Utility vehicle

A utility vehicle includes a passenger grip for a crew seated on a passenger seat. The passenger grip includes a handle grip having an arm part extending from a dashboard toward the passenger seat and a grip part provided at the arm part and gripped by the crew seated on the passenger seat, a holder outserted to the arm part of the handle grip and holding the arm part movably forward and backward in an extending direct on of the arm part, and a single-action look mechanism provided at the holder and fixing the handle grip to the holder. The single-action lock mechanism includes a lock pin having a distal end penetrating a through hole provided at the holder and engaged with at least one engagement hole provided at the arm part, a spring biasing the lock pin toward the arm part, a housing fixed to the holder and accommodating the lock pin and the spring, and a knob disposed outside the housing and connected to the lock pin.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a utility vehicle.

2. Description of Related Art

As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,073,454 and the like, there has been known a utility vehicle including a passenger grip provided ahead of a passenger seat and gripped by a crew seated on the passenger seat.

The passenger grip provided ahead of the passenger seat is preferred to easily be mounted and dismounted as necessary.

SUMMARY

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a utility vehicle including a passenger grip configured to be mounted and dismounted easily.

In order to achieve this object, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided

a utility vehicle including

a passenger grip for a crew at seated on passenger seat,

the passenger grip includinga handle grip having an arm part extending from a dashboard toward the passenger seat, and a grip part provided at the arm part and gripped by the crew seated on the passenger seat,a holder outserted to the arm part of be handle grip and holding the arm part movably forward and backward in an extending direction of the arm part, anda single-action lock mechanism provided at be holder and fixing the handle grip to the holder,the single-action lock mechanism includinga lock pin having a distal end penetrating a through hole provided at the holder and engaged with at least one engagement hole provided at the arm part,a spring biasing the lock pin toward the arm part,a housing fixed to the holder and accommodating the lock pin and the spring, anda knob disposed outside the housing and connected be the lock pin.

a utility vehicle including

a passenger grip for a crew seated on a passenger seat,

the passenger grip includinga handle grip provided with an arm part that extends in a first direction from a dashboard toward the passenger seat and that has a shape of a quadrangular prism, and a grip part provided at the arm part and gripped by the crew seated on the passenger seat,a holder that is outserted to the arm part of the handle grip, holds the arm part movably forward and backward in the first direction, and has a rectangular tubular shape,a bush that is inserted into the holder guides the arm part of the handle grip so as to be movable forward and backward, is made of a resin material, and has a rectangular tubular shape, anda single-action lock mechanism provided at the holder and fixing the handle grip to the holder,the single-action lock mechanism includinga lock pin having a distal end penetrating a through hole provided at the holder and engaged with at least one engagement hole provided at the arm part,a spring biasing the lock pin toward the arm part,a housing fixed to the holder and accommodating the lock pin and the spring, anda knob disposed outside the housing and connected to the lock pin,the bush includinga first semi-cylindrical member and a second semi-cylindrical member that face each other in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and

at least one guide surface part provided on at least one of inner surfaces of be first and second semi-cylindrical members, the guide surface part being a flat surface parallel to the first direction and coming in surface contact with the arm part of the handle grip in a slidable manner.

The configuration according to such an aspect enables the passenger grip of the utility vehicle to be mounted and dismounted easily.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, a utility vehicle includes a passenger grip for a crew seated on a passenger seat, the passenger grip including a handle grip having an arm part extending from a dashboard toward the passenger seat, and a grip part provided at the arm part and gripped by the crew seated on the passenger seat, a holder outserted to the arm part of the handle grip and holding the arm part movably forward and backward in an extending direction of the arm part, and a single-action lock mechanism provided at the holder and fixing the handle grip to the holder, the single-action lock mechanism including a lock pin having a distal end penetrating a through hole provided at the holder and engaged with at least one engagement hole provided at the arm part, a spring biasing the lock pin toward the arm part, a housing fixed to the holder and accommodating the lock pin and the spring, and a knob disposed outside the housing and connected to the lock pin;

For example, the holder is disposed in a space behind the dashboard, the arm part of the handle grip extends from the space behind the dashboard toward a cabin space through an arm through hole provided at the dashboard, and the knob of the single-action lock mechanism is positioned in a glove box provided at the dashboard.

