5LW for the left 
wheel and tire are shown in their outboard positions, corresponding to 
increased minimum width of the cargo bed 18 and increased maximum width of 
the vehicle 1. This configuration could be used when large cargo loads are 
being carried, such as the Queen Bed of FIG. 2B, for example. In FIG. 10I, 
the rear left tire 5L and the housing area 5LW for the left wheel and 
tire, are shown in their inboard positions or configurations, 
corresponding to decreased minimum width of the cargo bed 18 and decreased 
maximum width of the vehicle 1. This configuration could be used when 
large cargo is not being carried and when it is desired to park the 
vehicle in a relatively narrow or "Compact" space, or maneuver the vehicle 
in tight spaces. The means for translating the tire (e.g., 5L) and the 
means for translating the wheel and tire housing area (e.g., 5LW) could 
include wheel, tire & housing translating drive means; wheel, tire & 
housing translating bearing means; axle translating or axle extension 
means; sliding seal means where the housing (5LW) has a sliding interface 
with the cargo bed side wall means 20; electrical connection means (e.g., 
if lights are provided on the housing 5LW, as shown in FIG. 1A), and 
possibly brake mechanism translation means. 
Thus the embodiment of FIG. 10H comprises tires which include a tire (5L) 
which is located substantially to a side of said cargo bed means (cargo 
bed 18) with the outer face of said tire located outboard of the 
corresponding side of said body means; and in going to the configuration 
of FIG. 10I further comprises means for laterally repositioning said tire 
(5L) (and its housing 5LW) so as to decrease the overall width of the 
vehicle 1 along with the minimum width of the cargo bed 18. FIGS. 11A, 11B 
and 11C show rear views of the FIG. 10A, 10B and 10C embodiments of the 
invention, driving on a road surface 15. FIG. 11A also illustrates the 
potential use of tie-down means 52 (such as fittings for attaching cables 
or cords and optionally the cables or cords themselves, such as cable/cord 
means described earlier with reference to FIG. 8C) for helping to secure a 
representative cargo load 57B. The tie-down means 52 serve as securing 
means for securing articles on the cargo bed means. 
FIGS. 12A and 12B show top views of another embodiment of the invention in 
the class of the FIG. 1A embodiment, which is also somewhat similar to and 
incorporates some features from the embodiments of FIGS. 10A, 10D and 10E. 
Headlights 59 are illustrated. Conventional other lights such as 
taillights, turning signal lights, backup lights, parking lights, and 
reflectors are not illustrated, but could be provided in this and other 
embodiments. On the housing area for the left wheel and tire 5LW, a wheel 
housing front light 64F and wheel housing back (or rear) light 64B are 
illustrated. A left mirror housing 60 and right mirror housing 61 are 
illustrated. Preferably in this embodiment the right mirror housing 61 
will be retractable with power retraction means, to reduce vehicle 
effective width when necessary--e.g., when entering a limited width garage 
for parking the vehicle. In various embodiments either or both the left 
and right mirror housings may be retractable. The illustrated embodiment 
also features a raised ceiling 63 above the forward-facing rear right seat 
9R and the aft-facing rearmost right seat 10R, and a towing hitch 65 for 
towing trailer devices behind the motor vehicle 1. The illustrated 
embodiment also has movable partition means 66 in place of the front wall 
means 13 of the FIG. 1A embodiment. This movable partition means 66 is 
illustrated in its aft position in FIG. 12A and in its forward position in 
FIG. 12B. When in its aft position (FIG. 12A), retractable bench seat 62 
(substantially adjacent to second row forward right seat 23R) can be 
deployed to increase vehicle seating capacity while reducing cargo 
capacity. When the movable partition means 66 is in its forward position 
(FIG. 12B), cargo capacity can be increased but the retractable bench seat 
should be in its retracted position. This feature allows the vehicle to 
carry relatively more passengers or cargo as warranted by the 
circumstances. This feature can also be applied to other embodiments of 
the invention. Variant embodiments may feature retractable bench (or 
bucket) seats being structurally attached to the movable partition means 
66 and/or to the floor of the vehicle body itself. The illustrated right 
side door means 24R is a long sliding door for providing access to seats 
9R, 23R as well as the bench seat 62 when deployed. 
Thus the embodiment of FIGS. 12A and 12B provides a motor vehicle 1 
comprising running gear means (front tires 4 and rear left and right tires 
5L and M) for permitting said motor vehicle to move and maneuver upon a 
road surface and body means for carrying a load (vehicle body 2) which 
body means is supported by said running gear means, wherein said body 
means comprises (i) at least partially enclosed compartment means 2B for 
housing seat means for seating at least two persons substantially 
longitudinally disposed one in front of the other (e.g., in seats 9R and 
10R), (ii) front at least partially enclosed compartment means 2F for 
housing front seat means for seating at least two persons substantially 
laterally disposed one aside the other (e.g., in seats 8L and 8R), which 
front at least partially enclosed compartment means is located 
substantially contiguously and in front of said at least partially 
enclosed compartment means, and (iii) cargo bed means for carrying cargo 
thereon (cargo bed 18) which cargo bed means includes a cargo bed section 
which is substantially located laterally disposed on a side of a person's 
seat in said seat means (e.g., seats 9R or 10R) in said at least partially 
enclosed compartment means (2B). The embodiment of FIGS. 12A and 12B 
further illustrates partition means comprising side wall 12 for separating 
said cargo bed means (cargo bed 18) from (i) said at least partially 
enclosed compartment means 2B; and partition means comprising movable 
partition means 66 for separating said cargo bed means (cargo bed 18) from 
(ii) said front at least partially enclosed compartment means 2F. The 
embodiment of FIGS. 12A and 12B further illustrates means for 
repositioning said (movable) partition means 66 and for thereby changing 
the sizes of said cargo bed means (cargo bed 18) and at least one of (i) 
said at least partially enclosed compartment means 2B, and (io said front 
at least partially enclosed compartment means 2F (this is the one that 
changes size between the configurations illustrated in FIGS. 12A and 12B). 
It should be understood that selected features of the FIGS. 12A and 122B 
embodiments can be applied to other embodiments as well, within the spirit 
and scope of the invention as defined in the claims. Similarly selected 
features of each illustrated embodiment could be applied to other 
illustrated embodiments within the spirit and scope of the invention as 
defined by the claims. 
FIG. 13A shows a top view of an embodiment of the invention which can be 
considered as a variant of the FIG. 4 embodiment or the FIG. 1A 
embodiment. Relative to the FIG. 4 embodiment, a key difference is that 
the FIG. 13A embodiment has seat means for seating at least two persons 
substantially longitudinally disposed one in front of the other, only on 
one side rather than on both sides of the cargo bed 18. In FIG. 13A said 
seat means for seating at least two persons can be construed to comprise: 
(i) said forward left seat (8L) and a rear left seat (9L or 10L, which can 
be a forward- or aft-facing seat) located substantially behind said 
forward left seat; or (ii) forward-facing rear left seat 9L and aft-facing 
rearmost left seat 10L in conjunction. Access to seat 9L is via the left 
side front door 7, assuming a foldable-forward seatback for front left 
seat 8L. Alternatively, a lengthened (possibly sliding) door 7 could be 
furnished on the left hand side of the vehicle, and the front left 
seatback need not be foldable-forward. In the FIG. 13A embodiment the 
cargo bed 18 is bounded on its left side by side wall 12, on its aft/rear 
side by cargo bed rear closure means 14, on its front side by front wall 
means 13, and on its right side by cargo bed side wall means 20 optionally 
including contoured wall means 21 above the housing area for the right 
wheel and tire 5RW (i.e., right wheel weld. The cargo bed side wall means 
20 may be of low (e.g., 6 inches), medium (e.g., 2 feet), high (e.g., 5 
feet) or other height. Side wall compartment means 22 may optionally be 
incorporated into the cargo bed side wall means 20, and may be accessible 
from either or both the pickup bed side and/or the right outside side of 
the vehicle. A variant of the FIG. 13A embodiment could feature a seating 
area on the right side and a cargo bed on the left side (as in FIG. 1A) 
instead of the illustrated embodiment's seating area on the left side and 
cargo bed on the right side of the vehicle. The two alternatives have 
their own relative advantages, for example in terms of typical lateral 
load distributions, driver's inside rear view mirror fields of view, and 
curb-side access to rear seats, depending on whether the vehicle is in a 
left-hand-drive or right-hand-drive jurisdiction. 
