Patent Publication Number: US-2022219574-A1

Title: Multipurpose Vehicle

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-002075 filed Jan. 8, 2021, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a multipurpose vehicle. 
     Description of Related Art 
     Typical multipurpose vehicles have had a seat installed such that the occupant constantly faces forward in the travel direction as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication, Tokukai, No. 2016-068803. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     With conventional art, getting in and out of a multipurpose vehicle has been difficult for a person who requires assistance in doing so such as an elderly person. 
     In view of the above issue, the present invention has an object of providing a multipurpose vehicle easy to get in and out of. 
     A multipurpose vehicle of the present invention includes: a vehicle body; an accommodating section provided for the vehicle body and including a seat in which an occupant is able to sit; and a changing mechanism configured to change a horizontal orientation of the seat, wherein the changing mechanism is configured to change the horizontal orientation of the seat so that the seat faces at least a predetermined first direction or a predetermined second direction. 
     The above arrangement allows the orientation of the seat to be changed from the direction that the seat faces while the vehicle is traveling. This in turn allows a person to get in or out of the multipurpose vehicle easily. 
     A multipurpose vehicle of the present invention may preferably be arranged such that the changing mechanism includes a rotating mechanism configured to support the seat in such a manner that the seat is rotatable between the first direction and the second direction and a fixing mechanism configured to fix the seat while the seat faces the first direction or the second direction. 
     The above arrangement allows the orientation of the seat to be changed through simple rotation of the seat between the first direction and the second direction. The above arrangement also allows the seat to be fixed in the first direction or the second direction. This allows a person to stably sit in the seat and stably get in and out of the multipurpose vehicle. 
     A multipurpose vehicle of the present invention may preferably be arranged such that the rotating mechanism is present under the seat and includes a rotary shaft rotatable about a rotation axis extending in an up-down direction of the vehicle body. 
     The above arrangement involves a rotating shaft simply provided under the seat to allow the seat to be rotated between the first direction and the second direction. 
     A multipurpose vehicle of the present invention may preferably be arranged such that the rotating mechanism includes an urging mechanism urging the seat in a rotation direction from the second direction to the first direction. 
     The above arrangement allows a person getting in or out of the multipurpose vehicle, as well as an assistant who assists the person to do so, to change the orientation of the seat from the second direction to the first direction without manually changing the orientation of the seat. This allows the person to get in and out of the multipurpose vehicle easily. 
     A multipurpose vehicle of the present invention may preferably be arranged such that the fixing mechanism includes a fixing operation tool manually operable to switch the seat between a fixed state and an unfixed state, and the fixing operation tool is present at a laterally outer portion of the vehicle body both when the seat faces the first direction and when the seat faces the second direction. 
     With the above arrangement, in a case where an assistant who assists a person to get in or out of the multipurpose vehicle is to manually change the orientation of the seat, the fixing operation tool is easily reachable (that is, at a laterally outer portion of the vehicle body) no matter whether the seat faces the first direction or the second direction. This allows the assistant to easily operate the fixing operation tool. 
     A multipurpose vehicle of the present invention may preferably be arranged such that the fixing mechanism is further configured to fix the seat while the seat faces a third direction between the first direction and the second direction. 
     The above arrangement allows the operation of changing of the orientation of the seat to be suspended in a third direction between the first direction and the second direction when the orientation of the seat is changed between the first direction and the second direction. The above arrangement allows a person to get in or out of the multipurpose vehicle while the seat faces the third direction and then allows the seat to return to the first direction or the second direction. This shortens the time period necessary to change the orientation of the seat when a person gets in or out of the multipurpose vehicle. Further, an occupant may need to, when changing the orientation of the seat to the first direction or the second direction, suspend the operation of the orientation change and do something such as correcting his/her posture. In such a case, the occupant can suspend the operation of changing the orientation of the seat in the third direction to do it. 
     A multipurpose vehicle of the present invention may preferably be arranged such that the first direction is a front direction of the vehicle body, and the second direction is a laterally outward direction of the vehicle body. 
     The above arrangement allows a person who wants to get in the multipurpose vehicle to orient the seat so that the seat faces a laterally outward direction. This allows the person, who is standing on the laterally outward side of the vehicle, to directly sit in the seat. The person can then keep the orientation of the seat so that the seat faces forward (that is, the direction in which the vehicle will travel) while the vehicle is traveling. Further, the occupant can simply perform the above operation in the reversed order when getting out of the multipurpose vehicle. The above arrangement thus allows a person to get in and out of the multipurpose vehicle easily. 
