Abstract:
To provide a load-carrying platform structure which allows loading irrespective of the kind or shape of a load, reliably secures the load onto the load-carrying platform, and does not cause a decrease in the full load capacity. In a structure in which a frame includes a load-carrying platform, and wall portions are provided in the outer periphery of the loading portion of the load-carrying platform with recesses being provided in the inner wall surfaces of the wall portions. Hooks for securing the load in place are provided in the respective recesses so as to fit within the inner wall surfaces of the wall portions.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority under 35 USC 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-096580 filed on Mar. 31, 2006 the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a load-carrying platform structure for carrying a load. 
     2. Description of Background Art 
     A MUV (Multi Utility Vehicle) vehicle is commonly known as a seat type vehicle equipped with a load-carrying platform. In a vehicle of this type, a load is placed on the load-carrying platform. However, in the case of a small-sized cargo (bulk cargo) or the like, depending on the kind or shape of the load, the loading may become difficult unless a wall portion is provided. Accordingly, there has been proposed a structure in which a side flap portion is detachably provided in the outer periphery of the loading portion of a load-carrying platform so as to allow loading irrespective of the shape of the load. See, for example, JP-A No. H01-215683. 
     On the other hand, in a construction according to the related art, even when a load is placed inside the wall portion of the load-carrying platform, the load may roll around on the load-carrying platform in situations when the vehicle is traveling at high speed in rough terrain. To overcome this problem, there has been proposed a technique in which a hook portion is provided on the floor surface of the load-carrying platform of a large-sized truck, and a rope is hooked onto this hook to thereby secure the load in place. See, for example, JP-U No. H05-32254. 
     However, although the construction of the related art disclosed in JP-U No. H05-32254 proves effective when applied to a vehicle such as a large-sized truck with a load-carrying platform having a large floor surface, since the floor surface is raised. In the case of a vehicle having a load-carrying platform with a small load capacity, the loading surface is reduced, and also the number of parts increase, thus producing an increase in cost. 
     Further, in the case of a vehicle with a narrow load-carrying platform, for example, loading is easily performed by hooking a rope or the like onto a plurality of hooks to secure the load in place. However, when a plurality of hooks project on the load-carrying platform or on the inner wall surface of the load-carrying platform, this leads to a decrease in full load capacity. 
     SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the above, to address the above-mentioned problems associated with the related art, it is an object of an embodiment of the present invention to provide a load-carrying platform structure which allows loading irrespective of the kind or shape of a load, reliably secures the load onto the loading surface, and does not cause a reduction in full load capacity. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a load-carrying platform structure in which a frame includes a load-carrying platform and a wall portion is provided in an outer periphery of a loading portion of the load-carrying platform, the load-carrying platform structure includes a recess provided in an inner wall surface of the wall portion and a hook portion provided in the recess, the hook portion being sized so as to fit within the inner wall surface of the wall portion, and the hook portion securing a load in place. 
     According to this construction, it is possible to prevent the loaded cargo from coming into interference with the hook portion. 
     Further, the recess may be provided in a lower portion of the wall portion, and the hook may be attached onto the frame. 
     According to this construction, by providing the hook portion to the frame, it is possible to form a frame portion of high strength. 
     Further, the hook may be formed by punching an inner wall surface material forming the wall portion. 
     According to this construction, the hook portion can be formed simply by punching the inner wall surface material. 
     Further, the wall portion may have a stepped portion formed in the inner wall surface. 
     According to this construction, since a stepped portion is formed by recessing the inner wall surface of the wall portion, a long object may be loaded so as to be fitted into this stepped portion. Further, an enhanced strength can be achieved by increasing the modulus of section of the wall portion. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, a recess is formed in the inner wall surface of the wall portion, and a hook portion that does not project beyond the inner wall surface is provided inside this recess, whereby upon loading cargo onto the load-carrying platform, this cargo contacts the inner wall surface and hence does not come into interference with the hook portion. Further, the hook does not become obtrusive during the cargo loading operation. Further, since the recess is formed by recessing the wall portion, no decrease occurs in the load capacity of an existing load-carrying platform. Further, a rope or the like is hooked onto the hook portion, thereby making it possible to reliably secure the load in place with this rope. Furthermore, since a stepped portion is formed in the inner wall surface, the load capacity can be enlarged, and also the strength of the wall portion can be enhanced. 
     Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a vehicle including a load-carrying platform structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the vehicle shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of the vehicle shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view, as seen diagonally from the right rear, of the vehicle shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view showing the body frame structure of the vehicle shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a load-carrying platform used in the load-carrying platform structure according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a frame portion constituting the framework of the load-carrying platform shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIGS. 9(   a ) and  9 ( b ) are enlarged views showing a state with a rope hooked on a hook portion  58  shown in  FIG. 7 , of which  FIG. 9(   a ) is a front view, and  FIG. 9(   b ) is a sectional view taken along the line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 9(   a ); and 
         FIGS. 10(   a ) to  10 ( c ) are enlarged views of a hook portion  72  shown in  FIG. 7 , of which  FIG. 10(   a ) is a front view,  FIG. 10(   b ) is a sectional view taken along the line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 10(   a ), and  FIG. 10(   c ) is a perspective view. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A load-carrying platform structure according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a MUV vehicle  1  is a four-wheel vehicle capable of driving over rough terrain or the like and having two front wheels  2  and two rear wheels  3  provided on the front and rear sides, respectively. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , at the front portion of the vehicle  1 , there are provided a bonnet  9  attached by means of a hinge or the like so as to freely open and close in the vertical direction, a front grille  18  for taking in air during the operation of the vehicle, a headlight  19  arranged on either side of the front grille  18 , and a carrying pipe  10  for protecting the front-side portion of the vehicle. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , as seen from the front side of the vehicle, the carrying pipe  10  is formed substantially in the shape of the number  8 , and extends laterally from either side of the 8-shaped configuration to the portion below the headlight  19 . The front grille  18  is exposed on the front surface of the vehicle through the opening in the upper side of the 8-shaped configuration of the carrying pipe  10 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , arranged on the back side of the front grille  18  is a radiator  37  for cooling the cooling water with an air flow from the front grille  18 . 
     Further, a skid plate  21  is provided in the opening in the lower side of the 8-shaped configuration so as to occupy the lower half of this opening. A front-wheel final reduction gear  23  is arranged on the back side of the skid plate  21 . A drive shaft  22  for driving the front wheels  2  is coupled to the final reduction gear  23 . Further, upper and lower suspension arms  24   a ,  24   b  are coupled to each of the front wheels  2  via a knuckle  31 . The proximal end portions of the suspension arms  24   a ,  24   b  are attached to front frames  5  that will be described later in detail. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , on either side portion of the vehicle  1 , there are provided a body cover  11  that covers the side surface portion of the vehicle, and a fender  20  located on the vehicle rear side with respect to the vehicle cover  11 . Further, the vehicle  1  is not provided with a door or the like, and a cab  7  located above the body cover  11  is only surrounded by a roll bar  8  assembled using a frame member. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 , and  4 , a load-carrying platform  12  for loading cargo is provided in the rear portion of the vehicle  1 . The load-carrying platform  12  includes a rotary shaft (not shown) provided at a lower rear end portion. The front side portion of the load-carrying platform  12  can be lifted upward about this rotary shaft (see the load-carrying platform  12  indicated by the two-dot chain line in  FIG. 1 ). 
     Further, in the rear portion of the vehicle  1 , a rear-wheel final reduction gear  25  is arranged in the portion surrounded by lower frames  4  and upper frames  6  that will be described later in detail. A drive shaft  26  for driving the rear wheels  3  is coupled to the final reduction gear  25 . Further, upper and lower suspension arms  28   a ,  28   b  are coupled to each of the rear wheels  3  via a knuckle  27 . The proximal end portions of the suspension arms  28   a ,  28   b  are coupled to U-shaped brackets  29  vertically connecting between the lower frames  4  and the upper frames  6 . 
     A stop lamp  13  that illuminates upon the actuation of the brake is mounted in an upper rear portion of the roll bar  8 . The stop lamp  13  is positioned such that the mounting height of the stop lamp  13  is higher than the height of an upper end portion  12   a  of the load-carrying platform  12  at the time when the front side of the load-carrying platform  12  is lifted up. That is, the stop lamp  13  is placed at a position where it can be viewed from the rear of the vehicle  1  irrespective of the tilting state of the load-carrying platform  12 . 
