# US 2019/0168658 A1 · Utility vehicle

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2019/0168658 A1
- Document ID: US20190168658A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/831,889
- Filed: 2017-12-05
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2017-12-05
- Assignees: Kubota Corporation
- Applicants: Kubota Corporation
- Inventors: Scott Keziah; Aubrey Jarvis; David Spitz
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190168658A1

## CPC

- B60N 2/36: into a loading platform {(B60N2/065 takes precedence)}
- B60N 2/206: {to a position in which it can be used as a support for objects, e.g. as a tray}
- B60N 2/3031: {in a longitudinal-vertical plane}
- B60P 3/423: {from transport of persons to transport of goods}
- B62D 33/03: by swinging down {(B62D33/0273 takes precedence)}
- B62D 47/003: {convertible in order to modify the number of seats (foldable compact cars B62D31/006; convertible from one use to a different one B60P3/42)}
- B60N 2002/363: {characterised by provisions for enhancing the cargo floor surface, e.g. elements closing gaps or enlarging the back-rest surface}
- B62D 33/02: Platforms; Open load compartments {(flat wagons including posts or standards B61D3/08)}
- B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60P: VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS (vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances A61G3/00)
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)

## Abstract

A utility vehicle includes a cargo box and a seat device located on the front side of the cargo box. The seat device includes a seat bottom and a seat back that includes a first lateral swinging shaft that extends in a lateral direction, a seat back frame that swings about the first lateral swinging shaft between an upright position and a horizontal position at which the seat back frame overlaps with the seat bottom, and a seat back main body that is attached to the seat back frame. The seat back frame in the horizontal position defines an expansion floor by which the floor of the cargo box is expanded in a forward direction. The seat back main body swings to a hanging orientation with respect to the seat back frame in the horizontal position and is located in front of the seat bottom.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A utility vehicle including a convertible cargo, comprising:
a vehicle frame;
a cargo box supported by the vehicle frame on a vehicle rearward side; and
a single-row seat device supported by the vehicle frame forward of the cargo box,
including
a seat bottom supported by the vehicle frame, and
a seat back that includes a first lateral swinging shaft that extends in a vehicle lateral direction and is supported by the vehicle frame, a seat back frame that swings about the first lateral swinging shaft between an upright position and a horizontal position at which the seat back frame overlaps with the seat bottom, and a seat back main body attached to the seat back frame so as to be able to swing about a second lateral swinging shaft that is parallel to the first lateral swinging shaft,
the seat back frame in the upright position functions as a front wall of the cargo box and the seat back frame in the horizontal position defines an expansion floor by which a floor of the cargo box is expanded in a forward direction, and
the seat back main body swings to a hanging orientation with respect to the seat back frame in the horizontal position and is located in front of the seat bottom.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The utility vehicle according to claim 1, wherein
the first lateral swinging shaft is arranged between the lower end of the seat back frame and the vehicle frame at a position at which an upper surface of the seat back frame in the horizontal position matches a floor surface of a cargo box.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The utility vehicle according to claim 1, wherein
the second lateral swinging shaft is arranged between the upper end of the seat back frame and the upper end of the seat back main body.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The utility vehicle according to claim 3, wherein
the seat back main body in the hanging orientation hangs at a right angle with respect to the seat back frame in the horizontal position, and in this case, the upper end of the seat back main body is located below the upper surface of the seat back frame.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The utility vehicle according to claim 1, wherein
a lever stopper mechanism for preventing further downward swinging from the horizontal position of the seat back frame is provided.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The utility vehicle according to claim 1, wherein
the seat device is composed of a left seat unit and a right seat unit that are aligned in a vehicle lateral direction, and each seat unit includes the seat bottom, the seat back, and the first lateral swinging shaft.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The utility vehicle according to claim 6, wherein
the first lateral swinging shaft of the left seat unit and the first lateral swinging shaft of the right seat unit are composed of one common swinging shaft.

### Claim 8

A utility vehicle including a convertible cargo, comprising:
a vehicle frame;
a cargo box that is supported by the vehicle frame on a vehicle rearward side and is composed of a front door, a rear door, a left door, and a right door; and
a rear seat device supported by the vehicle frame forward of the cargo box,
including
a seat bottom supported by the vehicle frame, and
a seat back that includes a first lateral swinging shaft that extends in a vehicle lateral direction and is supported by the vehicle frame, a seat back frame that swings about the first lateral swinging shaft between an upright position and a horizontal position at which the seat back frame overlaps with the seat bottom, and a seat back main body attached to the seat back frame,
the front door swung forward to be in a horizontal orientation and the seat back frame in the horizontal position define the expansion floor by which the cargo floor is expanded in a forward direction, and in this case, the cargo floor, the front wall in the horizontal orientation, and the seat back frame in the horizontal position are aligned in a vehicle front-rear direction.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The utility vehicle according to claim 8, wherein
the first lateral swinging shaft is arranged between the lower end of the seat back frame and the vehicle frame at a position at which an upper surface of the seat back frame in the horizontal position matches a floor surface of a cargo box.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The utility vehicle according to claim 8, wherein
the rear seat device is composed of a left seat unit and a right seat unit that are aligned in a vehicle lateral direction, and each seat unit includes the seat bottom, the seat back, and the first lateral swinging shaft.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The utility vehicle according to claim 10, wherein
the first lateral swinging shaft of the left seat unit and the first lateral swinging shaft of the right seat unit are composed of one common swinging shaft.

### Claim 12

A utility vehicle including a convertible cargo, comprising:
a vehicle frame;
a cargo box that is supported by the vehicle frame on a vehicle rearward side and has a front door and a cargo floor, wherein the front door is swingable between an upright orientation and a horizontal orientation and the front door in the horizontal orientation overlaps with an upper face of the cargo floor; and
a seat device supported by the vehicle frame forward of the cargo box,
the seat device including
a seat bottom supported by the vehicle frame,
a seat back that includes a first lateral swinging shaft that extends in a vehicle lateral direction and is supported by the vehicle frame, a seat back frame that is swingable about the first lateral swinging shaft between an upright position and a horizontal position, and a seat back main body that is attached to the seat back frame and overlaps with the seat bottom when the seat back is in the horizontal position;
the seat back frame in the horizontal position defines an expansion floor by which the cargo floor is expanded in a forward direction, and
the seat back main body overlaps with the seat bottom by swinging the seat back frame to the horizontal position.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The utility vehicle according to claim 12, wherein
the first lateral swinging shaft is arranged so that an upper face of the front door in the horizontal orientation and an upper face of the seat back frame in the horizontal position form the same plane.