Utility vehicle dump box

• US 6,923,507 B1
• Filed: 06/11/2003
• Issued: 08/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
• Inventors: Eastman, Karolyn, Billberg, Rusty
• Primary Examiner(s): GUTMAN, HILARY L
• Application Number:
  US10/458,868
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 298/17.R, 298/23.R, 296/183.2, 296/183.1, 296/182.1, 296/10, 296/36, 296/50, 296/51, 296/56, 296/57.1
• US Class Current: 298/17.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/286 Loading buckets
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/42 convertible from one use to a different one vehicles capable of travelling in or on different media, rail-and-road vehicles B60F
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/0273 Movable tailboards for vehicles comprising non-movable sideboards, e.g. pick-up trucks B62D33/037 takes precedence

Abstract

A dump box for a utility vehicle having a forward cab portion and a rearward bed portion. The dump box includes a dump box bed having a front end, first and second sides, and a rear end. A front panel is provided at the front end, the front panel dividing the cab portion of the utility vehicle from the bed portion of the utility vehicle. First and second side walls are provided that are adjustable between a first position along the sides and a second position along the front panel. A tailgate is provided at the rear end of the utility vehicle. The tailgate may be configured for rotation from both the upper and lower margin. Limiting structures may be used to limit the opening of the tailgate from the upper margin. Further, the tailgate may include a support for supporting the tailgate in an open, horizontal position.

Claims

1. A dump box on a utility vehicle having a forward cab portion and a rearward bed portion, the dump box comprising:

a dump box bed having a front end, first and second sides, and a rear end;

a front panel provided at the front end, the front panel dividing the forward cab portion of the utility vehicle from the rearward bed portion of the utility vehicle;

a tailgate provided at the rear end; and

first and second side walls, a portion of each side wall being pivotable along a generally vertical axis and a rear end of each side wall being removably secured to the tailgate, the side walls being positionable between a first position along the first and second sides respectively and a second position generally parallel with the front panel.

2. The dump box of claim 1, wherein the entire side walls are pivotable with respect to the front panel at a pivot point at the intersection of each side wall with the front panel.

3. The dump box of claim 1, wherein each side wall comprises a forward portion and a rearward portion, the rearward portion being pivotable with the forward portion such that the side walls may be folded to form a truncated dump box.

4. The dump box of claim 1, wherein the tailgate has a top edge and a bottom edge and is configured for pivoting along either the top edge or the bottom edge, the tailgate further being adjustable between a closed vertical position and an open horizontal position.

5. The dump box of claim 4, further including a strap for limiting the upward rotation of the tailgate.

6. The dump box of claim 5, wherein the strap has first and second ends and is adjustable between a minimum and a maximum length, the second end further including a hook, the first end being attachable to the dump box and the second end being attachable to the tailgate.

7. The dump box of claim 6, wherein the tailgate includes a hole for receiving the hook.

8. The dump box of claim 4, further including first and second slotted structures extending rearwardly from the sides of the dump box bed, the slotted structures each including a slot for receiving a projection from the tailgate.

9. The dump box of claim 8, wherein the tailgate includes first and second pins extending from lower right and left sides of the tailgate, the slots being configured for receiving the first and second pins.

10. The dump box of claim 1, wherein the tailgate is adjustable between a closed vertical position and an open generally horizontal position.

11. The dump box of claim 10, further including a lower support provided at the bottom edge of the tailgate for supporting the tailgate in the open generally horizontal position, the lower support extending vertically downwards from the tailgate when the tailgate is in the closed vertical position, and abutting the dump box bed when the tailgate is in the open generally horizontal position.

12. The dump box of claim 11, wherein the lower support comprises two vertical extensions having first and second ends, the first ends attached to the bottom edge of the tailgate and the second ends attached to a horizontal bar.

13. The dump box of claim 1, wherein the first and second side walls are positionable between a first position along the first and second sides respectively and a second position along the front panel wherein the second position is substantially parallel with and against the front panel.