     The cab  7  is provided with two occupant seats  14  (which may be a bench seat as well) respectively arranged on the driver&#39;s seat side and on the passenger seat side with two headrests  15  arranged at positions above the occupant seats  14 . A steering wheel  16  is positioned in front of the driver&#39;s seat. An instrument panel  17  is located further frontward with respect to the steering wheel  16  for covering the front surface portion while extending rearwardly towards the driver&#39;s seat and the passenger seat. The occupant seats  14  are fixed to a seat frame  30  mounted above the upper frames  6  which will be described later. Further, the headrests  15  are mounted onto a reinforcing frame  8   a  extending in a substantially V-shaped configuration (see  FIG. 3 ) from the roll bar  8 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , an engine  32  is provided below the cab  7 . More specifically, the engine  32  is arranged below the intermediate position between the driver&#39;s seat and the passenger seat with respect to the vehicle width direction. The engine  32  mainly includes a cylinder head  32   a  and a crankcase  32   b  located below the cylinder head  32   a , with an air cleaner  33  being disposed to the rear of the engine  32 . The air cleaner  33  is connected to the rear side of the cylinder head  32   a  via a throttle body  34  (which may be a carburetor as well). Further, an exhaust pipe  35  is connected to the front side of the cylinder head  32   a . The exhaust pipe  35  is drawn forward from the cylinder head  32   a  and then further routed downwardly toward the crankcase  32   b  side before extending diagonally upwardly toward the rear of the vehicle. A muffler  36 , disposed in the rear of the vehicle, is connected to the exhaust pipe  35 . Further, a crankshaft is arranged inside the crankcase  32   b  so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Driving force is transmitted to the front wheels  2  by means of a drive shaft (not shown) extending forward from the crankcase  32   b , and driving force is also transmitted to the rear wheels  3  by means of a drive shaft (not shown) extending rearwardly from the crankcase  32   b . Further, the engine  32  is connected via a piping (not shown) to the radiator  37  (see  FIG. 1 ) provided on the front side of the vehicle. 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of a body frame as a strength member of the vehicle  1  as seen from the side portion of the vehicle (in the same direction as  FIG. 1 ), and  FIG. 6  is a plan view thereof. 
     A body frame  80  mainly includes the two longitudinally extending lower frames  4  at the bottom portion of the vehicle, the front frames  5  fixed to the lower frames  4  and constituting the front portion of the vehicle. The upper frames  6  are located above the lower frames  4  so as to extend along the lower frames  4 . Side frames  81  are assembled by forming a plurality of frame members in a substantially lattice-like configuration on both side portions of the lower frames  4  and upper frames  6 . The lower frames  4  and the upper frames  6  are integrally connected with each other by means of vertically extending frame members (such as the brackets  29 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the load-carrying platform  12  has a box-like configuration that is open at the top. The load-carrying platform  12  includes a floor portion  51  forming the bottom surface, a front side wall portion  52  forming a side wall portion on the front side of the vehicle, a left side wall portion  53  and a right side wall portion  54  that form side wall portions on the side portions of the vehicle, and a rear side wall portion  55  that forms a side wall portion on the rear side of the vehicle. Further, the floor portion  51  and the wall portions  52 ,  53 ,  54 ,  55  constituting the load-carrying platform  12  are assembled onto a frame portion  56  shown in  FIG. 8  to form a cargo-loading portion  100  on which cargo can be loaded. While the floor portion  51  and the wall portions  52 ,  53 ,  54 ,  55  are each formed of a resin material, alternatively, they may be formed as a plate-like member made of steel. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , a bottom frame portion  57  constituting the base of the load-carrying platform  12  includes longitudinal frames  57   a ,  57   b ,  57   c  extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and lateral frames  57   d  to  57   k  connecting between the longitudinal frames  57   a ,  57   b ,  57   c  in the lateral direction of the vehicle. These frames are assembled into a lattice-like configuration. Square pipes made of steel, for example, are used for the frames  57   a  to  57   k.    
     Three upwardly extending hook portions  58  are provided on the upper surface of each of the longitudinal frames  57   a  and  57   c . The hook portions  58  are arranged at substantially equal intervals in the extending direction of the longitudinal frames  57   a  and  57   c . Each of the hook portions  58  is formed in the shape of a round bar and allows a rope or the like to be hooked from the distal end portion of the hook portion. Each of the hook portions  58  may be formed by a stud having a screw portion on its outer peripheral surface, with an anti-detachment member being attached with a nut or the like after hooking a rope, or may have at the distal end of the hook portion  58  a locking portion on which the rope can be hooked. 
