Box-shaped loading platform

Abstract

To provide a novel box-shaped loading platform which enables a worker working in a cargo chamber to recognize a rear end position of the cargo chamber easily.SOLUTION: Light emitters 26 are provided at a rear frame 16 along an outer peripheral edge of a cargo carry-in / out port 18 which is closed by a floor plate 22.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a box-type cargo bed for a vehicle, the rear end of which is supported by a rear frame, and the entirety or at least the lower part of a rear door is constituted by a floor plate that is a part of a tailgate device. [Background technology]

[0002] The following Patent Document 1 shows a box-shaped loading platform for a vehicle, the rear end of which is supported by a rear frame, and the entirety or at least the lower part of the rear door is formed by a floor plate that is part of a tailgate device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-138305 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Since the cargo compartment of a box-type loading platform is located at a relatively high position, workers must be careful not to fall out of the cargo compartment. Especially at night, when it is dark outside the cargo compartment, turning on the interior light to brighten the cargo compartment increases the difference in brightness between the inside and outside of the compartment, making it difficult to determine the rear end position of the cargo compartment.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned facts, and its main technical object is to provide a new and improved box-type cargo bed that allows workers working in the cargo compartment to easily recognize the rear end position of the cargo compartment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] As a result of extensive research, the inventors have discovered that the above-mentioned main technical problem can be solved by providing light-emitting elements along the outer periphery of the cargo entrance that is blocked by the floor plate.

[0007] That is, according to the present invention, as a box-type cargo bed that solves the above-mentioned main technical problem, there is provided a box-type cargo bed for a vehicle, the rear end of which is supported by a rear frame, and the entirety or at least the lower part of the rear door is constituted by a floor plate that is a part of a tailgate device, A box-shaped loading platform is provided in which light emitters are arranged on the rear frame along the outer periphery of the cargo entrance that is closed by the floor plate.

[0008] Preferably, the rear door includes an auxiliary plate that is located above the floor plate and can be swung up. The light emitter is preferably a rectangular parallelepiped and is disposed on the rear frame along the left, right and lower edges of the cargo entrance. A gasket made of soft synthetic resin that comes into contact with the outer periphery of the loading surface of the floor plate is preferably disposed on the rear surface of the rear frame together with the light emitter via a common mounting bracket. In this case, it is preferable that the light emitter, the gasket and the mounting bracket are elongated, the mounting bracket comprises a first wall fixed to the rear surface of the rear frame, a second wall extending rearward from one side edge of the first wall, and a third wall rising from a side edge of the second wall opposite to the first wall and having an inner surface facing the inner surface of the first wall, the gasket has a support portion with a pair of depending walls whose inner surfaces face each other, a seal portion is attached to an outer surface of one of the pair of depending walls, and the light emitter is accommodated together with the other of the pair of depending walls of the gasket in a space surrounded by the first wall, the second wall and the third wall. Further, it is preferable that a locking means is formed on the inner side edge of the third wall of the mounting bracket opposite to the second wall, and a locked means is formed on the inner surface of the other of the pair of depending walls of the gasket. Effect of the Invention

[0009] In a box-type loading platform constructed according to the present invention, the light-emitting elements arranged along the outer peripheral edge of the cargo entrance / exit illuminate, allowing workers working in the loading compartment to visually recognize the rear end position of the loading compartment, thereby alerting the workers. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a box-type loading platform constructed in accordance with the present invention, seen from the rear, with the cargo entrance blocked; [Diagram 2] 2 is a diagram showing the state in which the floor plate has been deployed from the state shown in FIG. 1 and the loading surface of the floor plate has become substantially horizontal. [Diagram 3] This figure shows the state in which the floor plate has been lowered from the state shown in Figure 2, and the loading surface has been smoothly connected to the ground surface. [Figure 4] 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the lower end portion of the rear surface of the box-shaped carrier shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from one side. [Diagram 5] 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the lower end portion of the rear surface of the box-shaped carrier shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the other side. [Figure 6] 2 is a diagram showing a combination of a light-emitting body, a holding member, a gasket, and a mounting bracket arranged on the box-shaped loading platform shown in FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] A more detailed description will now be given with reference to the accompanying drawings showing preferred embodiments of a box-type loading platform constructed according to the present invention. In the following description, the directions of front, rear, left, right, up, down, and inside and outside are based on the direction of travel of the vehicle, unless otherwise specified.