14. A dump box for a utility vehicle having a forward cab portion and a rearward bed portion, the dump box comprising:

a dump box bed having a front end, first and second sides, and a rear end;

a front panel provided at the front end, the front panel dividing the forward cab portion of the utility vehicle from the rearward bed portion of the utility vehicle;

first and second side walls, a front end of each side wall being pivotable along a generally vertical axis and a rear end of each side wall being removably secured to the tailgate, the side walls being positionable between a first position along the first and second sides respectively and a second position along the front panel;

a tailgate provided at the rear end, the tailgate including a top edge and a bottom edge and being adjustable between a closed generally vertical position and an open generally horizontal position; and

a lower support provided at the bottom edge of the tailgate for supporting the tailgate in the open generally horizontal position, the lower support extending generally vertically downwards from the tailgate when the tailgate is in the closed generally vertical position, and abutting the dump box bed when the tailgate is in the open generally horizontal position.

15. The dump box of claim 14, wherein the lower support comprises two generally vertical extensions having first and second ends, the first ends attached to the bottom edge of the tailgate and the second ends attached to a generally horizontal bar.

16. The dump box of claim 14, wherein the tailgate is configured for pivoting along either the top edge or the bottom edge.

17. The dump box of claim 16, further including a strap for limiting the upward rotation of the tailgate.

18. The dump box of claim 17, wherein the strap has first and second ends and is adjustable between a minimum and a maximum length, the second end further including a hook, the first end being attachable to the dump box and the second end being attachable to the tailgate.

19. The dump box of claim 17, wherein the tailgate includes a hole for receiving the hook.

20. The dump box of claim 16, further including first and second slotted structures extending rearwardly from the sides of the dump box bed, the slotted structures each including a slot for receiving a projection from the tailgate.

21. The dump box of claim 20, wherein the tailgate includes first and second pins extending from lower right and left sides of the tailgate, the slots being configured for receiving the first and second pins.

22. The dump box of claim 14, wherein the second position is substantially parallel with and against the front panel.

23. The dump box of claim 14, wherein each side wall comprises a forward portion and a rearward portion, the rearward portion being pivotable with the forward portion such that the side walls may be folded to form a truncated dump box.

24. A dump box for a utility vehicle having a forward cab portion and a rearward bed portion, the dump box comprising:

a dump box bed having a front end, first and second sides, and a rear end;

a front panel provided at the front end, the front panel dividing the forward cab portion of the utility vehicle from the rearward bed portion of the utility vehicle;

a tailgate provided at the rear end; and

first and second side walls, a front end of each side wall being pivotable along a generally vertical axis and a rear end of each side wall being removably secured to the tailgate, the side walls being positionable between a first position along the first and second sides respectively and a second position along the front panel wherein the second position is substantially parallel with and against the front panel.

25. The dump box of claim 24, wherein each side wall comprises a forward portion and a rearward portion, the rearward portion being pivotable with the forward portion such that the side walls may be folded to form a truncated dump box.

26. The dump box of claim 24, wherein the tailgate has a top edge and a bottom edge and is configured for pivoting along either the top edge or the bottom edge, the tailgate further being adjustable between a closed vertical position and an open horizontal position.

27. The dump box of claim 26, further including a strap for limiting the upward rotation of the tailgate.

28. The dump box of claim 27, wherein the strap has first and second ends and is adjustable between a minimum and a maximum length, the second end further including a hook, the first end being attachable to the dump box and the second end being attachable to the tailgate.

29. The dump box of claim 28, wherein the tailgate includes a hole for receiving the hook.

30. The dump box of claim 26, further including first and second slotted structures extending rearwardly from the sides of the dump box bed, the slotted structures each including a slot for receiving a projection from the tailgate.

31. The dump box of claim 30, wherein the tailgate includes first and second pins extending from lower right and left sides of the tailgate, the slots being configured for receiving the first and second pins.

32. The dump box of claim 24, wherein the tailgate is adjustable between a closed generally vertical position and an open generally horizontal position.

33. The dump box of claim 32, further including a lower support provided at a bottom edge of the tailgate for supporting the tailgate in the open generally horizontal position, the lower support extending generally vertically downwards from the tailgate when the tailgate is in the closed generally vertical position, and abutting the dump box bed when the tailgate is in the open generally horizontal position.

34. The dump box of claim 33, wherein the lower support comprises two generally vertical extensions having first and second ends, the first ends attached to the bottom edge of the tailgate and the second ends attached to a generally horizontal bar.