For example the arm through hole is provided above the glove box, and the knob of the lock mechanism is positioned adjacent to a ceiling surface of an interior space of the glove box.

For example, the dashboard is provided with a hood positioned above the arm through hole and covering the arm through hole.

For example, the at least one engagement hole at the arm part of the handle grip includes a plurality of engagement holes aligned in the extending direction of the arm part.

For example, the holder is detachably attached to a frame of the utility vehicle extending in the space behind the dashboard.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a utility vehicle includes a passenger grip for a crew seated on a passenger seat, the passenger grip including a handle grip provided with an arm part that extends in a first direction from a dashboard toward the passenger seat and that has a shape of a quadrangular prism, and a grip part provided at the arm part and gripped by the crew seated on the passenger seat, a holder that is outserted to the arm part of the handle grip, holds the arm part movably forward and backward in the first direction, and has a rectangular tubular shape, a bush that is inserted into the holder, guides the arm part of the handle grip so as to be movable forward and backward, is made of a resin material, and has a rectangular tubular shape, and a single-action lock mechanism provided at the holder and fixing the handle grip to the holder, the single-action lock mechanism including a lock pin having a distal end penetrating a through hole provided at the holder and engaged with at least one engagement hole provided at the arm part, a spring biasing the lock pin toward the arm part, a housing fixed to the holder and accommodating the lock pin and the spring, and a knob disposed outside the housing and connected to the lock pin, the bush including a first semi-cylindrical member and a second semi-cylindrical member that face each other in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and at least one guide surface part provided on at least one of inner surfaces of the first and second semi-cylindrical members, the guide surface part being a flat surface parallel to the first direction and coming in surface contact with the arm part of the handle grip in a slidable manner.

For example, the first and second semi-cylindrical members respectively have bottom walls that face, each other in the second direction across the arm part of the handle grip, each of the bottom walls including the guide surface part.

For example, the first and second semi-cylindrical members respectively have pairs of side walls that extend from both ends of the bottom walls in a third direction orthogonal to both the first direction and the second direction, each of the pairs of side walls extending from the corresponding bottom wall so as to be away from each other with distance from the bottom wall.

For example, the side wall on one side in the third direction of the pair of side wads in the first semi-cylindrical member includes the guide surface part, and the side wall on the other side in the third direction of the pair of side walls in the second semi-cylindrical member includes the guide surface part.

For example, the first and second semi-cylindrical members include engagement parts which are engaged with each other.

For example, the first and second semi-cylindrical members are identical.

An embodiment will now be described in more detail with reference toFIGS. 1 to 10.FIGS. 1 to 10depict a utility vehicle according to an embodiment.

Unnecessarily detailed description may not be made where appropriate. For example, an already well known matter may not be described in detail or substantially identical configurations may not be descried repeatedly. It is to prevent the following description from becoming unnecessarily long as well as to allow those skilled in the art to easily understand the description.

The inventors provide the accompanying drawings and the following description in order to allow those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, without any intention to limit a subject matter recited in the patent claims.

Directions “front”, “rear”, “left”, and “right” mentioned in the present application are viewed from a driver boarding and driving the utility vehicle.

As depicted inFIG. 1, a utility vehicle10according to the embodiment includes a passenger grip16provided at a dashboard14ahead of a passenger seat12and gripped by a crew seated on the passenger seat12.

As depicted inFIGS. 1 and 2, the passenger grip16projects from the dashboard14toward the passenger seat12. In the embodiment, the passenger grip16is provided above a glove box18(above a box cover20thereof) of the dashboard14.

FIG. 3is a perspective view of the passenger grip,FIG. 4is an exploded view of the passenger grip, andFIG. 5is a partial sectional view of the passenger grip.

As depicted inFIGS. 3 and 4, the passenger grip16includes a handle grip30gripped by the crew seated on the passenger seat12, and a holder32detachably holding the handle grip30.

