Multipurpose vehicle

Abstract

In a multi-purpose vehicle equipped with a floor, a driver's seat, and a passenger compartment with rear seats positioned behind the driver's seat in a front-to-back arrangement, the aim is to enable comfortable boarding for rear passengers seated in the rear seats at an inexpensive cost, while separating the legroom for the driver's seat from the legroom for the rear passengers. [Solution] A partition plate 51 is provided that divides the space between the driver's seat 15a and the floor 12 into a front space F1 and a rear space R1. A footrest 51a for passengers seated in the rear seat 17a is integrally formed at the lower part of the partition plate 51.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a multi-purpose vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] As shown in Patent Document 1, there is a multi-purpose vehicle provided with a passenger compartment (driving section) having a floor section, a driver's seat (front seat), and a rear seat (rear seat) positioned in a front-rear alignment with the driver's seat behind the driver's seat.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Conventionally, an interlocking mechanism for interlocking an operation lever with an operation target device is provided under the driver's seat, a cover for covering the interlocking mechanism from the front and rear sides of the driver's seat is provided, and a passenger sitting on the rear seat feels cramped at the feet.

[0005] The present invention provides a multi-purpose vehicle that can allow a rear passenger sitting on the rear seat to comfortably board while separating the foot space for the driver's seat and the foot space for the rear seat, and can be obtained at a low cost.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The multi-purpose vehicle according to the present invention includes a floor section, a driver's seat, a passenger compartment having a rear seat positioned in a front-rear alignment with the driver's seat behind the driver's seat, and a partition plate for partitioning the space between the driver's seat and the floor section into a front space section and a rear space section, and a footrest for a passenger sitting on the rear seat is integrally formed on the partition plate.

[0007] In this configuration, the front space connected to the driver's footwell and the rear space connected to the rear passenger's footwell are separated by a partition plate, thus dividing the driver's footwell from the rear passenger's footwell. A passenger seated in the rear seat can extend their legs into the rear space under the driver's seat and rest their extended legs on the footrest. In other words, while separating the driver's footwell from the rear passenger's footwell, a rear passenger seated in the rear seat can extend their legs and rest them on the footrest for a comfortable ride. Moreover, since the footrest can be formed together with the partition plate, the amount of effort required to mold the footrest is reduced compared to molding the footrest separately, resulting in a lower cost.

[0008] In the present invention, Preferably, the driver's seat is provided at one end of the passenger compartment in the left-right direction of the vehicle body, a second front seat different from the driver's seat is provided at the other end of the passenger compartment in the left-right direction of the vehicle body, a second rear seat different from the rear seat is provided behind the second front seat in a front-to-back arrangement with the second front seat, and the space between the second front seat and the floor is not partitioned.

[0009] With this configuration, the footwell space for the second front seat and the footwell space for the second rear seat are connected via the space under the second front seat, allowing long items to be loaded across both the second front and second rear seat footwells by passing them under the second front seat. This makes it convenient for loading long items.

[0010] In the present invention, Preferably, a third front seat is provided between the driver's seat and the second front seat, a third rear seat is provided between the rear seat and the second rear seat in a front-to-rear arrangement with the third front seat, a second partition plate is provided to divide the space between the third front seat and the floor into a front space and a rear space, and a second footrest for an occupant seated in the third rear seat is integrally formed on the second partition plate.

[0011] In this configuration, the front space connected to the footwell for the third front seat and the rear space connected to the footwell for the third rear seat are separated by the second partition plate, thus dividing the footwell for the third front seat and the footwell for the third rear seat. Passengers seated in the third rear seat can extend their legs into the rear space, which is the space under the third front seat, and can also rest their extended legs on the second footrest. In other words, while separating the footwell for the third front seat and the footwell for the third rear seat, passengers seated in the third rear seat can extend their legs and rest them on the footrest for comfortable seating. Moreover, since the second footrest can be formed together with the second partition plate, the amount of effort required to form the second footrest is reduced compared to forming the second footrest separately from the second partition plate, resulting in a lower cost.