FIG. 13B illustrates a variant embodiment of a smaller, four-seat 
embodiment of the invention of a similar general configuration as the 
larger, eight-seat embodiment of FIG. 1A. This embodiment would provide a 
vehicle competitive with a compact pickup truck, with two more seats than 
atypical compact pickup truck (a front bench seat instead of the 
illustrated two front bucket seats 8L and 8R could enable one additional 
passenger for either the illustrated vehicle or a typical compact pickup 
truck). The pickup cargo bed 18 is probably similar in minimum width with 
that of a compact pickup truck, as the width used up by the compartment 
for seats 9R and 10R is compensated for substantially by the absence of 
wheelwells or wheel housings intruding into the pickup bed, as is usually 
the case for prior art pickup trucks. The embodiment of FIG. 13B is 
intended to provide a lightweight, low-cost vehicle with all the 
advantages of a compact pickup truck and the ability to carry two more 
passengers in comfortable bucket seats (9R and 10R). 
Thus the embodiment of FIG. 13B provides a motor vehicle 1 comprising 
running gear means (front tires 4 and rear left and right tires 5L and 5R) 
for permitting said motor vehicle to move and maneuver upon a road surface 
and body means for carrying a load (vehicle body 2) which body means is 
supported by said running gear means, wherein said body means comprises 
(i) at least partially enclosed compartment means 2B for housing seat 
means for seating at least two persons substantially longitudinally 
disposed one in front of the other (e.g., in seats 9R and 10R), (ii) front 
at least partially enclosed compartment means 2F for housing front seat 
means for seating at least two persons substantially laterally disposed 
one aside the other (e.g., in seats 8L and 8R), which front at least 
partially enclosed compartment means is located substantially contiguously 
and in front of said at least partially enclosed compartment means, and 
(iii cargo bed means for carrying cargo thereon (cargo bed 18) which cargo 
bed means includes a cargo bed section which is substantially located 
laterally disposed on a side of a person's seat in said seat means (e.g., 
seats 9R or 10R) in said at least partially enclosed compartment means 
(2B). 
FIG. 13C illustrates another variant embodiment of a "compact" embodiment 
of the invention similar but a bit larger than the four seat embodiment of 
FIG. 13B. This embodiment includes a bench seat 23B behind the front left 
seat 8L and behind the space between the front seats 8L and 8R. This bench 
seat is shown with a longer seat bottom for the portion of the bench seat 
for the person behind the space between the front seats 8L and 8R, who 
will have more legroom than the person in the portion of the bench seat 
behind the front left seat 8L. An additional right side door means 24R is 
shown immediately behind the right side front door 7, for facilitating 
access to the bench seat 23B. This would typically be a rear-hinged door, 
as provided in some existing extended cab pickup trucks, or could 
alternatively be a forward hinged or sliding door. The embodiment of FIG. 
13C is shown with a rearward-facing right seat 40RR and a forward-facing 
rearmost right seat 10FR in the portion of the at least partially enclosed 
compartment means 2B which is to the side of the pickup bed 18, instead of 
the forward-facing rear right seat 9R and the aft-facing rearmost right 
seat 10R shown in the embodiment of FIG. 13B. The embodiment of FIG. 13C 
could alternatively use the seats 9R and 10R as shown in FIG. 13B. Thus 
the embodiment of FIG. 13C provides seats for six persons, which could 
also be increased to seven if a front bench seat for three were provided 
instead of the illustrated two front bucket seats 8L and 8R. 
The embodiment of FIG. 13C also shows the use of small front tires 4S and 
small rear tires 5S, in a manner similar to and for reasons similar to the 
use of such small tires described with reference to FIG. 10G (though in 
this embodiment 4 small tires contacting the ground rather than 6, are 
illustrated). The pickup cargo bed 18 is probably similar in minimum width 
with that of a compact or mid-size pickup truck, as the width used up by 
the compartment 2B for seats 40RR and 10FR is compensated for 
substantially by the absence of wheelwells or wheel housings intruding 
into the pickup bed, as is usually the case for prior art pickup trucks. 
The embodiment of FIG. 13C is intended to provide a lightweight, low-cost 
vehicle with all the advantages of a compact or midsize pickup truck and 
the ability to carry six or seven persons (including the driver of the 
vehicle 1). 
FIGS. 13D and 13E illustrate two additional embodiments of mid-size 
variants of the invention. From the front seats 8L and 8R and forward of 
them, these embodiments are generally similar to the embodiment of FIG. 
1A. This portion of the vehicle includes enclosable storage compartment 
means (floor mounted storage compartment 46F) for carrying and storing 
articles at a location in the at least partially enclosed compartment 
means 2B. A second row bench seat 23B for up to three persons is provided 
behind the front seats, in a manner similar to the embodiment of FIG. 10F. 
The embodiment of FIG. 13D includes an aft-facing rearmost right seat 10R, 
and the embodiment of FIG. 13E includes in addition an aft-facing rearmost 
center seat 10C. Therefore the embodiment of FIG. 13D provides seats for 
accommodating up to six persons, and the embodiment of FIG. 13E provides 
seats for accommodating up to seven persons, all in addition to cargo on 
the pickup cargo bed 18. 
In summary, the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 
13D provides a motor vehicle 1 comprising running gear means (including 
tires 4, 5L and 5R) for permitting said motor vehicle to move and maneuver 
upon a road surface and body means for carrying a load (vehicle body 2) 
which body means is supported by said running gear means, wherein said 
body means comprises seat means for seating at least two persons 
substantially longitudinally disposed one in front of the other ((i) in 
front right seat 8R and in aft-facing rearmost right seat 10R; or (ii) in 
the rightmost seating space in bench seat 23B and in aft-facing rearmost 
right seat 10R), and cargo bed means (cargo bed 18) for carrying cargo on 
a cargo bed section at a location which is substantially laterally 
disposed on a side of a person's seat (aft-facing rearmost right seat 10R) 
in said seat means. The body means (vehicle body 2) further comprises at 
least partially enclosed compartment means 2B for housing said seat means 
for seating at least two persons. Said compartment means 2B also includes 
contiguously a forward center section and two forward side sections which 
are the forward left section and forward right section, wherein said 
forward left section, forward center section, and forward right section 
together provide means for accommodating a forward left seat 8L and a 
forward right seat 8R which is substantially located laterally disposed 
relative to said forward left seat 8L. 
When said seat means for seating at least two persons substantially 
longitudinally disposed one in front of the other comprises seat means for 
seating at least two persons in front right seat 8R and in aft-facing 
rearmost right seat 10R, (said forward left seat or) said forward right 
seat 8R also serve as part of said seat means for seating at least two 
persons substantially longitudinally disposed one in front of the other, 
and said seat means for seating at least two persons comprises said 
forward right seat and a rear right seat located substantially behind said 
forward right seat. 
FIGS. 14A, 14B and 14C show embodiments of the invention in the class of 
the FIG. 4 embodiment. The FIG. 14A embodiment has outboard located 
housing areas (wheelwells) 5LW and 5RW for the left and right wheels and 
tires 5L and 5R, respectively, which enable use of rearward-facing right 
seat 40RR and rearward-facing left seat 40RL (in place of FIG. 4's 
forward-facing rear right and left seats 9R and 9L) and the use of forward 
facing rearmost left and right seats 10FL and 10FR (in place of FIG. 4's 
aft-facing rearmost left and right seats 10L and 10R). Seat pairs 40RR and 
10FR (and 40RL and 10FL) now provide an opportunity for two occupants to 
face each other, converse, and possibly use a common access door (such as 
rearmost doors 24R on the right and 24L on the left, with access to the 
seats via a step 76, on each side); while still also providing means for 
seating at least two persons substantially longitudinally disposed one in 
front of the other (on each side). In 
FIG. 14A, the sidewalls 12 are replaced by right and left laterally movable 
partition means 68R and 68L, which slidably connect with front wall means 
13 at their forward ends and which slidably connect with rear wall means 
11W at their rear ends. In FIG. 14A, the right and left laterally movable 
partition means are illustrated in their inboard and outboard positions, 
respectively, and the motor vehicle 1 can seat 8 persons. Right side seats 
40RR and 10FR are shown in deployed and usable configurations, while left 
side seats 40RL and 10FL are shown in retracted or folded away 
configurations which take up less vehicle width, but cannot be used for 
seating when retracted or folded away. Eight persons could also be seated 
if the left and right laterally movable partition means were placed in 
their inboard and outboard positions, respectively. If both movable 
partition means were in their inboard positions, the remaining cargo bed 
18 would be narrow, but 10 people could be seated. If both movable 
partition means were in their outboard positions, the exposed and usable 
cargo bed 18 would be wide and could carry a lot of cargo, but only 6 
persons could be seated in the vehicle. The use of laterally moving 
partitions to enable tradeoffs between usable passenger seat count and 
cargo bed size can also be applied to other embodiments of the invention, 
including the FIG. 1A embodiment and others. The embodiment of FIG. 14A 
also has a lengthened forward passenger accommodating area 54 which 
accommodates second row forward left, center, and right seats 23L, 23C, 
and 23 (which seats are accessible via a middle pair of side door means 
24L and 24R and which seats are located substantially behind front seats 
8L, 8C, and 8R, respectively). The illustrated embodiment is fitted with 
roll-bar means 38 comprising a single roll-bar, but alternatively multiple 
roll bars or a roll cage could be used. 
