REAR SEATS FOR UTILITY VEHICLE

Abstract

A vehicle includes a frame and a plurality of seats supported by the frame, including at least one front seat and at least one rear seat. The rear seat(s) include a seat back and a seat base, the seat back and seat base being movable between a lowered and a raised position. The raised position is defined by the seat back and seat base of the rear seat(s) being positioned at a first vertical height. The lowered position is defined by the seat back and seat base of the rear seat(s) being positioned longitudinally behind the front seat(s) at a second vertical height, the first vertical height being greater than the second vertical height.

Description

REAR SEATS FOR UTILITY VEHICLE Field of Invention The present invention refers in general to a set of removable rear seats for a vehicle. Background of the Invention When using various vehicles, such as SUVs, off-road vehicles, and others, it can be beneficial to have rear seats that can be folded down when not in use. Several sets of removable rear seats are known in the art, although these often require the complete removal of the seats from the vehicle, may compromise the vehicle's cargo capacity, and / or may not optimize passenger comfort. Therefore, there is still a need for a set of rear seats that can accommodate at least one rear passenger, maintain comfort and safety, and can also be folded down to provide more storage space. Summary of the Invention In one embodiment of the present description, a vehicle includes a frame and a plurality of seats supported by the frame, the plurality of seats including at least one front seat and at least one rear seat. The rear seat(s) include a backrest of Ref. 337204 seat and seat base. The seat back and seat base can be moved between a lowered position and a raised position. The raised position is defined by the seat back and seat base of the rear seat(s) being positioned at a first vertical height, and the lowered position is defined by the seat base and seat back of the rear seat(s) being positioned longitudinally behind the front seat(s) at a second vertical height, the first vertical height being greater than the second vertical height. In another embodiment of the present description, a vehicle includes a frame, a plurality of ground contact elements supporting the frame, a body assembly supported by the frame, a plurality of seats including at least one front seat and at least one rear seat, and a frame assembly supporting at least the rear seat(s). The frame assembly and the rear seat(s) are movable from a first position to a second position. In the first position, the frame assembly is located at a vertical height greater than the vertical height of the front seat(s) and is coupled to the vehicle frame in a first coupling position. In the second position, the frame assembly is located, at least partially, longitudinally behind the front seat(s) and is coupled to the frame in a second coupling position.The second docking position is separate from the first docking position. In another embodiment of the present description, a vehicle includes a frame supporting an operator area having a plurality of seats, including at least one rear seat and at least one front seat, the rear seat(s) being movable from a raised to a lowered position, a plurality of ground contact elements supporting the frame, a body assembly comprising a plurality of body panels supporting the frame, and a load assembly supported by the frame. The load assembly includes at least two upwardly extending side panels, a base, and a movable panel extending upward from the base.The sliding panel can be moved from a first position to a second position. In the first position, it increases the longitudinal extension of the cargo assembly, and in the second position, it decreases the longitudinal extension of the cargo assembly relative to the first position. When the rear seat is in the raised position, the sliding panel is in either the first or second position, and when the rear seat is in the lowered position, the sliding panel is in the second position. in Ln / zznz / E / YiAi Brief Description of the Figures The aforementioned features and other features of this invention, and the manner of achieving them, will become more evident and the invention itself will be better understood by referring to the following description of embodiments of the invention considered, together with the accompanying figures, where: Figure 1 is a left front perspective view of a utility vehicle including a plurality of front and rear seats; Figure 2 is a left rear perspective view of the utility vehicle in Figure 1 having a load assembly in a first position or neutral position; Figure 3 is a left rear perspective view of the utility vehicle in Figure 2 having the cargo assembly in a second or inclined position and the rear seats in a raised or first position; Figure 4 is a left side view of the utility vehicle in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a top view of the utility vehicle in Figure 1; Figure 6 is a left side view of the utility vehicle of Figure 1 with a plurality of rear seats in a first position, in Ln / zznz / E / YiAi. Figure 7 is a left side view of the utility vehicle of Figure 6 with the plurality of rear seats in a second position; Figure 8 is a left side view of the utility vehicle of Figure 6 with the plurality of rear seats in a third position; Figure 9 is a left side view of the utility vehicle of Figure 1 with a plurality of front seats in a forward position and the plurality of rear seats in the third position of Figure 8; Figure 10 is a perspective view of a cargo assembly of the utility vehicle in Figure 1; Figure 11 is an exploded view of the cargo assembly of the utility vehicle in Figure 10; Figure 12 is a perspective view of a portion of the utility vehicle of Figure 1 showing the plurality of rear seats of Figure 8 in the third position and the cargo assembly in the first position of Figure 2; Figure 13 is a left side view of a portion of the utility vehicle of Figure 1 showing the plurality of rear seats of Figure 7 in the second position; Figure 14 is a left side view of a portion of the utility vehicle of Figure 1 showing the plurality of rear seats of Figure 6 in the first position; Figure 15 is a left side view of the utility vehicle of Figure 1 showing a modified upper frame assembly and the plurality of rear seats of Figure 6 in the first position; Figure 16 is a left side view of the utility vehicle of Figure 15 showing the plurality of rear seats of Figure 6 in the second position; Figure 17 is a left side view of the utility vehicle of Figure 15 showing the plurality of rear seats of Figure 6 in the first position and the cargo assembly in the first position; Figure 18 is a left side view of the utility vehicle in figure 15 showing the cargo assembly in the second position; Figure 19 is a left side view of the utility vehicle in Figure 15 supporting at least one accessory; Figure 20 is an additional left side view of the utility vehicle in Figure 15 supporting at least one accessory; Figure 21 is another left side view of the utility vehicle of figure 15 supporting at least one accessory; In Ln / zznz / E / YiAi, Figure 22 is a left rear perspective view of the utility vehicle in Figure 15 supporting at least one accessory and showing the load assembly in the second position; Figure 23 is a left side view of a utility vehicle having a modified upper frame assembly; Figure 24 is another left side view of the utility vehicle in Figure 1 having a modified upper frame assembly; Figure 25 is an additional left side view of a utility vehicle having a modified upper frame assembly; and Figure 26 is an additional left side view of the utility vehicle of Figure 1 having a modified upper frame assembly; Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all different views. Unless otherwise stated, the figures maintain a proportion. Detailed Description of the Invention The embodiments described below are not intended to be exhaustive, nor are they intended to limit the invention to the precise forms described in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments have been chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may benefit from their teachings. i? / in Ln / zznz / E / YiAi Although this description is primarily directed at a utility vehicle, it should be understood that the characteristics described herein may apply to any vehicle, configured for both off-road and on-road use. For example, this description may apply to an off-road vehicle with one or more ground contact points and a continuously variable transmission, including, but not limited to, all-terrain vehicles, agricultural vehicles, industrial vehicles, tractors, three-wheelers, and golf carts. It may also apply to tractors, agricultural vehicles and equipment, industrial vehicles and equipment, and on-road vehicles such as cars, trucks, SUVs, etc. Referring to Figure 1, an illustrative embodiment of a utility vehicle 2 is shown. Vehicle 2 is configured for off-road operation; however, this description is not limited to the vehicle. Vehicle 2 includes a plurality of front ground contact elements 4, illustratively the front wheels, and a plurality of rear ground contact elements 6, illustratively