     Further, two mounting fittings  59  for mounting the front side wall portion  52  are provided on the upper surface of each of the lateral frames  57   d ,  57   h  located on the front side of the vehicle. 
     A front frame portion  60  located on the front side of the front side wall portion  52  of the load-carrying platform  12  is assembled by a U-shaped frame  60   a  extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle, and a vertical frame  60   b  extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle. Square pipes made of steel, for example, are used for the frames  60   a ,  60   b.    
     When assembled, the U-shaped frame  60   a  has a substantially U-shaped configuration whose lower side is open, and its both lower ends are fixed onto the upper surfaces at the front end portions of the longitudinal frames  57   a  and  57   c . The vertical frame  60   b  extends upwardly from the upper surface at the front end portion of the longitudinal frame  57   b  toward the U-shaped frame  60   a . Further, two mounting fittings  68  are provided on the rear surface of each of two frame portions of the U-shaped frame  60   a  which extend in the vertical direction of the vehicle. 
     Support frames  61  that extend to the rear of the vehicle are respectively provided at the rear ends of the longitudinal frames  57   a  and  57   c . A pivot shaft  62  extending in the lateral direction of the vehicle is mounted between the two support frames  61 . The lower side portion of the rear side wall portion  55  is mounted onto the pivot shaft  62 . The rear side wall portion  55  is thus mounted so as to be pivotable about the pivot shaft  62 . 
     Further, column frames  63   a ,  63   b  are respectively provided on the upper surfaces at the rear ends of the longitudinal frames  57   a ,  57   c  so as to extend upward from these upper surfaces. The column frames  63   a ,  63   b  are formed by square pipes. Two mounting fittings  64  that project outward in the lateral direction of the vehicle are respectively provided in the upper and lower side surfaces of the column frames  63   a ,  63   b . The left side wall portion  53  and the right side wall portion  54  are mounted onto the frame portion  56  by means of the mounting fittings  64  and the mounting fittings  68 , respectively. 
     Further, a locking fitting  65  is provided on the inner surface of each of the column frames  63   a ,  63   b.    
     Mounting members  66  allowing the mounting of the floor portion  51  are respectively provided between the lateral frames  57   d  and  57   e , and between the lateral frames  57   h  and  57   i . Support members  69  are respectively mounted between the lateral frames  57   f  and  57   g , and between the lateral frames  57   j  and  57   k . The support members  69  each constitute a pivot about which the load-carrying platform  12  pivots with respect to the vehicle body side. Each of the support members  69  includes a pivot hole  69   a . The pivot hole  69   a  is attached to a pivot shaft (not shown) provided on the vehicle body side. This construction allows the load-carrying platform  12  to pivot about the pivot shaft as indicated by the two-dot chain line in  FIG. 1 . 
     Returning to  FIG. 7 , a description will be given of the assembled state of the load-carrying platform  12 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the left side wall portion  53  and the right side wall portion  54  each have a predetermined thickness in the width direction of the vehicle. In each of inner wall surfaces  53   a ,  54   a  of the wall portions  53 ,  54  facing the cargo-loading portion  100 , there are formed a plurality of grooves (stepped portions)  70  extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and three recesses  71  are formed so as to surround the portions where the hook portions  58  of the frame portion  56  project from the floor portion  51 . As shown in  FIG. 9(   b ), each recess  71  is recessed toward the outer side of the vehicle relative to the surface on the back side of the groove  70 . Further, the hook portion  58  extends continuously from the lower surface to the upper surface in the interior of the groove  70 . According to this construction, as shown in  FIGS. 9(   a ) and  9 ( b ), a rope  76  can be hooked so as to be wrapped on the hook member  58  of the recess portion  71 . It should be noted that of the three recesses  71 , two recesses  71  that can be visually observed are shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     An upper portion of the front side wall portion  52  is provided with four hook portions  72  that are spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the vehicle. Further, a plurality of ribs (stepped portions) (not shown) that project toward the cargo-loading portion  100  side may be formed on an inner surface  52   a  of the front side wall portion  52 . As shown in  FIGS. 10(   a ) to  10 ( c ), a U-shaped through-hole  72   a  is provided in the inner wall surface material of the front side wall portion  52  so as to extend through the thickness of the inner wall surface material. A hook portion  72   b  on which a rope or the like can be hooked is thus formed so as to project upwardly. Further, as shown in  FIGS. 10(   a ) to  10 ( c ), a recess  77  is formed in a lower portion of the rear surface of the hook portion  72   b  so that the rope  76  hooked into the recess  77  is not readily dislodged upwardly 
     The rear surface of the rear side wall portion  55  has a groove  74  formed at either end in the width direction of the vehicle. An engagement fitting  75  is provided in the groove  74 . The locking fitting  65  of the frame portion  56  engages with the engagement fitting  75 , thereby locking the pivotable rear side wall portion  55  to keep the load-carrying platform  12  in the closed state. 