FIG. 14B shows an embodiment similar to FIG. 14A, but without the 
lengthened forward passenger accommodating area 54 and without the 
outboard located wheelwells 5LW and 5RW. The rear of the vehicle is now 
supported by under-the-body small dual-unit wheels and tires 70. 
Non-common spare tires (e.g., a small dual-unit wheel and tire behind a 
rearmost seat and a front tire under the cargo bed 18), ride quality and 
handling qualities may be areas in which the embodiment of FIG. 14B 
differs from the embodiment of FIG. 14A. A single wider small radius tire 
similar to small tire 5S in FIG. 13C could be used in lieu of the 
dual-unit wheels and tires 70. Means for seating at least two persons 
substantially longitudinally disposed one in front of the other are still 
provided on each side of the aft end of the vehicle, with aft-facing rear 
right seat 9AR and aft-facing rear left seat 9AL; which face towards 
forward-facing rearmost right and left seats 10FR and 10FL, respectively. 
As in FIG. 14A, right and left laterally movable partition means 68R and 
68L are provided, which slidably connect with front wall means 13 at their 
forward ends and which slidably connect with rear wall means 11W at their 
rear ends. Similar laterally movable partitions could also be used in 
other embodiments of the invention, within the spirit and scope of the 
invention. In FIG. 14B the partition means 68R and 68L are fitted with 
transverse flange sections at their forward ends and slidably engage a 
narrower width front wall means 13 than in FIG. 14A. In FIG. 14B, the left 
and right laterally movable partition means are illustrated in their 
inboard and outboard positions, respectively, and the motor vehicle 1 can 
seat 5 persons. Left side seats 9AL and 10FL are shown in deployed and 
usable configurations, while right side seats 9AR and 10FR are shown in 
retracted or folded away configurations which take up less vehicle width, 
but cannot be used for seating when retracted or folded away. Access to 
the aft side seating compartments (means for seating at least two persons 
substantially longitudinally disposed one in front of the other) is 
provided by means of side doors 24R on the right and 24L on the left, as 
in FIG. 14A. Thus the embodiment of FIG. 14B can seat three, five, or 
seven persons with correspondingly decreasing amounts of cargo in the 
pickup cargo bed 18. 
FIG. 14C shows another embodiment similar to FIG. 14A, without the 
lengthened forward passenger accommodating area 54 but with the outboard 
located wheelwells 5LW and 5RW. Means for seating at least two persons 
substantially longitudinally disposed one in front of the other are still 
provided on each side of the aft end of the vehicle, with aft-facing rear 
right seat 9AR and aft-facing rear left seat 9AL facing forward-facing 
rearmost right and left seats 10FR and 10FL, respectively. As in FIG. 14B, 
right and left laterally movable partition means 68R and 68L are provided, 
which slidably connect with narrow front wall means 13 at their forward 
ends and which slidably connect with rear wall means 11W at their rear 
ends. In this embodiment the forward flanges of the lateral partition 
means 68R and 68L are slidably connected to the front face rather than the 
rear face of the front wall means 13. In FIG. 14C, the right and left 
laterally movable partition means are illustrated in their inboard and 
outboard positions, respectively, and the motor vehicle 1 can seat 5 
persons. Right side seats 9AR and 10FR are shown in deployed and usable 
configurations, while left side seats 9AL and 10FL are shown in retracted 
or folded away configurations which take up less vehicle width, but cannot 
be used for seating when retracted or folded away. Access to the aft side 
seating compartments (means for seating at least two persons substantially 
longitudinally disposed one in front of the other) is now provided by left 
and right partition door means 69L and 69R, which are located in the 
lateral partition means 68L and 68R, respectively. The partition door 
means 69L and 69R may be sliding doors, inward or outward opening hinged 
doors, bifold doors (illustrated), or other type of doors. 
The embodiments of FIGS. 14A, 14B, and 14C therefore provide a motor 
vehicle 1 with partition means (68L, 68R) for separating the cargo bed 
means (cargo bed 18) from the left and right at least partially enclosed 
compartment means 2BL' and 2BR', and further comprising means for 
repositioning said partition means (68L, 68R) and for thereby changing the 
sizes of said cargo bed means (cargo bed 18) and said at least partially 
enclosed compartment means 2BL' and 2BR'. The means for repositioning said 
partition means provides means for laterally repositioning said partition 
means so as to increase or decrease the width of the cargo bed section 
(cargo bed 18). Door means (doors 24L and 24R in FIGS. 14A and 14B and 
doors 69L and 69R in FIG. 14C) are provided for permitting entry into and 
egress from said compartment means 2BL' and 2BR'. The illustrated motor 
vehicle 1 further comprises front at least partially enclosed compartment 
means 2F for housing front seat means for seating at least two persons 
substantially laterally disposed one aside the other (e.g., in seats 8L 
and 8R), which front at least partially enclosed compartment means is 
located substantially contiguously and in front of said left at least 
partially enclosed compartment means 2BL', said right at least partially 
enclosed compartment means 2BR', and the cargo bed 18. 
FIGS. 15A, 15B and 15C show rear views of the FIG. 14A, 14B and 14C 
embodiments, driving on a road surface 15. 
FIG. 16 shows a top view of an embodiment similar to the FIG. 4 embodiment, 
with a lengthened forward passenger accommodating area (extended cab) 54. 
The extended cab features additional longitudinal space behind the forward 
seats 8L, 8C, 8R and ahead of the front wall means 13, in which space a 
second row of forward seats optionally can be fitted. For example, a 
second row of forward seats could comprise a second row forward left seat 
23L, a second row forward center seat 23C, and a second row forward right 
seat 23a, as illustrated. With the three forward seats, three second row 
forward seats, the two forward-facing rear seats 9L and 9R, and the two 
aft-facing rearmost seats 10L and 10R, the illustrated embodiment has a 
nominal seating capacity of 10 persons. An optional fold-down at-facing 
pickup bed seat 28 (or dual-occupancy bench seat) can be installed behind 
the front wall means 13, to raise the seat count to 11 (or 12) persons. 
The pickup bed seat 28 provides deployable additional seat means occupying 
some space in said cargo bed means (cargo bed 18). Similar optional 
fold-down or non-folding aft-facing pickup bed seats can be incorporated 
into other embodiments of the invention as well. The location where the 
optional pickup bed seat 28 is illustrated, if not used for such a seat, 
could alternatively be used as a location to house one or more spare 
tire(s). Access to the second row seats 23L, 23C, 23R and to the 
forward-facing rear seats 9L, 9R is by means of side door means 24, 
typically minivan style out-and-back opening sliding doors on one or both 
sides of the vehicle (or single or dual hinged doors could be used in lieu 
of a long chord sliding door). As in FIG. 4, the forward-facing rear left 
seat 9L and aft-facing rearmost left seat 10L together provide seat means 
for seating at least two persons substantially longitudinally disposed one 
in front of the other. The forward-facing rear right seat 9R and 
aft-facing rearmost right seat 10R similarly together provide seat means 
for seating at least two persons substantially longitudinally disposed one 
in front of the other. 
