US20170327049A1 - Utility vehicle - Google Patents
Utility vehicle Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20170327049A1 US20170327049A1 US15/153,780 US201615153780A US2017327049A1 US 20170327049 A1 US20170327049 A1 US 20170327049A1 US 201615153780 A US201615153780 A US 201615153780A US 2017327049 A1 US2017327049 A1 US 2017327049A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- bonnet
- windshield
- box cover
- rops
- utility vehicle
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R7/00—Stowing or holding appliances inside vehicle primarily intended for personal property smaller than suit-cases, e.g. travelling articles, or maps
- B60R7/04—Stowing or holding appliances inside vehicle primarily intended for personal property smaller than suit-cases, e.g. travelling articles, or maps in driver or passenger space, e.g. using racks
- B60R7/06—Stowing or holding appliances inside vehicle primarily intended for personal property smaller than suit-cases, e.g. travelling articles, or maps in driver or passenger space, e.g. using racks mounted on or below dashboards
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60J—WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES
- B60J1/00—Windows; Windscreens; Accessories therefor
- B60J1/004—Mounting of windows
- B60J1/006—Mounting of windows characterised by fixation means such as clips, adhesive, etc.
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60J—WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES
- B60J1/00—Windows; Windscreens; Accessories therefor
- B60J1/20—Accessories, e.g. wind deflectors, blinds
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
- B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
- B60R21/13—Roll-over protection
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
- B62D25/00—Superstructure or monocoque structure sub-units; Parts or details thereof not otherwise provided for
- B62D25/08—Front or rear portions
- B62D25/10—Bonnets or lids, e.g. for trucks, tractors, busses, work vehicles
- B62D25/12—Parts or details thereof
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a utility vehicle, and particularly relates to a utility vehicle including a storage box disposed in a bonnet chamber.
- a utility vehicle has a riding space surrounded with a ROPS, a cargo bed disposed behind the riding space, and a bonnet disposed ahead of the riding space and covering the top of a bonnet chamber.
- the utility vehicle further includes, as necessary, a storage box protecting cargo from rain, dirt, and the like.
- the storage box is installed at a different position depending on specifications of a utility vehicle, and will be installed below a seat, behind the seat, on a cargo bed, in a bonnet chamber, or the like.
- U.S. Pat. No. 8,827,357 is cited as a prior art literature on a utility vehicle.
- U.S. Pat. No. 8,960,754 discloses a utility vehicle including a storage box.
- FIG. 14 depicts a conventional utility vehicle including a bonnet chamber 100 provided therein with a storage box 101 .
- the storage box 101 has a box cover (bonnet cover) 102 covering, from above, the storage box 101 and the bonnet chamber 100 .
- the box cover 102 has a front end supported by a vehicle body frame or a bonnet via a hinge 110 . When a rear end of the box cover 102 is lifted upward along an arrow W as indicated in the figure about the hinge 110 as a supporting point, the tops of the storage box 101 and the bonnet chamber 100 are opened.
- the windshield 111 in the conventional utility vehicle is of a rotatable type configured to rotate forward and upward about an upper end 111 a thereof as a supporting point, or is of a foldable type having two divided upper and lower members to allow the lower member to be opened upward.
- the entirety or the lower portion of the windshield having the rotatable or foldable structure needs to be opened in order to open the box cover. This leads to troublesome access to the storage box. Furthermore, the structure of the windshield is complicated to lead to increase in cost for the windshield.
- the present invention provides a utility vehicle provided with a ROPS surrounding a riding space, and a bonnet positioned ahead of the riding space, the ROPS having a lower front portion positioned substantially at a center in a vehicle anteroposterior direction of the bonnet, the utility vehicle including: a windshield positioned ahead of the ROPS, extending downward from an upper portion of the ROPS to the bonnet, and covering, from ahead, the riding space; and a storage box disposed in a bonnet chamber covered with the bonnet; in which the storage box includes a box body having an opened upper end, and a detachable box cover disposed substantially flush with the bonnet and covering, from above, the box body, and the box cover is positioned behind a lower end of the windshield.
- the box cover of the storage box is located behind the windshield in the above configuration.
- the box cover is thus opened and closed or is attached or detached by access from the interior of the riding space, with no interference between the windshield and the box cover.
- a driver or a crew has access to the interior of the storage box by opening or detaching the box cover with no need for rotating or detaching the windshield.
- the windshield is fixed in a simple manner, which prevents increase in cost for the windshield.
- the utility vehicle preferably has any of the following configurations.
- the ROPS includes a pair of front pillars extending upward from respective ends in a vehicle width direction of the bonnet, and a front beam coupling upper ends of the front pillars, and the windshield has lateral ends in the vehicle width direction and an upper end supported by the front pillars and the front beam, respectively.
- the windshield is thus disposed easily at the front end of the riding space and is supported firmly.
- the windshield is detachably attached to the front pillars and the front beam by a plurality of clamps.
- the windshield is thus optionally attached to and detached from the ROPS easily.
- the box cover has a front edge positioned ahead of the lower front portion of the ROPS in a vehicle side view, and the lower end of the windshield has a convex shape projecting forward from the lower front portion of the front pillars of the ROPS in a planar view.
- the box cover is thus expanded forward in length.
- the front pillars each have a circular arc shape curving convexly upward and forward in a vehicle side view, and the windshield has an amount of projecting forward from the front pillars, the amount gradually increasing from the upper end to the lower end of the windshield.
- This configuration improves rigidity of the windshield as well as easily expands a space for the box cover.
- the utility vehicle further includes: a front fixing mechanism configured to fix a front end of the box cover to the bonnet or the box body; and a rear fixing mechanism configured to fix a rear end of the box cover to the bonnet or the box body; in which the front fixing mechanism includes an engagement concave portion provided at the bonnet or the box body, and an engagement projection provided to project forward at the front edge of the box cover and configured to be inserted from backward, or from upward and backward, to the engagement concave portion, and the rear fixing mechanism is a latch lock mechanism configured to manually lock and unlock.
- This configuration facilitates a task of detaching the box cover and achieves easy access to the interior of the storage box.
- the windshield includes a ventilation hole enabling ventilation between interior and exterior of the riding space, and a shutter configured to regulate an opening degree of the ventilation hole. This configuration easily brings the interior of the riding space into a ventilatable state with no need for opening or closing the windshield itself.
- the shutter In the configuration (f), the shutter is supported by the windshield slidably along a rear surface of the windshield. This configuration allows a driver or a crew staying in the riding space to easily operate the shutter for regulation of ventilation volume.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view from an upper left front side, of a utility vehicle according to the present invention
- FIG. 2 is a left side view of a front portion of the utility vehicle depicted in FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 3 is a left side view, similar to FIG. 2 , of the front portion of the utility vehicle with a box cover being opened;
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view from an upper left front side, of the front portion of the utility vehicle with the box cover and a windshield depicted in FIG. 1 being detached;
- FIG. 5 is a perspective view from an upper left front side, of the box cover depicted in FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 6 is a perspective view from an upper left rear side, of a bonnet and the box cover depicted in FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 7 is a perspective view from an upper left rear side, of the windshield and a front portion of a ROPS depicted in FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view from an upper left rear side, of a portion where the windshield depicted in FIG. 1 is attached to a front pillar by clamps;
- FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of the clamp taken along line IX-IX indicated in FIG. 2 ;
- FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of a vertical section of a front fixing mechanism for the box cover depicted in FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of a vertical section of a rear fixing mechanism for the box cover depicted in FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 12 is a perspective view from an upper front side, of the rear fixing mechanism depicted in FIG. 11 ;
- FIG. 13 is a lower perspective view of the rear fixing mechanism depicted in FIG. 11 ;
- FIG. 14 is a side view of a front portion of a conventional utility vehicle.
