Work vehicle

• US 8,376,441 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2011
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kubota Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kubota Corporation
• Inventors: Nakamura, Norimi, Imanishi, Ryouzou, Fujiwara, Koji, Kobayashi, Mitsugu, Hirooka, Yoshimi, Nakamura, Taro, Shimamura, Teruo
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): Westbrook, Sunsurraye
• Application Number:
  US13/296,598
• Publication Number:
  US 20120056411A1
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 296/183.2, 296/26.11, 296/190.11, 296/65.05, 296/65.08, 296/65.09, 296/183.1, 296/186.4, 296/26.1, 298/17.R, 298/1.A
• US Class Current: 296/65.01
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/186 for building site vehicles or multi-purpose tractors tracked vehicles B62D55/10; tractors in general B62D49/00; building site vehicles in general E02F; lift-trucks B66F
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 23/005 with integrated chassis in the whole shell, e.g. meshwork, tubes, or the like B62D33/044 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/088 Details of structures as upper supports for springs or dampers
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/02 Platforms; Open load compartments flat wagons including posts or standards B61D3/08
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/037 Latching means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/0625 open
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/08 comprising adjustable means B62D33/10 takes precedence

Abstract

A pick-up style work vehicle includes a rollover protection structure (ROPS), a seat section including a forward driver'"'"'s seat and a rear seat, and a rear seat posture changing mechanism for changing the rear seat in its position between a first posture where the rear seat is in a non-use condition and a second posture where the rear seat is in a use condition. A fore/aft length of the rear seat in the first posture is shorter than the fore/aft length of the rear seat in the second posture. The work vehicle also includes a partitioning member for partitioning the seat section from a space behind the seat section with the partitioning member being supported by the ROPS. The partitioning member is movable with being supported by the ROPS between a rearwardly displaced position immediately behind the rear seat and a forwardly displaced position moved forward from the rearwardly displaced position.

Claims

1. A pick-up style work vehicle comprising:

a rollover protection structure (ROPS);

a seat section including a forward driver'"'"'s seat and a rear seat;

a rear seat posture changing mechanism for changing the rear seat in its position between a first posture where the rear seat is in a non-use condition and a second posture where the rear seat is in a use condition, a fore/aft length of the rear seat in the first posture being shorter than the fore/aft length of the rear seat in the second posture; and

a partitioning member for partitioning the seat section from a space behind the seat section, the partitioning member being supported by the ROPS,

wherein the ROPS includes upwardly extending portions and a further portion extending above the seat section and continuously from upper ends of the respective upwardly extending portions;

wherein the partitioning member is movable while being supported by the ROPS between a rearwardly displaced position immediately behind the rear seat and a forwardly displaced position moved forward from the rearwardly displaced position; and

wherein the partitioning member is located at the forwardly displaced position when the rear seat is in the first posture, and the partitioning member is located at the rearwardly displaced position when the rear seat is in the second posture.

2. The pick-up style work vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the rear seat posture changing mechanism comprises a pivoting mechanism configured to pivot the rear seat between the first posture and the second posture about an axis extending in a transverse direction of the vehicle;

and

wherein a seating face of the rear seat is oriented vertical when the rear seat is pivoted to the first posture, and the seating face of the rear seat is oriented horizontal when the rear seat is pivoted to the second posture.

3. The pick-up style work vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the partitioning member is supported by the ROPS to be slidable in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

4. The pick-up style work vehicle according to claim 3, further comprising:

a rail member extending in the longitudinal direction, the rail member being mounted on a frame of the ROPS,

wherein the partitioning member is supported on the rail member to be slidable in the longitudinal direction.

5. A pick-up style work vehicle comprising:

a seat section including a forward driver'"'"'s seat and a rear seat;

a rear seat posture changing mechanism for changing the rear seat in its position between a first posture where the rear seat is in a non-use condition and a second posture where the rear seat is in a use condition, a fore/aft length of the rear seat in the first posture being shorter than the fore/aft length of the rear seat in the second posture; and

a partitioning member for partitioning the seat section from a space behind the seat section, and

a rail member provided on a portion of the seat section,

wherein the partitioning member is slidably supported on the rail member to be movable between a rearwardly displaced position immediately behind the rear seat and a forwardly displaced position moved forward from the rearwardly displaced position; and

wherein the partitioning member is located at the forwardly displaced position when the rear seat is in the first posture, and the partitioning member is located at the rearwardly displaced position when the rear seat is in the second posture.

6. A pick-up style work vehicle comprising:

a rollover protection structure (ROPS);

a seat section including a forward driver'"'"'s seat and a rear seat;

a load-carrying platform disposed rearwardly of the seat section, the load-carrying platform including a forward platform and a rearward platform, the load-carrying platform being switchable in its state between an extended state where a fore/aft length of the load-carrying platform is increased after the forward platform is moved forward, and a contracted state where the fore/aft length of the load-carrying platform is decreased after the forward platform being moved rearward;

a partitioning member for partitioning the seat section from a space behind the seat section, the partitioning member being supported by the ROPS; and

a lock member for locking the partitioning member,

wherein the ROPS includes upwardly extending portions and a further portion extending above the seat section and continuously from upper ends of the respective upwardly extending portions;

wherein an upper portion of the partitioning member is supported by an upper portion of the ROPS so that the partitioning member is displaceable between a position associated with the extended state of the load-carrying platform and a position associated with the contracted state of the load-carrying platform, and

wherein the partitioning member is configured to be locked by the lock member at the position associated with the extended state and also at the position associated with the contracted state.

7. A pick-up style work vehicle comprising:

a rollover protection structure (ROPS);

a seat section including a forward driver'"'"'s seat and a rear seat, the rear seat including a seating portion, and a seat back portion supported to be pivotable about an axis extending in a transverse direction of the vehicle;

a rear seat posture changing mechanism for changing the rear seat in its position between an erect posture where the rear seat is pivoted forward and a seatable posture where the rear seat is pivoted rearward to orient a seating face of the rear seat upward;

a load-carrying platform disposed rearwardly of the seat section, the load-carrying platform including a forward platform and a rearward platform, the load-carrying platform being switchable in its state between an extended state where a fore/aft length of the load-carrying platform is increased after the forward platform being moved forward, and a contracted state where the fore/aft length of the load-carrying platform is decreased after the forward platform being moved rearward; and

a partitioning member for partitioning the seat section from a space behind the seat section, the seat back being disposed in front of the partitioning member and fixed to a front side of the partitioning member,

wherein a lower end portion of the partitioning member is engaged with the seating portion when the load-carrying platform is switched to the extended state.