Thus FIG. 16 shows a motor vehicle 1 with at least partially enclosed 
compartment means 2B for housing seat means for seating at least two 
persons substantially longitudinally disposed one in front of the other 
(in seats 9R and 10R in a rear right section 2BR, or in seats 9L and 10L 
in a rear left section 2BL), wherein said compartment means also includes 
contiguously a forward section 2BF with a forward center section and two 
forward side sections which are the forward left section and forward right 
section, and wherein said forward left section, forward center section, 
and forward right section together provide means for accommodating a 
forward left seat 8L and a forward right seat 8R which is substantially 
located laterally disposed relative to said forward left seat 8L. The seat 
means for seating at least two persons (in seats 9L and 10L or in seats 9R 
and 10R), is contained in at least one of two rear side sections 2BL and 
2BR of said compartment means which are substantially located behind said 
forward left section and said forward right section. A cargo bed section 
(cargo bed 18) is substantially located between said two rear side 
sections 2BL and 2BR and behind said forward center section in said 
forward section 2BF. 
FIG. 17 shows a top view of another embodiment somewhat similar to the FIG. 
16 embodiment. Differences from the FIG. 16 embodiment include potential 
use of a more pickup truck type (chassis, engine compartment and forward 
body) configuration rather than a more minivan type configuration; use of 
an optional bench seat 23B in lieu of the second row forward seats 23L, 
23C, 23R; use of optional bench front seat 8CR instead of bucket-type 
front seats 8C and 8R; addition of a sunroof 37; use of a widened aft body 
27 with a widened pickup bed 18W; use of an (optional side-by-side two 
seat) fold-down aft-facing pickup bed seat 28D; use of separate second row 
door means 25 for access to the optional bench seat 23B; and use of 
separate forward-facing rear seat door means 26 for access to the 
forward-facing rear seats 9L and 9R. A raised ceiling will preferably be 
provided over seats 9L, 9R, 10L, and 10R. FIG. 17 illustrates front at 
least partially enclosed compartment means 2F for housing front seat means 
for seating at least two persons substantially laterally disposed one 
aside the other (e.g., in seats 8L and 8R), which front at least partially 
enclosed compartment means is located substantially contiguously and in 
front of a left at least partially enclosed compartment means 2BL', a 
right at least partially enclosed compartment means 2BR', and a cargo bed 
section (cargo bed 185). 
Roll-bar means 38 are illustrated for the aforementioned raised ceiling 
area, and for the forward passenger seating area as well. Roll-bar means 
comprising roll bar and/or roll cage type protective structures can also 
be incorporated into embodiments illustrated without the roll-bar means, 
within the spirit and scope of the invention. Optional dual-tire (or 
"dually") units 5D for the rear wheels of the vehicle are also illustrated 
in this embodiment. Side impact energy absorbing panel means 29 are also 
illustrated in this embodiment to provide means for enhancing side impact 
protection for passengers seated in seats 9L, 10L, 9R, and 10R. (Such 
dual-tire rear wheels and/or side impact energy absorbing panel means may 
also of course be used in other embodiments within the spirit and scope of 
the invention). This embodiment may optionally be built upon an existing 
pickup truck chassis Front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive, and 2, 4 or 6 
wheel drive variants are possible. This large size vehicle embodiment can 
carry ten to twelve persons and a lot of cargo in the cargo bed 18W. 
FIG. 18 shows a top view of another embodiment of the invention. Forward of 
the front wall means 13 (to the left on the drawing) this embodiment is 
similar to the FIG. 4 embodiment. Seat 8C is shown offset slightly forward 
of its flanking seats 8L and 8R in this embodiment, and the roll bar means 
38 is of a different configuration than in FIG. 4. As in the FIG. 4 
embodiment, a forward-facing rear left seat 8L is located substantially 
behind the forward left seat 8L, and a forward-facing rear right seat 9R 
is located substantially behind the forward right seat 8R. Seats 9L and 9R 
may optionally be of narrower width than seats 8L and 8R, and in a variant 
embodiment may be rear- or aft-facing rather than forward-facing. Front 
doors 7 may be of hinged or sliding construction in different preferred 
embodiments of the invention. Doors which are not as long as the 
illustrated doors 7 may be used, if the seatbacks of seats 8L and 8R are 
tiltable forward to facilitate access to seats 9L and 9R respectively. In 
this embodiment, the forward-facing rear left seat 9L and the forward left 
seat 8L together provide seat means for seating at least two persons 
substantially longitudinally disposed one in front of the other. In this 
embodiment, the forward-facing rear right seat 9R and the forward right 
seat 8R similarly together provide seat means for seating at least two 
persons substantially longitudinally disposed one in front of the other. 
In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the vehicle body 2 serves 
as body means for carrying a load, wherein said body means comprises a 
least partially enclosed compartment means 2B for accommodating the 
aforementioned seat means for seating at least two persons Enclosing wall 
means 17 serve as means for contributing to enclosing the at least 
partially enclosed compartment means 2B. Rear wall means 30 behind the 
rear left and right seats 9L and 9R also serve as means for contributing 
to enclosing the at least partially enclosed compartment means 28. The 
cargo bed 18 can now be considered to be split into a front portion cargo 
bed 18F and a back or rear portion cargo bed 1B. The front portion cargo 
bed 18F is bounded on its front by front wall means 13, on its sides by 
side walls 12, and on its rear by the rear portion cargo bed 181B. The 
back or rear portion cargo bed 18B is bounded on its rear by cargo bed 
rear closure means 14, on its rear sides by cargo bed side wall means 20, 
on its front sides by contoured wall means 21 above the housing areas for 
the rear tires 5, and on its front by rear wall means 30 and the front 
portion cargo bed 18F. The cargo bed 18 serves as cargo bed means for 
carrying cargo thereon, and this cargo bed means includes the front 
portion cargo bed 18F, which serves as a cargo bed section which is 
substantially laterally disposed on at least one side of a person's seat 
(e.g., rear left seat 9L or rear right seat 9R) in seat means for seating 
at least two persons substantially longitudinally disposed one in front of 
the other (either seats 8L and 9L in conjunction or seats 8R and 9R in 
conjunction, as described above). 
The embodiment of FIG. 18 can be considered to provide in combination a 
motor vehicle 1 comprising running gear means (including tires 4 and 5) 
for permitting said motor vehicle to move and maneuver upon a road surface 
and body means (vehicle body 2 for carrying a load which body means is 
supported by said running gear means, wherein said body means comprises at 
least partially enclosed compartment means 2B including (i) left at least 
partially enclosed compartment means for housing left seat means for 
seating at least two persons substantially longitudinally disposed one in 
front of the other (in seats 8L and 9L) and (ii) right at least partially 
enclosed compartment means for housing right seat means for seating at 
least two persons substantially longitudinally disposed one in front of 
the other (in seats 8R and 9R); and (iii) cargo bed means for carrying 
cargo thereon which cargo bed means includes a cargo bed section (18F) 
which is substantially located between said left at least partially 
enclosed compartment means wherein seat 8L is located) and said right at 
least partially enclosed compartment means (wherein seat 9R is located). 
Forward left seat 18L or forward right seat 18R also serve as part of said 
seat means for seating at least two persons substantially longitudinally 
disposed one in front of the other, in this embodiment, wherein said seat 
means for seating at least two persons comprises either said forward left 
seat (8L) and a rear left seat (9L) located substantially behind said 
forward left seat (8L), or said forward right seat (8R) and a rear right 
seat (9R) located substantially behind said forward right seat (8R). 
The at least partially enclosed compartment means 2B includes a rear left 
section with a rear left seat (9L) and a rear right section with a rear 
right seat (9R), and the seat means for seating at least two persons 
comprises both the forward left seat (8L) combined with the rear left seat 
(9L) and the forward right seat (8R) combined with the rear right seat 
(9R). The forward section of the at least partially enclosed compartment 
means 2B includes contiguously a forward center section (wherein seat 8C 
is located) and two forward side sections which are the forward left 
section (wherein seat 8L is located) and forward right section (wherein 
seat 8R is located); and said forward left section, forward center 
section, and forward right section together provide means for 
accommodating a forward left seat (8L) and a forward right seat (8R) which 
is substantially located laterally disposed relative to said forward left 
seat. The cargo bed section 18F is substantially located behind said 
forward center section and between said rear left section (wherein seat 9L 
is located) and said rear right section (wherein seat 9R is located), and 
the cargo bed means further comprises an additional cargo bed section 
(18B) contiguously connected with said cargo bed section (18F) and located 
substantially behind said cargo bed section. 
