U.S. patent application number 15/053317 was filed with the patent office on 2017-08-31 for lateral retention member.
The applicant listed for this patent is Honda Motor Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Jacob O. BORTH, Dustin L. Hinders, Michael J. HOKES, Joseph H. Korte, Stephen L. Paulos, Kirk M. Rausch, Matthew L. Taracko, Luke M. Upah.
Application Number | 20170247058 15/053317 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59679370 |
Filed Date | 2017-08-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170247058 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HOKES; Michael J. ; et
al. |
August 31, 2017 |
LATERAL RETENTION MEMBER
Abstract
A motor vehicle includes a frame, a first pair of wheels
connected to the frame, a second pair of wheels connected to the
frame, a motor supported by the frame and operatively connected to
at least one of the pair of wheels, a cockpit in the frame, a first
seat disposed in the cockpit, a bed in the frame longitudinally
rearward of the cockpit, the bed having at least one side wall, a
second seat disposed in the bed, the second seat having a seat base
and a seat back, the seat back being foldable between a storage
position and a seating position, and a lateral retention member
fixed to the at least one side wall of the bed, at least a portion
of the lateral retention member being disposed higher than the seat
base and forward of the seat back of the second seat when in the
seating position.
Inventors: |
HOKES; Michael J.; (Dublin,
OH) ; Korte; Joseph H.; (Marysville, OH) ;
Hinders; Dustin L.; (Lakeview, OH) ; Taracko; Matthew
L.; (Marysville, OH) ; Paulos; Stephen L.;
(Powell, OH) ; Rausch; Kirk M.; (North Lewisburg,
OH) ; BORTH; Jacob O.; (Columbus, OH) ; Upah;
Luke M.; (Marysville, OH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
59679370 |
Appl. No.: |
15/053317 |
Filed: |
February 25, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 21/06 20130101;
B60R 21/13 20130101; B60R 2021/028 20130101; B60N 2/00 20130101;
B60R 21/02 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B62D 25/02 20060101
B62D025/02; B60R 21/13 20060101 B60R021/13; B62D 31/00 20060101
B62D031/00 |
Claims
1. A motor vehicle, comprising: a frame; a first pair of wheels
connected to the frame; a second pair of wheels connected to the
frame; a motor supported by the frame and operatively connected to
at least one of the pair of wheels; a cockpit in the frame; a first
seat disposed in the cockpit; a bed in the frame longitudinally
rearward of the cockpit, the bed having at least one side wall; a
second seat disposed in the bed, the second seat having a seat base
and a seat back, the seat back being foldable between a storage
position and a seating position; and a lateral retention member
fixed to and extending upwardly from the at least one side wall of
the bed, at least a portion of the lateral retention member being
disposed higher than the seat base and forward of the seat back of
the second seat when in the seating position.
2. The motor vehicle of claim 1 wherein the lateral retention
member comprises: a generally U-shaped pipe having first and second
ends; and wherein the first and second ends are attached to the at
least one side wall of the bed.
3. The motor vehicle of claim 2 wherein the first and second ends
are welded to the at least one side wall of the bed.
4. The motor vehicle of claim 2 wherein the lateral retention
member further comprises: a first bracket attached to the first end
of the generally U-shaped pipe; a second bracket attached to the
second end of the generally U-shaped pipe; and wherein the first
bracket and second bracket are bolted to the at least one side wall
of the bed.
5. A motor vehicle, comprising: a frame; a first pair of wheels
connected to the frame; a second pair of wheels connected to the
frame; a motor supported by the frame and operatively connected to
at least one of the pair of wheels; a cockpit in the frame; a roll
cage supported by the frame encapsulating the cockpit; a first seat
disposed in the cockpit; a bed in the frame longitudinally rearward
of the cockpit, the bed having at least one side wall; a second
seat disposed in the bed, the second seat having a seat base and a
seat back, the seat back being foldable between a storage position
and a seating position; a first lateral retention member fixed to
the roll cage, at least a portion of the lateral retention member
being disposed higher than the seat base and forward of the seat
back of the first seat when in the seating position; and a second
lateral retention member fixed to and extending upwardly from the
at least one side wall of the bed, at least a portion of the
lateral retention member being disposed higher than the seat base
and forward of the seat back of the second seat when in the seating
position.