the rear wheels. In one embodiment, one or more of the ground contact elements 4 can be replaced by tracks, such as the Prospector II tracks marketed by Polaris Industries, bt in Ln / zznz / E / YiAi Inc., located at 2100 Highway 55 in Medina, MN 55340 or airless tires, such as those shown in U.S. Patent Nos. 8,176,957 and 8,104,524, the descriptions of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Vehicle 2 further includes a frame assembly 10 defined by a lower frame assembly 12 supported by the front ground contact elements 4 and the rear ground contact elements 6. In one embodiment, vehicle 2 may additionally include an upper frame assembly 14 extending vertically above the rear frame assembly 12. The upper frame assembly 14 may comprise vertically extending frame elements 14a, laterally extending frame elements 14b, and longitudinally extending frame elements 14c. In various embodiments, the upper frame assembly 14 may comprise additional frame elements, such as frame elements extending between the laterally extending frame elements 14b and / or the longitudinally extending frame elements 14c.In some configurations, frame elements that extend diagonally or frame elements that extend downwards can be incorporated. The lower frame assembly 12 supports a load assembly 70 and a vehicle body i? / in Ln / zznz / E / YiAi. 20, which includes a plurality of body panels, such as a hood, a front fender, a rear fender, etc. As illustrated in Figure 2, the upper frame assembly 14 includes two pairs of longitudinally extending frame members 14c. More specifically, the upper frame assembly 14 includes a rear pair 17 of longitudinally extending frame members 14c positioned longitudinally behind a front pair 19 of longitudinally extending frame members 14c. As illustrated, the front pair 19 and the rear pair 17 of longitudinally extending frame members 14c are coupled to each other at the rearmost position of each of the front pair 19 of longitudinally extending frame members 14c and the forwardmost position of each of the rear pair 17 of longitudinally extending frame members 14c.Thus, as will be described later, the front pair 19 of longitudinally extending frame elements 14c can be positioned over a front portion of an operator area 22, while the rear pair 17 of longitudinally extending frame elements 14c is positioned over a rear passenger portion of the operator area 22. In this way, the configuration of the upper frame assembly 14 can be described as a single-level configuration, since the front pair 19 and the rear pair 17 of longitudinally extending frame elements 14c extend upwards to a similar overall height. However, several different configurations of longitudinally extending frame elements 14c can be incorporated, as will be described later with reference to Figures 15-18. Vehicle 2 also comprises an operator area 22 comprising a plurality of seats. The operator area 22 further includes a plurality of operator controls 24, such as a steering wheel 26, by means of which an operator can provide inputs for steering Vehicle 2. The various operator controls, including the steering assembly, may be further described in International Patent Application No. PCT / US13 / 64516, filed October 11, 2013 (File No. PLR-1525448.04P-WO), the description of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Referring again to Figure 1, Vehicle 2 includes a front suspension assembly (not shown) and a rear suspension assembly (not shown), both supported by the lower frame assembly 12. The front suspension assembly and the rear suspension assembly include shock absorbers. Additional details of the rear suspension assembly and the front suspension assembly are described in U.S. Patent No. 9,566,858, published February 14, 2017 (File No. PLR-1526601.01P) and in U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 226,797, filed December 20, 2018 (File No. PLR-15-28340.05P-US), descriptions of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Referring again to Figure 1, Vehicle 2 further includes a powertrain assembly (not shown) supported by the lower frame assembly 12. This assembly includes at least one main motor, illustratively a combustion engine (not shown), a gear train that can be configured as, or include, an automatic transmission with manual mode (not shown), and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) (not shown). The powertrain assembly may also include final drive elements or differentials, for example, a front drive element and / or a rear drive element. It is evident that Vehicle 2 can have any powertrain configuration, such as an internal combustion engine, a hybrid powertrain, or an electric powertrain.Also, although a CVT is mentioned as an option for the powertrain assembly, any transmission or gearbox can be used, such as an automatic transmission with manual mode. t? t in Ln / zznz / E / YiAi The combustion engine 36 may be located behind the operator area 22. Although the main engine is described as a combustion engine, the main engine may be any type of device configured to provide power to the vehicle 2, such as an electric motor, a combustion engine using fuels, a hybrid combustion engine, a generator, etc. The combustion engine may be of any size and include any number of cylinders, for example, one cylinder, two cylinders, three cylinders, four cylinders, six cylinders, or eight cylinders. Referring again to Figure 1, the operator area 22 includes the plurality of seats, illustratively, the front seats 40 for the operator and one or more passengers, and the rear seats 46 for one or more passengers. In some embodiments, the operator area 22 is open to the exterior and not fully enclosed, while in other embodiments, the operator area 22 may be at least partially enclosed by a roof, doors, windshields, and / or other components. The upper frame assembly 14 may generally be positioned around the operator area 22, such that the front seats 40 and the rear seats 46 are at least partially surrounded by the upper frame assembly 14.More specifically, and as described above, the front pair 19 of longitudinally extending frame elements 14c may surround, at least partially, the front seats 40, and the rear pair 17 of longitudinally extending frame elements 14c may surround, at least partially, the rear seats 46. The upper frame assembly 14 may be configured so that it does not obstruct the field of vision of one or more passengers in the front seats 40 or the rear seats 46. In various embodiments, the front seats 40 may include at least one front seat 40. In various embodiments, the front seats 40 may include two front seats 40, for example, a first front seat 40a and a second front seat 40b. The rear seats 46 may include at least one rear seat 46.In various embodiments, the rear seats 46 may include at least two rear seats 46, for example, a first rear seat 46a and a second rear seat 46b. Each of the front seats 40 comprises a seat base 42 and a seat back 44, and each of the rear seats 46 comprises a seat base 48 and a seat back 50. The front and rear seats 40, 46 may be configured as independent bucket seats or as bench seats. The rear seats 46 may be positioned lower or higher, such that each seat base 48 and seat back 50 may be in the lowered or raised position, as described later herein. In various embodiments, the vehicle 2 may comprise only a single rear seat 46 or may comprise multiple rear seat assemblies, such that two or more rear seats are used.For example, vehicle 2 may comprise two rows of rear seats 46 to accommodate at least four rear seats. For the purposes of this description, the rear seats 46 will be described as comprising two rear seats, although any variations such as those described above may be used with reference to this description. As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the vehicle 2 comprises a frame assembly 60, also referred to herein as frame elements, supporting at least one of the rear seats 46. The frame elements 60 may include frame elements extending vertically 60a to each side of the seat backrest 50 and frame elements extending laterally 60b across the rear portions of the seat backrest 50. The frame elements 60 may also extend to support at least a portion of the seat base 48 and / or may include additional frame elements 60 to support the seat base 48. Although illustrated in the lowered position, the rear seats 46 may be located in a raised position, as will be described later with reference to Figure 3.In these configurations, the first and second rear seats 46a, 46b and the frame elements 60 are coupled so that the rear seats 46 and the frame elements 60 move together and form a modular assembly. The frame elements 60 of the rear seats 46 are configured to provide a structure for the rear seats 46 when they are in the lowered position, and to provide additional upper support when they are in the raised position. The frame elements 60 are configured for a pivoting, though fixed or permanent, coupling with the upper frame assembly 14. For example, vehicle 2 includes at least two connectors 58 and at least two linear force elements, such as damping elements 59, which couple the vertically extending frame elements 60a to the upper frame assembly 14, specifically the vertically extending frame elements 14a of the upper frame