Utility vehicle

A utility vehicle capable of providing a storage box without restricting the storage capacity of the cargo bed thereof. The utility vehicle includes one or a plurality of seat rows, a dumping-type cargo bed behind the seat row(s), and a storage box disposed in a space between a backrest of the seat row(s) and a front panel of the cargo bed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a utility vehicle, more particularly, to a utility vehicle equipped with a dumping-type cargo bed.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In a utility vehicle equipped with a dumping-type cargo bed, the dumping-type cargo bed is disposed behind one or a plurality of seat rows, and a storage box for storing important baggage is provided, for example, inside the dumping-type cargo bed.

In the configuration in which the storage box is provided inside the dumping-type cargo bed, storage capacity of the dumping-type cargo bed is restricted. In addition, since the storage box is exposed to the outside, the storage box itself is required to have a strong structure so as to protect the baggage stored therein, and thereby its cost increases.

US Patent Publication No. 2014-0183903 discloses a utility vehicle having a dumping-type cargo bed. However, the utility vehicle disclosed in the above-mentioned prior art is not equipped with a storage box, and a space between a front panel of the cargo bed and a backrest of a seat is dead space and is not used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been devised in consideration of the above-mentioned problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a utility vehicle capable of providing a storage box by effectively using a space between a front panel of a dumping-type cargo bed and a backrest of a seat row or seat rows of the vehicle, without restricting the storage capacity of the dumping-type cargo bed. Another object of the present invention is to provide a utility vehicle capable of protecting the storage box, without the need for separately providing a protection cover or the like for the storage box, and capable of easily opening and closing the space in which the storage box is stored by raising and lowering the cargo bed (by performing a dumping operation).

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the utility vehicle according to the present invention includes one or a plurality of seat row(s); a dumping-type cargo bed arranged behind the one or the plurality of seat row(s), the cargo bed being turnable or rotatable around a pivot provided at a rear portion of the vehicle so as to raise a front portion of the cargo bed; and a storage box, part or whole of the storage box disposed in a space between a backrest of the one seat row or a backrest of a last seat row of the plurality of seat rows and a front panel of the dumping type cargo bed.

With the above-mentioned configuration, the space between the seat row and the front panel of the cargo bed can be used effectively to store baggage, and thereby the storage box can be provided without restricting the storage capacity of the cargo bed. In addition, any protection cover for the storage box is not required to be provided separately, and the space for storing the storage box can be opened and closed easily by raising and lowering the cargo bed.

The present invention having the above-mentioned configuration is preferably equipped with the following configurations.

(a) The storage box is fixed to a fixing member provided on the side of the one or the plurality of seat rows.

With the above-mentioned configuration (a), even in a case in which the storage space is desired to be opened and closed by raising and lowering the dumping-type cargo bed, the storage box itself is not moved, whereby the fixing structure of the storage box is stable and the raising and lowering (opening and closing) of the dumping-type cargo bed can be easily performed.

(b) The utility vehicle further includes a plurality of cabin walls enclosing a cabin for accommodating the one or the plurality of seat row(s), and a rear cabin wall member of the cabin walls covers a front side of the storage box.

With the above-mentioned configuration (b), the front side of the storage box can be protected by the rear cabin wall member, and the appearance of the utility vehicle is improved.

(c) The front panel of the dumping-type cargo bed has a screen extending upward.

With the above-mentioned configuration (c), a rear upper portion of the storage box can be protected by the screen, and the appearance of the utility vehicle is improved.

(d) The storage box is fixed to the front panel and/or the screen.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 to 4show a utility vehicle according to the present invention, and on the basis of these drawings, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. For convenience of explanation, an advancing direction of the utility vehicle is explained as the “front” of the utility vehicle and the respective components thereof, and the left-right direction as viewed from the driver or a passenger of the vehicle is explained as the “left-right direction” of the vehicle and the respective components thereof.

InFIG. 1, the utility vehicle includes a vehicle frame1, left and right front wheels2disposed at a front end portion of the vehicle frame1, and left and right rear wheels3disposed at a rear end portion of the vehicle frame1. A riding space (cabin) S1is positioned between the front wheels2and the rear wheels3in a front-rear direction, and is enclosed with a rollover protective structure (R.O.P.S.)5. A bench-type seat7is arranged in the riding space S1. A steering wheel10and a dash panel11are disposed at a front end portion of the riding space S1. The bench-type seat7includes a seat plate7aand a backrest7brising from a rear end portion of the seat plate7a.

The utility vehicle further comprises a dumping-type cargo bed13behind the riding space S1, a hood15and left and right front fenders16in front of the riding space S1, and a grid-like upper screen17. The grid-like upper screen17makes a partition between the riding space S1and an upper space of the cargo bed13. The upper screen17is disposed above the backrest7bof the seat7, and is supported by left and right vertical members18in a middle of the R.O.P.S.5. Left and right side covers20and left and right doors21are disposed on left and right sides of the riding space S1, and the left and right side covers20are extended to left and right rear fenders22via lower portions of left and right ends of the cargo bed13, respectively.

