IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,225,894
Granted Patent B2
US 8,225,894 · App. 12/619,523 · Granted Jul 24, 2012

Utility vehicle

Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,225,894
App. No.
12/619,523
Granted
Jul 24, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A utility vehicle includes a cover provided to cover an instrument panel in front of a driver seat, a hood which is configured to cover a space between a pair of right and left front wheels from above in front of the cover and is pivotable around a front end portion thereof so as to open and close, a stopper mechanism configured to retain the hood in a closed position, and a positioning mechanism configured to position the hood in the closed position with respect to the cover such that a rear end portion of the hood is fitted to a front end portion of the cover.

Claims (43)

1. A utility vehicle, comprising:

a cover provided to cover an instrument panel located in front of a driver seat;

a hood which is configured to cover a space between a pair of right and left front wheels from above in front of the cover and is pivotable around a front end portion thereof so as to open and close;

a stopper mechanism configured to retain the hood in a closed position; and

a positioning mechanism configured to position the hood in the closed position with respect to the cover such that a rear end portion of the hood is fitted to a front end portion of the cover,

wherein the positioning mechanism includes:

a positioning wall provided at the front end portion of the cover so as to extend in a forward and rearward direction;

a slit forming portion provided at the rear end portion of the hood and having a slit; and

a disengagement inhibiting wall extending from a front end of the positioning wall in a vehicle width direction,

wherein the positioning wall is inserted into the slit in a state where the hood is in the closed position.

2. The utility vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein

the slit forming portion is pressed against a rear surface of the disengagement inhibiting wall in the state where the hood is in the closed position.

3. The utility vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein

the positioning mechanism is provided outside the stopper mechanism in the vehicle width direction.

4. A utility vehicle, comprising:

a cover provided to cover an instrument panel located in front of a driver seat;

a hood which is configured to cover a space between a pair of right and left front wheels from above in front of the cover and is pivotable around a front end portion thereof so as to open and close;

a stopper mechanism configured to retain the hood in a closed position; and

a positioning mechanism configured to position the hood in the closed position with respect to the cover such that a rear end portion of the hood is fitted to a front end portion of the cover,

wherein the front end portion of the cover is partially covered with the rear end portion of the hood in a state where the hood is in the closed position;

wherein the stopper mechanism includes an outer projection and an inner projection provided at the rear end portion of the hood so as to protrude outside and inside the hood, respectively, an engagement member fixed to a portion of the front end portion of the cover which is not covered with the hood, and an engagement groove provided at a portion of the front end portion of the cover which is covered with the hood; and

wherein the inner projection is engaged with the engagement groove and the engagement member is engaged with the outer projection in the state where the hood is in the closed position.

5. A utility vehicle, comprising:

a cover provided to cover an instrument panel located in front of a driver seat;

a hood which is configured to cover a space between a pair of right and left front wheels from above in front of the cover and is pivotable around a front end portion thereof so as to open and close;

a stopper mechanism configured to retain the hood in a closed position;

a positioning mechanism configured to position the hood in the closed position with respect to the cover such that a rear end portion of the hood is fitted to a front end portion of the cover; and

a restricting member provided at the hood and configured to cooperate with a vehicle body frame to restrict a pivot operation of the hood,

wherein the restricting member includes plural ribs provided to extend from an inner surface of the hood, and the pivot operation of the hood is restricted in such a manner that the plural ribs are configured to contact a frame member of the vehicle body frame which is disposed in the space between the front wheels by pivoting the hood.

6. The utility vehicle according to claim 5 , wherein the restricting member is separate from the hood.

7. A utility vehicle, comprising:

a cover provided to cover an instrument panel located in front of a driver seat;

a hood which is configured to cover a space between a pair of right and left front wheels from above in front of the cover and is pivotable around a front end portion thereof so as to open and close;

a stopper mechanism configured to retain the hood in a closed position;

a positioning mechanism configured to position the hood in the closed position with respect to the cover such that a rear end portion of the hood is fitted to a front end portion of the cover;

a head lamp device fastened to the hood;

a harness electrically connected to the head lamp device; and

a harness retaining member configured to retain the harness with respect to a vehicle body frame,

wherein the harness includes a fixed portion fixed to the vehicle body frame by the harness retaining member and a pivot portion which extends continuously with the fixed portion and is coupled to the head lamp device; and

wherein the pivot portion is pivotable around an axis of the fixed portion according to a pivot operation of the hood.

8. The utility vehicle according to claim 7 , wherein

a suspension frame for supporting a suspension for front wheels disposed at a front portion of the utility vehicle and a stay protruding forward from the suspension frame are arranged in the space between the front wheels; and

wherein the front end portion of the hood is coupled to a tip end of the stay such that the hood is pivotable around the front end portion.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 16, 2009
From: MIZUTA, FUMIO
To: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 023524/0218 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20110115259A1 · May 19, 2011