FIG. 19 shows a top view of yet another embodiment of the invention. This 
embodiment is somewhat similar to the FIG. 18 embodiment, but with 
aft-facing rearmost left and right seats 10L and 10R in lieu of 
forward-facing rear left and right seats 9L and 9R. In this embodiment 
body means 2 comprises at least partially enclosed compartment means 2B 
which compartment means includes a forward section 2BF comprising 
contiguously a forward center section and two forward side sections which 
are the forward left section and forward right section; and which 
compartment means also includes noncontiguously a rear left section 2BL 
with a rear left seat (here aft-facing rearmost left seat 10L) and a rear 
right section 2BR with a rear right seat (here aft-facing rearmost right 
seat 10R). Access to aft-facing rearmost seats 10L and 10R is via rear 
door means 11 (illustrated), or could be via inner or outer side doors 
(not illustrated) to both the rear left section 2BL and rear right section 
2BR. The compartment means 2B provides means for accommodating seat means 
for seating at least two persons substantially longitudinally disposed one 
in front of the other, such as persons seated in seats 8L and 10L (and, 
alternately, seats 8R and 10R). Thus in this embodiment the seat means for 
seating at least two persons comprises the forward left seat (8L) combined 
with the rear left seat (10L), or the forward right seat (8R) combined 
with the rear right seat (10R). As in FIG. 18, the cargo bed 18 in FIG. 19 
can be split into a front portion cargo bed 18F and a back or rear portion 
cargo bed 18B. The front portion cargo bed 18F is bounded on its front by 
front wall means 13, on its sides by cargo bed side wall means, on its 
rear sides by contoured wall means 21 above the housing areas for the rear 
tires 5, and on its rear by rear portion cargo bed 18B. The illustrated 
cargo bed side wall means comprise optional side gates or doors 20SG, 
which are foldable/retractable to function as means for providing side 
access to the cargo bed 18. One or more side gates or doors could also be 
used in other embodiments, within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
The back or rear portion cargo bed 18B is bounded in front by the front 
portion cargo bed 18F, on its sides by side walls 12, and on its rear by 
cargo bed rear closure means 14 (optionally comprising a tailgate or 
liftgate or a fixed rear closure means). The cargo bed 18 serves as cargo 
bed means for carrying cargo thereon, and this cargo bed means includes 
the rear portion cargo bed 18B, which serves as a cargo bed section which 
is substantially laterally disposed on at least one side of a person's 
seat (e.g., rear left seat 10L or rear right seat 10R) in seat means for 
seating at least two persons substantially longitudinally disposed one in 
front of the other (either seats 8L and 10L in conjunction or seats 8R and 
10R in conjunction, as described above). 
The embodiment of FIG. 19 can be considered to provide in combination a 
motor vehicle 1 comprising running gear means (including tires 4 and 5) 
for permitting said motor vehicle to move and maneuver upon a road surface 
and body means (vehicle body 2) for carrying a load which body means is 
supported by said running gear means, wherein said body means comprises at 
least partially enclosed compartment means 2B including (i) left at least 
partially enclosed compartment means (including rear left section 2BL and 
the portion of the forward section 2BF which houses seat 8L) for housing 
left seat means for seating at least two persons substantially 
longitudinally disposed one in front of the other (in seats 8L and 10L) 
and (ii) right at least partially enclosed compartment means (including 
rear right section 2BR and the portion of the forward section 2BF which 
houses seat 8R) for housing right seat means for seating at least two 
persons substantially longitudinally disposed one in front of the other 
(in seats 8R and 10R); and (iii) cargo bed means for carrying cargo 
thereon which cargo bed means includes a cargo bed section (18B) which is 
substantially located between said left at least partially enclosed 
compartment means (rear left section 2BL wherein seat 10L is located) and 
said right at least partially enclosed compartment means (rear right 
section 2BR wherein seat 10R is located). In this embodiment the motor 
vehicle 1 includes two separate and longitudinally separated, at least 
partially enclosed compartment means (e.g., forward section 2BF in 
conjunction with either the rear right section 2BR or the rear left 
section 2BL), for accommodating said seat means for seating at least two 
persons substantially longitudinally disposed one in front of the other. 
The at least partially enclosed compartment means 2B includes a rear left 
section 2BL with a rear left seat (10L) and a rear right section 2BR with 
a rear right seat (10R), and said seat means for seating at least two 
persons comprises both the forward left seat (8L) combined with the rear 
left seat (10L) and the forward right seat (8R) combined with the rear 
right seat (10R). The forward section 2BF includes contiguously a forward 
center section (wherein seat 8C is located) and two forward side sections 
which are the forward left section (wherein seat 8L is located) and 
forward right section (wherein seat 8R is located); and said forward left 
section, forward center section, and forward right section together 
provide means for accommodating a forward left seat (8L) and a forward 
right seat (8R) which is substantially located laterally disposed relative 
to said forward left seat. The cargo bed section 18B is substantially 
located behind said forward center section and between said rear left 
section (2BL) and said rear right section (2BR), and the cargo bed means 
further comprises an additional cargo bed section (18F) contiguously 
connected with said cargo bed section (18B) and located substantially 
forward of said cargo bed section. 
FIG. 20 shows an embodiment of a motor vehicle 1 with two passenger 
accommodating areas on either side of A central cargo accommodating area. 
Body means (vehicle body 2) for carrying a load includes the two passenger 
accommodating areas, which each serve as seat means for seating at least 
two persons longitudinally disposed one in front of the other (i.e., 
persons in forward left seat 8L and aft-facing rearmost left seat 10L in 
left passenger accommodating area 35L, and persons in forward right seat 
8R and aft-facing rearmost right seat 10R in right passenger accommodating 
area 35R). Body means 2 includes at least partially enclosed compartment 
means 2B (i.e., the two passenger accommodating areas 35L and 35R) and 
also includes cargo bed means 18 for carrying cargo thereon, which cargo 
bed means includes a cargo bed section located laterally disposed on at 
least one side of a person's seat in the seat means. (In fact, in this 
embodiment most of the cargo bed is located laterally disposed relative to 
either of the two passenger accommodating areas 35L and 35R). The cargo 
bed means 18 is bordered in front by front wall means 13 separating it 
from engine compartment 16; on its sides by side walls 12 separating it 
from passenger accommodating areas 35L and 35R; and on its back by cargo 
bed rear closure means 14 (e.g., tailgate or liftgate). The left and right 
passenger accommodating areas 35L and 35R are located behind front tires 4 
and front windshields 6. Access to forward left seat 8L and forward right 
seat 8R is by means of front doors 7. As illustrated, access to aft-facing 
rearmost left seat 10L and aft-facing rearmost right seat 10R is by means 
of rear door means 11. Side door means could alternatively be used for 
access to the rearmost left and right seats 10L and 10R, similar to the 
illustrated front doors 7 which are also side-of-vehicle door 
installations. Rear tires 5 are shown between and below the forward and 
rearmost seats in this embodiment Rear tires could be located behind the 
rearmost right and left seats (which may be aft or forward-facing) in 
alternate embodiments. Roll-bar means 38, front bumper 3A, and rear bumper 
3B are also shown in this embodiment 
The embodiment of FIG. 20 can be considered to provide in combination a 
motor vehicle 1 comprising running gear means (including tires 4 and 5) 
for permitting said motor vehicle to move and maneuver upon a road surface 
and body means (vehicle body 2) for carrying a load which body means is 
supported by said running gear means, wherein said body means comprises at 
least partially enclosed compartment means 2B including (i) left at least 
partially enclosed compartment means for housing left seat means for 
seating at least two persons substantially longitudinally disposed one in 
front of the other (i.e., left passenger accommodating area 35L with seats 
8L and 10L) and (ii) right at least partially enclosed compartment means 
for housing right seat means for seating at least two persons 
substantially longitudinally disposed one in front of the other (i.e., 
right passenger accommodating area 35R with seats 8R and 10R); and (iii) 
cargo bed means (cargo bed 18) for carrying cargo thereon which cargo bed 
means includes a cargo bed section which is substantially located between 
said left at least partially enclosed compartment means and said right at 
least partially enclosed compartment means. 
FIG. 21 shows a front view of the motor vehicle 1 of the FIG. 20 embodiment 
situated upon a road surface 15, to more clearly illustrate the frontal 
geometry of this embodiment. This front view also shows typical headlights 
59 and parking/turn signal lights 58. 