[0012] In the present invention, Preferably, the second partition plate is integrally formed with the partition plate.

[0013] According to this configuration, the second partition plate can be formed together with the partition plate, which reduces the effort required to form the second partition plate compared to forming it separately from the partition plate, resulting in a lower cost.

[0014] In the present invention, Preferably, the portion of the floor that passes in the front-to-rear direction under the third front seat and under the third rear seat bulges upward.

[0015] In this configuration, the bulging floor portion is positioned between the footwell for the driver's seat and the footwell for the second front seat, separating the two spaces. Furthermore, the bulging floor portion is positioned between the footwell for the rear seat and the footwell for the second rear seat, separating the two spaces. In other words, the bulging floor portion can be used as a partition to separate the footwell for the driver's seat from the footwell for the second front seat, and to separate the footwell for the rear seat from the footwell for the second rear seat. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0016] [Figure 1] It is a side view of the whole multi-purpose vehicle seen from the left side. [Figure 2] It is a plan view of the passenger compartment. [Figure 3] It is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] It is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 2. [Figure 5] It is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V in FIG. 2. [Figure 6] It is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 2. [Figure 7] It is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 2. [Figure 8] It is a perspective view of the rear surface sides of the first partition plate and the second partition plate seen from the upper left. [Figure 9] It is a perspective view of the front surface sides of the first partition plate and the second partition plate seen from the lower left.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] Hereinafter, an embodiment which is an example of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. In the following description, regarding the vehicle body of the multi-purpose vehicle, the direction of arrow F shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is the "front direction of the vehicle body", the direction of arrow B shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is the "rear direction of the vehicle body", the direction of arrow U shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 is the "upper direction of the vehicle body", the direction of arrow D shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 is the "lower direction of the vehicle body", the direction on the front side of the paper surface of FIG. 1, and the direction of arrow L shown in FIG. 2 is the "left direction of the vehicle body", the direction on the back side of the paper surface of FIG. 1, and the direction of arrow R shown in FIG. 2 is the "right direction of the vehicle body". The left-right direction of the vehicle body corresponds to the vehicle width direction.

[0018] 〔Overall Configuration of the Multi-Purpose Vehicle〕 The utility vehicle shown in Figure 1 is used for a variety of purposes, such as transporting goods and recreation. As shown in Figure 1, the utility vehicle has a body 4 equipped with a body frame 1, a pair of steerable and drivable front wheels 2, and a pair of drivable rear wheels 3. A passenger compartment 5 is provided in the area between the front wheels 2 and the rear wheels 3 of the body 4. The passenger compartment 5 is equipped with a loft 6 that covers the passenger space and a roof member 7 attached to the top of the loft 6. A cargo bed 8 is provided behind the passenger compartment 5. Below the cargo bed 8 are an engine 9, a continuously variable transmission 10 that receives the output of the engine 9 and changes the speed steplessly, and a driving transmission 11 that changes the speed of the output of the continuously variable transmission 10 and outputs it to the front wheels 2 and rear wheels 3. In this embodiment, the continuously variable transmission 10 is a belt-type continuously variable transmission.

[0019] [Configuration of the passenger compartment] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the passenger compartment 5 is provided with a front passenger compartment 5a, a rear passenger compartment 5b, and a series of floor sections 12 that extend across the front passenger compartment 5a and the rear passenger compartment 5b.

[0020] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, an upwardly bulging floor portion 12a is formed in the center of the floor portion 12 in the width direction of the vehicle body. The upper end of the bulging floor portion 1a is higher than the upper ends of the floor portions 12b located on both sides of the bulging floor portion 12a. A transmission shaft 13 that transmits front wheel drive force from the driving transmission 11 to the front wheels 2 passes through the inside of the bulging floor portion 12a.

[0021] As shown in Figure 2, the front passenger compartment 5a is equipped with front entrances located at both lateral ends of the front passenger compartment 5a, and three front seats 15 located between the front entrances at both ends. The front entrances at both lateral ends are opened and closed by swingable front doors 16 (see Figure 1).

