Utility vehicle with cabin frame

• US 7,249,798 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2004
• Issued: 07/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2004
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Hisada, Kazumasa, Saito, Hideo
• Primary Examiner(s): PAPE, JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US10/949,461
• Publication Number:
  US 20050184559A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,040 Days
• Field of Search: 296/102, 296/104, 296/205, 296/203.03, 296/29, 296/210, 280/756, 280/DIG.5
• US Class Current: 296/205
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/00 Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels , e.g. rotary sunroofsB60J10/00 takes precedence; window aspects B60J1/00; fixed roofs B62D25/06; mechanisms for operating wings E05F11/00, E05F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/22 Wind deflectors for open roofs
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/24 for particular purposes or particular vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3011 the back-rest being hinged on the cushion, e.g. "portefeuille movement"
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/305 the cushion being hinged on the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3075 stowed in recess B60N2/3079 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/36 into a loading platform B60N2/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/02 Platforms; Open load compartments flat wagons including posts or standards B61D3/08
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/0273 Movable tailboards for vehicles comprising non-movable sideboards, e.g. pick-up trucks B62D33/037 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/037 Latching means therefor

Abstract

A utility vehicle having a cabin-frame assembly coupled to the vehicle body so as to cover rows of seats is provided. Typically, the assembly includes a main frame extended in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle substantially arcuately over the rows of seats, and an intermediate frame extended substantially arcuately and laterally across the vehicle body between the seat rows to support the main frame.

Claims

1. A utility vehicle having a plurality of rows of seats and a cabin-frame assembly coupled to a vehicle body so as to cover the rows of seats to define a cabin space of the vehicle, the cabin-frame assembly comprising:

a main frame extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle substantially arcuately over the rows of seats and having a foremost part and a rearmost part; and

an intermediate frame extending substantially arcuately and laterally across the vehicle body between the seat rows, and having a pair of pillar portions extended upwardly and a cross portion extended laterally, wherein lower ends of the pillar portions are detachably coupled to opposite sides of the vehicle body by fastener means, and the cross portion is coupled to upper ends of the pillar portions, the intermediate frame is coupled to and configured to support the main frame;

wherein the foremost part of the main frame includes a front frame structure extending substantially arcuately and laterally, and a front roof structure extending rearward from a top portion of the front frame structure, wherein the front frame structure includes pillar portions extended upwardly and detachably coupled to opposite sides of a front portion of the vehicle body in front of a foremost seat row by a fastener means, and a cross portion extended laterally and coupled to upper ends of the pillar portions;

wherein the rearmost part of the main frame includes a rear frame structure extending substantially arcuately and laterally, and a rear roof structure extending forward from a top portion of the rear frame structure, the rear frame structure includes pillar portions extended upwardly and detachably coupled to opposite sides of a rear portion of the vehicle body near a rearmost seat row by a fastener means, and a cross portion extended laterally and coupled to upper ends of the pillar portions; and

wherein the foremost part and the rearmost part are detachably coupled to each other by fastener means.

2. The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein the foremost part and the rearmost part are detachably coupled to each other through the intermediate frame by the fastener means.

3. The utility vehicle of claim 2, wherein

a rear end of the front roof structure and a front end of the rear roof structure are configured to connect with the intermediate frame by the fastener means.

4. The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein the front roof structure includes a pair of bar-shaped members arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, substantially in parallel with each other;

and

wherein the bar-shaped members are welded to the front frame structure to form an integral unit.

5. The utility vehicle of claim 1, further comprising an air cleaner and a CVT cooling system, and wherein the rear frame structure includes:

an air intake;

an air outlet connected to at least one of the air cleaner and the CVT cooling system of the vehicle; and

an air passage formed inside the rear frame structure so as to communicate with the air intake and the air outlet.

6. The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle further includes a cargo bed disposed behind a rearmost seat row, the cargo bed being configured to tilt;

and

wherein the top portion of the rear frame structure is bent forward to form a portion of the rear roof structure, and the bent portion is configured not to interfere with the cargo bed when the cargo bed tilts.

7. The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein the rear roof structure includes a pair of bar-shaped members arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, substantially in parallel with each other;

and

wherein the bar-shaped members are configured to be detachably coupled to the top portion of the rear frame structure.

8. The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein respective ends of the rear frame structure are configured to be detachably coupled to opposite sides of the vehicle body adjacent corresponding sides of a rearmost seat row;

and

wherein respective pillar portions of the rear frame structure pass through the corresponding sides of the rearmost seat row and extend above the rearmost seat row at a slant rearward.