The dumping-type cargo bed13includes a bottom plate30, a front panel31, a rear panel32, and left and right side panels33. A rear end portion of a lower surface of the cargo bed13is rotatably or turnably supported by the vehicle frame1via left and right pivot shafts35, and the cargo bed13is locked to the vehicle frame1by latch devices36provided at both left and right ends of the front portion of the cargo bed13. In other words, when the cargo bed13is released from a fixed state to the vehicle frame1by releasing the latch devices36, the cargo bed13is rotated or turned around the pivot shafts35in a direction indicated by an arrow U, and thereby the position of the cargo bed13can be changed between a lowered position (the normal position shown inFIG. 1) and a dump position (inclined position) in which the front end portion of the cargo bed13is raised.

A grid-like lower screen31aprotruding upward is formed at an upper end of the front panel31, and this lower screen31aand the above-mentioned upper screen17constitute a whole screen, thereby forming a partition between the cargo bed13and the riding space S1.

A storage box40serving as a main portion according to the present invention is made of a hard resin or a metal. The storage box40is disposed in a box arrangement space S2between the backrest7bof the seat7and the front panel31of the cargo bed13and the lower screen31a, and is extended over the nearly whole width of the cargo bed13in a vehicle width direction.

FIG. 2is a perspective view showing the utility vehicle, with the cargo bed13being removed. The storage box40includes a box body41having an opening at an upper rear surface thereof, and left and right box lids42disposed so as to be able to open and close the opening of the box body41. An inside space of the box body41is divided into left and right chambers by a partition plate47. The left box lid42closes the opening of the left chamber inside the box body41, and the right box lid42closes the right chamber inside the box body41. The left and right box lids42are each provided with a locking knob45so as to be locked in a closed state.

InFIG. 3, the storage box40is formed into a trapezoidal shape being long in a vertical direction as viewed from the side. A front wall41aof the storage box40is formed so as to be inclined upward and rearward and is made in parallel with a rear surface of the backrest7b. A rear wall41bof the storage box40is extended nearly vertically upward in parallel with the front panel31of the cargo bed13.

An upper end portion of each box lid42is supported on a front upper end of the box body41via a hinge53, and the locking knob45is provided at a rear lower end of each box lid42. A partition plate49being nearly horizontal is disposed below the storage box40. This partition plate49forms a partition between the box arrangement space S2positioned on an upper side and a space S3positioned on a lower side. The space S3positioned on the lower side communicates with an engine compartment (not shown) disposed on a rear side. A front end portion of the partition plate49is fixed to upper ends of a plurality of supporting legs57of the seat7, and a rear end portion of the partition plate49is fixed to an upper end of a cargo bed supporting frame1afor supporting the cargo bed13located at the lowered position.

InFIG. 4, a base plate7cof the backrest7bis fixed to a cross pipe51of the R.O.P.S.5by means of a plurality of mounting plates52and a plurality of screws52a. The cross pipe51connects the left and right intermediate vertical members18of the R.O.P.S.5. The front wall41aof the storage box40is attached to the cross pipe51by means of a plurality of U-shaped brackets55and a plurality of push rivets56. A slidable pin is inserted into a body of the push rivet56and the pin is pushed into the body of the rivet, whereby a tip end portion of the rivet56is expanded, and two members to be connected are fastened by an expanded portion and a head portion of the rivet.

Various kinds of baggage required to be protected from rain, mud, dust, etc. can be stored inside the storage box40shown inFIG. 1. When baggage is to be stored inside the storage box40, the worker operates the left and right latch devices36to release a locked state of the cargo bed13and then rotates the cargo bed13around the pivot shafts35in a direction indicated by the arrow U by using a gas damper or the like to raise the front end portion of the cargo bed13. As a result, the rear surface of the storage box40is exposed so as to be accessible from outside as shown inFIG. 2.

In a state in which the rear surface of the storage box40is exposed rearward, the worker releases the locking knob45of the box lid42desired to be opened and opens the box lid42desired to be opened and then stores baggage.

After storing baggage in the storage box40, the worker closes the box lid42, returns the cargo bed13from the raised position to the lowered position (the normal position) and locks the cargo bed13at the lowered position with the latch devices36.

In the state in which the cargo bed13is locked in the lowered position, the box lids42are covered from behind with the front panel31of the cargo bed13, and the locking knobs45of the box lids42become inaccessible from behind. In other words, in the state in which the cargo bed13is positioned at the lowered position, the front portion of the storage box40is covered with the backrest7b, the rear portion of the storage box40is covered with the front panel31of the cargo bed13, the left and right side surfaces of the storage box40are covered with the left and right side covers20of the vehicle body, and the lower portion of the storage box40is covered with the partition plate49. Hence, the major portions of the storage box40, other than the upper surface, are covered with the backrest7b, the front panel31, the side covers20and the partition plate49, and are thereby protected from the outside.