assembly 14, and are secured to the rear seats 46 in the lowered and raised positions. In various embodiments, vehicle 2 comprises three or more connectors 58 and / or three or more damping elements 59.The connectors 58 can be coupled to the frame elements 60 by means of fastening elements, such as joints or pins, to allow a pivoting or articulated coupling of the frame elements 60 with the upper frame assembly 14. That is, the rear seats 46 can pivot from the lowered position (Figures 1 and 2) to the raised position (Figure 3) while remaining coupled to the upper frame assembly 14 by means of connectors 58. Similar to the connectors 58, the damping elements 59 remain attached to the frame elements 60 and the upper frame assembly 14 because the damping elements 59 can be extended or retracted during the transition from a lowered to a raised position, while remaining fixed to the frame elements 60 and the upper frame assembly 14. The damping elements 59 extend from several of the vertically extending frame elements 14a of the upper frame assembly 14 to a portion of the frame elements 60 and can be used to push the rear seats 46 away from the vertically extending elements 14a, from which the damping elements 59 extend.Thus, when the rear seats 46 are manually moved from the raised position to the lowered position, the damping elements 59 can absorb the force of the rear seats 46 transitioning downwards and protect the frame elements 60 and the upper frame assembly at Ln / zznz / E / YiAi from collisions, as will be described later with reference to Figures 6-8. It can be seen that the damping elements 59 can be configured as any linear force element, such as shock absorbers or tie rods. Vehicle 2 further comprises a coupler 52 that defines at least a first coupling element located on one of the frame elements extending laterally 14b to a vertical height greater than the vertical height of the front seats 40. The coupler 52 is a receiving part for a seat belt assembly, illustratively a female connector of a seat belt assembly, configured to be reversibly engaged with a hook 53 (Figure 12) of a seat belt assembly. The hook 53 may be a second coupling element that is attached to the rear seats 46. For example, the hook 53 is, illustratively, a male connector of the seat belt assembly. The hook 53 is coupled to the frame elements 60 of the rear seats 46 by means of various conventional coupling means such as, but not limited to, adhesives and fasteners. In various embodiments, the coupler 52 comprises a belt portion that can be extended with the coupler 52 outwards relative to the laterally extending frame elements 14b, when manually operated by the operator and / or passengers to facilitate adjustment with the coupling 53. When the operator and / or passengers uncouple the coupler 52 and the coupling 53, the belt portion can be retracted into the coupler 52 to reduce the space occupied by the coupler 52 and the belt portion. In various embodiments, the belt portion can be coupled with the hook 53 to facilitate the outward extension of the hook 53 relative to the rear seats 46 to be fitted with the coupler 52. In these embodiments, when uncoupled, the belt portion can be retracted into the hook 53. In some cases, each of both the coupler 52 and the hook 53 comprises a belt portion.The belt portion can be a seat belt assembly belt, a strap, a webbing strap, or any other suitable extension mechanism. Vehicle 2 further comprises at least one fastening assembly 54 located on at least one frame element extending vertically 14a from the upper frame assembly 14. In other words, the fastening assembly(es) 54 are longitudinally behind the front seats 40 and laterally outward from the rear seats 46. That is, the fastening assembly(es) 54 may not be visible to any of the rear seat 46 occupants. In the illustrative version Ln / zznz / E / YiAi of Figures 1 and 2, Vehicle 2 comprises two fastening assemblies 54.For illustrative purposes, the fastening assemblies 54 comprise first coupling elements, for example, female connectors of a seat belt assembly, configured to be detachably coupled with second coupling elements, for example, a plurality of connectors 55 on the frame elements 60 of the rear seats 46. The connectors 55, for example, the male connectors of a seat belt assembly, are coupled to the frame elements 60 of the rear seats 46 and may be coupled to the frame elements 60 by means of conventional coupling elements, such as, but not limited to, adhesives and fasteners. Similar to the coupler 52 and the coupling 53, in various embodiments, the fastening assemblies 54 comprise one or more belt sections that can be extended outward with the fastening assemblies 54 relative to the vertically extending frame elements 14a, to facilitate adjustment between the fastening assemblies 54 and the connectors 55. When uncoupled by the operator and / or passengers, the belt sections can be retracted into the fastening assemblies 54 to reduce the space occupied by the fastening assemblies 54. In various embodiments, the belt sections are coupled with the connectors 55, and the connectors 55 can be extended outward relative to the rear seats 46 when actuated by the operator and / or passengers. In these embodiments, when uncoupled, the belt section(s) can be retracted into the connectors 55. In the illustrative configurations of Figures 1 and 2, the rear seats 46 are shown in the lowered position and secured by two fastening assemblies 54, while the coupler 52 is uncoupled from the rear seats 46. In other words, the connectors 55 are secured to the fastening assemblies 54 by manual insertion of the connectors 55 into the fastening assemblies 54 by the operator and / or passengers after the rear seats 46 have been lowered. This defines a first coupling position, where the coupling of the frame elements 60 to the upper frame assembly 14 occurs longitudinally behind the front seats 40. The coupler 52 is uncoupled by manually releasing the coupler 52 and the latch 53 (Figure 12) attached to the rear seats 46.Specifically, the coupler 52 may include a button, the actuation of which releases the coupler 52, although other release mechanisms may be incorporated. While in the illustrative embodiments of Figures 1 and 2, the coupler 52 and the fastening assemblies 54 are generally depicted as seat belt fastening assemblies between the rear seats 46 and the upper frame assembly 14, other embodiments of the coupler 52 and fastening assemblies 54 may be used. For example, the coupler 52 and / or the fastening assembly 54 may be configured as knots, buckles, hooks, or any other suitable coupling or fastening mechanism.Although an illustrative coupler 52 and fastening assemblies 54 are shown as manual coupling assemblies of the seat belt type, it can be seen that any other type of coupling assembly can be used, whether manual, magnetic, hydraulic, electronic or otherwise. In some configurations, each of the mounting assemblies 54 may include a speed sensor, so that when the mounting assemblies 54 are fitted with the rear seats 46, indicating that the rear seats 46 are in the lowered position, a speed limit can be implemented for vehicle 2. In these configurations, vehicle 2 cannot travel at a speed higher than a predetermined speed limit, depending on whether or not the seat belt sensor is activated. For example, vehicle 2 can be configured so that when the speed sensors are activated by adjusting the mounting assemblies 54, vehicle 2 cannot travel at a speed higher than between 30 and 50 miles per hour. In some configurations, the speed limit value may be 40 miles per hour.This allows for greater safety based on whether passengers are present in the rear seats 46 of vehicle 2 and are using the restraint assemblies 54. As illustrated in at least Figures 1 and 2, the vehicle 2 further comprises a cargo assembly 70 located behind the rear seats 46 and over at least a portion of the rear floor contact elements 6. The cargo assembly 70 can be configured to support tools, accessories, or products intended to be transported by the vehicle 2. In the illustrative embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, the cargo assembly 70 is in a first neutral position, such that the cargo assembly 70 is relatively flat or horizontal and extends along the longitudinal geometric axis L (Figure 1). However, the cargo assembly 70 can pivot to a second inclined position, such that at least a portion of the cargo assembly 70 (e.g., the base or floor) forms an angle with respect to the longitudinal geometric axis L.In various configurations, it may be convenient for the operator to empty various contents of the load assembly 70 by moving the load assembly 70 to the tilted position, which can be easily actuated by pivoting the rear seats 46 to the raised position, as will be described later with reference to Figure 3. As will be seen herein, the rear seats 46 are located within a portion of the load assembly 70 when in the lowered position and therefore pivot or rotate to the raised position when it is desired to tilt the load assembly 70 and / or use the maximum longitudinal extension of the load assembly 70. Figure 3 is a rear perspective view of vehicle 2 comprising the rear seats 46 in the raised position. In this configuration, the frame elements 60 have