[0012] Explaining with reference to Figures 1 to 3, a box-shaped bed generally designated by the number 2 is mounted on a vehicle 100 indicated by a two-dot chain line and fixed thereto by a fixing means (not shown). In the illustrated embodiment, the box-shaped bed 2 is a rectangular parallelepiped elongated in the front-rear direction, and includes a front panel, a left side panel 4, a right side panel 6, a top panel 8, and a bottom panel 10 (not shown). The front ends of the left side panel 4, the right side panel 6, the top panel 8, and the bottom panel 10 are supported and fixed to a front frame (not shown) together with the front panel, and the rear ends are supported and fixed to a rear frame 16 by appropriate fasteners (not shown). A rectangular cargo entrance 18 is defined at the rear of the box-shaped bed 2, and the cargo entrance 18 is closed by a rear door 20.

[0013] Regarding the rear door 20, the entirety or at least the lower part of the rear door 20 is constituted by a floor plate 22 which is a part of the tailgate device. In the illustrated embodiment, the rear door 20 includes an auxiliary plate 23 located above the floor plate 22.

[0014] The floor plate 22 will be described. The floor plate 22 is separate and independent from the rear frame 16 and the auxiliary plate 23. In the illustrated embodiment, the floor plate 22 has a rectangular shape in a plan view, and its upper surface (loading surface) is substantially flat. The lower surface (the surface opposite to the loading surface) of the floor plate 22 is supported by a pair of support arms 24, which are connected to a hydraulic mechanism (not shown). The pair of support arms 24 and the hydraulic mechanism together with the floor plate 22 also constitute a part of the tailgate device. The floor plate 22 can be raised and lowered between a raised position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and a lowered position shown in Fig. 3 by the operation of the hydraulic mechanism, and can also be rotated as shown in Figs. 1 to 3.

[0015] Next, the operation process of the floor plate 22 will be described. In the state shown in FIG. 1, the floor plate 22 is in the raised position and the loading surface is substantially vertical. At this time, the outer peripheral edge of the loading surface of the floor plate 22 abuts against the outer peripheral edge of the cargo entrance 18 (as described later, it abuts against a gasket arranged on the rear surface of the rear frame 16), and the lower part of the cargo entrance 18 is blocked. In the state shown in FIG. 1, the auxiliary plate 23 is not deployed, so the entire cargo entrance 18 is blocked. The floor plate 22 rotates backward while maintaining the raised position, and the lower part of the cargo entrance 18 is opened. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the floor plate 22 is deployed in the raised position and the lower part of the cargo entrance 18 is opened. In this state, the loading surface of the floor plate 22 is substantially flush with the floor surface of the luggage compartment, and a dolly or the like can move between the luggage compartment and the floor plate 22. The floor plate 22 then descends while maintaining the loading surface substantially horizontal. Figure 3 shows the floor plate 22 in the lowered position and deployed. The floor plate 22 is further rotated in the lowered position so that the loading surface is slightly inclined downward toward the rear. This rotation connects the rear edge of the loading surface to the ground surface, allowing trolleys and the like to travel between the floor plate 22 and the ground. The floor plate 22 goes through the process in reverse to that described above, so that the floor plate 22 blocks the lower part of the cargo entrance 18.

[0016] The auxiliary plate 23 has a rectangular shape and closes the upper part of the cargo entrance 18. The auxiliary plate 23 is connected to the upper side of the rear frame 16 via hinge means (not shown), and can be freely swung up rearward and upward.

