Vehicles having utility dump bed and folding seat assembly

• US 8,002,331 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2008
• Issued: 08/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Bowers, Lee N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan; Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLACK, MELISSA ANN
• Application Number:
  US12/208,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20100060026A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• Field of Search: 296/66, 296/65.01, 296/69, 296/26.01, 296/182.1, 296/183.1, 296/183.2, 296/184.1, 297/15, 297/378.12
• US Class Current: 296/183.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3013 the back-rest being hinged on the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3065 in a longitudinal-vertical plane
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3079 in a recess
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/309 rods
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3095 Auxiliary rear seats accessible from outside the vehicle when in an in-use position
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/423 from transport of persons to transport of goods
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/13 Roll-over protection electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01

Abstract

A vehicle includes a frame, a folding seat assembly, and a utility bed. The utility bed is attached to the frame and is moveable with respect to the frame between a hauling position and a dumping position. The folding seat assembly is moveable between an erected position and a collapsed position. The utility bed comprises a bed floor and a cargo lid. The bed floor includes a first cargo supporting surface and defines an aperture. The cargo lid is movable between a closed position and an opened position. In the closed position, the cargo lid at least substantially covers the aperture. In the opened position, the cargo lid facilitates selective passage of at least a portion of the folding seat assembly into the aperture when both the utility bed is in the hauling position and the folding seat assembly is in the erected position.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a frame;

a utility bed attached to the frame and moveable with respect to the frame between a hauling position and a dumping position, the utility bed comprising a bed floor and a cargo lid, the bed floor defining an aperture;

a folding seat assembly moveable between an erected position and a collapsed position; and

an interlock arrangement;

wherein the cargo lid is movable between;

a closed position in which the cargo lid at least substantially covers the aperture; and

an opened position in which the cargo lid facilitates selective passage of at least a portion of the folding seat assembly into the aperture when both the utility bed is in the hauling position and the folding seat assembly is in the erected position; and

wherein the interlock arrangement is configured to prevent movement of the utility bed from the hauling position to the dumping position when the folding seat assembly is in the erected position.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the bed floor comprises a first cargo supporting surface and the cargo lid comprises a second cargo supporting surface, and the second cargo supporting surface is generally coplanar with the first cargo supporting surface when the cargo lid is in the closed position.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 wherein, when the cargo lid is in the closed position, each of the first and second cargo supporting surfaces are configured to directly contact and provide underlying support for cargo.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the folding seat assembly comprises a seat member and a backrest member, and each of the seat member and the backrest member is configured to move with respect to the frame when the folding seat assembly is moved between the erected position and the collapsed position.

5. The vehicle of claim 4 wherein the folding seat assembly is configured such that, when the utility bed is in the hauling position, the cargo lid is in the opened position, and the folding seat assembly is in the erected position, portions of each of the seat member and the backrest member of the folding seat assembly extend into the aperture defined by the bed floor.

6. The vehicle of claim 4 wherein the folding seat assembly further comprises a seat belt assembly, the seat belt assembly comprising a belt member and a receiver member.

7. The vehicle of claim 4 wherein the folding seat assembly, when in the erected position, is configured to support a rearward-seated person.

8. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the utility bed further comprises at least one side wall extending generally perpendicularly from adjacent to the bed floor.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein the utility bed further comprises a tailgate, the tailgate being pivotally coupled with respect to the bed floor.

10. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising at least one forward-facing seat and a roll bar assembly, the roll bar assembly being configured to simultaneously protect persons respectively seated upon each of the forward-facing seat and the folding seat assembly.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 wherein the roll bar assembly comprises a front headrest and a rear headrest, the front headrest is configured for supporting a head of a person seated upon the forward-facing seat, and the rear headrest is configured for supporting a head of a person seated upon the folding seat assembly.

12. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein the front headrest is adjacent to the rear headrest.

13. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a handle being moveably attached to at least one of the frame, the utility bed, and the folding seat assembly, wherein the handle is configured to be grasped by a person seated upon the folding seat assembly.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 wherein the handle is pivotally attached to a portion of the folding seat assembly and is pivotable between a stored position and an extended position.

15. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising:

a second folding seat assembly moveable between an erected position and a collapsed position;

wherein the utility bed further comprises a second cargo lid, the bed floor defines a second aperture, and the second cargo lid is movable between;

a closed position in which the second cargo lid at least substantially covers the second aperture; and

an opened position in which the second cargo lid facilitates selective passage of at least a portion of the second folding seat assembly into the second aperture when both the utility bed is in the hauling position and the second folding seat assembly is in the erected position.

16. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the cargo lid is hingedly coupled with the bed floor.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 wherein the interlock arrangement is further configured to prevent movement of the utility bed from the hauling position to the dumping position when the cargo lid is in the opened position.

18. A vehicle comprising:

a frame;

a folding seat assembly attached to the frame and moveable with respect to the frame between an erected position and a collapsed position;

at least one forward-facing seat;

a roll bar assembly configured to simultaneously protect persons respectively seated upon each of the forward-facing seat and the folding seat assembly;

the roll bar assembly comprising;

a front headrest configured for supporting a head of a person seated upon the forward-facing seat; and

a rear headrest configured for supporting a head of a person seated upon the folding seat assembly;

a utility bed attached to the frame and moveable with respect to the frame between a hauling position and a dumping position, the utility bed comprising;

a bed floor comprising a first cargo supporting surface and defining an aperture; and

a cargo lid movable between;

a closed position in which the cargo lid at least substantially covers the aperture; and

an opened position in which the cargo lid facilitates selective passage of at least a portion of the folding seat assembly into the aperture when both the utility bed is in the hauling position and the folding seat assembly is in the erected position; and

an interlock arrangement configured to prevent movement of the utility bed from the hauling position to the dumping position when the folding seat assembly is in the erected position.

19. The vehicle of claim 18 wherein the interlock arrangement is further configured to prevent movement of the utility bed from the hauling position to the dumping position when the cargo lid is in the opened position.