In the embodiment, the handle grip30has a “T” shape. The handle grip30includes an arm part30aextending from the dashboard14toward the passenger seat12as depicted inFIG. 2, and a grip part30bextending in the vehicle width direction of the utility vehicle10from a distal end of the arm part30aas depicted inFIG. 3and gripped by the crew seated on the passenger seat12.

In the embodiment, the arm part30aof the handle grip30according to the present embodiment is configured by a hollow metallic pipe member having a quadrilateral cross section. The grip part30bis made of a rubber material, a resin material, or the like, and is detachably attached to the handle grip30. That is, the grip part30bis replaceable.

The holder32of the passenger grip16can be outserted to the arm part30aof the handle grip30, and is a tubular metallic pipe member having a quadrilateral cross section, in the embodiment. The holder32holds the arm part30amovably forward and backward in an extending direction of the arm part30aof the handle grip30. The holder32can alternatively have a shape different from the tubular shape as long as the holder32can be outserted to the arm part30aof the handle grip30. In the embodiment, the holder32is provided with a bush34. The arm part30aof the handle grip30is inserted to the bush34, so that the handle grip30becomes movable forward and backward smoothly with respect to the holder32.

FIG. 6depicts the dashboard from which the handle grip is removed.FIG. 7depicts a state where the dashboard is detached.

As depicted inFIGS. 6 and 7, in the embodiment, the holder32of the passenger grip16is disposed in a space behind the dashboard14. The holder32disposed in the space behind the dashboard14is attached toe frame (beam)36extending in the vehicle width direction of the utility vehicle10. In the embodiment, the holder32is detachably attached to the beam36to allow the passenger grip16to be replaceable. Specifically, as depicted inFIG. 3, in the embodiment, the holder32is provided with an L-shaped bracket38having an engagement surface38a(SeeFIG. 5) detachably engaged with the beam36having a rectangular cross section. As depicted inFIG. 8, a hook plate40is fixed to the bracket38by means of a bolt42, so that the bracket38and the hook plate40grip the beam36. The hook plate40is fixed to the beam36, for example by welding. The holder32may be attached to the utility vehicle10at a position other than the beam36. Furthermore, the holder32may be attached to the beam36in a manner other than the above.

The handle grip30is held by the holder32disposed in the space behind the dashboard14, as depicted inFIG. 7, the dashboard14is provided with an arm through hole14a. In the embodiment, the arm through hole14ais provided above the glove box18(the box cover20thereof). The arm part30aof the handle grip30penetrating the arm through hole14ais held by the holder32, and extends from the space behind the dashboard14toward a cabin space passenger seat12). As depicted inFIG. 6, the arm through hole14ais provided thereon with a hood14bcovering the arm through hole14ato prevent the arm through hole14afrom standing out after the handle grip30is removed.

As depicted inFIGS. 3 to 5, the holder3is provided with a single-action lock mechanism50configured to fix the handle grip30to the holder32.

As depicted inFIGS. 4 and 5, the single-action lock mechanism50includes a lock pin52, a spring54biasing the lock pin52, a housing56provided at the holder32, and a knob58connected to the lock pin52.

As depicted inFIG. 5, the arm part30aof the handle grip30has a plurality of engagement holes30caligned in the extending direction of the arm part30a. The holder32holding the arm part30ahas a through hole32a. The handle grip30is fixed to the holder32by inserting a distal end52aof the lock pin52through the through hole32aof the holder32and engaging the distal end52awith one of the engagement holes30cof the arm part30a. When the distal end52aof the lock pin52is engaged with a different one of the engagement holes30c, the arm part30aof the handle grip30has a portion projecting from the holder32and having a different length. That is, the projecting portion of the arm part30aof the handle grip30can be adjusted in length by changing the engagement hole30cengaged with the distal end52aof the lock pin52.

In order to keep engagement between the engagement hole30cof the handle grip30and the distal end52aof the lock pin52, in other words, in order to fix the handle grip30to the holder32, the spring64biases the lock pin52toward the arm part30aof the handle grip30. In the embodiment, the lock pin52is disposed inside the spring54. The lock pin52is thus provided with a snap ring60receiving a first end of the spring54(as depicted inFIG. 4, there is provided a groove52bengaged with the snap ring60).