been decoupled from the fastening assemblies 54, lifted vertically upwards, and secured to the longitudinally extending elements 14a by means of the coupler 52. In this way, the coupler 52 retains the seats 46 in the raised position. This coupling of the coupler 52 and the frame elements 60 defines a second coupling position separate from the first coupling position, where the frame elements 60 are coupled to the upper frame assembly 14 at a vertical height greater than the vertical height of the front seats 40.The rear seats 46 are positioned at a first vertical height that is greater than the vertical height of the front seats 40 and other components within the operator area 22, and at least a portion of the rear seats 46 is longitudinally aligned with at least a portion of the upper frame assembly 14 when in the raised position. Additionally, while the rear seats 46 are in the raised position, the frame elements 60 are positioned at a first vertical height that is greater than the vertical height of the front seats 40. Furthermore, the damping elements 59 and the coupler 52 are used to support the rear seats 46 in the raised position. For example, as described above, the coupler 52 is capable of being adjusted with the engagement point 53 (Figure 12) of the rear seats 46.That is, the operator can raise the rear seats 46 to the raised position and manually adjust the coupler 52 and the hitch 53 by inserting the hitch 53 into the coupler 52. Since the coupler 52 is secured to at least one of the laterally extending frame elements 14b of the upper frame assembly 14, adjusting the coupler 52 secures the rear seats 46 in the raised position and thus secures the rear seats 46 to at least one of the laterally extending frame elements 14b. Additionally, damping elements 59 extend from the vertically extending frame elements 14a of the upper frame assembly 14 and push the rear seats 46 away from the vertically extending elements 14a, from which the damping elements 59 extend b in Ln / zznz / E / YiAi.As illustrated in the raised position, the damping elements 59 extend to maintain the connection to the rear seats 46 and support the rear seats 46 while attached to at least one laterally extending frame element 14b. In the raised position, the frame elements 60, specifically the longitudinally extending frame elements 60b, in combination with the seat backs 50 of the rear seats 46, define an additional upper structure or framework above the load assembly 70. As illustrated in Figure 3, the load assembly 70 includes a floor or base 72, a plurality of side panels 74 extending vertically upward from the base 72, a movable front panel 76 extending vertically upward from the base 72, and a rear panel 78 extending vertically upward from the base 72. In one embodiment, the rear panel 78 may define a movable tailgate. The movable front panel 76 is located at the forward end of the load assembly 70, relative to the rear panel 78, and a longitudinal extension between panels 76 and 78 defines the longitudinal extension of the load assembly 70. In this embodiment, the side panels 74 comprise a first side panel 74a opposite a second side panel 74b, both extending approximately parallel to the longitudinal geometric axis L and approximately perpendicular to panels 76 and 78.The rear panel 78 is located at the rearmost end of the load assembly 70, which extends upward from the base 72 and between the first and second side panels 74a, 74b. In various embodiments, as described later herein, the movable front panel 76 may be located at a variable position within the load assembly 70, such that it may not be located at the forwardmost end of the load assembly 70 relative to the rear panel 78. For example, the movable front panel 76 may be located within a central portion of the load assembly 70, such that a portion of the base 72 and the side panels 74 define the forwardmost portion of the load assembly 70. While the rear seats 46 are in the raised position shown in Figure 3, a forward extension of the load assembly 70 is positioned vertically below the rear seats 46, whether the rear seats 46 are in the lowered or raised position. For example, in some embodiments, the rear seats 46 are positioned over the forward half (as defined in the longitudinal direction) of the base 72 in both the raised and lowered positions of the rear seats 46. In the configuration shown in Figure 3, it is also evident that the cargo assembly 70 is in an inclined position. Since the rear seats 46 have been rotated to the raised position and at least a portion of the rear seats 46 is longitudinally aligned with the upper frame assembly 14, the cargo assembly 70 can be tilted to facilitate emptying. Tilting the cargo assembly 70 can also be beneficial for accessing vehicle components 2, such as the engine or other powertrain components. The upper frame assembly 14 and the rear seats 46 are configured so as not to interfere with the cargo assembly 70 when it is tilted.As illustrated, in the inclined position, a front end of the load assembly 70 is raised upwards while the rear end of the load assembly 70 may be lowered downwards, so that the load assembly 70 forms an angle with respect to the longitudinal geometric axis L. Specifically, a longitudinal geometric axis Y of the base 72 of the load assembly 70 forms an angle with respect to the longitudinal geometric axis L of vehicle 2 of magnitude Θ. In various embodiments, the angle Θ between the longitudinal geometric axis Y and the longitudinal geometric axis X is between 0 degrees and 90 degrees. In preferred embodiments, the angle Θ is approximately 45 degrees. Figure 4 is a left side view of vehicle 2 with the rear seats 46 in the lowered position. t? t in Ln / zznz / E / YiAi As shown, the rear seats 46 are positioned directly over at least a portion of the rear floor contact elements 6. In the lowered position, the rear seats 46 are positioned at a second vertical height that is lower than the first vertical height of the rear seats 46. Additionally, the frame elements 60 are positioned at a second vertical height that is lower than the first vertical height of the frame elements 60. An operator is positioned in a first front seat 40a, and a passenger may be positioned in a first rear seat 46a. A first eye line or line of sight A defines the operator's line of sight. A second eye line or line of sight B defines the line of sight of at least one passenger in the rear seats 46, illustratively the first front seat 46a. The first eye line A is positioned vertically below the second eye line B.This is because the seat base 48 of each of the first and second rear seats 46a, 46b is positioned vertically above each seat base 42 of the first and second front seats 40a, 40b. In other words, the seat base 48 of the seats 46 is at a greater vertical height relative to the floor surface than the vertical height of the seat base 42 of the front seats 40, thus defining a seating configuration that allows rear passengers to generally see higher than those in the front seats 40. By positioning the rear seats 46 vertically higher than the front seats 40, the field of vision of the rear passengers 46 can be increased, so that even when at least the operator is in the first front seat 40a, the field of vision of the rear passengers is not impaired.The upper frame assembly 14 is configured such that each of the front seats 40 and rear seats 46 comprises a vertical distance between the front seats 40 and the various frame elements of the upper frame assembly 14. For example, although the rear seats 46 are positioned vertically higher than the front seats 40, the vertical distance between the seat bases 42 and the upper frame assembly 14 (e.g., the longitudinally extending frame elements 14c) and the vertical distance between the seat bases 48 and the upper frame assembly 14 (e.g., the longitudinally extending frame elements 14c) are approximately equal. The upper frame assembly 14 may comprise variable profiles and configurations to accommodate this arrangement. Figure 5 illustrates a top view of vehicle 2 with the operator in the first front seat 40a, a passenger in the second front seat 40b, a passenger in the first rear seat 46a, and a passenger in the second rear seat 46b. Similar to what is shown in Figure 4, the first eye line A of each of the first front seat 40a and the second front seat 40b is illustrated. The first eye lines A are generally parallel to each other and are separated laterally by a distance that corresponds to the separation between the first and second front seats 40a, 40b (e.g., a lateral separation approximately equal to the lateral distance between the lateral midpoints of each of the front seats 40). Additionally, the second eye line B of the first rear seat 46a is illustrated extending in front of the passenger in the first rear seat 46a.The second eye line B also extends from the passenger in the second rear seat 46b, so that each of the second eye lines B extends parallel to each other and is separated laterally by a distance corresponding to a separation between the first and second rear seats 46a, 46b (e.g., a lateral separation approximately equal to the lateral distance between the lateral midpoints of each of the rear seats 46). In addition to the second eye line B being positioned at