Vehicle having utility bed and passenger restraint assembly

• US 8,353,534 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2009
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Arnold, David W., Mitchell, Craig, Winter, Justin Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sliteris, Joselynn Y
• Application Number:
  US12/646,160
• Publication Number:
  US 20110148088A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: 280/756, 280/801.1, 280/808, 280/748, 298/17.R, 296/68.1, 296/64
• US Class Current: 280/801.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3013 the back-rest being hinged on the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/305 the cushion being hinged on the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3079 in a recess
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/36 into a loading platform B60N2/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/363 characterised by provisions for enhancing the cargo floor surface, e.g. elements closing gaps or enlarging the back-rest surface
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/423 from transport of persons to transport of goods
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/24 secured to the side, door, or roof of the vehicle

Abstract

A vehicle includes a vehicular frame, a utility bed, and a passenger restraint assembly. The utility bed is coupled with the vehicular frame and includes a bed floor, a side wall, and a rear scat. The passenger restraint assembly includes a securing member, a belt and a retractor. The securing member is coupled with the utility bed adjacent to the rear seat. The belt includes a first end; a second end, and a securing portion. The securing portion is configured for selective engagement with the securing member. The retractor is coupled with the side wall. The retractor includes a carrier that is coupled with the first end of the belt and is configured to facilitate selective dispensation of the belt.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicular frame;

a utility bed pivotally coupled with the vehicular frame and pivotable between a hauling position and a dumping position, the utility bed comprising;

a bed floor;

a side wall; and

a rear seat; and

a passenger restraint assembly comprising;

a securing member coupled with the utility bed adjacent to the rear seat;

a belt comprising a first end, a second end, and a securing portion, the securing portion being configured for selective engagement with the securing member; and

a retractor coupled with the side wall, the retractor comprising a carrier that is coupled with the first end of the belt and is configured to facilitate selective dispensation of the belt.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the side wall further comprises a door that is pivotable between an opened position and a closed position and the retractor is coupled with a remaining portion of the side wall.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 wherein:

the side wall comprises an upper wall, an inner wall, and an outer wall;

the upper wall, the inner wall, and the outer wall cooperate to define an inner area of the side wall; and

the retractor is at least partially disposed within the inner area.

4. The vehicle of claim 3 wherein the upper wall of the side wall defines an opening that is configured to facilitate dispensation of the belt from within the inner area.

5. The vehicle of claim 2 wherein:

the utility bed further comprises a bed frame and an end wall, the end wall being movably coupled with the bed frame and moveable between an erected position and a collapsed position;

the bed floor comprises a first floor portion, the first floor portion being pivotable between an upright position and a cargo support position;

a seat back is coupled with the first floor portion;

a seat bottom is coupled with the end wall; and

when the first floor portion is in the upright position with the end wall in the collapsed position, the seat back and the seat bottom cooperate to provide the rear seat.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 wherein the first floor portion comprises a front floor and the end wall comprises a front wall.

7. A utility vehicle comprising:

a vehicular frame;

a utility bed coupled with the vehicular frame and comprising;

a bed floor;

a side wall;

a front wall; and

a rear seat;

a rear roll bar assembly coupled with at least one of the vehicular frame and the utility bed, the rear roll bar assembly being configured to provide overlying protection for the rear seat; and

a passenger restraint assembly comprising;

a securing member coupled with the utility bed adjacent to the rear seat;

a belt comprising a first end, a second end, and a securing portion, the securing portion being configured for selective engagement with the securing member;

a retractor coupled with the side wall, the retractor comprising a carrier that is coupled with the first end of the belt and is configured to facilitate selective dispensation of the belt; and

a hanger member coupled with the rear roll bar assembly and configured to support the belt adjacent to the rear roll bar assembly.

8. The utility vehicle of claim 7 wherein the utility bed is pivotally coupled with the vehicular frame and is pivotable between a hauling position and a dumping position.

9. The utility vehicle of claim 7 wherein the side wall comprises a door that is pivotable between an opened position and a closed position, and the retractor is coupled with a remaining portion of the side wall.