     A multipurpose vehicle of the present invention may preferably be arranged such that while the seat faces the second direction, the seat is switchable between (i) a protruding state, in which the seat protrudes from the vehicle body laterally outward, and (ii) a retracted state, in which the seat is retracted in the vehicle body. 
     In a case where the vehicle is provided with, for example, a roll-over protective structure (ROPS) or a roof, a person who wants to get in or out of the multipurpose vehicle may need to bend forward to avoid bumping on the ROPS or the like. The above arrangement, which allows the seat to protrude, eliminates the need for such a person to bend forward. The above arrangement also allows an occupant in the seat to switch the seat between the retracted state and the protruding state, and thus allows the occupant to move himself/herself to the inside or outside of the vehicle. The above arrangement thereby allows a person to get in and out of the multipurpose vehicle easily, and also allows an assistant who assists a person to get in or out of the multipurpose vehicle to easily assist the person to do so. 
     A multipurpose vehicle of the present invention may preferably further include: a roll-over protective structure around the accommodating section, wherein the seat includes a seat section and a backrest section, the seat is switchable between (i) a used state, in which the backrest section is present behind the seat section, and (ii) an unused state, in which the backrest section lies over the seat section so that a backrest surface of the backrest section faces the seat section, and when the seat is in the unused state, the backrest section covers the seat section entirely in a plan view. 
     With the above arrangement, switching the seat to the unused state causes (i) the backrest surface of the backrest section to face downward and (ii) the backrest section to cover the seat section. This prevents the seat section and the backrest surface from becoming dirty due to, for example, rain water or dust, and also prevents the seat surface and the backrest section from becoming degraded by sunlight. 
     A multipurpose vehicle of the present invention may preferably be arranged such that the seat includes a state switching mechanism configured to switch the seat between the used state and the unused state, and the state switching mechanism includes a state switching operation tool manually operable to switch the seat from the used state to the unused state. 
     The above arrangement allows a person to simply operate the state switching operation tool to switch the seat between the used state and the unused state. 
     A multipurpose vehicle of the present invention may preferably be arranged such that the state switching mechanism includes a connecting member for the backrest section, a rotation supporting member present at a back portion of the seat section and supporting the connecting member in such a manner that the connecting member is rotatable, and a rotary shaft present behind the seat section and rotatable about a rotation axis extending in a width direction of the seat. 
     With the above arrangement, the seat section and the backrest section are connected to each other and supported by a connecting member, which is in turn supported by a rotation supporting member in such a manner that the connecting member is rotatable. This simple structure allows the seat to be switched between the used state and the unused state. 
     A multipurpose vehicle of the present invention may preferably be arranged such that when the seat is in the unused state, the backrest section is in contact with a seat surface of the seat section. 
     With the above arrangement, the backrest surface of the backrest section is in contact with the seating surface of the seat section in the unused state. This prevents rain water from easily seeping between the backrest surface and the seat surface. The above arrangement thereby prevents, for example, rain water from wetting the backrest surface and the seat surface, which an occupant&#39;s body touches when he or she sits in the seat. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a multipurpose vehicle as a whole. 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of a multipurpose vehicle as a whole. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of a seat. 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of a state switching mechanism. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of a state switching mechanism in the used state. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of a state switching mechanism in the unused state. 
         FIG. 7  is a rear view of a multipurpose vehicle. 
         FIG. 8  is a view of a stabilizer, illustrating its configuration. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The description below deals with an embodiment of the present invention with reference to drawings. 
     [Overall Configuration of Multipurpose Vehicle] 
     The description below of the vehicle body of a multipurpose vehicle (utility vehicle) refers to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , which show arrow F to indicate the forward direction of the vehicle body, arrow B to indicate the backward direction of the vehicle body, arrow R to indicate the rightward direction of the vehicle body, arrow L to indicate the leftward direction of the vehicle body, arrow U to indicate the upward direction of the vehicle body, and arrow D to indicate the downward direction of the vehicle body. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the multipurpose vehicle includes a vehicle body including a vehicle body frame  1  as a combination of, for example, tube frame members, a pair of left and right drivable front wheels  2  present at a front portion of the vehicle body in such a manner that their direction is changeable, and a pair of left and right drivable rear wheels  3  present at a back portion of the vehicle body. The multipurpose vehicle further includes a front cover  4  at a front end portion of the vehicle body, an accommodating section  5  present behind the front cover  4  and configured to accommodate occupants, a roll-over protective structure (ROPS)  6  around the accommodating section  5 , a truck box  7  behind the accommodating section  5 , and a drive section  8  present below the truck box  7  and including an engine E as a drive source and a travel transmission device M. 