a greater vertical height than the first eye line A for a larger field of vision from the rear seats 46, as illustrated in Figure 4, Figure 5 illustrates the lateral separation between the first eye lines A and the second eye lines B.In these configurations, each of the second eye lines B is positioned laterally closer to the longitudinal geometric axis L of vehicle 2 than the first eye lines A, such that the first eye lines A are laterally outward with respect to the second eye lines B. This staggered positioning is due to the rear seats 46 being positioned closer to the longitudinal axis L of vehicle 2 compared to the position of the front seats 40. In these configurations, the laterally and vertically staggered positioning of the rear seats 46 and the front seats 40 can enhance the comfort and experience of passengers in the rear seats 46 by increasing their field of vision. Additionally, the previously described position of the rear seats 46 relative to the front seats 40, illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, allows for a wheelbase extension 90 to be consistent whether the rear seats 46 are in the lowered or unlowered position. Since the rear seats 46 are located within a portion of the cargo assembly 70, vehicle 2 accommodates rear passengers in the rear seats 46 when the rear seats are in the lowered position, thereby reducing the cargo area / volume of the cargo assembly 70. Conversely, when the rear seats 46 are in the raised position, the cargo area / volume of the cargo assembly 70 can be maximized.In this way, and because the rear seats 46 are raised and lowered within the existing cargo area, the wheelbase extension 90 does not change to accommodate rear passengers. Instead, rear passengers can be accommodated simply by decreasing the available cargo area / volume to make room for the rear seats 46. This may be preferred to allow vehicle 2 to be more compact, as well as to reduce the alterations to vehicle 2 that would be necessary to incorporate the rear seats 46. The transition from the raised to the lowered position of the rear seats 46 will be illustrated later with reference to Figures 6-8. Figure 6 illustrates a left side view of vehicle 2 with several body panels of the vehicle body 20 omitted, and the rear seats 46 in their raised position, where they are not currently required to support rear passengers. The omission of these body panels allows the load assembly 70 and deflection elements 66 to be illustrated in hidden lines. As previously described in Ln / zznz / E / YiAi with reference to Figure 3, the coupler 52 and damping elements 59 assist in supporting the rear seats 46 while they are in the raised position. The rear seats 46, and therefore the frame elements 60, are longitudinally aligned, at least partially, with the upper frame assembly 14.As mentioned earlier with regard to Figure 4, the upper frame assembly 14 is configured to maintain the vertical distance between the seat bases 42 and the seat bases 48 of the front seats 40 and rear seats 46, respectively, with the longitudinally extending frame elements 14c, when the rear seats 46 are in the lowered position. Similarly, when they are in the raised position, as illustrated in Figure 6, the vertical distance between the seat bases 42 and the longitudinally extending frame elements 14c remains consistent with the vertical distance between the seat bases 42 and the upper frame assembly 14 when they are in the lowered position. In this way, the space available above the passenger(s) in the front seats 46 can be consistent whether the rear seats 46 are in the raised or lowered position. As mentioned previously, because the rear seats 46 are in the raised position, the cargo area, or the space available for loading within the cargo assembly 70, can be optimized. For example, in Figure 6, the cargo volume or area of ​​the cargo assembly 70 is maximized because the cargo assembly 70 is in the neutral position and the movable panel 76 is positioned at the forwardmost part of the base 72 of the cargo assembly 70, since the rear seats 46 are not in the lowered position. This reduces the available seating area within the cargo assembly 70 to accommodate the rear seats 46.That is, with the movable panel 76 positioned at the front of the base 72, the load assembly 70 has a first base length 94 that extends across the base 72 of the load assembly 70, between the movable panel 76 and the rear panel 78, thereby defining the maximum load area of ​​the load assembly 70. The first base length 94 extends from the frontmost to the rearmost part of the base 72. As will be described later with reference to Figures 7-8, the first base length 94 is greater than a second base length of the load assembly 70 that is defined when the rear seats 46 are in the lowered position. For example, Figure 7 illustrates vehicle 2 with various body panels omitted and the rear seats 46 in a transitional position, where the rear seats 46 are partially lowered, so that the seat backs 50 are lowered but the seat bases or lower portions 48 are not fully lowered. As illustrated in Figure 7, the fastening assemblies 54 are adjusted to secure the frame elements 60 of the rear seats 46 to the vertically extending elements 14a of the upper frame assembly 14. The rear seats 46 can pivot from the raised to the lowered position after the coupler 52 is released or uncoupled. Similarly, the damping elements 59 secure the upper frame assembly 14 and the frame elements 60 of the rear seats 46 and are configured to compress or extend depending on the location of the rear seats 46.For illustrative purposes, as shown in Figure 6, the damping elements 59 are compressed. The damping elements 59 further assist in absorbing the impact of the rear seats 46 as they are released and lowered, which can reduce wear and / or damage to the frame elements 60 and the upper frame assembly 14. As illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, when the rear seats 46 are to be in the lowered position, the movable panel 76 must be moved from the forward end of the base 72 to accommodate the rear seats 46. That is, the movable panel 76 can be removed from its location on the base 72 and moved rearward to a position near a longitudinal center of the base 72, so that the position of the movable panel 76 at Ln / zznz / E / YiAi is relatively rearward with respect to its position in Figure 6. In these configurations, when the rear seats 46 are lowered to the transition position, the frame elements 60 and the seat back 50 of the rear seats 46 extend downward into the cargo assembly 70 and are located in front of the movable panel 76.This reduces the available storage space, or cargo area, of the cargo assembly 70, defined by the longitudinal distance between the movable panel 76 and the rear panel 78, as it increases the available seating area within the cargo assembly 70 to accommodate the rear seats 46. Therefore, the rear seats 46 can be accommodated within the cargo assembly 70 while also retaining some storage platform for supporting and transporting tools, accessories, and other desired cargo. In these configurations, the second base length 96 defines the available cargo length of the cargo assembly 70, and as illustrated, the second base length 96 is shorter than the first base length 94 shown in Figure 6. As mentioned previously, the seat bases 48 have not been lowered in this transition process and require additional manual operation to lower them. i? / en Ln / zznz / E / YiAi Figure 8 illustrates vehicle 2 with several body panels of the vehicle body 20 omitted to illustrate the position of the rear seats 46 in the lowered position. In this configuration, the seat bases 48 of the rear seats 46 have transitioned from generally extending vertically and upwards in the transition position to generally extending longitudinally and parallel to the base 72 of the load assembly 70 in the lowered position. The rear seats 46 are secured to the upper frame assembly 14 by means of the fastening assemblies 54, as similarly illustrated in the transition position in Figure 7. In the lowered position, the seat bases 48 of the rear seats 46 are positioned directly over a portion of the base 72 of the load assembly 70.In one embodiment, the seat bases 48 are positioned directly over approximately the front longitudinal half of the base 72. The movable panel 76 is positioned behind the seat backs 50 of the rear seats 46, so that the cargo assembly 70 still retains some available storage space extending between the movable panel 76 and the rear panel 78, as defined by the second base length 96. The rear seats 46 further comprise a plurality of passenger grab handles 62, as further shown in Figure 12. The position of each grab handle adjacent to the seat bases 48, rather than in front of the rear seats 46 or on a rear surface of the front seats 40, may leave the space in front of the passengers available for increased legroom or armroom and / or for storing or supporting accessories or cargo within the cargo assembly 70. In various embodiments, the grab handles 62 may be positioned on either side of the first and second rear seats 46a, 46b (Figure 5). Additionally, the grab handles 62 are integrated with the frame elements 60 of the rear seats 46, so that each grab handle 62 is adjacent