The lock pin52and the spring54(as well as the snap ring60) are accommodated in the housing56provided at the holder32. The lock pin52is accommodated in the housing56movably forward and backward with respect to the engage merit hole30cof the arm part30aof the handle grip30. The spring54has a second end received by the housing56and can thus bias the lock pin52(the snap ring60toward the engagement hole30c.

The lock pin52has another end (opposite to the distal end52a) connected to the knob58disposed outside the housing56, When the crew moves backward the lock pin52by means of the knob58against biasing force of the spring54, the distal end52aof the lock pin52is disengaged from the engagement hole30cof the handle grip30. The handle grip30thus becomes movable forward or backward with respect to the holder32, or can be detached from the holder32. When the crew releases the knob58the lock pin52is moved forward by the biasing force of the spring54, and the distal end52aengages with the engagement hole30cof the handle grip30.

The single-action lock mechanism58thus configured allows the crew to cancel fixation between the holder32and the handle grip30with a single hand. The crew can thus operate alone the knob58with a first hand to cancel fixation between the holder32and the handle grip30, and simultaneously move forward or backward the handle grip30with respect to the holder32or detach the handle grip30from the holder32with a second hand. That is, the passenger grip16is mounted and dismounted easily.

As depicted inFIG. 5, the lock pin52penetrates a through hole56aof the housing56and the snap ring60is attached to the penetrated portion, so as not to fall off the housing56. This prevents losing the lock pin52.

As depicted inFIGS. 9 and 10, in the embodiment, the single-action lock mechanism50is mostly positioned in the space behind the dashboard14whereas the knob58is positioned in the glove box18. The crew thus needs to open the box cover20of the glove box18as depicted inFIG. 9to access the knob58. The knob58is disposed in the glove box18to prevent unintended disengagement of the handle grip30from the holder32. In a case where the knob58is disposed outside the glove box18, the crew may involuntarily touch the knob58to cause unintended disengagement of the handle grip30from the holder32.

The knob58of the single-action look mechanism50is preferably positioned adjacent to a ceiling surface18aof an interior space of the glove box18. The knob58thus disposed is unlikely to disturb entrance of goods into the glove box18.

The bush34depicted inFIGS. 4 and 5may be constituted by a single part or multiple parts.

FIG. 11is a perspective view of a bush constituted by multiple parts in a utility vehicle according to another embodiment.FIG. 12is an exploded perspective view of the bush depicted inFIG. 11.FIG. 13is a rear view of the bush depicted inFIG. 11.FIG. 14is a rear view of the bush which is depicted inFIG. 11and is attached to the holder with an arm part of a handle grip being inserted therethrough.

In the drawings, the X-axis direction (first direction) indicates the extending direction of the arm part30aof the handle grip30, that is, the direction in which the arm part30amoves forward and backward within the holder32. The Y-axis direction (second direction) and the Z-axis direction (third direction) are both orthogonal to the X-axis direction, and are mutually orthogonal. In the present embodiment, as depicted inFIG. 4, the Y-axis direction coincides with the extending direction of the grip part30bof the handle grip30. However, the Z-axis direction may instead coincide with the extending direction of the grip part30b.

As depicted inFIG. 11, the bush134in the utility vehicle according to another embodiment is constituted by two parts162and164which are engaged with each other in the Y-axis direction. In the present embodiment, the two parts162and164are the same semi-cylindrical members162and164having the same semi-cylindrical shape. Therefore, the manufacturing cost of the bush134is reduced, as compared to the case where the two parts are different from each other with different shapes.

The two semi-cylindrical members (first and second semi-cylindrical members)162and164which have the same shape and constitute the bush134are made of a resin material. In the present embodiment, to enable engagement between the first and second semi-cylindrical members162and164in the Y-axis direction, the first and second semi-cylindrical members162and164are provided with engagement holes162band164bformed in flange parts162aand164a(more precisely, parts that constitute a flange of the bush134when being engaged with each other) and engagement pins164cand162cwhich are engaged with the engagement holes162band164b, respectively. The two semi-cylindrical members162and164are attached to the holder32while being engaged with each other.