- FIGS. 1 to 13 each depict a utility vehicle according to the present invention.
- An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to these figures. For easier description, assume that the utility vehicle travels “forward” with respect to the utility vehicle and respective components, and right and left sides in the vehicle width direction of a driver and a crew correspond to “right and left sides” of the utility vehicle and the respective components.
- the utility vehicle includes a vehicle body frame 1 , right and left front wheels 2 supported by a front end of the vehicle body frame 1 , and right and left rear wheels 3 supported by a rear end of the vehicle body frame 1 , a riding space (or a cabin) S 1 surrounded with a ROPS 5 , a cargo bed 7 disposed behind the riding space S 1 , and a bonnet 10 disposed ahead of the riding space S 1 .
- the riding space S 1 accommodates a bench seat 11 , and is provided, at its front end, with a steering wheel 12 and a dashboard 13 .
- the bonnet 10 is provided, at its front end, with a front grille 16 and right and left headlamp assemblies 17 .
- the bonnet 10 is provided, below its right and left ends, with right and left front fenders 18 covering the tops and rear ends of right and left wheel housings.
- the ROPS 5 is provided, at its front end, with a windshield 21 covering the front end of the riding space S 1 and made of transparent resin.
- the ROPS is an abbreviation for a rollover protective structure.
- the ROPS 5 is made of round pipe members.
- the ROPS 5 includes right and left front pillars 5 a, a front beam 5 b coupling upper ends of the front pillars 5 a, right and left rear pillars 5 c, a rear beam 5 d coupling upper ends of the rear pillars 5 c, and right and left coupling beams 5 e coupling ends in the vehicle width direction of the front beam 5 b and ends in the vehicle width direction of the rear beam 5 d.
- the right and left front pillars 5 a and the front beam 5 b are formed integrally into an inverted U shape by bending a single round pipe member.
- the right and left rear pillars 5 c and the rear beam 5 d are formed integrally into an inverted U shape by bending a single round pipe member.
- the right and left coupling beams 5 e extend in the anteroposterior direction and are coupled to the front beam 5 b and the rear beam 5 d by welding or the like.
- the right and left front pillars 5 a extend upward and backward from lateral ends (right and left ends) in the vehicle width direction of the bonnet 10 . Lowermost ends of the right and left front pillars 5 a are firmly fixed to right and left supports la provided at the vehicle body frame 1 by bolts or the like.
- the rear pillars 5 c are positioned between a backrest 11 a of the seat 11 and a front wall of the cargo bed 7 in a vehicle side view.
- the rear pillars 5 c are provided therebetween with a metal screen 19 having a lattice shape.
- the windshield 21 has lateral ends in the vehicle width direction and an upper end detachably attached to the right and left front pillars 5 a and the front beam 5 b by a plurality of clamps 30 .
- the bonnet 10 covers the top and lateral ends in the vehicle width direction of a bonnet chamber S 2 , and the bonnet chamber S 2 accommodates a storage box 40 .
- the storage box 40 includes a box body 41 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape with an opened upper end, and a box cover 42 covering a head opening of the box body 41 .
- the box body 41 is accommodated in the bonnet chamber S 2 , and the upper end of the box body 41 is fixed to a rear surface (lower surface) of the bonnet 10 by a fastener member such as a bolt or a rivet.
- the box cover 42 has a rectangular planar shape substantially corresponding to the shape of an upper end surface of the box body 41 .
- the bonnet 10 has a rectangular opening 44 substantially corresponding to the planar shape of the box cover 42 , and the opening 44 has a rear end opened backward at the rear end of the bonnet 10 .
- the opening 44 has a front end 44 a positioned behind the front end of the bonnet 10 by a certain distance.
- the box cover 42 is fitted in the opening 44 of the bonnet 10 so as to cover the top of the box body 41 , and is fixed to the bonnet 10 or the box body 41 by a pair of front fixing mechanisms 51 and a pair of rear fixing mechanisms 52 .
- the opening 44 of the bonnet 10 is positioned substantially at the center in the vehicle width direction of the bonnet 10 , and has a width in the vehicle width direction, which is about a half to one third of the entire length in the vehicle width direction of the bonnet 10 .
- the rear end of the opening 44 is surrounded, from behind, with the upper end of the dashboard 13 .
- the right and left front pillars 5 a have lower front portions 5 a 1 of the ROPS 5 , which are positioned substantially at the center in the vehicle anteroposterior direction of the bonnet 10 in a vehicle side view.
- the front pillars 5 a each have a moderate circular arc shape curving convexly upward and forward and has the upper end reaching a position above the steering wheel 12 in a vehicle side view.
- the front end 44 a of the opening 44 of the bonnet 10 is positioned ahead of an intersection point P 1 between the lower front portion 5 a 1 of the front pillar 5 a and an upper surface of the bonnet 10 in a vehicle side view. Furthermore, the front end 44 a of the opening 44 according to the present embodiment is positioned ahead of a frontmost end 5 a 2 of the lower front portion 5 a 1 . In the state where the box cover 42 is fitted in the opening 44 , the box cover 42 has a front edge 42 a that is also positioned ahead of the intersection point P 1 on the lower front portion 5 a 1 of the front pillar 5 a and is positioned ahead of the frontmost end 5 a 2 of the front pillar 5 a.
- the lateral ends in the vehicle width direction of the windshield 21 are attached to the right and left front pillars 5 a as described above.
- the windshield 21 has an intermediate portion in the vehicle width direction bulging horizontally forward from the lateral ends in the vehicle width direction.
- the windshield 21 bulges horizontally forward from the front pillars 5 a by an amount D gradually increasing from the upper end of the windshield 21 toward the lower end.
- the bulging amount D is the maximum at a lower end 21 a of the windshield 21 that is positioned ahead of at least the front end 44 a of the opening 44 of the bonnet 10 and the front edge 42 a of the box cover 42 in a vehicle side view.
- the windshield 21 also has a circular arc shape moderately curving convexly upward and forward in a vehicle side view.
- the windshield 21 has a three-dimensional shape with the intermediate portion in the vehicle width direction bulging forward and with the curve convexly upward and forward in a side view.
- the windshield 21 is formed by assembling a plurality of separately prepared members or by shaping integrally as a single member.
- FIG. 1 the windshield 21 is provided, at a lower portion, with a plurality of ventilation holes 61 enabling ventilatable communication between the interior and the exterior of the riding space S 1 , in other words, between spaces ahead of and behind the windshield 21 .