     [Configuration of Vehicle Body Frame] 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 7, and 8 , the vehicle body frame  1  includes left and right main frames  11  extending in the front-back direction, upper frames  12  over the main frames  11 , mount frames  13  present in the drive section  8  and under the upper frames  12 , and four vertical frames  14 , two of which connect the left mount frame  13  to the left upper frame  12  and the other two of which connect the right mount frame  13  to the right upper frame  12 . 
     The left and right pairs of vertical frames  14  are each connected to a pair of upper and lower rear suspension arms  15  supporting one of the rear wheels  3 . The rearward ones of the left and right vertical frames  14  each have a back surface with a lower portion provided with a block member  14 A detachably attached thereto with use of bolts. The pair of block members  14 A each have a back surface provided with a holder  14 B detachably attached thereto with use of bolts. 
     The rear suspension arms  15  are each supported by the corresponding ones of the vertical frames  14  in such a manner as to be swingable about a front-back swing axis. The upper ones of the rear suspension arms  15  each support a lower end of a rear suspension unit  17  including a rear suspension spring  16  configured to become compressed by an upward swing of the corresponding rear suspension arms  15 . 
     The upper ones of the upper and lower rear suspension arms  15  are provided with respective links  18 , and are connected via the links  18  to opposite ends of a rod-shaped stabilizer  19 . The stabilizer  19  includes an intermediate portion  19 B behind the respective back surfaces of the rearward ones of the left and right vertical frames  14 . In addition to the rod-shaped intermediate portion  19 B, the stabilizer  19  includes at each of its opposite ends an arm portion  19 A bent toward the front side. The intermediate portion  19 B of the stabilizer  19  is supported by the rearward vertical frames  14  via the respective block members  14 A in such a manner as to be capable of becoming twisted by means of the pair of holders  14 B in a horizontal orientation. In a case where one of the left and right rear wheels  3  has received an external force that will move the rear wheel  3  up and down, the above-described rear suspension units  17  and the torsional rigidity of the stabilizer  19  prevent the rear wheel  3  from being moved up and down sharply. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the left and right arm portions  19 A of the stabilizer  19  each have two attachment holes  19 C. A fastening bolt is inserted through one of the attachment holes  19 C, and is fastened in a fastening hole in the corresponding link  18 . When the stabilizer  19  is to be attached to the links  18 , one of the two attachment holes  19 C is selected for the insertion of a fastening bolt to adjust the torsional rigidity. The stabilizer  19  and the links  18  can be designed to allow the torsional rigidity to be adjusted appropriately by selecting an attachment hole  19 C for the insertion of a fastening bolt. Further, according to the preferences of an occupant, or in a case where the torsional rigidity of the stabilizer  19  should be changed in view of the condition of the travel surface, simply pulling off the fastening bolt and inserting it into the other attachment hole  19 C can change the torsional rigidity. The description above has dealt with a stabilizer  19  for preventing the rear wheels  3  from being moved up and down sharply. The multipurpose vehicle includes a similar element for the front wheels  2  as well. 
     [Configuration of Accommodating Section] 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the accommodating section  5  includes four seats  20  and a steering wheel SW configured to change the direction of the front wheels  2 . The present embodiment is arranged such that the four seats  20  include a driver&#39;s seat  20   a  to the left on the front row of the accommodating section  5  and behind the steering wheel SW. 