9. The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein the intermediate frame includes a middle cross member extending laterally between the pillar portions of the intermediate frame;

and

wherein the middle cross member is detachably coupled to middle positions of the pillar portions of the intermediate frame in the vertical direction of the pillar portions to pass through the cabin space.

10. The utility vehicle of claim 9, wherein the cross member supports a backrest portion of a seat row in front of the cross member.

11. The utility vehicle of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the cross member is configured to be a supporting grip graspable by a passenger seated in a seat row behind the cross frame.

12. The utility vehicle of claim 8, wherein the intermediate frame includes a pair of side guides being coupled to and extending forward from respective locations on opposite sides of the intermediate frame.

13. A utility vehicle having a plurality of rows of seats and a cabin-frame assembly coupled to the vehicle body so as to cover the rows of seats to define a cabin space of the vehicle, the cabin-frame assembly comprising:

a main frame extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle substantially arcuately over the rows of seats, wherein a front end of the main frame is coupled to a front portion of the vehicle body and a rear end of the main frame is coupled to a rear portion of the vehicle body;

an intermediate frame extending substantially arcuately and laterally across the vehicle body between the seat rows, wherein respective ends of the intermediate frame are coupled to opposite sides of the vehicle body, and the intermediate frame is coupled to and configured to support the main frame; and

a cargo bed disposed behind a rearmost seat row, the cargo bed being configured to tilt;

wherein the main frame includes a joint formed at an intersection of the main frame and the intermediate frame, the main frame being configured to be divisible at the joint;

wherein a rearmost part of the main frame includes a rear frame structure formed in an inverse U-shape extending laterally across the vehicle body, and a rear roof structure extending forward from a top portion of the rear frame structure, wherein a front end of the rear roof structure is configured to connect with the intermediate frame; and

wherein the top portion of the rear frame structure is bent forward to form a portion of the rear roof structure, and the bent portion is configured not to interfere with the cargo bed when the cargo bed tilts.

14. A utility vehicle having a plurality of rows of seats, a cargo bed disposed behind the seats, rear wheels located below the cargo bed, and a cabin-frame assembly coupled to the vehicle body so as to cover the rows of seats to define a cabin space of the vehicle, the cabin-frame assembly comprising:

a main frame extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle substantially arcuately over the rows of seats, and having a foremost part and a rearmost part, wherein a front end of the foremost part is coupled to a front portion of the vehicle body and a rear end of the rearmost part is coupled to a rear portion of the vehicle body; and

an intermediate frame extending substantially arcuately and laterally across the vehicle body between the seat rows, and having a pair of pillar portions extended upwardly and a cross portion extended laterally, wherein lower ends of the pillar portions are coupled to opposite sides of the vehicle body, the cross portion is coupled to upper ends of the pillar portions, and the intermediate frame is coupled to and configured to support the main frame;

wherein the foremost part of the main frame includes a front frame structure extending substantially arcuately and laterally, and a front roof structure extending rearward from a top portion of the front frame structure, wherein the front frame structure includes pillar portions coupled to opposite sides of the vehicle body in front of a foremost seat row and extended upwardly, and a cross portion extended laterally and coupled to upper ends of the pillar portions;

wherein the rearmost part of the main frame includes a rear frame structure extending substantially arcuately and laterally, and a rear roof structure extending forward from a top portion of the rear frame structure, wherein the rear frame structure includes pillar portions extended upwardly, and a cross portion extended laterally and coupled to upper ends of the pillar portions; and

wherein a lower end of the pillar portions of the rear frame structure are coupled to opposite sides of the vehicle body adjacent corresponding sides of a rearmost seat row, the pillar portions of the rear frame structure pass through the corresponding sides of the rearmost seat row and extend above the rearmost seat row at a slant rearward, and thereby a rear end of the pillar portions is located between the rearmost seat row and the cargo bed.

15. The utility vehicle of claim 14, wherein the intermediate frame includes a middle cross member extending laterally between the pillar portions of the intermediate frame, the middle cross member is coupled to middle positions of the pillar portions of the intermediate frame in the vertical direction of the pillar portions to pass through the cabin space.

16. The utility vehicle of claim 15, wherein the cross member is detachably coupled to the pillar portions of the intermediate frame by fastener means.

17. The utility vehicle of claim 16, wherein at least a portion of the cross member is configured to be a supporting grip graspable by a passenger seated in a seat row behind the cross frame.

18. The utility vehicle of claim 14, wherein the cargo bed is configured to tilt;

and

wherein the top portion of the rear frame structure is bent forward to form a portion of the rear roof structure, and the bent portion is configured not to interfere with the cargo bed when the cargo bed tilts.