- the ventilation holes 61 each have an inverted triangle shape and are aligned at equal intervals in the vehicle width direction.
- the number of the ventilation holes 61 is five, for example.
- the rear surface (back surface) of the windshield 21 supports a shutter 63 having a plurality of regulation holes 62 slidably in the vehicle width direction.
- the regulation holes 62 each have the inverted triangle shape same as those of the ventilation holes 61 .
- the number of the regulation holes 62 is five, and the five regulation holes 62 are aligned at equal intervals in the vehicle width direction, similarly to the ventilation holes 61 .
- the shutter 63 has a rectangular shape elongated in the vehicle width direction, and has upper and lower portions provided with guide holes 64 guiding the shutter 63 shiftably in the vehicle width direction and limiting an amount of the shift.
- Each of the guide holes 64 is elongated in the vehicle width direction, and engages with a guide pin 65 provided on the windshield 21 .
- the left end of the shutter 63 is in contact with a stopper 66 provided on the windshield 21 .
- the shutter 63 is provided, at its right end, with a tab 63 a.
- the ventilation holes 61 have gradually decreasing opening degrees.
- left edges of the guide holes 64 come in contact with the guide pins 65 , respectively, the shutter 63 is stopped and the ventilation holes 61 are completely closed.
- the clamps 30 configured to fix the windshield 21 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9 .
- the left end of the windshield 21 is detachably attached to the left front pillar 5 a by three of the clamps 30 .
- the right end of the windshield 21 is detachably attached to the right front pillar 5 a by three of the clamps 30 .
- the upper end of the windshield 21 is detachably attached to the front beam 5 b by two of the clamps 30 . All the clamps 30 are structured identically, and detailed description will refer only to the structure of the clamps 30 attached to the left front pillar 5 a.
- the clamps 30 each include a clamp body 31 that has flexibility and a C or U shape with a variable diameter, a circular arc lever 32 manipulated to reduce the diameter of the clamp body 31 , and a coupling ring 33 having a substantially rectangular shape and configured to couple the lever 32 and a first circumferential end of the clamp body 31 .
- the clamp body 31 has a shield attachment seat 31 d configured to attach the windshield 21 .
- the windshield 21 is attached to the shield attachment seat 31 d by a bolt 34 , a nut 35 , a grommet 36 made of an elastic material, and the like.
- the coupling ring 33 has a first circumferential end rotatably coupled to a coupling hole 31 a provided at the first circumferential end of the clamp body 31 .
- the coupling ring 33 has a second circumferential end rotatably coupled to a coupling hole 32 a provided at a circumferentially halfway portion of the lever 32 .
- the first circumferential end and a second circumferential end of the clamp body 31 circumferentially face each other with a dividing space C 1 .
- the second circumferential end is provided with a pivot concave portion 31 b.
- the pivot concave portion 31 b receives a pivot convex portion 32 b provided at a circumferential proximal end of the lever 32 so as to support the pivot convex portion 32 b.
- the clamp body 31 is provided, on an outer circumferential surface at a position circumferentially distant from the pivot concave portion 31 b by a certain distance, with a hook 31 c holding a distal end 32 c of the lever 32 when the clamp body 31 is fastened.
- the lever 32 is initially disengaged from the pivot concave portion 31 b and the hook 31 c of the clamp body 31 , the dividing space C 1 of the clamp body 31 is enlarged, and the clamp 30 is fitted around an outer circumferential surface of the front pillar 5 a.
- the pivot convex portion 32 b of the lever 32 is subsequently inserted to the pivot concave portion 31 b of the clamp body 31 , and the lever 32 is rotated along an arrow X 1 about a point of contact between an inner circumferential surface of the pivot concave portion 31 b and the pivot convex portion 32 b as a rotation supporting point.
- the circumferential ends of the clamp body 31 come closer with each other with the coupling ring 33 being interposed therebetween to reduce the dividing space C 1 and reduce the diameter of the clamp body 31 , and the clamp body 31 is firmly fastened to the outer peripheral surface of the front pillar 5 a.
- the distal end 32 c of the lever 32 is finally engaged with the hook 31 c of the clamp body 31 .
- the clamp 30 is thus made to keep clamping the front pillar 5 a.
- the attaching tasks described above will be performed in the reverse order to detach the clamp 30 from the front pillar 5 a.
- the front end 44 a of the opening 44 of the bonnet 10 is provided with right and left engagement holes (corresponding to engagement concave portions) 70
- the front edge 42 a of the box cover 42 is provided with right and left engagement projections 71 projecting forward.
- the engagement projections 71 each have an L shape in a side view
- the engagement projection 71 and the engagement hole 70 of the bonnet 10 form the front fixing mechanism 51 configured to fix the front end of the box cover 42 .
- the box body 41 is provided, at its upper rear end, with a box cover support 41 a having right and left long holes 73 .
- the box cover 42 is provided, at its right and left rear ends, lock pins 74 each having an L shape.
- the lock pins 74 , the long holes 73 ( FIG. 4 ), and the like configure latch lock mechanisms.
- the latch lock mechanisms are provided as the rear fixing mechanisms 52 .
- the rear end of the box cover 42 is locked and unlocked by manually operating the lock pins 74 .
- the rear fixing mechanisms 52 each include the lock pin 74 and the long hole 73 , as well as a grommet 76 fitted to a pin support hole 72 provided at the box cover 42 , and a knob 75 firmly fixed to an upper end of the lock pin 74 that is rotatably fitted to an inner circumferential surface of the grommet 76 .
- the lock pin 74 is integrally provided, at its lower end, with an engagement portion 74 a that is bent substantially vertically.
- the engagement portion 74 a is configured to vertically penetrate the long hole 73 along an extending direction of the long hole 73 of the box cover support 41 a.
- the box cover support 41 a is provided, on its lower surface, with a reverse rotation preventing projection 79 configured to hold the engagement portion 74 a of the lock pin 74 at a lock position.
- the reverse rotation preventing projection 79 has a gentle cone shape projecting downward.
- the engagement portion 74 a is configured to cross over the reverse rotation preventing projection 79 in a lock direction B 1 or in the opposite direction against elastic force of the grommet 76 .
- the reverse rotation preventing projection 79 prevents the engagement portion 74 a from rotating in the opposite direction to the lock direction B 1 and keeps the engagement portion 74 a at the lock position.
- the box cover 42 is provided, on its upper surface, with a pair of projections 77 configured to restrict, at the lock position, the knob 75 rotating in the lock direction B 1 .
- the projections 77 project upward from the upper surface of the box cover 42 and each have a circular arc shape surrounding the lock pin 74 when viewed from above.
- the projections 77 each have a circumferential end serving as a stopper surface 77 a.
- an operator in the riding space S 1 initially shifts the box cover 42 to above the opening 44 of the bonnet 10 and engages the front edge 42 a of the box cover 42 with the bonnet 10 .
- the engagement projections 71 at the front edge 42 a of the box cover 42 are inserted from upward and backward to the engagement holes 70 of the bonnet 10 .
- the engagement portion 74 a of the lock pin 74 is subsequently directed along the long hole 73 .