In the case of taking out baggage from the inside of the storage box40, the worker reverses the procedure of the above-mentioned storage work.

Advantage of the Embodiment

(1) Since the storage box40is disposed in the space S2between the backrest7bof the seat7and the front panel31of the cargo bed13, the above-mentioned space S2, which conventionally serves as a dead space, can be used effectively to store baggage, and the storage capacity of the cargo bed13is not reduced.

(2) Since the major portions of the storage box40, other than the upper surface, are covered with the backrest7b, the front panel31of the cargo bed13and the left and right side covers20, the storage box40can be protected from the outside without the need for separately providing a protection cover for the box.

(3) Since the state of the access to the storage box40can be changed easily by raising and lowering (rotating) the dumping-type cargo bed13, the baggage can be easily stored in the storage box40and taken out therefrom.

(4) The storage box40is fixed to the cross pipe (fixing member)51to which the backrest7bof the seat7is fixed, together with the backrest7b. Therefore, even when the box arrangement space S2is opened and closed by raising and lowering the dumping-type cargo bed13, the storage box40is not raised or lowered. And thereby the fixed structure of the storage box40becomes stable. Since the storage box40is not raised or lowered, the raising/lowering operation of the dumping-type cargo bed13does not become heavy as a matter of course.

(5) Since the front panel31of the dumping-type cargo bed13lids the lower screen31aextending upward, the rear upper portion of the storage box40can be protected by the lower screen31a. In addition, the appearance of the utility vehicle is improved.

Other Embodiments

(1)FIG. 5shows a first modification of the storage box40, and the storage box40has only the box body41having an opening41cbut has no box lid. The opening41cof the box body41is covered with the front panel31of the cargo bed13located at the lowered position (the normal position). With the first modification, the number of components of the storage box40is reduced.

(2)FIG. 6shows a second modification of the storage box40in which the whole rear surface of the box body41can be opened and a single box lid42covers the entire opening. A lower end of the box lid42is rotatably supported on the box body41via hinges, and an upper end thereof is provided with left and right locking knobs45.

FIG. 7shows a third modification of the present invention. This modification is an example obtained by applying the present invention to a utility vehicle in which the riding space (cabin) S1is surrounded by a plurality of cabin walls. However, as the cabin walls,FIG. 7shows a rear cabin wall portion58, and a ceiling portion59. The rear cabin wall portion58is provided with a window58amade of transparent glass or resin.

The rear cabin wall portion58covering the rear portion of the riding space (cabin) S1is disposed behind the backrest7bof the seat7, and the storage box40is disposed in the space S2between a rear surface (outer surface) of the rear cabin wall portion58and the front panel31.

(4)FIG. 8shows a fourth modification of the present invention in which the front panel31of the cargo bed13has no lower screen. Instead of the lower screen, the upper screen17provided on the R.O.P.S.5is extended downward close to the upper end of the backrest7b. The box arrangement space S2is formed between the backrest7bof the seat7and the front panel31of the cargo bed13, and the whole of the storage box40is stored inside the box arrangement space S2.

FIG. 9shows a fifth modification of the present invention in which the storage box40disposed in the box arrangement space S2is fixed to the front panel31of the cargo bed13and the lower screen31a. The other structures are the same as those of the embodiment shown inFIGS. 1 to 4. A hook61is formed at the upper portion of the rear wall41bof the storage box40, and the hook61is engaged with the horizontal bar portion31cof the lower screen31a. Furthermore, the intermediate portion of the rear wall41bin the vertical direction thereof is fixed to the front panel31with fasteners, such as bolts or push rivets. The box lid42is provided on an end wall of the storage box40in the vehicle width direction so that the baggage can be easily put into and taken out from the side of the vehicle. Furthermore, the front wall41aof the storage box40is opposed to the backrest7bwith an appropriate distance being provided thereto so as not to make contact with the backrest7bwhile the cargo bed13is raised and lowered. Instead of the above-mentioned fixing method, a method of fixing the storage box40only to the front panel31by using appropriate fastening means may also be used, or a method of fixing the storage box40only to the lower screen31aby using appropriate fastening means may also be used.

Although the storage box made of a hard resin or a metal is provided in the above-mentioned respective embodiments, the storage box40may be made of cloth or soft resin having flexibility. In this case, the storage box having flexibility can be suspended from the screen17by using a plurality of hooks or the like. Moreover, a storage box made of a net can also be provided.

(7) The storage box may be configured so as to be simply placed on the upper surface of the partition plate49as shown inFIG. 3, instead of being fixed to the vehicle body frame.

(8) A plurality of storage boxes may be disposed in the space between the backrest of the seat and the front panel of the cargo bed.

(9) The present invention is also applicable to a utility vehicle equipped with a front seat row and a rear seat row. In this cane, the storage box is disposed in the space between the backrest of the rear seat row and the front panel of the cargo bed.

(10) The present invention is not limited to the structures of the above-mentioned embodiments, but includes various modifications that can be devised without departing from the contents described in the appended claims.