FIG. 22 shows a top view of an embodiment similar to the FIG. 20 
embodiment, but with an engine no longer substantially centrally located 
and with the rear seats no longer aft-facing. These incremental changes 
could also be made singly rather than in conjunction, to define still 
further embodiments within the spirit and scope of the invention. In the 
embodiment of FIG. 22, left and right engine compartment means 16L and 16R 
are provided for optionally accommodating left and right engines. One or 
two engines could be used, and if two are used they may be optionally 
electronically or mechanically linked. The engine(s) may drive the front 
wheels, or rear wheels, or all four wheels. For the two engine case 
without mechanical linkage, preferably the left engine drives the left 
wheel(s) and the right engine drives the right wheel(s). An engine control 
system will preferably electronically link or coordinate the operations of 
the two engines to best meet performance objectives. For example, both 
engines could be used for rapid acceleration or hill climbing, while a 
single engine could be used for more economical cruising operation. In the 
FIG. 22 embodiment, forward-facing rear left seat 9L and forward-facing 
rear right seat 9R are situated substantially behind the forward left seat 
8L and the forward right seat 8R in the left and right passenger 
accommodating areas 35L and 35R, respectively. Access to the forward seats 
8L, 8R is via front doors 7, and access to the rear seats 9L, 9R is via 
rear doors 36. As in the FIG. 20 embodiment, body means 2 includes at 
least partially enclosed compartment means 2B (i.e., the two passenger 
accommodating areas 35L and 35R) and also includes cargo bed means 18 for 
carrying cargo thereon, which cargo bed means includes a cargo bed section 
located laterally disposed on at least one side of a person's seat in the 
seat means. (On fact, in this embodiment substantially the whole cargo bed 
is located laterally disposed relative to either of the two passenger 
accommodating areas 35 and 35R). In this embodiment the cargo bed means 18 
is bordered in front by cargo bed front closure means 14F such as a 
foldable-down front cargo gate or fixed front closure means, on its rear 
by cargo bed rear closure means 14R such as a foldable-down rear cargo 
gate or fixed rear closure means, and on its sides by side walls 12 
separating it from passenger accommodating areas 35L and 35R and the 
engine compartment means 16L and 16R. The ability to load/unload cargo via 
either the front or rear closure means can add versatility and convenience 
to loading and unloading the cargo bed 18. Other features shown in FIG. 22 
include angled roll-bar means 38, far-aft locations for the rear tires 5, 
and rear hatch means 11H (similar to those provided on current hatchback 
and some station wagon vehicles) to access the storage areas behind seats 
9L and 9R. 
The embodiment of FIG. 22 can be considered to provide in combination a 
motor vehicle 1 comprising running gear means (including tires 4 and 5) 
for permitting said motor vehicle to move and maneuver upon a road surface 
and body means (vehicle body 2 for carrying a load which body means is 
supported by said running gear means, wherein said body means comprises at 
least partially enclosed compartment means 2B including (i) left at least 
partially enclosed compartment means for housing left seat means for 
seating at least two persons substantially longitudinally disposed one in 
front of the other (i.e., left passenger accommodating area 35L with seats 
8L and 9L) and (ii) right at least partially enclosed compartment means 
for housing right seat means for seating at east two persons substantially 
longitudinally disposed one in front of the other (i.e., right passenger 
accommodating area 35R with seats 8R and 9R); and (iii cargo bed means for 
carrying cargo thereon which cargo bed means includes a cargo bed section 
(here a large portion of the cargo bed 18) which is substantially located 
between said left at least partially enclosed compartment means and said 
right at least partially enclosed compartment means. 
FIGS. 23, 24 and 25 show top, front and side views, respectively, of yet 
another preferred embodiment of the invention. FIG. 23 shows a motor 
vehicle, 1 from a top view. The general layout of the vehicle can be seen 
with a vehicle body 2 which serves as body means for carrying a load, 
wherein said body means comprises at least partially enclosed compartment 
means 2B for accommodating seat means for seating at least two persons. 
The at least partially enclosed compartment means 2B is an elongated 
tandem seating compartment located at or near the vehicle centerline in 
this embodiment, and at an elevated height relative to the cargo bed 18. 
The at least partially enclosed compartment means 2B can be considered to 
have the general shape and configuration of a fighter airplane's tandem 
two seat cockpit, in this embodiment. Cockpit entry may be accomplished 
through a variety of entry means including various types of door and 
opening canopy section means, not illustrated. A front seat 8 and a rear 
seat 9 are located in the at least partially enclosed compartment means 2B 
for accommodating seat means for seating at least two persons, and serve 
as said seat means. The cargo bed 18 serves as cargo bed means for 
carrying cargo thereon, which cargo bed means includes a cargo bed section 
which is substantially located laterally disposed on at least one side of 
a person's seat in said seat means (e.g., a cargo bed section to the left 
of front seat 8 and/or rear seat 9 in the illustrated embodiment), and 
which cargo bed means further includes a second cargo bed section which is 
substantially located laterally disposed on the opposite side of said side 
of a person's seat in said seat means in said at least partially enclosed 
compartment means (e.g., a cargo bed section to the right of front seat 8 
and/or rear seat 9 in the illustrated embodiment. Roll-bar means 38 help 
provide roll-over accident protection for the occupants of the vehicle, 
and in this embodiment also serve as structural means for supporting the 
at least partially enclosed compartment means 2B. The roll bear means will 
preferably include roll-cage type structure for protecting the occupants 
of the compartment means 2B. The forward end of the at least partially 
enclosed compartment means 2B is connected to the engine compartment 16, 
which is fitted with sideways opening hood means 48. The rear or aft end 
of the at least partially enclosed compartment means 2B may be located 
with a space above the cargo bed rear closure means 14, as illustrated, or 
alternatively connecting to a fixed or movable portion of the cargo bed 
rear closure means. Cargo bed side wall means 20 are provided on the left 
and right sides of the cargo bed, and optional door or sidegate means 7DSG 
are illustrated in the right and left side wall means. Clearly, such 
optional door or sidegate means could be provided on the left and/or the 
right cargo bed side wall means in this and other embodiments of the 
invention. Front wall means 13 are provided in front of the cargo bed 18. 
The front windshield 6, front and rear tires 4 and 5, housing areas for 
the left and right wheels and tires 5LW and 5RW, and front and rear 
bumpers 3A and 3B, are also visible in FIG. 23. A variety of alternate 
door, window, canopy, and roll bar configurations are also possible within 
the spirit and scope of the invention. 
FIG. 24 shows a front view of the motor vehicle 1 of FIG. 23, driving on a 
road surface 15. This front view also shows typical headlights 59 and 
parking/turn signal lights 58. 
FIG. 25 shows a side view of the embodiment of FIGS. 23 and 24. With 
reference to FIG. 23, the cargo bed means (cargo bed 18) was described as 
including a cargo bed section which is substantially located laterally 
disposed on at least one side of a person's seat in said seat means (e.g., 
a cargo bed section to the left of front seat 8 and/or rear seat 9 in the 
illustrated embodiment), and also including a second cargo bed section 
which is substantially located laterally disposed on the opposite side of 
said side of a person's seat in said seat means in said at least partially 
enclosed compartment means (e.g., a cargo bed section to the right of 
front seat 8 and/or-rear seat 9 in the illustrated embodiment). In the 
view of FIG. 25, the illustrated cargo bed means is also seen to include 
an additional cargo bed section comprising a cargo bed under-seat section 
18U which is substantially located below a person's seat (seats 8 or 9) in 
said seat means in said at least partially enclosed compartment means 2B. 
This view also illustrates front and rear side parking/turn signal lights 
58, tail-lights 59T, and a typical doorhandle 77 on the optional door or 
sidegate means 7DSG. 