- the rear end of the box cover 42 is placed on the box cover support 41 a of the box body 41 and the engagement portion 74 a is inserted to the long hole 73 .
- the operator grips the knob 75 and rotates the lock pin 74 about its pin axis in the lock direction B 1 ( FIG. 12 ). The rear end of the box cover 42 is thus locked.
- the attaching tasks described above will be performed in the reverse order to detach the box cover 42 .
- the operator grips the knob 75 and rotates the lock pin 74 to an original unlock position so as to allow the engagement portion 74 a to be extracted from the long hole 73 .
- the rear end of the box cover 42 is released from the locking by the rear fixing mechanism 52 .
- the rear end of the box cover 42 is then lifted upward to be detached upward and backward.
- the upper end of the box body 41 of the storage box 40 is thus fully opened.
- the utility vehicle according to the embodiment described above achieves the following advantages.
- the front edge 42 a of the box cover 42 of the storage box 40 is positioned behind the lower end 21 a of the windshield 21 .
- the box cover 42 is thus opened and closed or is attached or detached easily by access from the interior of the riding space S 1 , with no interference between the windshield 21 and the box cover 42 .
- a driver or a crew staying in the riding space S 1 has access to the interior of the storage box 40 by opening or detaching the box cover 42 with no need for rotating or detaching the windshield 21 .
- the windshield 21 is entirely fixed to the front pillars 5 a and the front beam 5 b of the ROPS 5 .
- the windshield 21 is not complicated in structure and inhibits increase in cost therefor.
- the windshield 21 is disposed easily at the front end of the riding space S 1 and is supported firmly.
- the windshield 21 is detachably attached to the front pillars 5 a and the front beam 5 b by the plurality of clamps 30 . This configuration thus allows a user to optionally attach and detach the windshield 21 easily to and from the ROPS 5 .
- the front edge 42 a of the box cover 42 is positioned ahead of the lower front portions 5 a 1 of the front pillars 5 a of the ROPS 5 , at least ahead of the intersection points P 1 indicated in FIG. 2 in a vehicle side view.
- the lower end 21 a of the windshield 21 has the convex shape projecting forward from the lower front portions 5 a 1 of the right and left front pillars 5 a in a planar view.
- the box cover 42 is thus expanded forward in size. When the box cover 42 is opened or detached, the top of the storage box 40 is opened largely for easy access to the interior of the storage box 40 .
- the front pillars 5 a each have the circular arc shape curving convexly upward and forward in a vehicle side view.
- the windshield 21 has the forward bulging amount D from the front pillars 5 a gradually increasing from the upper end to the lower end of the windshield 21 . This configuration improves rigidity of the windshield 21 as well as expands the space for the box cover 42 in the riding space S 1 .
- the front fixing mechanisms 51 and the rear fixing mechanisms 52 configured to fix the box cover 42 .
- the front fixing mechanisms 51 each include the engagement hole (engagement concave portion) 70 provided at the bonnet 10 and the engagement projection 71 formed to project forward at the front edge 42 a of the box cover 42 .
- the rear fixing mechanisms 52 are each provided as the latch lock mechanism including the lock pin 74 in the L shape and configured to lock or unlock by manual operation. This configuration facilitates the task of detaching the box cover 42 by the single operation of rotating the lock pin 74 .
- the windshield 21 is provided at the lower portion with the plurality of ventilation holes 61 enabling ventilation between the interior and the exterior of the riding space S 1 , and the shutter 63 configured to regulate the opening degrees of the ventilation holes 61 .
- This configuration allows a driver or a crew to easily bring the interior of the riding space S 1 into a ventilated state without opening or closing the windshield 21 itself.
- the shutter 63 configured to open and close the ventilation holes 61 is supported by the windshield 21 slidably along the rear surface of the windshield 21 . This configuration allows a driver or a crew staying in the riding space S 1 to slide the shutter 63 in order to regulate ventilation volume.
- the box cover according to the embodiment described above is configured to be easily detachable.
- the front fixing mechanisms each including the engagement projection and the engagement hole (engagement concave portion) are optionally replaced with a structure in which the front end of the box cover is rotatably supported by the bonnet or the like via a hinge portion so as to allow the box cover to rotate about the hinge portion but inhibit the box cover from being detached easily.
- the present invention is applicable to a utility vehicle having front and rear two seat rows.
- the present invention is also applicable to a utility vehicle provided with a windshield covering a front end of a riding space as well as cabin walls covering a rear end, right and left lateral ends, and an upper end of the riding space.
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Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a utility vehicle, and particularly relates to a utility vehicle including a storage box disposed in a bonnet chamber.
- A utility vehicle has a riding space surrounded with a ROPS, a cargo bed disposed behind the riding space, and a bonnet disposed ahead of the riding space and covering the top of a bonnet chamber. The utility vehicle further includes, as necessary, a storage box protecting cargo from rain, dirt, and the like.
- The storage box is installed at a different position depending on specifications of a utility vehicle, and will be installed below a seat, behind the seat, on a cargo bed, in a bonnet chamber, or the like. U.S. Pat. No. 8,827,357 is cited as a prior art literature on a utility vehicle. U.S. Pat. No. 8,960,754 discloses a utility vehicle including a storage box.
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FIG. 14 depicts a conventional utility vehicle including abonnet chamber 100 provided therein with astorage box 101. Thestorage box 101 has a box cover (bonnet cover) 102 covering, from above, thestorage box 101 and thebonnet chamber 100. Thebox cover 102 has a front end supported by a vehicle body frame or a bonnet via ahinge 110. When a rear end of thebox cover 102 is lifted upward along an arrow W as indicated in the figure about thehinge 110 as a supporting point, the tops of thestorage box 101 and thebonnet chamber 100 are opened. - Assume a case where a
windshield 111 covering a front end of a riding space S1 is optionally provided along afront pillar 113 of aROPS 112 as indicated by two-dot chain line. If thewindshield 111 is of a fixed type, thewindshield 111 interferes with thebox cover 102 to inhibit thebox cover 102 from being opened. In order to avoid such interference, thewindshield 111 in the conventional utility vehicle is of a rotatable type configured to rotate forward and upward about anupper end 111 a thereof as a supporting point, or is of a foldable type having two divided upper and lower members to allow the lower member to be opened upward. - The entirety or the lower portion of the windshield having the rotatable or foldable structure needs to be opened in order to open the box cover. This leads to troublesome access to the storage box. Furthermore, the structure of the windshield is complicated to lead to increase in cost for the windshield.
- It is an object of the present invention to provide a utility vehicle including a windshield covering a front end of a riding space, in which a box cover is opened and closed or s attached and detached by access from the interior of the riding space, with no reduction in volume of a storage box in a bonnet chamber or no complication in structure of the windshield.
- In order to achieve the object mentioned above, the present invention provides a utility vehicle provided with a ROPS surrounding a riding space, and a bonnet positioned ahead of the riding space, the ROPS having a lower front portion positioned substantially at a center in a vehicle anteroposterior direction of the bonnet, the utility vehicle including: a windshield positioned ahead of the ROPS, extending downward from an upper portion of the ROPS to the bonnet, and covering, from ahead, the riding space; and a storage box disposed in a bonnet chamber covered with the bonnet; in which the storage box includes a box body having an opened upper end, and a detachable box cover disposed substantially flush with the bonnet and covering, from above, the box body, and the box cover is positioned behind a lower end of the windshield.