to the seat bases 50 of the rear seats 46 in both the raised and lowered positions.Vehicle 2 further comprises deflection elements 66 located adjacent to the rear seats 46. These can be configured to protect at least the rear passengers from mud or debris entering the rear seats 46 and to provide additional protection to the rear passengers on each side of vehicle 2. Further illustrated in Figures 6-8, vehicle 2 further comprises rear footrests 49 for the rear seats 46. The rear footrests 49 can be extended forward from various vertically extending frame elements 14a, for example, a central vertical straight element 15 of the upper frame assembly 14, and can be extended, at least partially, under the seats 40 to provide more space for the rear passengers to place their feet while in the rear seats 46.The rear footrests 49 can also provide available storage space for various cargo items and / or accessories. For example, when the rear seats 46 are not in use, the front passenger(s) can use the rear footrests 49 to store bags, tools, coolers, and / or various other cargo items. In some embodiments, the rear footrests 49 extend laterally across the width of the lower frame assembly 12 of the vehicle 2 to a vertical height equal to, or less than, the vertical height of the seat bases 42 of the front seats 40. The rear footrests 49 can have a generally flat and / or level surface configuration to accommodate cargo storage and increase the ease with which rear passengers can enter or exit the vehicle 2, as will be described later with reference to Figure 9.In other configurations, the rear footrests 49 can have an inclined, curved, or any other suitable configuration. Figure 9 illustrates vehicle 2 with at least one of the front seats 40 in a tilted position, such that at least one of the first front seat 40a and second front seat 40b is tilted forward. This allows for the creation of an entrance to the rear seats 46 at Ln / zznz / E / YiAi for easy access by passengers. This entrance provides a method for both entering and exiting the rear seats 46. In some embodiments, the rear footrests 49 are located within the entrance, allowing rear passengers to stand and lean on the rear footrests 49 while entering or exiting the rear seats 46. As mentioned previously, the generally flat and level surface of the rear footrests 49 can increase the ease with which passengers can access the rear seats 46 and / or the cargo assembly 70.In these configurations, the vehicle 2 may consist solely of front doors, omitting the use of rear doors as a result of using the entrance to access the rear seats 46 from the rear doors. The tilting of the front seats 40 is actuated by means of belts 79 located on the rear side of the front seats 40. The position of the belts 79 on the rear surface of the front seats 40 allows easy access for passengers while seated in the rear seats 46, as well as for the operator or passengers from outside the vehicle 2. The belts 79 are adjusted and engaged by one or more hooks 81 that are secured to each seat base 42 of the front seats 40.In this way, the belts 79 can be actuated and lifted upwards to disengage the connection with the latch(s) 82, allowing the front seats 40 to tilt forward. In various embodiments, at least one linear force element, illustratively the damping element 59, is positioned between the seat base 42 and a frame element of the lower frame assembly 12, so that when the front seats 40 tilt forward, the damping element(s) 59 extend and hold the front seats 40 forward. Although illustrated as seat belts, the belts 79 can be selected from various products, materials, or configurations that allow for easy operation of at least one of the first and second front seats 40a, 40b.The entrance created for passenger access to the rear seats 46 can eliminate the need for rear doors, thus maintaining a compact overall vehicle size 2 when the rear seats 46 are in use, and also reducing the accumulation of mud and / or debris on the rear seats 46, among other advantages. Additional details of the seat belts 79 or other similar actuating mechanisms, configured to allow the front seats 40 to tilt or pivot forward, as shown in Figure 9, are described in U.S. Patent No. 8,905,435, published December 9, 2014 (File No. PLR-02-1993.02P), which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. Figure 10 illustrates a left front perspective view of the load assembly 70. As illustrated, the load assembly 70 comprises the base 72, the plurality of side panels 74, the rear panel 78, and the movable panel 76, with the deflection elements 66 extending upwards from the side panels 74 of the load assembly 70. In various embodiments, the deflection elements 66 can be mounted on the upper frame assembly 14, for example, the vertically extending frame elements 14a, the laterally extending frame elements 14b, and / or the longitudinally extending frame elements 14c. As illustrated in Figure 10, the movable panel 76 is located at the forwardmost portion of the load assembly 70, such that the load assembly 70 has a first base length 94, as described with reference to Figure 6.The movable panel 76 comprises a plurality of openings 77 that allow the operator or passenger(s) to raise and reposition the movable panel 76. Figure 10 also illustrates, in hidden lines, the rearward position of the movable panel 76, shown in Figure 8, when the rear seats 46 are in the lowered position. As described above, if the movable panel 76 is in this configuration, the load assembly 70 has an available storage space, or load area, defined by the second base length 96 (Figure 9), which is shorter than the first base length 94 (Figure 6). The load assembly 70 further comprises the base 72, which has a longitudinal geometric axis Y that can transition from the neutral position to the inclined position, as described above with reference to Figures 1-3. Figure 11 illustrates an exploded view of the loading assembly 70. The first and second side panels 74a, 74b are positioned opposite each other and each is connected to the base 72. In various embodiments, the side panels 74a, 74b and the base 72 are integrally formed, while the movable panel 76 and the rear panel 78 are attached to the base 72 and are removable, as described later herein. The loading assembly 70 may include a guard 80 adjacent to a first slot 82, each extending along at least a portion of each of the first and second side walls 74a, 74b and along the base 72 at the forward end of the base 72. The loading assembly 70 further includes a second slot 84 extending upward along the first and second side walls 74a, 74b.The guard 80 is configured to prevent any liquids, materials, or products within the load assembly b in Ln / zznz / E / YiAi from escaping from the load assembly 70. The first slot 82 is configured to receive the movable panel 76 when the seats 46 are in the raised position, for example, as illustrated in Figure 8. The second slot 84 is configured to receive the movable panel 76 when the seats 46 are in the lowered position, for example, as illustrated in Figure 6. In various embodiments, the rear panel 78 comprises a plurality of openings 86 configured to receive a plurality of pins 88 from the first and second side panels 74a, 74b. In these embodiments, the rear panel 78 is operatively coupled to the first and second side panels 74a, 74b, such that the rear panel 78 can pivot outwards and / or be removed. As described above with reference to Figure 3, the load assembly 70 can be positioned in the inclined position. Figure 12 is a perspective view of a portion of vehicle 2, specifically illustrating the rear seats 46, which include the frame elements 60 and are located within a portion of the cargo assembly 70. In the illustrative embodiment of Figure 12, the rear seats 46 are in the lowered position. The movable panel 76 is located behind the seat backs 50 of the rear seats 46, so that the available cargo area / volume of the cargo assembly 70 has a second base length 96. bt on Ln / zznz / E / YiAi Additionally, the deflection elements 66 are positioned extending upwards from the side panels 74 of the load assembly 70 and at least partially aligned laterally with the seat backrests 50 of the rear seats 46. Also, in the illustrative embodiment of Figure 12, the handles 62 are shown on each side of the first rear seat 46a and the second rear seat 46b. As illustrated, the plurality of handles 62 includes a first handle 62a located on a right side of the seat base 48 of the second rear seat 46b, a second handle 62b located on a left side of the seat base 48 of the second rear seat 46b, a third handle 62c on a right side of the first rear seat 46a, and a fourth handle 62d on a left side of the first rear seat 46a. In other forms, the plurality of handles 62 may include one, two, three, four or more lower handles with variable positions within the vehicle 2.Figures 13 and 14 illustrate a left-side view of a vehicle upper portion 2 with the rear seats 46 in a lowered and raised position, respectively. In the embodiment of Figure 13, the fastening assemblies 54 are secured to the upper frame assembly 14 and adjusted with the frame elements 60 of the rear seats 46. Figure 14 illustrates the rear seats 46 in the raised position, such that the fastening assemblies 54 