Pick-up style utility vehicle with expandable cargo bed

• US 8,511,732 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2009
• Issued: 08/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kawasaki Motors
• Original Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Inoue, Masafumi, Takano, Kiyohito, Boyle, Mike, Gordon, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): Westbrook, Sunsurraye
• Application Number:
  US12/648,594
• Publication Number:
  US 20110156428A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,330 Days
• Field of Search: 296/26.09, 296/26.1, 296/26.11, 296/183.1, 296/26.08, 296/186.4, 296/186.5, 296/190.11
• US Class Current: 296/26.09
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3011 the back-rest being hinged on the cushion, e.g. "portefeuille movement"
• 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: B60N 2/3065 in a longitudinal-vertical plane
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/309 rods
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0083 Pick-up trucks; Light trucks; Sport utility vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/06 Safety nets, transparent sheets, curtains, or the like, e.g. between occupants and glass B60R21/026 , B60R21/11, B60R21/12, B60R21/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 5/04 arranged at rear of vehicle B60R5/003, B60R5/006 take precedence; external trunks arranged at rear of vehicle B60R9/065
• 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 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 type utility vehicle with an expandable cargo bed. The pick-up type utility vehicle includes a front seat, a rear seat; a cargo bed, and a screen separating the rear seat and the cargo bed. The pick-up type utility vehicle further includes an operating part for moving the screen, and a movement mechanism moving the screen in the front and back direction by operation of the operating part.

Claims

1. A pick-up type utility vehicle comprising:

a chassis;

a front seat;

a rear seat;

an expandable cargo bed; and

a screen separating between the rear seat and the cargo bed, wherein the front seat, rear seat and cargo bed are supported on the chassis,

the pick-up type utility vehicle further comprising;

an operating part for moving the screen; and

a movement mechanism moving the screen in a front and back direction by rotating the operating part,

wherein the movement of the screen works in conjunction with the rotation of the operating part.

2. The pick-up type utility vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the movement mechanism is configured by:

a sprocket rotating by a rotative force generated by operation of the operating part; and

a chain belt gearing the sprocket.

3. The pick-up type utility vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the movement mechanism is configured by a feed screw.

4. The pick-up type utility vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the movement mechanism is in frictional contact with the cargo bed and is configured by a roller rotating because of a rotative force.

5. The pick-up type utility vehicle according to claim 1, comprising an interlocking device which moves the rear seat in conjunction with the screen.

6. The pick-up type utility vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the operating part is removably arranged in the movement mechanism.

7. The pick-up type utility vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the movement mechanism comprises a feed screw extending along an axial direction of the vehicle, the feed screw engaging a lower portion of the screen.

8. The pick-up type utility vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the cargo bed includes two side cases forming sides of the cargo bed, and the movement mechanism is disposed in at least one of the side cases.