- The box cover of the storage box is located behind the windshield in the above configuration. The box cover is thus opened and closed or is attached or detached by access from the interior of the riding space, with no interference between the windshield and the box cover. Specifically, a driver or a crew has access to the interior of the storage box by opening or detaching the box cover with no need for rotating or detaching the windshield. Furthermore, the windshield is fixed in a simple manner, which prevents increase in cost for the windshield.
- The utility vehicle preferably has any of the following configurations.
- (a) The ROPS includes a pair of front pillars extending upward from respective ends in a vehicle width direction of the bonnet, and a front beam coupling upper ends of the front pillars, and the windshield has lateral ends in the vehicle width direction and an upper end supported by the front pillars and the front beam, respectively. The windshield is thus disposed easily at the front end of the riding space and is supported firmly.
- (b) In the configuration (a), the windshield is detachably attached to the front pillars and the front beam by a plurality of clamps. The windshield is thus optionally attached to and detached from the ROPS easily.
- (c) In the configuration (a), the box cover has a front edge positioned ahead of the lower front portion of the ROPS in a vehicle side view, and the lower end of the windshield has a convex shape projecting forward from the lower front portion of the front pillars of the ROPS in a planar view. The box cover is thus expanded forward in length. When the box cover is opened or detached, the top of the storage box is opened widely for easy access to the interior of the storage box.
- (d) In the configuration (c), the front pillars each have a circular arc shape curving convexly upward and forward in a vehicle side view, and the windshield has an amount of projecting forward from the front pillars, the amount gradually increasing from the upper end to the lower end of the windshield. This configuration improves rigidity of the windshield as well as easily expands a space for the box cover.
- (e) The utility vehicle further includes: a front fixing mechanism configured to fix a front end of the box cover to the bonnet or the box body; and a rear fixing mechanism configured to fix a rear end of the box cover to the bonnet or the box body; in which the front fixing mechanism includes an engagement concave portion provided at the bonnet or the box body, and an engagement projection provided to project forward at the front edge of the box cover and configured to be inserted from backward, or from upward and backward, to the engagement concave portion, and the rear fixing mechanism is a latch lock mechanism configured to manually lock and unlock. This configuration facilitates a task of detaching the box cover and achieves easy access to the interior of the storage box.
- (f) The windshield includes a ventilation hole enabling ventilation between interior and exterior of the riding space, and a shutter configured to regulate an opening degree of the ventilation hole. This configuration easily brings the interior of the riding space into a ventilatable state with no need for opening or closing the windshield itself.
- (g) In the configuration (f), the shutter is supported by the windshield slidably along a rear surface of the windshield. This configuration allows a driver or a crew staying in the riding space to easily operate the shutter for regulation of ventilation volume.
-
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view from an upper left front side, of a utility vehicle according to the present invention; -
FIG. 2 is a left side view of a front portion of the utility vehicle depicted inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3 is a left side view, similar toFIG. 2 , of the front portion of the utility vehicle with a box cover being opened; -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view from an upper left front side, of the front portion of the utility vehicle with the box cover and a windshield depicted inFIG. 1 being detached; -
FIG. 5 is a perspective view from an upper left front side, of the box cover depicted inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 6 is a perspective view from an upper left rear side, of a bonnet and the box cover depicted inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 7 is a perspective view from an upper left rear side, of the windshield and a front portion of a ROPS depicted inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view from an upper left rear side, of a portion where the windshield depicted inFIG. 1 is attached to a front pillar by clamps; -
FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of the clamp taken along line IX-IX indicated inFIG. 2 ; -
FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of a vertical section of a front fixing mechanism for the box cover depicted inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of a vertical section of a rear fixing mechanism for the box cover depicted inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 12 is a perspective view from an upper front side, of the rear fixing mechanism depicted inFIG. 11 ; -
FIG. 13 is a lower perspective view of the rear fixing mechanism depicted inFIG. 11 ; and -
FIG. 14 is a side view of a front portion of a conventional utility vehicle. -
FIGS. 1 to 13 each depict a utility vehicle according to the present invention. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to these figures. For easier description, assume that the utility vehicle travels “forward” with respect to the utility vehicle and respective components, and right and left sides in the vehicle width direction of a driver and a crew correspond to “right and left sides” of the utility vehicle and the respective components. - In
FIG. 1 , the utility vehicle includes avehicle body frame 1, right and leftfront wheels 2 supported by a front end of thevehicle body frame 1, and right and leftrear wheels 3 supported by a rear end of thevehicle body frame 1, a riding space (or a cabin) S1 surrounded with aROPS 5, acargo bed 7 disposed behind the riding space S1, and abonnet 10 disposed ahead of the riding space S1. The riding space S1 accommodates abench seat 11, and is provided, at its front end, with asteering wheel 12 and adashboard 13. There is provided an engine (not depicted) from a space below theseat 11 to a space below a front portion of thecargo bed 7. Thebonnet 10 is provided, at its front end, with afront grille 16 and right and leftheadlamp assemblies 17. Thebonnet 10 is provided, below its right and left ends, with right and leftfront fenders 18 covering the tops and rear ends of right and left wheel housings. TheROPS 5 is provided, at its front end, with awindshield 21 covering the front end of the riding space S1 and made of transparent resin. - The ROPS is an abbreviation for a rollover protective structure. The
ROPS 5 is made of round pipe members. TheROPS 5 includes right and leftfront pillars 5 a, afront beam 5 b coupling upper ends of thefront pillars 5 a, right and leftrear pillars 5 c, arear beam 5 d coupling upper ends of therear pillars 5 c, and right and leftcoupling beams 5 e coupling ends in the vehicle width direction of thefront beam 5 b and ends in the vehicle width direction of therear beam 5 d. The right and leftfront pillars 5 a and thefront beam 5 b are formed integrally into an inverted U shape by bending a single round pipe member. Similarly, the right and leftrear pillars 5 c and therear beam 5 d are formed integrally into an inverted U shape by bending a single round pipe member. The right and leftcoupling beams 5 e extend in the anteroposterior direction and are coupled to thefront beam 5 b and therear beam 5 d by welding or the like. - The right and left