[0022] As shown in Figure 2, the rear passenger compartment 5b is equipped with a rear entrance located between the two lateral ends of the rear passenger compartment 5b, and three rear seats 17 located between the rear entrances at both ends. The rear entrances at both ends are opened and closed by swingable rear doors 18 (see Figure 1).

[0023] As shown in Figure 2, the three front seats 15 are arranged in a side-by-side configuration, in the width direction of the vehicle body. Each of the three front seats 15 is equipped with a seat portion 20, a backrest portion 21, and a headrest 22. In the following description, of the three front seats 15, the front seat 15 located at one end of the front passenger compartment 5a in the left-right direction of the vehicle body will be referred to as the first front seat 15a, the front seat 15 located at the other end of the front passenger compartment 5a in the left-right direction of the vehicle body will be referred to as the second front seat 15b, and the front seat 15 located between the front seat 15 located at one end of the front passenger compartment 5a (first front seat 15a) and the front seat 15 located at the other end of the front seat 15 (second front seat 15b) will be referred to as the third front seat 15c. In this embodiment, the first front seat 15a is provided at the left end of the front passenger compartment 5a in the left-right direction of the vehicle body, and the second front seat 15b is provided at the right end of the front passenger compartment 5a in the left-right direction of the vehicle body.

[0024] In this embodiment, the seat portion 20 of the second front seat 15b and the seat portion 20 of the third front seat 15c are connected and form a single unit, but they may be separate. The backrest portion 21 of the second front seat 15b and the backrest portion 21 of the third front seat 15c are connected and form a single unit, but they may be separate. The first front seat 15a is manufactured separately from the second front seat 15b and the third front seat 1c and is a standalone unit. In this embodiment, the first front seat 15a is the driver's seat, and a steering wheel 23 (see Figures 2 and 5) for steering the front wheels 2 is provided in front of the first front seat 15a, and a brake pedal 24 (see Figures 2 and 5) and the like are provided in front of and below the first front seat 15a.

[0025] As shown in Figures 3 and 5, the first front seat 15a, the second front seat 15b, and the third front seat 15c are mounted on the upper part of the front seat support frame 30 erected on the vehicle body frame 1, and are supported by the vehicle body frame 1 via the front seat support frame 30.

[0026] More specifically, as shown in Figures 3, 4, 6, and 7, the front seat support frame 30 comprises left and right vertical plate-shaped side pillars 31, left and right center pillars 32 located between the left and right side pillars 31, a front transverse rod 33 connected to the upper part of the left and right side pillars 31 and extending in the width direction of the vehicle body, and a rear transverse rod 34 connected to the upper part of the left and right side pillars 31 and the upper part of the left and right center pillars 32 behind the front transverse rod 33 and extending in the width direction of the vehicle body. At the left end of the front seat support frame 30, the front transverse rod 33 and the rear transverse rod 34 support the left and right front-to-back oriented driver's seat support rails 35. To the right of the left and right driver's seat support rails 35, the front transverse rod 33 and the rear transverse rod 34 support the front seat support member 36. The front seat support member 36 comprises left and right front-to-back rods and a lateral rod connecting the front ends of the left and right front-facing rods.

[0027] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the left and right center pillars 32 are erected on the left and right front-to-rear center frames 37 that constitute the vehicle body frame 1. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the left and right center pillars 32 are erected in an inclined position, with their upper ends positioned further back. The left and right side pillars 31 are erected on the left and right front-to-rear side frames 38 that constitute the vehicle body frame 1. The left and right side frames 38 are connected to the ends of connecting frames 39 that extend from the center frame 37 outwards to the sides of the vehicle body, and are supported by the center frame 37 via the connecting frames 39.