     [Configuration of Changing Mechanism] 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the four seats  20  include at least one seat  20  provided with a changing mechanism  23  configured to change the horizontal orientation of the seat  20 . This allows the orientation of the seat  20  to be changed between (i) a front direction d 1  (that is, the “first direction” for the present invention) relative to the front-back direction of the vehicle body and (ii) a laterally outward direction d 2  (that is, the “second direction” for the present invention) relative to the front-back direction of the vehicle body. The description below deals with an example in which the changing mechanism  23  is provided for that one of the four seats  20  which is to the left on the back row of the accommodating section  5 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , each seat  20  includes a seat section  21  and a backrest section  22 . The changing mechanism  23  includes (i) a rotating mechanism  24  configured to support the corresponding seat  20  in such a manner that the seat  20  is rotatable and (ii) a fixing mechanism  25  configured to fix the seat  20  as it faces the front direction d 1  or the laterally outward direction d 2 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the rotating mechanism  24  is present on a lower surface  21   b  of the corresponding seat section  21 , and includes a rotary shaft  31  rotatable about a rotation axis X extending in the up-down direction of the vehicle body. The rotary shaft  31  is supported by an upper surface of a back seat supporting member  32  supported by the vehicle body frame  1 . The seat  20  is supported by the back seat supporting member  32  via the rotary shaft  31  in such a manner as to be rotatable about the rotation axis X. 
     The fixing mechanism  25  includes (i) a plate-shaped member  33 , (ii) an engagement groove  34  present in the plate-shaped member  33  and having a fixing portion  34 A and a fixing portion  34 B, (iii) a lock pin  35  supported by the seat section  21  and configured to become engaged with and disengaged from the fixing portion  34 A or  34 B, and (iv) a fixing operation tool  27  manually operable to move the lock pin  35  horizontally. 
     The fixing operation tool  27  is supported by a supporting member  27   a  on the lower surface  21   b  of the seat section  21  in such a manner as to be movable horizontally. The fixing operation tool  27  extends above the engagement groove  34  from near the rotary shaft  31  in a direction away from the rotation axis X. The fixing operation tool  27  has an upwardly bent portion at a far end in the extension direction. The fixing operation tool  27  is provided with the lock pin  35  at a position corresponding to the engagement groove  34 . The fixing operation tool  27  is provided with a fixing urging mechanism  26  urging the fixing operation tool  27  toward the rotation axis X. 
     The plate-shaped member  33  is fixed to and supported by the back seat supporting member  32 . Changing the orientation of the seat  20  does not change the orientation of the plate-shaped member  33 . 
     The engagement groove  34  is present in the plate-shaped member  33  in the shape of a circular arc with the rotation axis X as the center. The engagement groove  34  has fixing portions  34 A and  34 B at respective opposite ends. The fixing portions  34 A and  34 B extend from the respective opposite ends of the engagement groove  34  toward the rotation axis X. 
     The lock pin  35  protrudes downward from the fixing operation tool  27 . The lock pin  35  has a lower end portion that is constantly in the engagement groove  34  and that is moved along the engagement groove  34  as the seat  20  is rotated. Changing the orientation of the seat  20  to place the lock pin  35  at either one of the opposite ends of the engagement groove  34  causes the lock pin  35  to be hooked into the corresponding one of the fixing portions  34 A and  34 B due to the urging force of the fixing urging mechanism  26 . 
     The fixing portions  34 A and  34 B each receive the lock pin  35  when the seat  20  is oriented to face the front direction d 1  or the laterally outward direction d 2 , respectively. With the lock pin  35  hooked in either of the fixing portions  34 A and  34 B, the seat  20  is fixed to face the corresponding one of the front direction d 1  and the laterally outward direction d 2 . When an operator moves the fixing operation tool  27  away from the rotation axis X against the urging force of the fixing urging mechanism  26 , the lock pin  35  is pulled out of the fixing portion  34 A or  34 B, so that the seat  20  becomes unfixed. 
     While the orientation of the seat  20  is changed between the front direction d 1  and the laterally outward direction d 2 , the lock pin  35  remains in the engagement groove  34  as it is moved between the fixing portions  34 A and  34 B. In other words, the engagement groove  34  restricts how the orientation of the seat  20  can be changed: the orientation is changeable only between the front direction d 1  and the laterally outward direction d 2 . 
     When the seat  20  faces the front direction dl, the fixing operation tool  27  is oriented to extend in the front-left direction of the vehicle body. Changing the orientation of the seat  20  also changes the orientation of the fixing operation tool  27 . When the seat  20  faces the laterally outward direction d 2 , the fixing operation tool  27  is oriented to extend in the back-left direction of the vehicle body. With this arrangement, the fixing operation tool  27  is present at a laterally outer portion of the vehicle body both when the seat  20  faces the front direction d 1  and when the seat  20  faces the laterally outward direction d 2 . 