front pillars 5 a extend upward and backward from lateral ends (right and left ends) in the vehicle width direction of thebonnet 10. Lowermost ends of the right and leftfront pillars 5 a are firmly fixed to right and left supports la provided at thevehicle body frame 1 by bolts or the like. Therear pillars 5 c are positioned between abackrest 11 a of theseat 11 and a front wall of thecargo bed 7 in a vehicle side view. Therear pillars 5 c are provided therebetween with ametal screen 19 having a lattice shape. - The
windshield 21 has lateral ends in the vehicle width direction and an upper end detachably attached to the right and leftfront pillars 5 a and thefront beam 5 b by a plurality ofclamps 30. - In
FIG. 6 , thebonnet 10 covers the top and lateral ends in the vehicle width direction of a bonnet chamber S2, and the bonnet chamber S2 accommodates astorage box 40. Thestorage box 40 includes abox body 41 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape with an opened upper end, and abox cover 42 covering a head opening of thebox body 41. Thebox body 41 is accommodated in the bonnet chamber S2, and the upper end of thebox body 41 is fixed to a rear surface (lower surface) of thebonnet 10 by a fastener member such as a bolt or a rivet. Thebox cover 42 has a rectangular planar shape substantially corresponding to the shape of an upper end surface of thebox body 41. Thebonnet 10 has arectangular opening 44 substantially corresponding to the planar shape of thebox cover 42, and theopening 44 has a rear end opened backward at the rear end of thebonnet 10. Theopening 44 has afront end 44 a positioned behind the front end of thebonnet 10 by a certain distance. Thebox cover 42 is fitted in theopening 44 of thebonnet 10 so as to cover the top of thebox body 41, and is fixed to thebonnet 10 or thebox body 41 by a pair offront fixing mechanisms 51 and a pair of rear fixingmechanisms 52. - In
FIG. 4 , theopening 44 of thebonnet 10 is positioned substantially at the center in the vehicle width direction of thebonnet 10, and has a width in the vehicle width direction, which is about a half to one third of the entire length in the vehicle width direction of thebonnet 10. The rear end of theopening 44 is surrounded, from behind, with the upper end of thedashboard 13. - In
FIG. 2 , the right and leftfront pillars 5 a have lowerfront portions 5 a 1 of theROPS 5, which are positioned substantially at the center in the vehicle anteroposterior direction of thebonnet 10 in a vehicle side view. Thefront pillars 5 a each have a moderate circular arc shape curving convexly upward and forward and has the upper end reaching a position above thesteering wheel 12 in a vehicle side view. - The
front end 44 a of theopening 44 of thebonnet 10 is positioned ahead of an intersection point P1 between the lowerfront portion 5 a 1 of thefront pillar 5 a and an upper surface of thebonnet 10 in a vehicle side view. Furthermore, thefront end 44 a of theopening 44 according to the present embodiment is positioned ahead of afrontmost end 5 a 2 of the lowerfront portion 5 a 1. In the state where thebox cover 42 is fitted in theopening 44, thebox cover 42 has afront edge 42 a that is also positioned ahead of the intersection point P1 on the lowerfront portion 5 a 1 of thefront pillar 5 a and is positioned ahead of thefrontmost end 5 a 2 of thefront pillar 5 a. - The lateral ends in the vehicle width direction of the
windshield 21 are attached to the right and leftfront pillars 5 a as described above. Thewindshield 21 has an intermediate portion in the vehicle width direction bulging horizontally forward from the lateral ends in the vehicle width direction. Thewindshield 21 bulges horizontally forward from thefront pillars 5 a by an amount D gradually increasing from the upper end of thewindshield 21 toward the lower end. The bulging amount D is the maximum at alower end 21 a of thewindshield 21 that is positioned ahead of at least thefront end 44 a of theopening 44 of thebonnet 10 and thefront edge 42 a of thebox cover 42 in a vehicle side view. In other words, thefront end 44 a of theopening 44 and thefront edge 42 a of thebox cover 42 are positioned behind thelower end 21 a of thewindshield 21 in a vehicle side view. Thewindshield 21 also has a circular arc shape moderately curving convexly upward and forward in a vehicle side view. Thewindshield 21 has a three-dimensional shape with the intermediate portion in the vehicle width direction bulging forward and with the curve convexly upward and forward in a side view. Thewindshield 21 is formed by assembling a plurality of separately prepared members or by shaping integrally as a single member. - A ventilation mechanism of the
windshield 21 will be described with reference toFIGS. 1 and 7 . InFIG. 1 , thewindshield 21 is provided, at a lower portion, with a plurality of ventilation holes 61 enabling ventilatable communication between the interior and the exterior of the riding space S1, in other words, between spaces ahead of and behind thewindshield 21. The ventilation holes 61 each have an inverted triangle shape and are aligned at equal intervals in the vehicle width direction. The number of the ventilation holes 61 is five, for example. - In
FIG. 7 , the rear surface (back surface) of thewindshield 21 supports ashutter 63 having a plurality ofregulation holes 62 slidably in the vehicle width direction. The regulation holes 62 each have the inverted triangle shape same as those of the ventilation holes 61. The number of the regulation holes 62 is five, and the fiveregulation holes 62 are aligned at equal intervals in the vehicle width direction, similarly to the ventilation holes 61. - The
shutter 63 has a rectangular shape elongated in the vehicle width direction, and has upper and lower portions provided with guide holes 64 guiding theshutter 63 shiftably in the vehicle width direction and limiting an amount of the shift. Each of the guide holes 64 is elongated in the vehicle width direction, and engages with aguide pin 65 provided on thewindshield 21. In a state where the ventilation holes 61 are fully opened (as depicted inFIG. 7 ), the left end of theshutter 63 is in contact with astopper 66 provided on thewindshield 21. Theshutter 63 is provided, at its right end, with atab 63 a. When thetab 63 a is pinched and theshutter 63 is slid rightward from the fully opened state depicted inFIG. 7 , the ventilation holes 61 have gradually decreasing opening degrees. When left edges of the guide holes 64 come in contact with the guide pins 65, respectively, theshutter 63 is stopped and the ventilation holes 61 are completely closed. - The
clamps 30 configured to fix thewindshield 21 will be described in detail with reference toFIGS. 7 to 9 . InFIG. 7 , the left end of thewindshield 21 is detachably attached to the leftfront pillar 5 a by three of theclamps 30. The right end of thewindshield 21 is detachably attached to the rightfront pillar 5 a by three of theclamps 30. The upper end of thewindshield 21 is detachably attached to thefront beam 5 b by two of theclamps 30. All theclamps 30 are structured identically, and detailed description will refer only to the structure of theclamps 30 attached to the leftfront pillar 5 a. - In
FIG. 8 , theclamps 30 each include aclamp body 31 that has flexibility and a C or U shape with a variable diameter, acircular arc lever 32 manipulated to reduce the diameter of theclamp body 31, and acoupling ring 33 having a substantially rectangular shape and configured to couple thelever 32 and a first circumferential end of theclamp body 31. Theclamp body 31 has ashield attachment seat 31 d configured to attach thewindshield 21. - In