[0017] Here, in the box-type loading platform constructed according to the present invention, it is important that the light emitter 26 is disposed on the rear frame 16 along the outer periphery of the cargo entrance 18 that is closed by the floor plate 22. In the illustrated embodiment, since the floor plate 22 closes the lower part of the cargo entrance 18, the light emitter 26 is disposed on the rear surface of the rear frame 16 along the outer periphery of the lower part of the cargo entrance 18, that is, along the left edge, right edge, and lower edge, as shown in FIG. 3. Also, the light emitter 26 in the illustrated embodiment is the same as the elongated light emitter shown in Japanese Patent No. 6727727, which was filed by the applicant of the present application prior to the present application and has already been granted a patent, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted. With reference to FIGS. 4 to 6, the light emitter 26 is housed and held inside a synthetic resin holding member 27 that has a U-shaped cross section and is elongated like the light emitter 26, and the light emitter 26 emits light through the holding member 27. In other words, the light emitted from the light emitter 26 passes through the holding member 27. The light emitter 26 is protected by a holding member 27. The elongated light emitter 26 and holding member 27 are disposed on the rear surface of the rear frame 16 via an elongated metal mounting bracket 30 together with a similarly elongated soft synthetic resin gasket 28.

[0018] Explaining mainly with reference to FIG. 6(a), the gasket 28 has a support portion 32 having a substantially U-shaped cross section and a seal portion 34 having a substantially annular cross section. The support portion 32 has a base wall 36a extending in the front-rear direction and a pair of hanging walls 36b and 36c that hang down from both side edges of the base wall 36a and have inner faces facing each other. The hanging wall 36b has a shorter hanging length from the base wall 36a than the hanging wall 36c, and an engagement means 38 is formed on the inner face of the hanging wall 36b. The engagement means 38 is a flap piece that extends at an angle toward the base wall 36a, and two of them are formed at intervals in the width direction (short side direction). Three flap pieces 40 that extend at an angle toward the base wall 36a are formed at intervals in the width direction (short side direction) on the inner face of the hanging wall 36c. A pair of legs 42 that are connected to the seal portion 34 are formed on the outer face of the hanging wall 36c. When the outer peripheral edge of the loading surface of the floor plate 22 abuts against the seal portion 34, the lower portion of the cargo entrance 18 is closed.

[0019] Continuing the explanation with reference to FIG. 6(a), the mounting bracket 30 comprises a first wall 44 fixed to the rear surface of the rear frame 16, a second wall 46 extending rearward from one side edge of the first wall 44, and a third wall 48 rising from the side edge of the second wall 46 opposite the first wall 44 and having an inner surface facing the inner surface of the first wall 44, and a locking means 50 is formed on the side edge of the inner surface of the third wall 48 opposite the second wall 46. The locking means 50 is a protrusion extending linearly in the longitudinal direction. The width (short-side length) of the first wall 44 is wider (longer) than the width of the third wall 48, and the inner surface of the first wall 44 is formed with a recessed groove 52 and a protrusion 54 extending linearly in the longitudinal direction. The first wall 44 is fixed to the rear end surfaces of the left side panel 4, the right side panel 6, and the bottom panel 10 by suitable fixing means (not shown) such as bolts or rivets. In this case, the mounting bracket 30 is positioned so that the inner surface of the second wall 46 faces inward, i.e., toward the cargo entrance 18, when viewed from the rear.

[0020] Continuing the explanation with reference to FIG. 6(b) together with FIG. 6(a), the light emitter 26 and the holding member 27, together with the hanging wall 36b of the gasket 28, are accommodated in a space surrounded by the first wall 44, the second wall 46, and the third wall 48. Thus, the light emitter 26 and the holding member 27 are disposed on the first wall 44 side, and the hanging wall 36b is disposed on the third wall 48 side. The light emitter 26, the holding member 27, and the hanging wall 36b are inserted into the space from the top to the bottom of the drawing. When the light emitter 26, the holding member 27, and the hanging wall 36b are accommodated in the accommodation space, the engaging means 38 formed on the inner surface of the hanging wall 36b is engaged with the engaging means 50 formed on the inner surface of the third wall 48, and the flap piece 40 formed on the inner surface of the hanging wall 36c is engaged with the outer surface of the third wall 48, so that the gasket 28 is prevented from falling out of the space. The outer surface of the holding member 27, which holds the light emitter 26 therein, is brought into close contact with the inner surface of the first wall 44 and the outer surface of the hanging wall 36b, and the holding member 27 is held in the above-mentioned space.