are no longer adjusted to secure the frame elements 60 to the vertically extending frame elements 14a of the upper frame assembly 14. The coupler 52 is adjusted with the frame elements 60 of the rear seats 46 to maintain the rear seats in the raised position.Therefore, the frame elements 60 are positioned directly and vertically above the load assembly 70, so that in the raised position the frame elements 60 define an additional upper structure or framework above the load assembly 70, as described above with reference to Figure 3. The frame elements 60 in the raised position can additionally provide protection from mud or debris during vehicle use 2. Additionally, the damping elements 59 retain their fit with both frame elements extending vertically 14a from the upper frame assembly 14 and the frame elements 60 from the rear seats 46. The damping elements 59 are positioned relatively extended in this configuration compared to the configuration in Figure 13.Additional details relating to various components described herein may be described in U.S. application no. 63 / 168,525, filed March 31, 2021 (file no. PLR-06-28276.01P-US) and in U.S. patent no. i? / in Ln / zznz / E / YiAi 9,725,023, published on August 8, 2017 (file no. PLR-15-28340.PLR-06-26801-02P-US-E), whose descriptions are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. It can be seen that other configurations of the first and second positions of the rear seats 46 are possible. For example, the rear seats 46 can be moved to the folded position by pivoting the rear seats 46 forward and folding them directly behind the front seats 40. In another example, the rear seats 46 can be configured to pivot laterally, so that the rear seats 46 are positioned along one or more of the left and right sides of the vehicle 2. As described above, other configurations of the upper frame assembly 14 are possible to optimize the space available for passengers in vehicle 2 and / or the space available for carrying cargo within or on top of vehicle 2. For example, Figures 15-18 illustrate vehicle 2 with a modified or alternative upper frame assembly 14 compared to that shown in general in Figures 1-14. As illustrated, the upper frame assembly 14 includes a rear pair 17 of longitudinally extending frame members 14c, which extend to a vertical height H1 (relative to the ground surface) that is greater than the vertical height H2 (relative to the ground surface) of the front pair 19 of longitudinally extending frame members 14c.Additionally, each rear pair 17 of longitudinally extending frame elements 14c is coupled to the front pair 19 in a longitudinal position that is aligned with and / or in front of at least a portion of the front seats 40. In other words, the rear pair 17 of longitudinally extending frame elements 14c overlaps vertically, at least partially, the front pair 19 of longitudinally extending frame elements 14c over a longitudinal distance from pairs 17, 19 at a location longitudinally behind a coupling point between pairs 17, 19. In this way, the modified upper frame assembly 14, as shown in Figures 1518, is defined by a two-level configuration, where pair 17 is separated from pair 19 by a vertical distance di.That is, vehicle 2 can have increased headroom for at least rear passengers seated in rear seats 46 within operator area 22, while still being configured to allow rear seats 46 to be secured in the raised position. For example, Figures 15 and 17-18 illustrate the rear seats 46 arranged in the raised position (Yi? / in Ln / zznz / E / YiAi) secured to the upper frame assembly 14. The seat base 48 of the rear seats 46 can be positioned at a vertical height greater than the vertical height H2 of the front pair 19 of longitudinally extending frame elements 14c. This increases the area available for storing cargo within the cargo assembly 70 and allows the cargo assembly 70 to be placed in an inclined position. For example, Figure 18 illustrates the rear seats 46 held in the raised configuration while the cargo assembly 70 is tilted. Figure 16 also illustrates the rear seats 46 in the lowered position with at least one passenger seated in them. In these configurations, the two-level configuration of the upper assembly 14 can increase the headroom available to any passengers seated in the rear seats 46. However, as mentioned above, the two-level configuration of the upper assembly can also optimize the load-bearing capacity of the upper assembly 14, as will be described herein with reference to Figures 19-22. As illustrated in Figure 19, vehicle 2 can support a first accessory 100a, such as a light bar, which generally extends laterally between a portion of the front pair 19 of longitudinally extending frame elements 14c. Vehicle 2 can additionally support a second accessory 100b, such as a tent, simultaneously over the rear pair 17 of longitudinally extending frame elements 14c. As a result of the distance di, the second accessory 100b does not interact with or obstruct the first accessory 100a and can be positioned vertically above it. For example, Figure 20 illustrates vehicle 2 with a two-tier upper frame assembly 14 and a third accessory 100c, illustratively a kayak, which extends vertically over the light bar 100a and longitudinally in front of it.However, as an alternative or additionally, vehicle 2 can support various different accessories. For example, Figure 21 illustrates a fourth accessory, specifically a hunting platform, supported on the upper assembly 14. As illustrated, the upper frame assembly 14 can also support smaller cargo items, such as shotgun cases, along one side of the upper assembly 14. Referring to Figure 22, the upper frame assembly 14 can also support a fifth accessory, illustratively a winch. The winch can be used to assist, at least when loading a large load onto and / or unloading a large load from the cargo assembly 70. For example, the winch can be attached to or supported by a large load and used to lift the load onto or lower it from the cargo assembly 70. In this way, the winch can assist in loading or unloading a heavy load onto or from the cargo assembly 70. In these configurations, the rear seats 46 can be secured in the raised position to ensure that the cargo assembly 70 has sufficient space for lifting and / or lowering the load, especially if it contains a large load. Furthermore, various different configurations of the upper frame assembly 14 can be incorporated with the vehicle 2, as will be described later with reference to Figures 23-26. In these embodiments, the upper frame assembly 14 can include a front section 21 and a rear section 23. The front section 21 and the rear section 23 can be modular, so that one or both of the front and rear sections 21, 23 can be manufactured and mounted on the vehicle 2 independently. By way of illustration, the upper frame assembly 14 in Figure 23 can be designed to enclose the front seats 40 within the vehicle 2, since the front section 21 includes longitudinally extending frame elements 14c and vertically extending frame elements 14a to surround the operator area 22.The t? t in Ln / zznz / E / YiAi rear part 23 may include diagonally extending frame elements 14d, extending from the front pair 19 of longitudinally extending frame elements 14c to a rear pair 17 of longitudinally extending frame elements 14c. Figure 24 illustrates an additional embodiment of the upper frame assembly 14, which includes the front section 21 and the rear section 23, where the front section 21 and the rear section 23 can be configured to accommodate either front seats 40 or rear seats 46. As illustrated, the upper frame assembly 14 can have the two-level configuration of Figures 15-18. However, in some embodiments, the upper frame assembly 14 can define a single-level configuration, as illustrated, for example, in Figure 26, where the front and rear sections 21, 23 have the same vertical height relative to the floor surface. Furthermore, in some embodiments, only the front portion 21 of the upper frame assembly 14 is incorporated into vehicle 2. For example, Figure 25 illustrates a vehicle 2 with the front portion 21 of the upper frame assembly and no rear portion 23. In this way, the load assembly 70 is not surrounded by the upper frame assembly 14. The embodiments described above of the modular parts of the upper frame assembly 14 (Figures 23-26) can allow for various configurations of the upper frame assembly 14 to meet the different preferences of users and applications of vehicle 2. However, the configurations described above are intended only as examples, and various other configurations of the upper frame assembly 14 can also be incorporated. Although the present invention has been described as having an exemplary design, it may be further modified within the nature and scope of this description. Therefore, this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention that utilize its general principles. It is also intended to cover deviations from the present description that fall within the customary or known practice of the art to which this invention belongs. It is hereby stated that, as of this date, the best method known to the applicant for putting the aforementioned invention into practice is the one that is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims

1. A vehicle, characterized in that it comprises: a frame, a plurality of seats supported by the frame and comprising at least one front seat and at least one rear seat, the rear seat(s) comprising a seat back and a seat base, wherein the seat back and the seat base are movable between a lowered position and a raised position, wherein the raised position is defined by the seat back and the seat base of the rear seat(s) being situated at a first vertical height, and wherein the lowered position is defined by the seat base and the seat back of the rear seat(s) being situated longitudinally behind the front seat(s) at a second vertical height, the first vertical height being greater than the second vertical height.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the first vertical height is greater than a vertical height of the front seat(s).

3. The vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that, in the lowered position, the rear seat(s) are coupled to the frame by means of at least one fastening assembly, and the fastening assembly(es) include a first coupling element, coupled to the rear seat(s), and a second coupling element coupled to the frame, and the first and second coupling elements are coupled to each other, with the possibility of separating.

4. The vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that the fastening assembly(es) include a second fastening assembly comprising a first coupling element, coupled to the rear seats, and a second coupling element coupled to the frame, and the first and second coupling elements are coupled to each other, with the possibility of separation.

5. The vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that, in the raised position, the rear seat(s) are coupled to the frame via a coupler and the fixing assembly(es) are uncoupled.

6. The vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that the fastening assembly(es) include a second fastening assembly comprising a first coupling element, coupled to the rear seats, and a second coupling element coupled to the frame, and the first and second coupling element are coupled to each other, with the possibility of separation.

7. The vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that the coupler comprises a first coupling element coupled to the frame and a second coupling element coupled to the rear seats, and the first and second coupling elements are coupled to each other, with the possibility of separating.

8. The vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame elements support the rear seat(s) and are coupled to the seat base and the seat back of the rear seat(s).

9. The vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that, when the rear seat(s) are in the raised position, the frame elements supporting the rear seat are located at a first vertical height, and wherein, when the rear seat(s) are in the lowered position, the frame elements supporting the rear seat are located at a second vertical height, the first vertical height being greater than the second vertical height.

10. The vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that the first vertical height of the frame elements is greater than a vertical height of the front seat(s).

11. The vehicle according to claim 1, in Ln / zznz / E / YiAi characterized in that it further comprises a cargo assembly and when the rear seat(s) are in the lowered position, the seat base is located directly on a base of the cargo assembly and each seat back is located in front of a movable panel of the cargo assembly.

12. The vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises two rear seats and the frame elements support and extend laterally through the two rear seats.

13. A vehicle, characterized in that it comprises: a frame, a plurality of ground contact elements supporting the frame, a body assembly supported by the frame, a plurality of seats including at least one front seat and at least one rear seat, a frame assembly supporting at least the rear seat(s), the frame assembly being movable from a first position to a second position, wherein, in the first position, the frame assembly is situated at a vertical height greater than the vertical height of the front seat(s) and the frame assembly is coupled to the vehicle frame in a first coupling position, wherein, in the second position, the frame assembly is situated, at least partially,longitudinally behind the front seat(s) and the frame assembly is coupled to the frame in a second coupling position, the second coupling position being separate from the first coupling position.

14. The vehicle according to claim 13, characterized in that, in both the first and second positions, the rear seat(s) are attached to the vehicle frame by means of at least two damping elements.

15. The vehicle according to claim 13, characterized in that, in the first position, the frame assembly is reversibly coupled to the vehicle frame with a coupler located on a frame element extending laterally from the frame, the coupler being located at a vertical height greater than the vertical height of the front seat(s).

16. The vehicle according to claim 13, characterized in that, in the second position, the frame assembly is reversibly coupled to the vehicle frame with at least one fixing assembly located longitudinally behind at least a part of the front seat(s).

17. The vehicle according to claim 16, characterized in that the fastening assembly(es) comprise a first coupling element coupled to the frame assembly and a second coupling element coupled to the rear seat, the first and second coupling elements being coupled with the possibility of separation.

18. The vehicle according to claim 15, characterized in that the frame assembly is coupled to the vehicle frame by means of a seat belt fixing assembly.

19. A vehicle, characterized in that it comprises: a frame supporting an operator area having a plurality of seats including at least one rear seat and at least one front seat, the rear seat(s) being movable from a raised position to a lowered position; a plurality of ground contact elements supporting the frame; a body assembly comprising a plurality of body panels supporting the frame; a load assembly supported by the frame and comprising at least two upwardly extending side panels, a base, and a movable panel extending upward from the base, wherein the movable panel is movable from a first position to a second position, such that when in a first position, it increases a longitudinal extension i? / in Ln / zznz / E / YiAi of the load assembly, and when in the second position,The longitudinal extension of the load assembly decreases relative to the first position, and where, when the rear seat is in the raised position, the movable panel is in the first or second position, and when the rear seat is in the lowered position, the movable panel is in the second position.

20. The vehicle according to claim 15, characterized in that, in the first position, a rear seating area decreases, and wherein, in the second position, the rear seating area increases.

21. The vehicle according to claim 19, characterized in that, when in the lowered position, the rear seat or seats are longitudinally behind the front seat or seats, and wherein, when in the raised position, the rear seat or seats are situated at a greater vertical height than the vertical height of the front seat or seats.

22. The vehicle according to claim 19, characterized in that, when the rear seat(s) are in the lowered position and the movable panel is in the first position, the seat base of the rear seat(s) is located directly on the base of the cargo assembly.

23. The vehicle according to claim 19, characterized in that the base of the cargo assembly comprises a leak guard located in front of the movable panel, configured to prevent the contents of the cargo assembly from escaping from the cargo assembly.

24. The vehicle according to claim 19, 5 characterized in that, when the rear seat or seats are in the raised position, the load assembly can be in a neutral position defined as extending along a longitudinal geometric axis of the vehicle or in an inclined position defined as extending along a geometric axis that forms an angle with respect to the longitudinal geometric axis of the vehicle.

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