FIGS. 26A and 26B show top views of two embodiments of the invention, 
showing a motor vehicle 1 with a passenger accommodating area in the rear 
center of the vehicle. In the embodiment of FIG. 26A body means 2 includes 
at least partially enclosed compartment means 2B for accommodating seat 
means for seating at least two persons substantially longitudinally 
disposed one in front of the other. Body means 2 houses forward left seat 
8L and forward right seat 8R in its forward part (which can also be 
considered to be a front at least partially enclosed compartment means for 
housing front seat means for seating at least two persons substantially 
laterally disposed one aside the other, as in seats 8L and 8R); and behind 
them in compartment means 2B it houses a forward-facing rear center seat 
9C and behind that an aft-facing rearmost center seat 10C. The 
forward-facing rear center seat 9C and aft-facing rearmost center seat 10C 
together provide the seat means for seating at least two persons, 
substantially longitudinally disposed one in front of the other. Access to 
the rearmost center seat 10C is via rear door means 11; access to the rear 
center seat 9C may be from the front doors 7 via a passage behind front 
seats 8R or 8L (which may have folding seat backs) or via side door means 
(not illustrated here but shown in FIG. 26B) on one or both sides of seat 
9C. In this embodiment cargo bed means (cargo bed 18) for carrying cargo 
thereon is provided in two cargo bed sections by pickup truck type left 
side and right side cargo beds 18L and 18R. The cargo beds are bordered in 
front by front wall means 13, on their inner (towards vehicle centerline) 
sides by side walls 12, on their outer sides by cargo bed side wall means 
20, and on their rear sides by cargo bed rear closure means 14. Each cargo 
bed section is located laterally disposed on a side of a person's seat 
(either seat 9C or 10C) in the seat means. The embodiment of FIG. 26A has 
rear tires 5 located outboard of the cargo bed side wall means 20, with 
optional tire cover means 32 for covering the top side and optionally the 
front and rear sides of the rear tires 5L and 5R. The tops of the tires 
may be at a higher level than the floor levels of the pickup beds 18L and 
18R. The engine compartment 16, front windshield 6, front tires 4, and 
front and rear bumpers 3A and 3B, are also visible in FIG. 26A. 
The embodiment of FIG. 26B is similar to the embodiment of FIG. 26A, with a 
forward-facing rearmost center seat 34C in lieu of the aft-facing rearmost 
center seat 10C of FIG. 26A. Access to the rear center seat 9C is 
illustrated via side door means 33, which may be on one or both sides of 
seat 9C. Side door means 33 may be of pivoting or sliding type and may 
open up, out, or back. Bi-fold type side door means are also possible. 
Side door means 33 are also shown providing access to seat 34C. Side door 
means may optionally be provided on one side rather than both, and may 
optionally use combined long door means for simultaneous access to both 
seats 9C and 34C. In a variant embodiment wherein seat 9C is replaced with 
a rearward facing seat facing toward seat 34C, common (not necessarily 
very long) side door means could be provided to access both of the facing 
seats 9C and 34C. Side door means lower sills may optionally be raised 
(e.g, by 6" for example) relative to the cargo carrying floor of the cargo 
beds 18L and 18R. Opposite side side door means could optionally be left 
open, and seats 9C and/or 34C may be foldable or retractable, to permit 
carriage of cargo loads running through both the opposite side side door 
means and extending into both the cargo beds 18L and 18R. An optional 
alternate rear tire location is also illustrated in FIG. 26B, with rear 
tire(s) 5C substantially centrally located behind rearmost j center seat 
34C. Again, the tops of the tires may be at a higher level than the floor 
levels of the pickup beds 18L and 1R, and tires may be of different sizes 
from those illustrated. Tire(s) 5C may be accessed for changing from the 
rear, for example through the use of a split configuration rear bumper 3B, 
as illustrated. Tire(s) 5C may be steerable to improve vehicle steering 
performance. Supplementary low profile "outrigger" tires 5S may also 
optionally be provided under the outer sides of the pickup beds, which 
contact the ground either always or only in "tight" or "high-G" turns to 
prevent excessive sideward lean (roll) of the vehicle. This Figure also 
illustrates use of rear wall means 11W (but alternatively rear hatch means 
similar to 11H in FIG. 22 and similar to those provided on current 
hatchback and some station wagon vehicles, could be provided to access a 
small storage area or shelf behind seat 34C). 
Thus the embodiments of FIGS. 26A and 26B provide a motor vehicle 
comprising running gear means (including front tires 4) for permitting 
said motor vehicle to move and maneuver upon a road surface and body means 
(vehicle body 2) for carrying a load which body means is supported by said 
running gear means, wherein said body means comprises (i) at least 
partially enclosed compartment means 2B for housing seat means for seating 
at least two persons substantially longitudinally disposed one in front of 
the other (in seats 9C and 10C in FIG. 26A; in seats 9C and 34C in FIG. 
26B), (ii) front at least partially enclosed compartment means for housing 
front seat means for seating at least two persons substantially laterally 
disposed one aside the other (in seats 8L and 8R, as described earlier), 
which front at least partially enclosed compartment means is boated 
substantially contiguously and in front of said at least partially 
enclosed compartment means 2B, and (iii) cargo bed means for carrying 
cargo thereon, which cargo bed means includes a cargo bed section (e.g., 
left side cargo bed 18L) which is substantially located laterally disposed 
on a side of a person's seat (e.g., seat 9C) in said seat means in said at 
least partially enclosed compartment means, and which cargo bed means 
further includes a second cargo bed section (e.g., right side cargo bed 
18R) which is substantially located laterally disposed on the opposite 
side of said side of a person's seat in said seat means in said at least 
partially enclosed compartment means. 
FIGS. 27A, 27B, 27C, 27D, 27E, 27F, 27G, and 27H show side views or partial 
side views of various embodiments of the invention illustrating enclosed 
or enclosable storage areas. 
FIG. 27A shows a right side view of an embodiment such as that illustrated 
earlier in FIG. 3A, now illustrating the use of representative doors 75D 
for a rooftop storage compartment 75. 
FIG. 27B shows a left side view of an embodiment of the invention similar 
to that shown in FIG. 3C, now illustrating the use of a storage 
compartment elevated above a pickup or cargo bed (87APB). 
FIG. 27C shows a left side view of an embodiment in the same class as the 
embodiment of FIG. 27B, now illustrating the use of a rooftop storage 
compartment 75 (optionally accessible from its side or rear), a raised 
ceiling 63, and a storage compartment below a pickup or cargo bed (87BPB). 
Taller windows may be provided on either side of the passenger seating 
area in the area of the body with the raised ceiling 63. 
FIG. 27D shows a partial left side view of an embodiment in the same class 
the the embodiments of FIGS. 27B and 27C, now also showing a storage 
compartment 46, which could optionally be enclosable, behind the front 
left seat 8L; and a storage compartment 87F at the front end of a cargo 
bed (18) which is in part bounded by a back wall 87FB of a storage 
compartment at the front end of a cargo bed (which back wall folds up from 
the cargo bed floor, as illustrated) and by a top cover 87FT of a storage 
compartment at the front end of a cargo bed (which top cover folds up from 
the front wall means 13, as illustrated). The storage compartment 87F may 
optionally be connected to and open into the storage compartment 46. 
Optional side gate or door mean 20SG may be furnished to enable easy 
loading or unloading of the storage compartment 87F from outside the 
vehicle 1. 
Thus the embodiment shown in FIG. 27D illustrates a motor vehicle 1 further 
comprising enclosable storage compartment means (46) for carrying and 
storing articles at a location in at least partially enclosed compartment 
means 2B. The embodiment shown in FIG. 27D also illustrates a motor 
vehicle 1 further comprising enclosable storage compartment means (87F) 
for carrying and storing articles, which enclosable storage compartment 
means occupies some space in said cargo bed means (cargo bed 18), and 
further comprising retraction means for retracting the structure (e.g., 
top cover 87FT and back wall 87FB) of said enclosable storage compartment 
means to a configuration occupying less space in said cargo bed means 
(i.e., when top cover 87FT and back wall 87FB are folded forward and down, 
respectively, the cargo bed 18 extends all the way forward up to the front 
wall means 13). 
FIG. 27E shows a partial left side view of an embodiment in the same class 
the the embodiments of FIGS. 27B, 27C and 27D, now showing a roll-out 
cover 87C to make an enclosed storage compartment above at least some 
portion of the cargo bed 18. The roll-out cover 87C serves as nonpermanent 
means for covering the top of said cargo bed on an as-desired basis. The 
roll-out cover 87C may range in thickness from a thin sheet to a tarp, and 
zippered edges may optionally be used to provide a positive seal along the 
side-edges of the roll-out cover. The enclosed storage compartment is 
bounded in front by front wall means 13, behind by a deployable/slide-in 
substantially vertical partition 87V in the cargo bed (or, alternatively, 
by cargo bed rear closure means 14), underneath by the floor of the cargo 
bed 18, on top by the roll-out cover 87C, and on the sides by side wall 12 
and cargo bed side wall means 20. Access to the storage compartment may be 
by retracting the roll-out-cover 87C, by undeploying or sliding out the 
partition 87V, and/or through an optional (openable) side gate or door 
20SG. 