     [Configuration of State Switching Mechanism] 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2, 5, and 6 , each seat  20  includes state switching mechanisms  28  that allow the seat  20  to be switched between (i) a used state, in which the backrest section  22  stands behind the seat section  21 , and (ii) an unused state, in which the backrest section  22  lies over the seat section  21  so that the seat surface  21   a  of the seat section  21  faces the backrest surface  22   a  of the backrest section  22 . The state switching mechanisms  28  connect the seat section  21  and the backrest section  22 . The description below deals with that one of the four seats  20  which is to the right on the back row of the accommodating section  5 . The other seats  20  each include similar mechanisms. 
     The state switching mechanisms  28  extend between the seat section  21  and the backrest section  22 . The state switching mechanisms  28  are present in the number of two at respective positions, and are arranged next to each other in the width direction of the seat  20 . The state switching mechanisms  28  each include a connecting member  36  for the backrest section  22 , a rotation supporting member  37  present at a back portion of the seat section  21  and supporting the connecting member  36  in such a manner that the connecting member  36  is rotatable, and a rotary shaft  39 . 
     The rotation supporting member  37  extends backward of the seat  20 , and has an upwardly bent portion at a far end in the extension direction. 
     In the used state, the connecting member  36  is oriented to extend downward of the backrest section  22 , and has a lower end portion  36 a supported by the rotation supporting member  37  in such a manner that the connecting member  36  is rotatable about a rotation axis Y of the rotary shaft  39 , which extends in the width direction of the seat  20 . 
     The connecting member  36  is provided with a restricting member  41  that is, in the used state, present behind the rotary shaft  39  in such a manner as to protrude downward from the connecting member  36 . The restricting member  41  is a plate-shaped member. In the used state, the restricting member  41  is in contact with the rotation supporting member  37  to restrict the rotation of the connecting member  36  to prevent the backrest section  22  in the used state from becoming further inclined backward. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the seat surface  21   a  has an edge portion that is, in the unused state, inward of the edge portion of the backrest surface  22   a  in a plan view. In other words, the backrest surface  22   a  is larger in area than the seat surface  21   a , and in the unused state, the backrest section  22  covers the entire seat section  21  in a plan view. 
     The driver&#39;s seat  20   a  is provided with, at a laterally outer portion thereof, a state switching operation tool  29  manually operable to switch the seat  20  from the used state to the unused state. Operating the state switching operation tool  29  switches all the seats  20  from the used state to the unused state (details omitted). 
     Alternative Embodiments 
     The description below deals with example alternatives to the embodiment described above. The variations described below may be combined with one another to be applied to the embodiment described above as long as such combination causes no contradiction. The present invention is not limited in scope to the embodiments described herein. 
     (1) The embodiment described above is an example in which the four seats  20  include a seat  20  to the left on the back row of the accommodating section  5  which seat  20  is provided with the changing mechanism  23 . The present invention is, however, not limited to such an embodiment. The seats  20  of the accommodating section  5  include at least one seat  20  provided with the changing mechanism  23 : the seats  20  may each be provided with the changing mechanism  23 . 
     (2) The embodiment described above may be altered such that the rotating mechanism  24  includes an urging mechanism urging the corresponding seat  20  in a rotation direction from the laterally outward direction d 2  to the front direction d 1 . The urging mechanism may alternatively urge the seat  20  in the opposite rotation direction, that is, in a rotation direction from the front direction d 1  to the laterally outward direction d 2 . The urging mechanism may further alternatively urge the seat  20  in each rotation direction. 
     (3) The rotating mechanism  24  may include a driving device such as an electric motor and be drivable through operation of the driving device with use of an operation device to change the orientation of the corresponding seat  20  between the front direction d 1  and the laterally outward direction d 2 . 
     (4) The embodiment described above may be altered such that the fixing mechanism  25  is further capable of fixing the corresponding seat  20  as it faces a third direction between the front direction d 1  and the laterally outward direction d 2 . The engagement groove  34  will, in this case, have not only the fixing portions  34 A and  34 B but also another fixing portion corresponding to the third direction. 