[0028] As shown in Figures 3 and 5, the left and right driver's seat support rails 35 support the seat support 40 provided on the seat portion 20 of the first front seat 15a so that it can slide and adjust forward and backward. The backrest 21 and headrest 22 of the first front seat 15a are supported by a support frame 41 that extends upward from the seat support 40, and are supported by the seat support 40 via the support frame 41.

[0029] In the first front seat 15a, which is the driver's seat, the backrest 21 and headrest 22 move forward and backward together with the seat 20 by adjusting the sliding of the seat portion 20 relative to the driver's seat support rail 35, thereby adjusting the mounting positions of the seat portion 20, backrest 21 and headrest 22 relative to the front seat support frame 30.

[0030] As shown in Figures 3, 6, and 7, the front seat support member 36 supports and fixes the seat portion 20 of the second front seat 15b and the seat portion 20 of the third front seat 15c. The backrest portion 21 and headrest 22 of the second front seat 15b and the backrest portion 21 and headrest 22 of the third front seat 15c are attached to a support frame 42 that extends upward from a rear transverse rod 34, and are supported by the front seat support frame 30 via the support frame 42.

[0031] A support member 43 (see Figures 6 and 7) pivotally supports the rear of the front seat support member 36 and is connected to a front transverse rod 33 and a rear transverse rod 34. The front seat support member 36 is supported by the front transverse rod 33 and the rear transverse rod 34 in a manner that allows it to swing up and down with the pivot axis located at the rear as the pivot point. The seat portion 20 of the second front seat 15b and the seat portion 20 of the third front seat 15c swing up and down as the front seat support member 36 swings, opening and closing the inside of the front seat support frame 30.

[0032] As shown in Figure 2, the three rear seats 17 are arranged in a side-by-side configuration, in the width direction of the vehicle body. Each of the three rear seats 17 is equipped with a seat portion 26, a backrest portion 27, and a headrest 28. In this embodiment, the seat portions 26 of the three rear seats 17 are connected and form a single unit, but they may be separate. The backrest portions 27 of the three rear seats 17 are connected and form a single unit, but they may be separate.

[0033] As shown in Figures 5, 6, and 7, the seat portions 26 of the three rear seats 17 are attached to a rear seat support base 45 erected on the vehicle frame 1. The backrests 27 and headrests 28 of the three rear seats 17 are attached to a support frame 46 that extends from the vehicle frame 1 behind the rear seat support base 45. The three rear seats 17 are supported by the vehicle frame 1 via the rear seat support base 45 and the support frame 46.

[0034] In the following description, of the three rear seats 17, the rear seat 17 located at one end of the rear passenger compartment 5b in the left-right direction of the vehicle body will be referred to as the first rear seat 17a, the rear seat 17 located at the other end of the rear passenger compartment 5b in the left-right direction of the vehicle body will be referred to as the second rear seat 17b, and the rear seat 17 located between the rear seat 17 located at one end of the vehicle body in the left-right direction (first rear seat 17a) and the rear seat 17 located at the other end of the vehicle body in the left-right direction (second rear seat 17b) will be referred to as the third rear seat 17c. In this embodiment, the first rear seat 17a is provided at the left end of the vehicle body in the left-right direction, and the second rear seat 17b is provided at the right end of the vehicle body in the left-right direction.

[0035] As shown in Figure 2, the first rear seat 17a is located behind the first front seat 15a, in a front-to-back arrangement with the first front seat 15a. The second rear seat 17b is located behind the second front seat 15b, in a front-to-back arrangement with the second front seat 15b. The third rear seat 17c is located behind the third front seat 15c, in a front-to-back arrangement with the third front seat 15c.

[0036] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the bulging floor portion 12a of the floor 12 passes in the front-to-rear direction under the third front seat 15c and under the third rear seat 17c. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the bulging floor portion 12a separates the footwell space A1 for the first front seat 15a, which is the driver's seat, from the footwell space A2 for the second front seat 15b. As shown in Figure 3, the bulging floor portion 12a separates the footwell space B1 for the first rear seat 7a from the footwell space B2 for the second rear seat 17b.