FIGS. 27F, 27G and 27H show partial left side views of a longitudinal 
cross-section of embodiments of a motor vehicle 1 somewhat similar to that 
shown in FIG. 3A. The aft part of at least partially enclosed compartment 
means 2B in the motor vehicle 1 is shown, with a forward-facing rear seat 
(similar to seat 9C or 9R in FIGS. 3A or 1A) having a forward-facing rear 
seat back 9B and a forward-facing rear seat cushion 9S, and also having a 
aft-facing rearmost seat (similar to seat 10C or 10R in FIG. 3A or 1A) 
with an aft-facing rearmost seat back 10B and an aft-facing rearmost seat 
cushion 10S. Rear door means 11 serves as supporting means for a spare 
tire 84 in these illustrated embodiments of the invention, at a location 
just above the rear bumper 3B. A storage compartment 46 which is 
enclosable, is formed in a region under the above-described seats, and is 
bounded by a seating area floor 85 underneath, the seat backs 9B and 10B, 
the seat cushions 9s and 10S, an optional cover panel/sheet/shelf 88 on 
top, and roll-out covers 87C to make a substantially enclosed storage 
compartment, as illustrated. This storage compartment 46 serves as 
enclosable storage compartment means for carrying and storing articles at 
a location in the at least partially enclosed compartment means 2B. 
Somewhat different seat configurations are shown in each of FIGS. 27F, 27G 
and 27H. FIG. 27F shows an embodiment in a configuration where both the 
illustrated seats are in a configuration suitable for normal sifting 
occupancy. FIG. 27G shows the aft-facing rearmost seat cushion 10S folded 
up to a non-sittable configuration, and the rearmost roll-out cover 87C 
reconfigured to a more horizontal, valance-cover-like configuration to 
provide a larger size storage compartment 46. FIG. 27H shows an embodiment 
with the cover panel/sheet/shelf 88 moved to a location on the rear door 
means 11 and the rearmost roll-out cover 87C connecting to it. Seat back 
9B is shown in a reclined configuration, and can be used by a 
semi-reclining occupant. Seat back 10B is shown in a folded away, 
non-sittable configuration. In this embodiment also a substantially 
enclosed (with contents not visible from outside the vehicle) and large 
size storage compartment 46 is provided. 
FIGS. 28A, 28B, 28C, 28D, 28E, 28F, 28G, 28H, 28I and 28J show rear views 
of various means for providing a covering surface above a cargo bed. 
FIG. 28A shows a partial rear view of a lateral cross-section of an 
embodiment in the same class the the embodiments of FIGS. 2A through 2D, 
with an at least partially enclosed compartment means 2B separated by 
sidewall 12 from a pickup or cargo bed 18, which in turn is bounded on its 
sides by side wall 12 and by cargo bed side wall means 20. The illustrated 
embodiment now shows a roll-out cover 87C to make an enclosed storage 
compartment above at least some portion of the cargo bed 18. The roll-out 
cover 87C serves as nonpermanent means for covering the top of said cargo 
bed on an as-desired basis. This roll-out cover deploys transversely, as 
compared with the longitudinally deployable roll-out cover earlier 
illustrated in FIG. 27E. In alternate variations, it could deploy right to 
left or left to right, or have portions deploying in both directions. 
FIG. 28B shows an embodiment similar to FIG. 28A, with the use of a pickup 
bed cover panel in its covering position 89C, in lieu of the roll-out 
cover 87C. The pickup bed cover panel serves as nonpermanent means for 
covering the top of the cargo bed 18 on an as-desired basis. The pickup 
bed cover panel in its stowed or noncovering position is designated 89S, 
and shown in dashed lines. This illustrated embodiment also includes a 
rooftop storage compartment 75. The pickup bed cover panel is hingedly 
attached along one edge to the side wall 12, and will preferably be 
fastenably attached at its other edge to the cargo bed side wall means 20 
when in its covering position, and to either the upper portion of the side 
wall 12 or to the storage compartment 75 when in its stowed position. 
Panel deployment or movement from the covering to the stowed position and 
vice-versa may be manual, power assisted, or powered. Spring and damper 
means may be provided for enhancing deployment forces and dynamics. 
FIG. 28C shows an embodiment similar to FIG. 28B, but with the pickup bed 
cover panel now hingedly attached to the cargo bed side wall means 20 
rather than to the side wall 12. 
FIG. 28D shows an embodiment similar to FIGS. 28B and 28C, with two pickup 
bed cover panels one each hingedly attached to the side wall 12 and to the 
cargo bed side wall means 20. The connecting edges of these panels in 
their covering positions 89C are preferably fastened together by fastening 
means, and when the panels are in their stowed positions the hinges are 
preferably locked by hinge locking means known in the prior art. In this 
illustrated embodiment one covering panel is shown stowed pointing up and 
one is shown stowed pointing down--however variants may have both point 
up, both point down, or both point in opposite directions in one of two 
ways. 
FIG. 28E shows an embodiment wherein the pickup bed covering panel 89C, in 
its covering position, is a panel slid in from the back of the vehicle 
along edge holding slots (as illustrated) or rails or brackets. Two pickup 
bed cover panel stowed positions 89S are shown, one above the roof of the 
at least partially enclosed body means 2B, and the other along the floor 
of the pickup or cargo bed 18. A third alternative would be to stow the 
panel remotely from the vehicle, e.g. hang it on a garage wall when it is 
not in use. Optional side gate or door means 20SG may be provided to 
access the enclosed pickup bed volume from the outside of the vehicle, or 
from the at least partially enclosed compartment means 2B through the side 
wall 12, as illustrated. Tie down reels or hooks 90 are also shown in this 
Figure, which serve as means for enabling a cargo load to be secured in 
said cargo bed 18, when the cover panel is not installed in its covering 
position. The embodiment of FIG. 28E (and other embodiments) could also 
incorporate slide-in substantially vertical partitions such as 87V 
illustrated earlier in FIG. 27E. 
FIG. 28F shows an embodiment of the invention similar to the embodiment of 
FIG. 28B, but with a higher location for a hingeline for the cover panel, 
and a cover panel geometry including a substantially right-angle joint 
between two panel component members. A hinge may optionally be provided at 
this joint to minimize vertical height of the vehicle with the cover panel 
while the cover panel is being deployed or retracted. The pickup bed cover 
panel in its covering position is designated 89C, and the pickup bed cover 
panel in its stowed or noncovering position is designated 89S, and shown 
in dashed lines. Note that in its stowed position the cover panel goes 
above the roof of the at least partially enclosed compartment means 2B, as 
illustrated. 
FIG. 28G illustrates another variant embodiment similar to FIG. 28F, but 
with a very high cargo bed side wall means 20 and the use of a 
substantially flat cover panel in both its covering position 89C and its 
stowed position 89S. The cover panel may be rotated or slid from its 
covering to its stowed position, in variants of this embodiment. 
FIG. 28H illustrates an embodiment with a preferably detachable camper body 
91 installed above the pickup or cargo bed 18. The preferably detachable 
camper body 91 serves as nonpermanent means for covering the top of said 
cargo bed on an as-desired basis. Typical camper amenities such as bed(s), 
cooking facilities, and/or bathroom facilities may also be installed along 
with the camper body 91. The seats in at least partially enclosed 
compartment means 2B may also recline or fold flat to provide more 
sleeping capacity, and passage means for moving from the camper means into 
the at least partially enclosed compartment means 2B and vice-versa, may 
be provided. 
FIG. 28I illustrates an embodiment somewhat similar to FIG. 28F. Again, the 
pickup bed cover panel in its covering position is designated 89C, and the 
pickup bed cover panel in its stowed or noncovering position is designated 
89S, and shown in dashed lines. In this embodiment a cover panel linkage 
mechanism 89L including a connecting panel or framework connects the cover 
panel to the vehicle through a double hinge mechanism, as illustrated. 
Alternate hinge mechanisms are also possible within the spirit and scope 
of the invention. 
FIG. 28J illustrates yet another cover panel and linkage configuration. 
Again, the pickup bed cover panel in its covering position is designated 
89C, and the pickup bed cover panel in its stowed or noncovering position 
is designated 89S, and shown in dashed lines. In this embodiment the cover 
panel linkage mechanism 89L including a connecting framework with a 
substantially right-angle joint, connects the cover panel to the vehicle 
through a double hinge mechanism, as illustrated. Alternate hinge 
mechanisms are also possible within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in 
detail above, it should be understood that further modifications and 
variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention as 
claimed.