As depicted inFIG. 13, the first semi-cylindrical member162includes a bottom wall162dand a pair of side walls162eextending from both ends of the bottom wall162din the Z-axis direction. Similarly, the second semi-cylindrical member164includes a bottom wall164dand a pair of side walls164eextending from both ends of the bottom wall164din the Z-axis direction. When the first and second semi-cylindrical members162and164engage with each other, the tip parts of the side walls162eand164ecome in contact with each other.

As depicted inFIG. 14, when the first and second semi-cylindrical members162and164are engaged with each other to form the bush134the respective bottom walls162dand164dface each other in the Y-axis direction across the arm part30aof the handle grip30. The arm part30aof the handle grip30is present between the pair of side walls162eof the first semi-cylindrical member162. Further, the arm part30aof the handle grip30is present between the pair of side walls164eof the second semi-cylindrical member4.

As depicted inFIG. 14, the bottom wall162dof the first semi-cylindrical member162and the bottom wall164dof the second semi-cylindrical member164are provided with guide surface parts162fand164fwhich can be in surface contact with the outer surface of the arm part30aof the handle grip30in a slidable manner, that is, which are parallel to the X-axis direction that is the direction in which the arm part30amoves forward and backward. In the present embodiment, the guide surface, part162fis defined by a top surface of a protrusion which is provided to extend in the X-axis direction on the inner surface of the bottom wall162d, as depicted inFIG. 12. Similarly, the guide surface part164fis defined by a top surface of a protrusion which is provided to extend in the X-axis direction on the inner surface of the bottom wall164d.

The guide surface parts162fand164fof the first and second semi-cylindrical members162and164are substantially flat and parallel to each other when the bush134is assembled. Further, the guide surface parts162fand164fface each other in the Y-axis direction. As a result, the guide surface parts162fand164frespectively come in surface contact with the outer surface of the arm part30aof the handle grip30, and thus, hold the arm part30ain the Y-axis direction so as to be slidable in the X-axis direction. Such guide surface parts162fand164fsuppress vibration and rattling of the detachable handle grip30(the arm part30athereof) in the Y-axis direction.

In order to form the guide surface parts162fand164fwhich are parallel to each other and which have flat surfaces capable of being in surface contact with the outer surface of the arm part30aof the handle grip30, the bush134is constituted by two parts, that is, the first and second semi-cylindrical members162and164. In order to explain the reason, a bush constituted by a single part according to a comparative example will be described.

FIG. 15is a sectional view of the bush constituted by a single part according to the comparative example.

The bush234according to the comparative example depicted inFIG. 15is also made of a resin material, like the bush134in the above-described embodiment. The bush made of resin is basically manufactured using a old in consideration of mass productivity.

The bush234according to the comparative example depicted inFIG. 15is manufactured using a mold for molding an inner surface234aof the bush234and a mold for molding an outer surface234b. When the molding is completed, the respective molds are moved in the X-axis direction to release the molded bush234. For this reason, drafts are provided on the inner surface234aand the outer surface234bof the bush234.

Due to the drafts, the inner surface234aof the bush234cannot substantially be in surface contact with the outer surface of the arm part30aof the handle grip30, as depicted inFIG. 15. Similarly, due to the drafts, the outer surface234bof the bush234cannot substantially be in surface contact with the inner surface of the holder32. Therefore, the handle grip30(the arm part30athereof) inserted into the bush234may rattle.

In order to suppress the rattling of the handle grip30caused by the drafts as described above, the bush134is constituted by the first semi-cylindrical member162and the second semi-cylindrical member164which are engaged with each other in the Y-axis direction, as depicted inFIG. 13. In the case of the first and second semi-cylindrical members162and164described above, the first and second semi-cylindrical members162and164can be released by moving a mold for molding the inner surface and a mold for molding the outer surface in the Y-axis direction. Therefore, guide surface parts162fand164fparallel to the X-axis direction can be formed on the inner surfaces of the first and second semi-cylindrical members162and164. Accordingly, in order to form such guide surface parts162fand164f, the bush134is constituted by two parts, that is, the first and second semi-cylindrical members162and164.

