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US 6,616,207 B2Granted
Utility vehicle
AssigneeKawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorFumio Mizuta
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A utility vehicle has a load-carrying platform, a pair of side plates, a gate, a pair of gate locking bolts each capable of engaging the side plate to hold the gate in the closed state, and a pair of handles each connected to the gate locking bolt. The gate locking bolt is axially movable in lateral directions between a locking position and a retracted position, and is biased toward the locking position by a spring. The gate locking bolt is capable of being urged toward the retracted position by the side plate when the gate is turned to be closed. The gate locking bolt is capable of being moved to the retracted position by operating the handle.
Claims15
A utility vehicle comprising:
- a load-carrying platform;
- a pair of side plates, each side plate disposed on opposite sides of the load-carrying platform;
- a gate disposed on a rear end of the load-carrying platform, the gate being supported on and swingable about a laterally extending support rod for opening and closing;
- a pair of gate locking bolts mounted on the gate, each gate locking bolt engaging corresponding side plate to hold the gate when closed, the gate locking bolt being axially movable in lateral directions between a locking position where a head portion thereof projects laterally outward from a corresponding side end of the gate and engages the corresponding side plate and a retracted position where the head portion thereof is separated from the corresponding side plate, the gate locking bolt being biased toward the locking position by a spring, and the gate locking bolt being configured to be urged toward the retracted position by the corresponding side plate that engages the head portion of the gate locking bolt just before the gate is joined to the pair of side plates as the gate is swung closed;
- a pair of handles, each handle connected to a corresponding gate locking bolt, the corresponding gate locking bolt being configured to be moved to the retracted position by operating the handle;
- and
- a pipe attached to the gate in a horizontal position, the gate locking bolt and the spring being inserted in the pipe, the pipe having a slot through which the handle projects outside from the pipe, the slot having an axial guide section extending parallel to an axis of the pipe for enabling the handle to move laterally and a transverse guide section transverse to and continuous with the axial guide section, the transverse guide section extending vertically downward from the axial guide section when the gate is closed, the handle being configured to be held by the transverse section so that the gate locking bolt is fixed at the locking position, the axial guide section having an outer end portion extending laterally outward beyond a line aligned with an outer edge of the transverse guide section.
4 more elements
A utility vehicle comprising:
- a load-carrying platform;
- a pair of side plates, each side plate disposed on opposite sides of the load-carrying carrying platform;
- a gate disposed on a rear end of the load-carrying platform, the gate being supported on and swingable about a laterally extending support rod for opening and closing;
- a pair of gate locking bolts mounted on the gate, each gate locking bolt engaging a corresponding side plate to hold the gate when closed, the gate locking bolt being axially movable in lateral directions between a locking position where a head portion thereof projects laterally outward from a corresponding side end of the gate and engages the corresponding side plate and a retracted position where the head portion thereof is separated from the corresponding side plate, the gate locking bolt being biased toward the locking position by a spring, and the gate locking bolt being configured to be urged toward the retracted position by the corresponding side plate that engages the head portion of the gate locking bolt just before the gate is joined to the pair of side plates as the gate is swung closed;
- a pair of handles, each handle connected to a corresponding gate locking bolt, the corresponding gate locking bolt being configured to be moved to the retracted position by operating the handle;
- a pair of locking plates, each locking plate being attached to a rear end of each side plate of the pair of side plates;
- the locking plate having an opening in which a head portion of the gate locking bolt engages, the opening of the locking plate being configured so that a clearance exists between an outer surface of the head portion of the gate locking bolt and a periphery of the opening of the locking plate when the gate is closed;
- and
- pressing means for pressing the head portion of the gate locking bolt against the periphery of the opening of the locking plate when the gate is closed,
- wherein the gate has a retaining member at opposite end portions of the gate, each retaining member restraining the locking plate of the side plate from laterally moving away from the gate locking bolt;
- and
- wherein the pressing means has a pair of elastic members, each elastic member being pressed by the locking plate and the retaining member when the gate is closed so that the elastic member produces a force to press the head portion of the gate locking bolt against the periphery of the opening of the locking plate.
9 more elements
A utility vehicle comprising:
- a load-carrying platform;
- a pair of side plates, each side plate disposed on opposite sides of the load-carrying platform;
- a gate disposed on a rear end of the load-carrying platform, the gate being supported on and swingable about a laterally extending support rod for opening and closing;
- a pair of gate locking bolts mounted on the gate, each gate locking bolt engaging a corresponding side plate to hold the gate when closed, the gate locking bolt being axially movable in lateral directions between a locking position where a head portion thereof projects laterally outward from a corresponding side end of the gate and engages the corresponding side plate and a retracted position where the head portion thereof is separated from the corresponding side plate, the gate locking bolt being biased toward the locking position by a spring, and the gate locking bolt being configured to be urged toward the retracted position by the corresponding side plate that engages the head portion of the gate locking bolt just before the gate is joined to the pair of side plates as the gate is swung closed;
- a pair of handles, each handle connected to a corresponding gate locking bolt, the corresponding gate locking bolt being configured to be moved to the retracted position by operating the handle;
- a pair of locking plates, each locking plate being attached to a rear end of each side plate of the pair of side plates;
- the locking plate having an opening in which a head portion of the gate locking bolt engages, the opening of the locking plate being configured so that a clearance exists between an outer surface of the head portion of the gate locking bolt and a periphery of the opening of the locking plate when the gate is closed;
- pressing means for pressing the head portion of the gate locking bolt against the periphery of the opening of the locking plate when the gate is closed;
- and
- a pipe attached to the gate in a horizontal position, the gate locking bolt and the spring being inserted in the pipe, the pipe having a slot through which the handle projects outside from the pipe, the slot having an axial guide section extending parallel to an axis of the pipe for enabling the handle to move laterally and a transverse guide section transverse to and continuous with the axial guide section, the transverse guide section extending vertically downward from the axial guide section when the gate is closed, the handle being configured to be held by the transverse section so that the gate locking bolt is fixed at the locking position, the axial guide section having an outer end portion extending laterally outward beyond a line aligned with an outer edge of the transverse guide section.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.