Utility vehicle

• US 8,833,837 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2012
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kawasaki Motors
• Original Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Kaku, Hidetoshi, Tsumiyama, Yoshinori, Furman, Tyler, Hisamura, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): Westbrook, Sunsurraye
• Application Number:
  US13/728,073
• Publication Number:
  US 20140183903A1
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• Field of Search: 296/183.2, 296/65.01, 296/65.09, 296/26.09, 296/183.1, 296/186.4, 296/186.5, 296/190.11
• US Class Current: 296/183.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/283 Elements of tipping devices
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/037 Latching means therefor

Abstract

A utility vehicle according to the present invention includes a chassis, one or more seat rows arranged on the chassis, a cargo bed arranged behind the seat row(s), the cargo bed turnably supported at a pivot of the chassis so as to be changeable between a normal position in which a front portion of the cargo bed is not raised and a dumping position in which the front portion of the cargo bed is raised, and cargo bed locking mechanisms capable of locking the cargo bed in the normal position to the chassis, the cargo bed locking mechanisms each having a grip of a locking operating lever arranged at a front of the cargo bed.

Claims

1. A utility vehicle comprising:

a chassis;

a seat row arranged on the chassis;

a cargo bed arranged behind the seat row, the cargo bed being turnably supported at a pivot of the chassis so as to be changeable between a normal position in which a front portion of the cargo bed is not raised and a dumping position in which the front portion of the cargo bed is raised; and

cargo bed locking mechanisms capable of locking the cargo bed in the normal position to the chassis, the cargo bed locking mechanisms each including a locking operating lever having a grip, the grip of each locking operating lever being arranged at a front of a front panel of the cargo bed.

2. The utility vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the locking mechanisms are a left cargo bed locking mechanism arranged on a left side of the cargo bed, and a right cargo bed locking mechanism arranged on a right side of the cargo bed.

3. The utility vehicle according to claim 2, wherein

the locking operating levers of the left and right cargo bed locking mechanisms are coupled to each other so as to be integrally operated by a coupling member arranged on a lower side of the cargo bed and extending in right and left directions.

4. The utility vehicle according to claim 3, wherein

the locking operating levers of the left and right cargo bed locking mechanisms are turnably supported on left and right side walls of the cargo bed, respectively,

and wherein each of the left and right cargo bed locking mechanisms includes:

a hook member turnably supported on the lower side of the cargo bed;

a coupling link coupling the locking operating lever and the hook member; and

a hook receiving member provided on the chassis and with which the hook member is engageable.