Patent Abstract:
A vehicle includes a seat that comprises a seat bottom, a seat back, a first biasing member, and a second biasing member. The seat back is pivotable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The first biasing member is coupled to each of the seat back and the bed frame. The second biasing member is coupled to each of the seat back and the bed frame.

Full Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/761,393, filed Feb. 6, 2013. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     A vehicle includes a left rear seat and a right rear seat. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Certain conventional vehicles include a utility bed which is movable between a hauling position and a dumping position. Such a utility bed is often referred to as a “dump bed” and is suitable to selectively facilitate transportation of cargo. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with one embodiment, a vehicle comprises a vehicular frame and a utility bed pivotally coupled with the vehicular frame. The utility bed is pivotable between a hauling position and a cargo support position. The utility bed comprises a bed frame and a seat. The seat comprises a seat bottom, a seat back, a first biasing member, and a second biasing member. The seat bottom is coupled with the bed frame. The seat back is pivotally coupled with respect to the bed frame and is pivotable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The first biasing member is coupled to each of the seat back and the bed frame. The first biasing member is configured to bias the seat back into the stowed position. The second biasing member is coupled to each of the seat back and the bed frame. The second biasing member is configured to bias the seat back into the deployed position. 
     In accordance with another embodiment, a vehicle comprises a vehicular frame and a utility bed coupled with the vehicular frame. The utility bed comprises a bed frame, a seat, and a cushion member. The seat comprises a seat bottom, a seat back, a first spiral torsion spring, and a second spiral torsion spring. The first spiral torsion spring comprises a first end and a second end. The first end is coupled with the bed frame and the second end is coupled with the seat back. The second spiral torsion spring comprises a third end and a fourth end. The second end is coupled with the bed frame and the fourth end is coupled with the seat back. The cushion member is pivotally coupled to each of the bed frame and the seat back, and is configured to dampen movement of the seat back into each of the stowed position and the deployed position. The first and second spiral torsion springs are wound in opposite directions with respect to one another. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various embodiments will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a left side perspective view depicting a vehicle having a utility bed that includes left and right rear seats in respective stowed positions, in accordance with one embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a left side perspective view depicting the vehicle of  FIG. 1  but with the left and right rear seats in respective deployed positions; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged view depicting a portion of the vehicle of  FIG. 2 , including the right rear seat; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a left side perspective view depicting the vehicle of  FIG. 1 , but with the left and right rear seats in respective neutral positions; 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged view depicting a portion of the vehicle of  FIG. 2 , wherein a seat damper coupled with the right rear seat can be seen; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  8 - 8  in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  8 - 8  in  FIG. 7  but with the right seat back shown in the stowed position; 
         FIG. 10  is an enlarged view depicting the right seat back and the seat damper along with various other components apart from the rest of the vehicle of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a right side view depicting a portion of the vehicle of  FIG. 1 , but with the utility bed shown in a dumping position, a right door shown in an opened position, and the right seat back shown in the neutral and deployed positions; and 
         FIG. 12  is a right side view of the arrangement of  FIG. 11 , but with the utility bed shown in a hauling position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Certain embodiments are hereinafter described in detail in connection with the views of  FIGS. 1-12 , wherein like numbers indicate the same or corresponding elements throughout the views. A utility vehicle can include a utility bed which can be used to facilitate hauling of cargo by the utility vehicle. In one embodiment, the utility vehicle can be a dump-type utility vehicle having a utility bed that can facilitate selective dumping of cargo from the utility bed. A dump-type utility vehicle can comprise a light utility vehicle, such as the utility vehicle  10  shown in  FIGS. 1-12 . In other embodiments, a dump-type utility vehicle can comprise any of a variety of other types of utility vehicles having a utility bed capable of dumping (e.g., a dump bed) such as, for example, a pickup truck, a dump truck, an all terrain vehicle (“ATV”), a golf cart, or other similar type of vehicle, for example. In another embodiment, the utility vehicle can include a non-dump type utility vehicle having a utility bed that is rigidly fixed to the utility vehicle&#39;s frame (e.g., a non-dumpable bed). In yet another embodiment, the utility vehicle can include a trailer. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the utility vehicle  10  can include a vehicular frame  12 . The vehicular frame  12  can include any of a variety of structural and/or decorative rails, panels, and/or other components which are typically, although not necessarily, formed from metal (e.g., steel and/or aluminum). A left front seat  14  and a right front seat  16  can each be supported by the vehicular frame  12  and can facilitate support of occupants within a passenger compartment  18 . The utility vehicle  10  can also include a utility bed  20  which is coupled with the vehicular frame  12 , either directly or indirectly, and such as through use of a hinge assembly (not shown). The hinge assembly can facilitate pivotable movement of the utility bed  20  with respect to the vehicular frame  12 , and between a hauling position (shown in  FIG. 1 ) and a dumping position (shown in  FIG. 11 ). 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the utility bed  20  can include a left rear seat  22  and a right rear seat  24  that can include a left seat back  26  and a right seat back  28 , respectively. The left and right seat backs  26 ,  28  can each be pivotally coupled with respect to a bed frame  45  of the utility bed  20 . In one embodiment, the left and right seat backs  26 ,  28  can be pivotally coupled to the bed frame  45 , either directly, or indirectly (e.g., through attachment to left and right seat bottoms  36 ,  37  which can in turn be attached directly to the bed frame  45 ). In other embodiments, left and right seat backs can be pivotally coupled to another portion of the utility bed or vehicle. Each of the left and right seat backs  26 ,  28  can be selectively and independently pivotable between a stowed position ( FIG. 1 ) and a deployed position ( FIG. 2 ). When the left and right seat backs  26 ,  28  are in their stowed positions, their respective cover panels  30 ,  32  can facilitate support of cargo within the utility bed  20 . For example, the utility bed  20  is shown in  FIG. 1  to comprise a bed floor  34  adjacent to the left and right rear seats  22 ,  24 . When the left and right seat backs  26 ,  28  are in their respective stowed positions, the left and right cover panels  30 ,  32  can cooperate with the bed floor  34  to define a cargo support surface for the utility bed  20 . When the left and right seat backs  26 ,  28  are in their deployed positions, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the left and right seat backs  26 ,  28  can cooperate with the respective left and right seat bottoms  36 ,  37  to facilitate support of passengers behind the left front seat  14  and the right front seat  16 , respectively. The left and right seat bottoms  36 ,  37  can include respective cushions for providing underlying support to a seated passenger. As will be described in further detail below, each of the left and right seat backs  26 ,  28  can include a respective pair of spiral torsion springs and a respective seat damper. Each pair of spiral torsion springs and seat damper can cooperate to prevent the respective seat backs from slamming closed or open when the utility bed  20  is moved between the cargo support position and the dumping position, respectively. 
     The utility bed  20  is shown to include a left side wall  38  and a right side wall  40  extending generally perpendicularly from the bed floor  34  or locations adjacent to the bed floor  34 . The utility bed  20  is also shown to include a front wall  42  and a tailgate  44 . The tailgate  44  can be pivotally coupled with respect to the bed floor  34 . When the utility bed  20  is in the hauling position (shown in  FIG. 1 ), the left side wall  38 , the right side wall  40 , and the front wall  42  can cooperate with the bed floor  34  to retain cargo within the utility bed  20 . The tailgate  44 , when closed (as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ), can also cooperate with the left side wall  38 , the right side wall  40 , and the bed floor  34  to retain cargo within the utility bed  20 . It will be appreciated that the tailgate  44  can be selectively opened to facilitate loading of the utility bed  20  and/or to allow cargo (e.g., dirt) to pour from the utility bed  20  when the utility bed  20  is in a dumping position (shown in  FIG. 11 ). In another embodiment, it will be appreciated that a rear wall can be provided in lieu of a tailgate, with the rear wall being rigidly affixed with respect to a bed floor of a utility bed such that it might not be capable of being selectively opened by an operator. In yet another alternative embodiment, it will be appreciated that one or more side walls (e.g.,  38  and/or  40 ) of a utility bed might be capable of being selectively opened (e.g., like tailgate  44 ) by an operator. In still another alternative embodiment, it will be appreciated that a utility bed might not include any tailgate and/or side walls and might, for example, comprise a flat-bed type configuration. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the utility bed  20  can include the bed frame  45  that can be configured to provide underlying and structural support for certain components of the utility bed  20 . The bed frame  45  can comprise a tubular frame structure that extends along a perimeter and/or underneath the bed floor  34  and provides underlying support for the bed floor  34 , the left and right side walls  38 ,  40 , and/or the front wall  42 . 