FIG. 9 , thewindshield 21 is attached to theshield attachment seat 31 d by abolt 34, anut 35, agrommet 36 made of an elastic material, and the like. Thecoupling ring 33 has a first circumferential end rotatably coupled to acoupling hole 31 a provided at the first circumferential end of theclamp body 31. Thecoupling ring 33 has a second circumferential end rotatably coupled to acoupling hole 32 a provided at a circumferentially halfway portion of thelever 32. The first circumferential end and a second circumferential end of theclamp body 31 circumferentially face each other with a dividing space C1. The second circumferential end is provided with a pivotconcave portion 31 b. The pivotconcave portion 31 b receives a pivotconvex portion 32 b provided at a circumferential proximal end of thelever 32 so as to support the pivotconvex portion 32 b. Theclamp body 31 is provided, on an outer circumferential surface at a position circumferentially distant from the pivotconcave portion 31 b by a certain distance, with ahook 31 c holding adistal end 32 c of thelever 32 when theclamp body 31 is fastened. - In a case where the
clamp 30 is attached to thefront pillar 5 a, thelever 32 is initially disengaged from the pivotconcave portion 31 b and thehook 31 c of theclamp body 31, the dividing space C1 of theclamp body 31 is enlarged, and theclamp 30 is fitted around an outer circumferential surface of thefront pillar 5 a. The pivotconvex portion 32 b of thelever 32 is subsequently inserted to the pivotconcave portion 31 b of theclamp body 31, and thelever 32 is rotated along an arrow X1 about a point of contact between an inner circumferential surface of the pivotconcave portion 31 b and the pivotconvex portion 32 b as a rotation supporting point. The circumferential ends of theclamp body 31 come closer with each other with thecoupling ring 33 being interposed therebetween to reduce the dividing space C1 and reduce the diameter of theclamp body 31, and theclamp body 31 is firmly fastened to the outer peripheral surface of thefront pillar 5 a. Thedistal end 32 c of thelever 32 is finally engaged with thehook 31 c of theclamp body 31. Theclamp 30 is thus made to keep clamping thefront pillar 5 a. The attaching tasks described above will be performed in the reverse order to detach theclamp 30 from thefront pillar 5 a. - How the
box cover 42 is fixed will be described in detail with reference toFIGS. 4 to 6 and 11 to 13 . InFIG. 6 , thefront end 44 a of theopening 44 of thebonnet 10 is provided with right and left engagement holes (corresponding to engagement concave portions) 70, and thefront edge 42 a of thebox cover 42 is provided with right and leftengagement projections 71 projecting forward. InFIG. 10 , theengagement projections 71 each have an L shape in a side view, and theengagement projection 71 and theengagement hole 70 of thebonnet 10 form thefront fixing mechanism 51 configured to fix the front end of thebox cover 42. When theengagement projections 71 are inserted to the engagement holes 70 from backward, or from upward and backward, thefront edge 42 a of thebox cover 42 is fixed to (engaged with) or is rotatably supported by thebonnet 10. - In
FIG. 4 , thebox body 41 is provided, at its upper rear end, with abox cover support 41 a having right and left long holes 73. InFIG. 5 , thebox cover 42 is provided, at its right and left rear ends, lock pins 74 each having an L shape. The lock pins 74, the long holes 73 (FIG. 4 ), and the like configure latch lock mechanisms. The latch lock mechanisms are provided as the rear fixingmechanisms 52. The rear end of thebox cover 42 is locked and unlocked by manually operating the lock pins 74. - Specifically with regard to the structure of the
rear fixing mechanisms 52, inFIG. 11 , therear fixing mechanisms 52 each include thelock pin 74 and thelong hole 73, as well as agrommet 76 fitted to apin support hole 72 provided at thebox cover 42, and aknob 75 firmly fixed to an upper end of thelock pin 74 that is rotatably fitted to an inner circumferential surface of thegrommet 76. - In
FIG. 13 , thelock pin 74 is integrally provided, at its lower end, with anengagement portion 74 a that is bent substantially vertically. Theengagement portion 74 a is configured to vertically penetrate thelong hole 73 along an extending direction of thelong hole 73 of thebox cover support 41 a. Thebox cover support 41 a is provided, on its lower surface, with a reverserotation preventing projection 79 configured to hold theengagement portion 74 a of thelock pin 74 at a lock position. The reverserotation preventing projection 79 has a gentle cone shape projecting downward. Theengagement portion 74 a is configured to cross over the reverserotation preventing projection 79 in a lock direction B1 or in the opposite direction against elastic force of thegrommet 76. After theengagement portion 74 a crosses over the reverserotation preventing projection 79 in the lock direction B1, the reverserotation preventing projection 79 prevents theengagement portion 74 a from rotating in the opposite direction to the lock direction B1 and keeps theengagement portion 74 a at the lock position. - In
FIG. 12 , thebox cover 42 is provided, on its upper surface, with a pair ofprojections 77 configured to restrict, at the lock position, theknob 75 rotating in the lock direction B1. Theprojections 77 project upward from the upper surface of thebox cover 42 and each have a circular arc shape surrounding thelock pin 74 when viewed from above. Theprojections 77 each have a circumferential end serving as astopper surface 77 a. When theknob 75 rotating in the lock direction B1 comes into contact with the stopper surfaces 77 a, theknob 75 is locked at the lock position. - In order to attach the
box cover 42, as depicted inFIG. 3 , an operator in the riding space S1 initially shifts thebox cover 42 to above theopening 44 of thebonnet 10 and engages thefront edge 42 a of thebox cover 42 with thebonnet 10. Specifically, as depicted inFIG. 10 , theengagement projections 71 at thefront edge 42 a of thebox cover 42 are inserted from upward and backward to the engagement holes 70 of thebonnet 10. - In
FIG. 11 , theengagement portion 74 a of thelock pin 74 is subsequently directed along thelong hole 73. The rear end of thebox cover 42 is placed on thebox cover support 41 a of thebox body 41 and theengagement portion 74 a is inserted to thelong hole 73. The operator grips theknob 75 and rotates thelock pin 74 about its pin axis in the lock direction B1 (FIG. 12 ). The rear end of thebox cover 42 is thus locked. - The attaching tasks described above will be performed in the reverse order to detach the
box cover 42. Specifically, inFIG. 11 , the operator grips theknob 75 and rotates thelock pin 74 to an original unlock position so as to allow theengagement portion 74 a to be extracted from thelong hole 73. In other words, the rear end of thebox cover 42 is released from the locking by therear fixing mechanism 52. As depicted inFIG. 3 , the rear end of thebox cover 42 is then lifted upward to be detached upward and backward. The upper end of thebox body 41 of thestorage box 40 is thus fully opened. - Even when the rear end of the
box cover 42 is lifted upward about thefront edge 42 a of thebox cover 42 as a rotation supporting point (the state depicted inFIG. 3 ) without detaching thebox cover 42, the operator has easy access, from backward, to the interior of thestorage box 40. - The utility vehicle according to the embodiment described above achieves the following advantages.