[0037] As shown in Figures 3 and 5, a first partition plate 51 is provided below the first front seat 15a. The space between the first front seat 15a and the floor 12 is divided by the first partition plate 51 into a front space F1 and a rear space R1. The front space F1, to which the foot space A1 for the first front seat 15a (which is the driver's seat) is connected, and the rear space R1, to which the foot space B1 for the first rear seat 17a is connected, are separated by the first partition plate 51, thereby separating the foot space A1 for the first front seat 15a and the foot space B2 for the first rear seat 17a.

[0038] As shown in Figures 4, 5, and 8, the left and right first footrests 51a for passengers seated in the first rear seat 17a are integrally formed on the lower rear side of the first partition plate 51. The left and right first footrests 51a are formed in an inclined position with the toes pointing upward.

[0039] A passenger seated in the first rear seat 17a can extend their legs into the rear space R1, which is the space below the first front seat 15a, and place their extended legs on the first footrest 51a. By using the first footrest 51a, the position of the passenger's feet is determined after sitting in the first rear seat 17a, making it easier to avoid contact between the shins and other parts of the body and the rear lateral rod 34.

[0040] As shown in Figures 3 and 6, a second partition plate 52 is provided below the third front seat 15c. The space between the third front seat 15c and the floor 12 is divided by the second partition plate 52 into a front space F3 and a rear space R3. The front space F3, to which the footwell space A3 for the third front seat 15c is connected, and the rear space R3, to which the footwell space B3 for the third rear seat 17c is connected, are separated by the second partition plate 52, so that the footwell space A3 for the third front seat 15c and the footwell space B3 for the third rear seat 17c are separated by the second partition plate 52.

[0041] As shown in Figures 4, 6, and 8, the left and right second footrests 52a for passengers seated in the third rear seat 17c are integrally formed on the lower rear side of the second partition plate 52. The left and right second footrests 52a are formed in an inclined position with the toes pointing upward.

[0042] A passenger seated in the third rear seat 17c can extend their legs into the rear space R3, which is the space below the third front seat 15c, and place their extended legs on the second footrest 52a. By using the second footrest 52a, the position of the passenger's feet is determined after sitting in the third rear seat 17c, making it easier to avoid contact between the shins and other parts of the body and the rear lateral rod 34.

[0043] The lower part of the first partition plate 51 is connected to the floor 12 by a connecting bolt fitted into a lower mounting hole 53 (see Figure 8) located at the end of the first footrest 51a, and the upper part of the first partition plate 51 is connected to the front transverse rod 33 of the front seat support frame 30 by a connecting bolt fitted into an upper mounting hole 54 (see Figure 8). The first partition plate 51 is fixed to the floor 12 and the front seat support frame 30 by connecting bolts.

[0044] The lower part of the second partition plate 52 is connected to the floor 12 by a connecting bolt fitted into a lower mounting hole 55 (see Figure 8) located at the end of the second footrest 52a, and the upper part of the second partition plate 52 is connected to the front transverse rod 33 of the front seat support frame 30 by a connecting bolt fitted into an upper mounting hole 56 (see Figure 8). The second partition plate 52 is fixed to the floor 12 and the front seat support frame 30 by connecting bolts.

[0045] As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the second partition plate 52 is integrally formed with the first partition plate 51. A reinforcing vertical plate portion 57 is formed at the end of the first partition plate 51 opposite to the second partition plate 52 side. A reinforcing vertical plate portion 58 is formed at the end of the second partition plate 52 opposite to the first partition plate 51 side. A notch hole 59 is opened between the left and right first footrests 51a through which the center support column 32 of the front seat support frame 30 is inserted. A first leg portion 61 is provided that protrudes forward from the portion of the first partition plate 51 between the left and right first footrests 51a and is placed on and supported on the upper surface of the floor portion 12. A second leg portion 62 is provided that protrudes forward from the portion of the second partition plate 52 between the left and right second footrests 52a and is placed on and supported on the upper surface of the floor portion 12. The first leg portion 61 is provided by the bulge of the first partition plate 51. The second leg portion 62 is provided by the bulge of the second partition plate 52. In this embodiment, the first partition plate 51 and the second partition plate 52 are made of resin.

