UTILITY VEHICLE TRANSFORMABLE CARGO BOX

• US 20190329713A1
• Filed: 04/30/2018
• Published: 10/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Sharma, Praveen, Patil, Rupali, Kulkarni, Parag B., Hasnain, Muzaffar, Gade, Abhijit
• Granted Patent: US 10,640,155 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/423 from transport of persons to transport of goods
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/06 at vehicle front or rear rear luggage compartments within vehicle extensible externally of the vehicle body B60R5/041
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/065 Enclosure-type carriers, e.g. trunks
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/023 Sideboard or tailgate structures vehicle side panels in general B62D25/02
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/027 movable
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 47/003 convertible in order to modify the number of seats foldable compact cars B62D31/006; convertible from one use to a different one B60P3/42

Abstract

A utility vehicle transformable cargo box includes a cargo box floor, a first base panel hinged to the front of the cargo box floor, and a second base panel hinged to a front of the first base panel and to a load guard that can slide between a first non-extended position and a second extended position. A pair of side extension panels are pivotably attached to the ends of the load guard, are positioned up against the load guard in the first non-extended position, and extend forward from the cargo box walls in the second extended position

Claims

1. A utility vehicle transformable cargo box, comprising:

a load guard on a front of a cargo box;

the load guard positionable at a first non-extended position behind a seating area and a second extended position at least partially over the seating area and;

a pair of side extension panels;

each side extension panel hinged to the load guard and positioned up against the load guard in the first non-extended position, and each side extension panel extending rearwardly from the load guard to a sidewall of the cargo box in the second extended position; and

a first base panel hinged to the load guard;

a second base panel hinged between the first base panel and a floor of the cargo box;

the first and second base panels folded against the pair of side extension panels in the first non-extended position; and

the first and second base panels positioned horizontally in front of the cargo box floor in the second extended position.

2. The utility vehicle transformable cargo box of claim 1 wherein the load guard is mounted to a cross member and to a pair of longitudinal members which slide forwardly and rearwardly with the load guard between the first non-extended position and the second extended position.

3. The utility vehicle transformable cargo box of claim 2 further comprising a plurality of rollers mounted to each of the longitudinal members.

4. The utility vehicle transformable cargo box of claim 1 further comprising a pair of latches;

each latch positioned on a forward portion of one of the sidewalls;

each latch securing the load guard in the first non-extended position and securing one of the side extension panels in the second extended position.

5. A utility vehicle transformable cargo box, comprising:

a load guard enclosing a front of the cargo box;

a pair of side extension panels positioned up against the load guard in a first non-extended position, and aligned with a pair of cargo box walls in a second extended position; and

a pair of base panels folded up against the side extension panels in the first non-extended position, and unfolded and positioned horizontally in the second extended position.

6. The utility vehicle transformable cargo box of claim 5, wherein the pair of base panels are hinged to each other, and one of the base panels is hinged to the load guard, and one of the base panels is hinged to a cargo box floor.

7. The utility vehicle transformable cargo box of claim 5 further comprising a latch engaging the load guard in the first non-extended position, and engaging one of the side extension panels in the second extended position.

8. The utility vehicle transformable cargo box of claim 5 further comprising a cross member and a pair of longitudinal members supporting the load guard.

9. A utility vehicle transformable cargo box, comprising:

a cargo box floor with a pair of cargo box walls;

a first base panel hinged to the front of the cargo box floor;

a second base panel hinged to a front of the first base panel and to a load guard that is slideable between a first non-extended position and a second extended position;

a pair of side extension panels;

each side extension panel hinged to an end of the load guard;

each side extension panel is positioned up against the load guard in the first non-extended position and extends between the load guard and one of the cargo box walls in the second extended position;

a pair of latches;

each latch engaging one of the ends of the load guard in the first non-extended position, and engaging one of the side extension panels in the second extended position.

10. The utility vehicle transformable cargo box of claim 9 wherein each latch engages a receptacle on the load guard and side extension panel.

11. A utility vehicle transformable cargo box of claim 9, wherein the base panels are folded against the side extension panels in the first non-extended position.