Since the molds which are moved in the Y-axis direction to release the first and second semi-cylindrical members162and164are used, drafts are provided on the inner and outer surfaces of the respective side walls162eand164e. Therefore, as depicted inFIG. 13, each of the pairs of side walls162eand164eof the first and second semi-cylindrical members162and164extends from the corresponding bottom wall162dor164dso as to be away from each other with distance from the corresponding bottom wall. For example, as depicted inFIG. 13, the distance L1between the pair of side walls162eat the farthest position from the bottom wall162dis larger than the distance L2between the pair of side walls162eat the closest position to the bottom wall162d.

Therefore, when the first and second semi-cylindrical members162and164are attached to the holder32, the tip parts (farthest ends from the bottom wall162d) of the pair of side, walls162eof the first semi-cylindrical member162are deformed to be close to each other as depicted inFIG. 14. At the same time, the tip parts (farthest ends from the bottom wall164d) of the pair of side walls164eof the second semi-cylindrical member164are deformed to be close to each other.

Due to the deformation of the pair of side walls162eof the first semi-cylindrical member162as described above the pair of side walls162ehold the arm part30aof the handle grip30therebetween in the Z-axis direction. Similarly, due to the deformation of the pair of side walls164eof the second semi-cylindrical member164, the pair of side walls164ehold the arm part30aof the handle grip30therebetween in the Z-axis direction. As a result of such holding, vibration and rattling of the handle grip30(the arm part30athereof) in the Z-axis direction are suppressed.

The bush134which is depicted inFIG. 11and constituted by the two semi-cylindrical members162and164can suppress vibration and rattling of the arm part30aof the handle grip30inserted into the bush134in the direction (Y-axis direction and Z-axis direction) orthogonal to the extending direction (X-axis direction) of the arm part30a.

Various modifications are possible for the bush constituted by two semi-cylindrical members.

FIG. 16is a rear view of a bush in a utility vehicle according to still another embodiment.

As depicted inFIG. 16, the bush334in the utility vehicle according to still another embodiment is also constituted by first and second semi-cylindrical members362and364like the bush134described above. Similar to the first and second semi-cylindrical members162and164described above, the first and second semi-cylindrical members362and364have bottom walls362dand364d, and pairs of side walls362eand364e, the bottom walls362dand364dincluding guide surface parts362fand364f. Furthermore, each of the pairs of side walls362eand364eof the first and second semi-cylindrical members362and364extends from the corresponding bottom wall362dor364dso as to be away from each other with distance from the corresponding bottom wall362dor364d.

However, unlike the first and second semi-cylindrical members162and164described above, the first and second semi-cylindrical members362and364of the bush334also have guide surface parts362gand364g, which come in surface contact with the outer surface of the arm part30aof the handle grip30, on the pairs of side walls362eand364e, respectively. Specifically, the side wall362eof the pair of side walls362eof the first semi-cylindrical member362on one side (the lower side in the drawing) in the Z-axis direction includes the guide surface part362g. Further the side wall364eof the pair of side walls364eof the second semi-cylindrical member364on the other side (the upper side in the drawing) in the Z-axis direction includes the guide surface part364g.

In the first semi-cylindrical member362, the guide surface parts362fand362gare flat surfaces whose normal lines are orthogonal to each other. Further, in the second semi-cylindrical member364, the guide surface parts364fand364gare flat surfaces whose normal lines are orthogonal to each other.

According to the first and second semi-cylindrical members362and364described above, the handle grip30(the arm part30athereof) is prevented from vibrating or rattling not only in the Y-axis direction but also in the Z-axis direction by the guide surface parts362f,362g,364f, and364g.

The embodiment described above exemplifies the technique of the present invention. The accompanying drawings and the detailed description are provided for the exemplification. Those constituent elements depicted in the accompanying drawings and disclosed in the detailed description will include constituent elements essential for achievement of the object as well as constituent elements not essential for achievement of the object but for exemplification of the technique. Accordingly, those inessential constituent elements should not be regarded as being essential simply because the inessential constituent elements are depicted in the accompanying drawings or are disclosed in the detailed description.

The above embodiment is provided for exemplification of the technique according to the present invention, and will thus accept modification, replacement, addition, removal, and the like in various manners within the scope of the patent claims or an equivalent scope.