[0046] As shown in Figures 3, 4, and 7, the space between the second front seat 15b and the floor 12 is not partitioned. The footwell space F2 for the second front seat 15b and the footwell space R2 for the second rear seat 17b are connected via the space beneath the second front seat 15b, allowing long items to be loaded through the space beneath the second front seat 15b into the footwell space A2 for the second front seat 15b and the footwell space B2 for the second rear seat 17b.

[0047] [Another embodiment] (1) In the above-described embodiment, the first front seat 15a and the first rear seat 17a were shown to be located at the left end in the left-right direction of the vehicle body, but they may also be located at the right end in the left-right direction of the vehicle body.

[0048] (2) In the embodiment described above, the space between the second front seat 15b and the floor 12 was shown as not being partitioned, but it may be partitioned.

[0049] (3) In the embodiment described above, the second partition plate 52 was shown to be integrally molded with the first partition plate 51, but the second partition plate 52 may be formed separately from the first partition plate 51.

[0050] (4) In the embodiments described above, an example was shown in which a second front seat 15b, a third front seat 15c, a second rear seat 17b, and a third rear seat 17c are provided. However, the second front seat 15b, the third front seat 15c, the second rear seat 17b, and the third rear seat 17c may not be provided, or the second front seat 15b and the second rear seat 17b may be provided, but the third front seat 15c and the third rear seat 17c may not be provided, or the third front seat 15c and the third rear seat 17c may be provided, but the second front seat 15b and the second rear seat 17b may not be provided.

[0051] (5) In the above embodiment, an example was shown in which a bulging bed portion 12a is provided, but the bulging bed portion 12a may not be provided.

[0052] (6) In the above-described embodiment, a partition plate below the second front seat 15b and a footrest for the passenger of the second rear seat are not provided, but a partition plate below the second front seat 15b and a footrest for the passenger of the second rear seat may be provided. [Industrial applicability]

[0053] The present invention can be applied to a multi-purpose vehicle equipped with a passenger compartment having a floor, a driver's seat, and a rear seat positioned in front of and behind the driver's seat. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 5. Boarding Area 12 Floor 12a Swelling floor part (floor part) 15a First front seat (driver's seat) 15b Second front seat 15c Third front seat 17a First rear seat (rear seat) 17b Second rear seat 17c Third rear seat 51. First partition plate (partition plate) 51a First footrest (footrest) 52. Second partition plate 52a Second footrest

Claims

1. A passenger compartment comprising a floor, a driver's seat, and a rear seat positioned behind the driver's seat in a front-to-back arrangement with the driver's seat, A partition plate is provided to divide the space between the driver's seat and the floor into a front space and a rear space. A multi-purpose vehicle in which a footrest for a passenger seated in the rear seat is integrally formed in the partition plate.

2. The driver's seat is provided at one end of the passenger compartment in the left-right direction of the vehicle body. A second front seat, different from the driver's seat, is provided at the other end of the passenger compartment in the left-right direction of the vehicle body. A second rear seat, different from the aforementioned rear seat, is provided behind the second front seat, positioned front to back with the second front seat. The multipurpose vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the space between the second front seat and the floor is not partitioned.

3. A third front seat is provided between the driver's seat and the second front seat. A third rear seat is provided between the aforementioned rear seat and the second rear seat, positioned front to back with the third front seat. A second partition plate is provided to divide the space between the third front seat and the floor into a front space and a rear space. The multipurpose vehicle according to claim 2, wherein a second footrest for an occupant seated in the third rear seat is integrally formed in the second partition plate.

4. The multipurpose vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the second partition plate is integrally formed with the partition plate.

5. The multipurpose vehicle according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the floor portion of the floor that passes in the front-to-rear direction under the third front seat and under the third rear seat bulges upward.

Images