     The utility bed  20  is also shown in  FIG. 2  to include respective left and right doors  46 ,  48  which are each pivotable between a closed position ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) and an opened position (shown with respect to the right door  48  in  FIGS. 11 and 12 ). When in the closed position, each of the left and right doors  46 ,  48  can cooperate with the respective left and right side walls  38 ,  40 , the front wall  42 , and the bed floor  34  to retain cargo within the utility bed  20 . The left and right doors  46 ,  48  can be moved to the respective opened positions to provide a passenger ingress/egress to/from the left and right rear seats  22 ,  24 . 
     In one embodiment, the left and right doors  46 ,  48  can comprise rear-hinged doors that are pivotally attached to the left and right side walls  38 ,  40 , respectively, such that the left and right doors  46 ,  48  can be selectively opened towards a rear of the utility bed  20 . Opening the left and right doors  46 ,  48  towards the rear of the utility bed  20  can permit more direct access to the left and right rear seats  22 ,  24  than might otherwise be available with front-hinged doors. It will be appreciated, however, that in certain alternative embodiments, the left and right doors  46 ,  48  can instead be front-hinged doors or any of a variety of suitable alternate door arrangements. 
     Each of the left and right doors  46 ,  48  can include respective latches (e.g.,  47  in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , for right door  48 ) that can facilitate releasable coupling of the left and right doors  46 ,  48  in their respective closed positions. The latches (e.g.,  47 ) can be selectively activated through operation of a handle (e.g.,  49  in  FIGS. 11 and 12  for right door  48 ) to facilitate opening of the respective left and right doors  46 ,  48 . In one embodiment, a seal (not shown) can be provided along the perimeter of each of the left and right doors  46 ,  48 . Each seal can facilitate selective sealing of the interaction between the door (e.g.,  46 ,  48 ) and the adjacent side wall (e.g.,  38 ,  40 ). 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3-5 , the right seat back  28  is shown to be pivotally coupled to the bed frame  45  by left and right back hinges  50 ,  52 . The left and right back hinges  50 ,  52  can include respective left and right base portions  51 ,  53 , as shown in  FIGS. 4-5 . The left and right base portions  51 ,  53  are shown to be attached to the bed frame  45  with bolts (e.g.,  55 ), but can additionally or alternatively be attached to the bed frame  45  in any of a variety of suitable alternative attachment arrangements, such as through welding, for example. The right seat back  28  is shown to include left and right upright frame members  54 ,  56  that are pivotally coupled to the respective left and right base portions  51 ,  53  with respective left and right pivot pins  58 ,  60  such that the right seat back  28  is pivotable about the left and right pivot pins  58 ,  60 . The left and right pivot pins  58 ,  60  can cooperate to define a pivot axis A 1  for the right seat back  28 . 
     In one embodiment, the left and right pivot pins  58 ,  60  can be rigidly coupled to the left and right base portions  51 ,  53  such as, for example, in a press fit arrangement or through welding. As such, the right seat back  28  can pivot with respect to the left and right pivot pins  58 ,  60 . 
     Still referring to  FIGS. 3-5 , the right rear seat  24  can include left and right spiral torsion springs  62 ,  64  that are each respectively coupled with the right seat back  28  and the bed frame  45 . The left spiral torsion spring  62  can be configured to bias the right seat back  28  into the stowed position and the right spiral torsion spring  64  can be configured to bias the right seat back  28  into the deployed position. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the left spiral torsion spring  62  can be disposed upon a left side of the right seat back  28  (e.g., adjacent to the left base portion  51  and the left upright frame member  54 ), and the right spiral torsion spring  64  can be disposed upon a right side of the right seat back  28  (e.g., adjacent to the right base portion  53  and the right upright frame member  56 ). 
