Multipurpose highway vehicle

• US 5,577,793 A
• Filed: 04/21/1993
• Issued: 11/26/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John C. Bojarski
• Original Assignee: Richard A. Kobasic
• Inventors: Kobasic, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): KRAMER, DEAN J
• Application Number:
  US08/051,074
• Time in Patent Office: 1,315 Days
• Field of Search: 296/51, 296/57.1, 296/61, 296/62, 296/146.1, 296/146.4, 296/146.11, 296/146.12, 296/146.13, 296/178, 296/204, 49/104, 49/109-115
• US Class Current: 296/146.4
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/0498 with rigid panels pivoting about a horizontal axis
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 31/02 for carrying large numbers of passengers, e.g. omnibus

Abstract

A multipurpose vehicle includes a cab portion disposed over a front set of wheels and a rearwardly facing engine drivingly interconnected with a rear set of wheels. A frame is connected at its forward end to the cab portion, and the rear set of wheels and the engine are mounted to the frame. The frame includes a floor portion located between the rear set of wheels and the cab portion. The floor portion of the frame is defined by a pair of parallel side frame members extending in a front-to-rear direction, and an intermediate frame member located between the pair of side frame members. This construction allows the floor portion to be relatively low to the load. A segmented door assembly includes an upper door panel and a lower door member. The lower door member includes a pan member pivotably mounted to the frame, and a plate member pivotably mounted to the outer end of the pan member. The pan member and the plate member each define a tread surface which cooperate to form a ramp providing easy access into the interior of the vehicle when the door is opened.

Claims

1. A segmented door assembly for enclosing a door opening in a multipurpose vehicle including a frame defining an interior, comprising:

an upper door panel pivotably interconnected with the frame for movement between an open position and a closed position;

a lower door member pivotably interconnected with the frame for movement between an open position and a closed position, and including an upper tread surface defining a ramp leading into the interior of the vehicle when the lower door member is in its open position and an outer end which engages the ground when the lower door member is in its open position, wherein the lower door member includes a first, inner portion connected to the vehicle and a second, outer portion hingedly connected to the first, inner portion, wherein the second, outer portion defines the outer end of the lower door member; and

wherein, when in their closed positions, the upper door panel is located within an upper portion of the door opening and the lower door member is located within a lower portion of the door opening and the upper door panel and the lower door member together cooperate to enclose the door opening, wherein the upper door panel and the lower door member define lower and upper edges, respectively, which are engageable with each other when the upper door panel and the lower door member are in their closed positions;

a linkage interconnected between the frame and the upper door panel and the lower door member;

an actuator for moving one of the upper door panel and the lower door member between its open and closed positions, wherein the linkage functions to move the other of the upper door panel and the lower door member between its open and closed positions in response thereto, wherein the actuator comprises an extendible and retractable member interconnected with the vehicle for selective movement between an extended position and a retracted position, and a cable interconnected between the extendible and retractable member and the lower door member for moving the lower door member between its open and closed positions, wherein the linkage functions to move the upper door panel between its open and closed positions in response to movement of the lower door member between its open and closed positions.

2. The door assembly of claim 1, wherein the cable is connected toward one side of the first, inner portion of the lower door member, and further comprising a second cable trained about a series of pulleys and interconnected with the opposite side of the first, inner portion of the lower door member.

3. A segmented door assembly for enclosing a door opening in a multi-purpose vehicle including a frame defining an interior, comprising:

an upper door panel pivotably interconnected with the frame for movement between an open position and a closed position, wherein the upper door panel is pivotably interconnected with the frame by means of a hinge link defining an inner end and an outer end, wherein the hinge link is pivotably interconnected with the frame toward its inner end and is pivotably interconnected with the upper door panel toward its outer end;

a lower door member pivotably interconnected with the frame for movement between an open position and a closed position, and including an upper tread surface defining a ramp leading into the interior of the vehicle when the lower door member is in its open position and an outer end which engages the ground when the lower door member is in its open position;

wherein, when in their closed positions, the upper door panel is located within an upper portion of the door opening and the lower door member is located within a lower portion of the door opening and the upper door panel and the lower door member together cooperate to enclose the door opening;

a linkage interconnected between the frame and the upper door panel and the lower door member, wherein the linkage comprises an upper link member defining an inner end and an outer end, wherein the upper link member is pivotably mounted to the upper door panel toward its outer end, a lower link member defining an upper end and a lower end, wherein the lower link member is pivotably mounted to the upper link member toward the upper end of the lower link member and toward the inner end of the upper link member, wherein the lower end of the lower link member is pivotably secured to the lower door member, and wherein the upper link member is pivotably secured to the frame at a location intermediate its inner and outer ends; and

an actuator for moving one of the upper door panel and the lower door member between its open and closed positions, wherein the linkage functions to move the other of the upper door panel and the lower door member between its open and closed positions in response thereto.

4. The door assembly of claim 3, wherein the actuator moves the lower door member between its open and closed positions, and wherein the linkage functions to move the upper door panel between its open and closed positions in response thereto.

5. In a multipurpose vehicle defining front and rear ends and having a cab portion disposed over a set of front wheels and an engine located toward the rear of the vehicle and drivingly interconnected with a set of rear wheels, the improvement comprising a frame structure interconnected with the cab portion and with the engine and the rear set of wheels, the frame structure including:

a lower substantially horizontal floor subassembly located forwardly of the rear set of wheels and rearwardly of the cab portion, the floor subassembly comprising a pair of spaced substantially parallel side frame members extending in a front-to-rear direction located one on either side of the vehicle, at least a first intermediate frame member located between the side frame members and extending substantially parallel to the side frame members, and a series of transverse cross-members extending between and interconnecting the side frame members and the intermediate frame member;

a series of frame cages defining spaced, lower sides, wherein each frame cage lower side is interconnected with one of the side frame members of the floor subassembly; and

a pair of side rail subassemblies interconnected with the floor subassembly via one or more of the frame cages.

6. The improvement of claim 5, further comprising one or more partial frame cages extending between the side frame subassemblies and the floor subassembly.

7. The improvement of claim 5, wherein the frame structure defines a door opening adjacent the cab, and wherein the frame subassembly extends rearwardly from the door opening.