[0021] The light emitting body 26 is turned on when a worker works in the cargo compartment. The light emitting body 26 may be turned on automatically by an appropriate sensor such as a motion sensor, or may be turned on manually. In the box-shaped cargo bed constructed according to the present invention, the light emitting body 26 emits light, allowing a worker working in the cargo compartment to visually recognize the rear end position, thereby alerting the worker. Therefore, the light emitting pattern of the light emitting body 26 may be any pattern, such as continuous or flashing. The light emitting body may emit light not only when the floor plate 22 is deployed, but also when the floor plate 22 is lifting, lowering, and rotating. At this time, the light emitting state of the light emitting body 26, i.e., the light emitting pattern and color, may be changed according to the operating state of the floor plate 22, i.e., the stopped state, the lifting and lowering operating state, or the rotating operating state, so that the operating state of the floor plate 22 can be notified to the surroundings, and the surroundings can be alerted. The operating state of the floor plate 22 may be detected by an appropriate sensor.

[0022] Although the box-type loading platform constructed according to the present invention has been described in detail above with reference to the attached drawings, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and appropriate modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the present invention. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the rear door 20 includes the auxiliary plate 23, but this may be omitted and the rear door may be composed of only a floor plate. If desired, the light emitter 26 is not limited to being disposed on the rear surface of the rear frame 16, and may be disposed on the inner surface of the rear frame 16. When the light emitter 26 is disposed on the inner surface of the rear frame 16, a groove in which the light emitter 26 is embedded is provided on the inner surface of the rear frame 16. In addition, the light emitter 26 does not necessarily have to be housed and held inside the holding member 27. Just to be sure, the light emitter may be of any type. [Explanation of symbols]

[0023] 2: Box-shaped loading platform 16: Rear frame 18: Cargo loading / unloading entrance 20: Rear door 22: Floor plate 26: Light-emitting body 27: Holding member 28: Gasket 30: Mounting bracket

Claims

1. A box-shaped loading platform for a vehicle, the rear end of which is supported by a rear frame, and the entire or at least the lower part of a rear door is formed by a floor plate that is a part of a tailgate device, The box-shaped loading platform is characterized in that the rear frame is provided with light-emitting elements arranged along the outer periphery of the cargo entrance that is closed by the floor plate.

2. 2. The box-type cargo bed according to claim 1, wherein the rear door includes a liftable auxiliary plate located above the floor plate.

3. 2. The box-type cargo bed according to claim 1, wherein the box-type cargo bed is a rectangular parallelepiped, and the light emitters are disposed on the rear frame along the left edge, the right edge and the lower edge of the cargo entrance.

4. 2. The box-type loading platform according to claim 1, wherein a gasket made of soft synthetic resin that abuts against the outer peripheral edge of the loading surface of the floor plate is disposed on the rear surface of the rear frame via a common mounting bracket together with the light emitter.

5. The light emitter, the gasket and the mounting bracket are elongated, the mounting bracket comprises a first wall fixed to a rear surface of the rear frame, a second wall extending rearward from one side edge of the first wall, and a third wall standing from a side edge of the second wall opposite to the first wall, the third wall having an inner surface facing the inner surface of the first wall, The gasket has a support portion having a pair of depending walls whose inner surfaces face each other, and a seal portion is attached to the outer surface of one of the pair of depending walls, 5. The box-type carrier according to claim 4, wherein the light emitter is accommodated in a space surrounded by the first wall, the second wall and the third wall together with the other of the pair of hanging walls of the gasket.

6. 6. The box-shaped loading platform as described in claim 5, wherein an engaging means is formed on the side edge portion of the inner surface of the third wall of the mounting bracket opposite the second wall, and an engaging means is formed on the inner surface of the other of the pair of hanging walls of the gasket.

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