     The left spiral torsion spring  62  can include an inner radial end  66  and an outer radial end  68  that are coupled with the left back hinge  50  and the right seat back  28 , respectively. In one embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the inner radial end  66  can be attached to the left pivot pin  58  such that the left spiral torsion spring  62  is effectively wound around the left pivot pin  58 . In one embodiment, the left pivot pin  58  can define a slot (not shown) that is configured to receive the inner radial end  66 . In such an embodiment, once the inner radial end  66  is provided through the slot, the inner radial end  66  can be crimped, welded, or otherwise secured to left pivot pin  58  to prevent the inner radial end  66  from inadvertently sliding away from the left pivot pin  58 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the outer radial end  68  can rest against (e.g., engage) a left support member  70  that extends from the left upright frame member  54  adjacent to the left back hinge  50 . With the left inner and outer radial ends  66 ,  68  coupled with the left pivot pin  58  and the left support member  70  in this manner, the left spiral torsion spring  62  can be maintained under tension. The left spiral torsion spring  62  is shown to be wound around the left pivot pin  58  in a counter-clockwise direction (when viewed from the right side of the utility vehicle  10 ). As such, the left spiral torsion spring  62  can apply a spring force that biases the right seat back  28  into the stowed position. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the outer radial end  68  can be substantially U-shaped. This U-shaped design can facilitate coupling of the outer radial end  68  to the left support member  70  without requiring use of fasteners or other fastening methods which can be cumbersome and expensive. This U-shaped design can also promote consistent and effective alignment of the outer radial end  68  with respect to the left support member  70  such as when the left spiral torsion spring  62  is installed on the right rear seat  24 . The outer radial end  68  can accordingly be installed properly without requiring repeated repositioning of the outer radial end  68  which can be time consuming. When the outer radial end  68  needs to be moved away from the left support member  70 , such as to adjust the tension of the left spiral torsion spring  62  (e.g., through winding or unwinding) and/or to install a different left spiral torsion spring  62 , the outer radial end  68  can be easily pulled away from the left support member  70  without requiring the releasing of fasteners or the like. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , the right spiral torsion spring  64  can be coupled with the right seat back  28  and the bed frame  45  similarly to, or the same in many respects, as the left spiral torsion spring  62 . For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the right spiral torsion spring  64  can include an inner radial end  72  and an outer radial end  74  that is coupled with the right back hinge  52  and the right seat back  28 , respectively. The inner radial end  72  is shown to be attached to the right pivot pin  60  such that the right spiral torsion spring  64  is effectively wound around the right pivot pin  60 . The outer radial end  74  can engage a right support member  76  that extends from the right upright frame member  56  adjacent to the right back hinge  52 . With the right inner and outer radial ends  72 ,  74  coupled with the right pivot pin  60  and the right support member  76  in this manner, the right spiral torsion spring  64  can be maintained under tension. 
     However, the right spiral torsion spring  64  is shown to be wound around the right pivot pin  60  in a clockwise direction (i.e., in an opposite direction as the left spiral torsion spring  62  when viewed from the right side of the utility vehicle  10 ). As such, the right spiral torsion spring  64  can apply a spring force that biases the right seat back  28  into the deployed position. The left and the right spiral torsion springs  62 ,  64  are thus wound in opposite directions with respect to each other and can impart opposing pivotal forces to the right seat back  28 . 
     The respective spring forces of the left and the right spiral torsion springs  62 ,  64  can be selected such that, when the right seat back  28  is released from either the stowed or deployed position, the right seat back  28  can automatically pivot into in a neutral position (e.g., when the net spring force of the left and right spiral torsion springs  62 ,  64  is about zero), as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . For example, when the right seat back  28  is released from the stowed position ( FIG. 1 ), the spring force of the right spiral torsion spring  64  can be greater than that of the left spiral torsion spring  62  such that the right seat back  28  is biased upwardly. The right seat back  28  can therefore automatically pivot out of the stowed position until it reaches the neutral position (e.g., when the spring forces of the left and right spiral torsion springs  62 ,  64  are equalized). Conversely, when the right seat back  28  is released from the deployed position, the spring force of the left spiral torsion spring  62  can be greater than that of the right spiral torsion spring  64  such that the right seat back  28  is biased downwardly. The right seat back  28  can therefore automatically pivot out of the deployed position until it reaches the neutral position (e.g., when the spring forces of the left and right spiral torsion springs  62 ,  64  are equalized). It will be appreciated, therefore, that when the right seat back  28  is released from the deployed or stowed position, the right seat back  28  can automatically move into a position that facilitates convenient further manual pivoting of the right seat back  28  by an operator. It will also be appreciated that, although the neutral position is shown to be about midway between the stowed and deployed positions, the respective spring forces of the left and the right spiral torsion springs  62 ,  64  can be selected to hold the right seat back  28  in a variety of different neutral positions. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 7-10 , the utility bed  20  can include a seat damper  78  that is pivotally coupled to the right seat back  28  and the bed frame  45 . The seat damper  78  can be configured to dampen movement of the right seat back  28  between the stowed position and the deployed position. In one embodiment, as illustrated in  FIGS. 7-10 , an upper end  80  of the seat damper  78  can be pivotally coupled with a lower portion  82  of the right seat back  28 . A lower end  84  of the seat damper  78  can be pivotally coupled with a lower vertical extension  86  of the bed frame  45 . In one embodiment, the upper and lower ends  80 ,  84  of the seat damper  78  can be pivotally coupled with the lower portion  82  and the lower vertical extension  86 , respectively, by respective spheroidal-joint arrangements, but in other embodiments, they can be pivotally coupled using any of a variety of suitable alternative arrangements. The seat damper  78  can comprise a bi-directional linear damper that is configured to dampen the pivoting of the right seat back  28  into the deployed position as well as the stowed position. 