     (5) The embodiment described above may be altered such that with a seat  20  facing the laterally outward direction d 2 , the seat  20  is switchable between (i) a protruding state, in which the seat  20  protrudes from the vehicle body laterally outward, and (ii) a retracted state, in which the seat  20  is retracted in the vehicle body. 
     (6) The embodiment described above is an example in which the changing mechanism  23  includes a rotary shaft  31  rotatable about a rotation axis X extending in the up-down direction of the vehicle body. The present invention is, however, not limited to such an embodiment. The embodiment may be altered, for instance, such that a seat  20  is provided with wheels on the lower surface  21   b  of the seat section  21 , that the back seat supporting member  32  is provided with rails each in the shape of a circle in a plan view, and that the orientation of the seat  20  can be changed as the wheels roll along the rails. 
     (7) The embodiment described above is an example in which the four seats  20  include a seat  20  to the left on the back row of the accommodating section  5  which seat  20  is provided with the changing mechanism  23 . The present invention is, however, not limited to such an embodiment. The seats  20  of the accommodating section  5  include at least one seat  20  provided with the changing mechanism  23 : the seats  20  may each be provided with the changing mechanism  23 . 
     (8) The embodiment described above is an example in which the fixing mechanism  25  includes an engagement groove  34  with fixing portions  34 A and  34 B and a lock pin  35 . The present invention is, however, not limited to such an embodiment. The fixing mechanism  25  serves simply to fix the corresponding seat  20  in a particular direction. The fixing mechanism  25  may, for instance, include a stopping mechanism configured to stop the rotation of the rotary shaft  31 , and be operated with use of the fixing operation tool  27  for the stopping mechanism to stop the rotation of the rotary shaft  31  and thereby fix the seat  20  in the front direction d 1  or the laterally outward direction d 2 . Further, the fixing mechanism  25  may be altered to fix the seat  20  in any direction rather than in the front direction d 1  or the laterally outward direction d 2 . 
     (9) The embodiment described above is an example in which the connecting member  36  is supported by the rotation supporting member  37  in such a manner as to be rotatable about the rotation axis Y. The present invention is, however, not limited to such an embodiment. The connecting member  36  may, for instance, be supported by the rotation supporting member  37  in such a manner as to be not only rotatable about the rotation axis Y but also moveable in the up-down direction and front-back direction of the vehicle body relative to the rotation supporting member  37 . 
     (10) The embodiment described above is an example in which the state switching operation tool  29  is manually operable to switch all the seats  20  from the used state to the unused state. The present invention is, however, not limited to such an embodiment. The state switching operation tool  29  may, for instance, have the function of switching the seats  20  from the unused state to the used state. Further, each of the seats  20  may be provided with a dedicated state switching operation tool  29 . 
     (11) The state switching operation tool  29  may be omitted. In this case, an occupant directly moves the backrest section  22  to switch the seat  20  between the used state and the unused state. 
     (12) The state switching mechanisms  28  may include an urging mechanism extending between the connecting member  36  and the rotation supporting member  37  and configured to switch the corresponding seat  20  from the used state to the unused state or from the unused state to the used state. Further, the state switching mechanisms  28  may include a lock mechanism configured to lock the connecting member  36  and the rotation supporting member  37  in either of the used state and the unused state. 
     (13) A seat  20  may include only one state switching operation tool  29  at a position, or three or more state switching operation tools  29  at respective positions. 
     (14) The embodiment described above is an example in which both the front wheels  2  and the rear wheels  3  are each provided with a stabilizer  19  to prevent the corresponding wheels from being moved up and down sharply. The present invention is, however, not limited to such an embodiment. The stabilizer  19  may, for instance, be provided for only either the front wheels  2  or the rear wheels  3 . 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The present invention is applicable to multipurpose vehicles. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
       5  Accommodating section 
       6  ROPS 
       20  Seat 
       21  Seat section 
       21   a  Seat surface 
       22  Backrest section 
       22   a  Backrest surface 
       23  Changing mechanism 
       24  Rotating mechanism 
       25  Fixing mechanism 
       27  Fixing operation tool 
       27   a  Supporting member 
       28  State switching mechanism 
       29  Rotary shaft 
       31  Connecting member 
       36  Rotation supporting member 
     X Rotation axis 
     d 1  Front direction (first direction) 
     d 2  Laterally outward direction (second direction)