     The wall portions  52  to  55  are detachably mounted onto the frame portion  56  by means of bolts or the like (not shown). Accordingly, the respective wall portions can be readily replaced as required. 
     Next, the operation of the load-carrying platform structure according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. 
     For example, when cargo is placed on the corner of the load-carrying platform  12  at a right front portion of the vehicle, the cargo comes into contact with the upper surface of the floor portion  51 , an inner surface  54   a  of the right side wall portion  54 , and the front side wall portion  52 . Further, the cargo may come into contact with the plurality of ribs (not shown) that project toward the cargo-loading portion  100  side. Even when cargo is loaded so as to contact the respective surfaces in this way, the cargo does not interfere with the hook portions  58 ,  72 . Likewise, even when cargo is loaded so as to contact another inner wall surface, no interference occurs between the hook portions  58 ,  72  and the cargo. 
     Further, after loading cargo onto the load-carrying platform  12 , for example, the rope  76  or the like may be hooked onto the hook portion  58 ,  72  so that the loaded cargo can be secured in place with the rope. 
     In the load-carrying platform structure according to the embodiment of the present invention, the recesses  71  are formed in the inner wall surface  53   a  of the left side wall portion  53  and in the inner wall surface  54   a  of the right side wall portion  54 , and the hook portions  58  are provided inside the respective recesses  71 . Accordingly, the loaded cargo contacts the inner wall surfaces  53   a ,  54   a  and thus does not come into interference with the hook portions  58 . The hook portions  58  thus do not become obtrusive during the cargo loading operation. Further, since the wall portions  53 ,  54  are recessed to form the recesses  71 , the load capacity of the load-carrying platform does not decrease. Further, the rope  76  or the like can be hooked onto the hook portions  58  to reliably secure the loaded cargo in place with this rope. 
     Likewise, by providing the front side wall portion  52  with the hook portions  72 , the loaded cargo contacts the inner wall surface  52   a  and thus does not come into interference with the hook portions  72 . Therefore, the hook portions  72  do not become obtrusive during the item loading operation. Further, since the ribs (not shown) project from the inner wall surface  52   a , it is possible to prevent the item from coming into interference with the hook portions  72 . Further, a rope or the like can be hooked onto the hook portion  72  to reliably secure a load in place with this rope, without causing a decrease in the load capacity of the load-carrying platform  12 . 
     While an embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment but various modifications and alterations can be made on the basis of the technical idea of the present invention. 
     For example, while in this embodiment the description is directed to the load-carrying platform of a MUV vehicle that is a seat type vehicle, the structure of this embodiment can be applied to any type of vehicle having a load-carrying platform 
     Further, while the above description is directed to a case in which the hook portion  58  projects upward from the floor portion  51 , it is also possible to form recesses at the center portion in the vertical direction of the left side wall portion  53  or right side wall potion  54 , with the hook portions  58  projecting from the bottom surfaces of the recesses. Further, the projecting direction of the hook portions  58  is not limited to the upward direction but the hook portions  58  can be made to project in any direction. Likewise, the hook portions  72  may not necessarily be provided in an upper portion of the front side wall portion  52  but may be provided at the center portion or in a lower portion in the vertical direction of the vehicle. 
     Further, while the hook portions  58  are provided in the left side wall portion  53  and the right side wall portion  54  in this embodiment, this should not be construed restrictively. It is also possible to provide the hook portions  58  in the front side wall portion  52  or rear side wall portion  55 . Likewise, the hook portions  72  may not necessarily be provided in the front side wall portion  52  but may be provided in the left side wall portion  53 , the right side wall portion  54 , and the rear side wall portion  55 . 
     The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.