     It will be appreciated that the left rear seat  22  can be similar in many respects to the right rear seat  24 , but instead disposed upon a left side of the utility bed  20  for seating of a passenger behind the left front seat  14 . It will also be appreciated that, although spiral torsion springs are described above, any of a variety of suitable alternative biasing member arrangements can be coupled to each of a seat back and a bed frame and configured to facilitate simultaneous biasing of the seat back into stowed and deployed positions. It will be appreciated that if the left seat back  26  and/or the right seat back  28  is/are not locked in the deployed or stowed position during pivoting of the utility bed  20 , their respective spiral torsion springs (e.g.,  62 ,  64 ) and their respective seat damper (e.g.,  78 ) can cooperate to prevent sudden pivoting of the left and/or right seat backs  26 ,  28 . 
     It will be appreciated that the left and right torsion springs  62 ,  64  can cooperate with the seat damper  78  to prevent the right seat back  28  from slamming either closed or opened when the utility bed  20  is moved between the cargo support position and dumping position, respectively, which can reduce the likelihood of items becoming inadvertently pinched by the right seat back  28 . In this regard, operation of the right seat back  28  will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 11-12 . When the right seat back  28  is provided in the neutral position and the utility bed  20  is then pivoted into the dumping position, as illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the right seat back  28  can start to pivot into the deployed position, as indicated by arrow  88 . The left spiral torsion spring  62 , however, can apply a spring force to the right seat back  28  that opposes the movement into the deployed position. Simultaneously, the seat damper  78  can dampen the movement of right seat back  28 . As a result, the pivoting of the right seat back  28  can be slowed, such as to prevent slamming into the deployed position. Conversely, when the right seat back  28  is provided in the neutral position and the utility bed  20  is then pivoted into the hauling position, as illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the right seat back  28  can start to pivot into the stowed position, as indicated by arrow  90 . The right spiral torsion spring  64 , however, can apply a spring force that opposes the movement of the right seat back  28  into the stowed position. Simultaneously, the seat damper  78  can dampen the movement of right seat back  28 . As a result, the pivoting of the right seat back  28  can be slowed, such as to prevent slamming into the stowed position. It will be appreciated that the left rear seat  22  can operate in a similar manner. It will also be appreciated that the seat damper  78  can be any of a variety of suitable alternative cushion member arrangements. 
     It will also be appreciated that although the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-12  illustrates forward facing rear seats which are disposed towards a rear-most portion of the utility bed  20 , rear seats can be provided in any of a variety of suitable alternative arrangements. In one alternative embodiment, left and right rear seats can comprise rearward facing seats. In such an embodiment, the left and right side walls may or may not include respective left and right side doors, in alternative embodiments. 
     Although the embodiments above have been described with respect to individual left and right rear seats, it will be appreciated that, in other embodiments, a utility bed can include more than two seats or less than two seats. In yet another embodiment, a utility bed can provide a bench-type rear seat. 
     The foregoing description of embodiments and examples has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting to the forms described. Numerous modifications are possible in light of the above teachings. Some of those modifications have been discussed and others will be understood by those skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described for illustration of various embodiments. The scope is, of course, not limited to the examples or embodiments set forth herein, but can be employed in any number of applications and equivalent devices by those of ordinary skill in the art. Rather it is hereby intended the scope be defined by the claims appended hereto.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1