Pick-up style utility vehicle with expandable cargo bed

• US 7,992,911 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2009
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kawasaki Motors
• Original Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Tanaka, Masaki, Naruoka, Shohei, Takehara, Yoshiya
• Primary Examiner(s): PEDDER, DENNIS H
• Application Number:
  US12/649,780
• Publication Number:
  US 20110156421A1
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 296/24.43, 296/26.08, 296/26.11, 296/183.1, 296/183.2, 280/749
• US Class Current: 296/24.43
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3022 along longitudinal axis
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/305 the cushion being hinged on the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/027 movable
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/0621 able to be dismantled, folding
• 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 pick-up style utility vehicle has a front seat, a rear seat, and a cargo bed in this order from front, a cabin frame surrounding a riding space, and a screen shield partitioning the cargo bed and a rear riding space in front of the cargo bed. The cargo bed can be changed between an expanded state in which the cargo bed is expanded in a front direction to the rear riding space and a non-expanded state not occupying the rear riding space. The screen shield has a link mechanism. The screen shield is coupled to the upper portion of the cabin frame by the link mechanism so that the screen shield can be shifted between a position in the expanded state and a position in the non-expanded state.

Claims

1. A pick-up style utility vehicle comprising:

a front seat;

a rear seat;

a cargo bed behind the rear seat;

a cabin frame surrounding a riding space; and

a screen shield partitioning the cargo bed and a rear riding space in front of the cargo bed,

wherein the cargo bed can be changed between an expanded state in which the cargo bed is expanded in a front direction to the rear riding space and a non-expanded state not occupying the rear riding space,

wherein the screen shield has a link mechanism, and

wherein the screen shield is coupled to an upper portion of the cabin frame by the link mechanism such that the screen shield can be shifted between a position in the expanded state and a position in the non-expanded state,

wherein the cargo bed has right and left stationary side panels and right and left expandable side panels expandable to the rear riding space,

wherein the link mechanism includes;

(i) a pair of right and left first arms rotatably coupled to the upper portion of the cabin frame;

(ii) a pair of right and left intermediate arms rotatably coupled to the first arms; and

(iii) a pair of right and left second arms rotatably coupled to the intermediate arms, the second arms being attached to the expandable side panels.

2. The pick-up style utility vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the screen shield is connected to and extends between the left and right intermediate arms.

3. The pick-up style utility vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the cargo bed is movable between a non-lifted state and a lifted state, the cargo bed being tilted downward in the lifted state to unload cargo from the cargo bed, and

wherein the cargo bed is movable between the non-lifted state and the lifted state when in the expanded state and when in the non-expanded state.

4. The pick-up style utility vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the screen shield pivots as the cargo bed moves between the non-lifted state and the lifted state.

5. A pick-up style utility vehicle comprising:

a front seat;

a rear seat;

a cargo bed behind the rear seat;

a cabin frame surrounding a riding space; and

a screen shield partitioning the cargo bed and a rear riding space in front of the cargo bed,

wherein the cargo bed can be changed between an expanded state in which the cargo bed is expanded in a front direction to the rear riding space and a non-expanded state not occupying the rear riding space,

wherein the screen shield has a link mechanism, and

wherein the screen shield is coupled to an upper portion of the cabin frame by the link mechanism such that the screen shield can be shifted between a position in the expanded state and a position in the non-expanded state,

wherein the link mechanism includes;

(i) a pair of right and left first arms rotatably coupled to the upper portion of the cabin frame;

(ii) a pair of right and left intermediate arms rotatably coupled to the first arms; and

(iii) a pair of right and left second arms rotatably coupled to the intermediate arms,

wherein the screen shield is connected to and extends between the left and right intermediate arms,

wherein the cargo bed is movable between a non-lifted state and a lifted state, the cargo bed being tilted downward in the lifted state to unload cargo from the cargo bed,

wherein the cargo bed is movable between the non-lifted state and the lifted state when in the expanded state and when in the non-expanded state, and

wherein the screen shield pivots as the cargo bed moves between the non-lifted state and the lifted state.

6. The pick-up style utility vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the cargo bed has right and left stationary side panels and right and left expandable side panels expandable to the rear riding space.