- (a) The
front edge 42 a of thebox cover 42 of thestorage box 40 is positioned behind thelower end 21 a of thewindshield 21. Thebox cover 42 is thus opened and closed or is attached or detached easily by access from the interior of the riding space S1, with no interference between thewindshield 21 and thebox cover 42. Specifically, a driver or a crew staying in the riding space S1 has access to the interior of thestorage box 40 by opening or detaching thebox cover 42 with no need for rotating or detaching thewindshield 21. - (b) The
windshield 21 is entirely fixed to thefront pillars 5 a and thefront beam 5 b of theROPS 5. Thewindshield 21 is not complicated in structure and inhibits increase in cost therefor. Thewindshield 21 is disposed easily at the front end of the riding space S1 and is supported firmly. - (c) The
windshield 21 is detachably attached to thefront pillars 5 a and thefront beam 5 b by the plurality ofclamps 30. This configuration thus allows a user to optionally attach and detach thewindshield 21 easily to and from theROPS 5. - (d) The
front edge 42 a of thebox cover 42 is positioned ahead of the lowerfront portions 5 a 1 of thefront pillars 5 a of theROPS 5, at least ahead of the intersection points P1 indicated inFIG. 2 in a vehicle side view. Thelower end 21 a of thewindshield 21 has the convex shape projecting forward from the lowerfront portions 5 a 1 of the right and leftfront pillars 5 a in a planar view. Thebox cover 42 is thus expanded forward in size. When thebox cover 42 is opened or detached, the top of thestorage box 40 is opened largely for easy access to the interior of thestorage box 40. - (e) The
front pillars 5 a each have the circular arc shape curving convexly upward and forward in a vehicle side view. Thewindshield 21 has the forward bulging amount D from thefront pillars 5 a gradually increasing from the upper end to the lower end of thewindshield 21. This configuration improves rigidity of thewindshield 21 as well as expands the space for thebox cover 42 in the riding space S1. - (f) There are provided the
front fixing mechanisms 51 and therear fixing mechanisms 52 configured to fix thebox cover 42. Thefront fixing mechanisms 51 each include the engagement hole (engagement concave portion) 70 provided at thebonnet 10 and theengagement projection 71 formed to project forward at thefront edge 42 a of thebox cover 42. Therear fixing mechanisms 52 are each provided as the latch lock mechanism including thelock pin 74 in the L shape and configured to lock or unlock by manual operation. This configuration facilitates the task of detaching thebox cover 42 by the single operation of rotating thelock pin 74. - (g) The
windshield 21 is provided at the lower portion with the plurality of ventilation holes 61 enabling ventilation between the interior and the exterior of the riding space S1, and theshutter 63 configured to regulate the opening degrees of the ventilation holes 61. This configuration allows a driver or a crew to easily bring the interior of the riding space S1 into a ventilated state without opening or closing thewindshield 21 itself. - (h) The
shutter 63 configured to open and close the ventilation holes 61 is supported by thewindshield 21 slidably along the rear surface of thewindshield 21. This configuration allows a driver or a crew staying in the riding space S1 to slide theshutter 63 in order to regulate ventilation volume. - (1) The box cover according to the embodiment described above is configured to be easily detachable. The front fixing mechanisms each including the engagement projection and the engagement hole (engagement concave portion) are optionally replaced with a structure in which the front end of the box cover is rotatably supported by the bonnet or the like via a hinge portion so as to allow the box cover to rotate about the hinge portion but inhibit the box cover from being detached easily.
- (2) Either the bonnet or the box body will serve as a target member of fixing the front end and the rear end of the box cover by means of the front fixing mechanisms and the rear fixing mechanisms. For example, both of the front end and the rear end of the box cover are detachably attached to the bonnet or to the box body.
- (3) The present invention is applicable to a utility vehicle having front and rear two seat rows. The present invention is also applicable to a utility vehicle provided with a windshield covering a front end of a riding space as well as cabin walls covering a rear end, right and left lateral ends, and an upper end of the riding space.
- (4) The present invention is not limited to the configurations according to the embodiments described above, but possibly includes various modification examples devisable within the range not departing from the features recited in the following claims.
Claims (9)
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US15/153,780 US9815412B1 (en) | 2016-05-13 | 2016-05-13 | Utility vehicle |
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US15/153,780 US9815412B1 (en) | 2016-05-13 | 2016-05-13 | Utility vehicle |
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US9815412B1 US9815412B1 (en) | 2017-11-14 |
US20170327049A1 true US20170327049A1 (en) | 2017-11-16 |
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US15/153,780 Active US9815412B1 (en) | 2016-05-13 | 2016-05-13 | Utility vehicle |
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US10118467B2 (en) * | 2017-03-16 | 2018-11-06 | GM Global Technology Operations LLC | Locating and retention pin |
US10717474B2 (en) * | 2017-03-21 | 2020-07-21 | Arctic Cat Inc. | Cab and fasteners for vehicle cab |
US11014419B2 (en) | 2017-03-21 | 2021-05-25 | Arctic Cat Inc. | Off-road utility vehicle |
US11046176B2 (en) | 2017-03-21 | 2021-06-29 | Arctic Cat Inc. | Off-road utility vehicle |
US20230331183A1 (en) * | 2022-04-13 | 2023-10-19 | Kubota Corporation | Work Vehicle |
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US10843634B2 (en) * | 2019-03-25 | 2020-11-24 | Caterpillar Paving Products Inc. | Operator console |
US11345446B2 (en) * | 2019-12-19 | 2022-05-31 | Great Lakes Boat Top Llc | Windscreen for boats |
CN112193030B (en) * | 2020-10-19 | 2023-01-06 | 浙江威格镁汽车科技有限公司 | Automobile rear windshield fixing auxiliary tool and rear windshield assembling method |
US11970138B2 (en) * | 2022-02-04 | 2024-04-30 | Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. | Accessory holder assembly for an off-road vehicle |
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US737467A (en) * | 1903-06-18 | 1903-08-25 | Jules H Neustadt | Hood for automobiles. |
US1668682A (en) * | 1926-06-17 | 1928-05-08 | Int Motor Co | Windshield |
US6460916B2 (en) * | 2000-01-07 | 2002-10-08 | Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Utility vehicle |
US8997908B2 (en) * | 2011-02-11 | 2015-04-07 | Polaris Industries Inc. | Side-by-side all terrain vehicle |
BR112015007825A2 (en) * | 2012-10-11 | 2017-07-04 | Polaris Inc | utility vehicle, bypass shock, spare tire retainer, vehicle seat and coupling assembly |
US8936296B1 (en) * | 2012-10-15 | 2015-01-20 | Kenneth Oliver Fedders | UTV (Utility Terrain Vehicle) split front windshield |
US8827357B2 (en) | 2012-12-27 | 2014-09-09 | Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Utility vehicle |
US9061711B2 (en) * | 2013-09-30 | 2015-06-23 | Honda Motor Co., Ltd. | Hood structure for uneven terrain traveling vehicle |
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US10118467B2 (en) * | 2017-03-16 | 2018-11-06 | GM Global Technology Operations LLC | Locating and retention pin |
US10717474B2 (en) * | 2017-03-21 | 2020-07-21 | Arctic Cat Inc. | Cab and fasteners for vehicle cab |
US11014419B2 (en) | 2017-03-21 | 2021-05-25 | Arctic Cat Inc. | Off-road utility vehicle |
US11046176B2 (en) | 2017-03-21 | 2021-06-29 | Arctic Cat Inc. | Off-road utility vehicle |
US11173967B2 (en) | 2017-03-21 | 2021-11-16 | Arctic Cat Inc. | Cab and fasteners for vehicle cab |
US20220063733A1 (en) * | 2017-03-21 | 2022-03-03 | Arctic Cat Inc. | Cab and fasteners for vehicle cab |
US11926365B2 (en) * | 2017-03-21 | 2024-03-12 | Arctic Cat Inc. | Cab and fasteners for vehicle cab |
US20230331183A1 (en) * | 2022-04-13 | 2023-10-19 | Kubota Corporation | Work Vehicle |
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