10. The utility vehicle of claim 7 wherein:

the side wall comprises an upper wall, an inner wall, and an outer wall;

the upper wall, the inner wall, and the outer wall cooperate to define an inner area of the side wall; and

the retractor is at least partially disposed within the inner area.

11. The utility vehicle of claim 10 wherein the upper wall of the side wall defines an opening that is configured to facilitate dispensation of the belt from within the inner area.

12. The utility vehicle of claim 7 wherein the securing member comprises a latch coupled with the rear seat and the securing portion of the belt comprises a tongue member that is configured for selective positioning along the belt.

13. The utility vehicle of claim 7 wherein:

the bed floor comprises a first floor portion, the first floor portion being pivotable between an upright position and a cargo support position;

the utility bed further comprises;

a bed frame;

an end wall movably coupled with the bed frame and moveable between an erected position and a collapsed position;

a seat back coupled with the first floor portion; and

a seat bottom coupled with the end wall; and

when the first floor portion is in the upright position with the end wall in the collapsed position, the seat back and seat bottom cooperate to provide the rear seat.

14. The utility vehicle of claim 13 wherein the first floor portion comprises a front floor and the end wall comprises a front wall.

15. A utility vehicle comprising:

a vehicular frame;

a utility bed pivotally coupled with the vehicular frame and pivotable between a hauling position and a dumping position, the utility bed comprising;

a bed frame;

a bed floor comprising;

a rear floor coupled with the bed frame; and

a front floor pivotally coupled with the rear floor and being pivotable between an upright position and a cargo support position;

a front wall pivotally coupled with the bed frame and pivotable between an erected position and a collapsed position;

a left side wall comprising a left door that is pivotable between an opened position and a closed position; and

a right side wall comprising a right door that is pivotable between an opened position and a closed position;

a left seat back coupled with the front floor;

a right seat back coupled with the front floor;

a left seat bottom coupled with the front wall; and

a right seat bottom coupled with the front wall;

a rear roll bar assembly coupled with the bed frame and comprising a left roll bar member and a right roll bar member;

a left passenger restraint assembly comprising;

a left securing member coupled with the front wall adjacent the left seat bottom;

a first belt comprising a first end, a second end, and a first securing portion, the first securing portion being configured for selective engagement with the left securing member; and

a first retractor coupled with the left side wall, the first retractor comprising a first carrier coupled with the first end of the first belt and configured to facilitate selective dispensation of the first belt;

a right passenger restraint assembly comprising;

a right securing member coupled with the front wall adjacent the right seat bottom;

a second belt comprising a third end, a fourth end, and a second securing portion, the second securing portion being configured for selective engagement with the right securing member; and

a second retractor coupled with the right side wall, the second retractor comprising a second carrier coupled with the third end of the second belt and configured to facilitate selective dispensation of the second belt;

a left hanger member coupled with the left roll bar member and configured to support the first belt adjacent to the left roll bar member; and

a right hanger member coupled with the right roll bar member and configured to support the second belt adjacent to the right roll bar member;

wherein, when the front floor is in the upright position with the front wall in the collapsed position, the left seat back and the left seat bottom cooperate to provide a left rear seat and the right seat back and the right seat bottom cooperate to provide a right rear seat.

16. The utility vehicle of claim 15 wherein:

the left side wall comprises a left upper wall, a left inner wall, and a left outer wall;

the left upper wall, the left inner wall, and the left outer wall cooperate to define a left inner area of the left side wall;

the first retractor is at least partially disposed within the left inner area;

the right side wall comprises a right upper wall, a right inner wall, and a right outer wall;

the right upper wall, the right inner wall, and the right outer wall cooperate to define a right inner area of the right side wall; and

the second retractor is at least partially disposed within the right inner area.

17. The utility vehicle of claim 16 wherein the left upper wall of the left side wall defines a left opening that is configured to facilitate dispensation of the first belt from within the left inner area and the right upper wall of the right side wall defines a right opening that is configured to facilitate dispensation of the second belt from within the right inner area.

18. The utility vehicle of claim 16 wherein the left inner wall defines a left channel that is configured to receive the first belt and the right inner wall defines a right channel that is configured to receive the second belt.