6. The motor vehicle of claim 5 wherein the second lateral
retention member comprises: a generally U-shaped pipe having first
and second ends; and wherein the first and second ends are attached
to the at least one side wall of the bed.
7. The motor vehicle of claim 6 wherein the first and second ends
are welded to the at least one side wall of the bed.
8. The motor vehicle of claim 6 wherein the second lateral
retention member further comprises: a first bracket attached to the
first end of the generally U-shaped pipe; a second bracket attached
to the second end of the generally U-shaped pipe; and wherein the
first bracket and second bracket are bolted to the at least one
side wall of the bed.
9. The motor vehicle of claim 5 wherein the first lateral retention
member comprises: a generally U-shaped pipe having first and second
ends; and wherein the first and second ends are attached to the
roll cage.
10. The motor vehicle of claim 9 wherein the first and second ends
are welded to the roll cage.
11. The motor vehicle of claim 5 wherein the first lateral
retention member comprises: a generally L-shaped pipe having first
and second ends; and wherein the first and second ends are attached
to the roll cage.
12. The motor vehicle of claim 11 wherein the first lateral
retention member further comprises: a first bracket attached to the
first end of the generally L-shaped pipe; a second bracket attached
to the second end of the generally L-shaped pipe; and wherein the
first bracket and second bracket are bolted to the roll cage.
13. A motor vehicle, comprising: a frame; a first pair of wheels
connected to the frame; a second pair of wheels connected to the
frame; a motor supported by the frame and operatively connected to
at least one of the pair of wheels; a cockpit in the frame; a first
seat disposed in the cockpit; a bed in the frame longitudinally
rearward of the cockpit, the bed having a first side wall and a
second side wall; a second seat disposed in the bed, the second
seat having a seat base and a seat back, the seat back being
foldable between a storage position and a seating position; a first
lateral retention member fixed to and extending upwardly from the
first side wall of the bed, at least a portion of the lateral
retention member being disposed higher than the seat base and
forward of the seat back of the second seat when in the seating
position; and a second lateral retention member fixed to and
extending upwardly from the second side wall of the bed, at least a
portion of the lateral retention member being disposed higher than
the seat base and forward of the seat back of the second seat when
in the seating position.
14. The motor vehicle of claim 13 wherein the first lateral
retention member comprises a generally U-shaped first pipe having
first and second ends, wherein the first and second ends are
attached to the first side wall of the bed, and the second lateral
retention member comprises a generally U-shaped second pipe having
first and second ends, wherein the first and second ends are
attached to the second side wall of the bed.
15. The motor vehicle of claim 14 wherein the first and second ends
of the first pipe are welded to the first side wall of the bed and
the first and second ends of the second piper are welded to the
second side wall of the bed.
16. The motor vehicle of claim 14 further comprising: a first
bracket attached to the first end of the generally U-shaped first
pipe; a second bracket attached to the second end of the generally
U-shaped pipe; a third bracket attached to the first end of the
generally U-shaped second pipe; a fourth bracket attached to the
second end of the generally U-shaped second pipe; and wherein the
first bracket and second bracket are bolted to the first side wall
of the bed and the third bracket and fourth bracket are bolted to
the second side wall of the bed.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The embodiments disclosed are related to the field of
retention members for side-by-side motor vehicles.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Side-by-side utility vehicles have a generally open
construction. In order to protect the cockpit, the utility vehicle
may include a roll over protection structure, which may include a
roll cage and netting. It is advantageous to include additional
structure to protect the cockpit seating area, particularly the
upper torso of an occupant.
APPLICATION SUMMARY
[0003] The features and advantages described in the specification
are not all inclusive and, in particular, many additional features
and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art
in view of the drawings, specification, and claims. Moreover, it
should be noted that the language used in the specification has
been principally selected for readability and instructional
purposes, and may not have been selected to delineate or
circumscribe the inventive subject matter.
[0004] According to an aspect of the embodiments, a motor vehicle
includes a frame, a first pair of wheels connected to the frame, a
second pair of wheels connected to the frame, a motor supported by
the frame and operatively connected to at least one of the pair of
wheels, a cockpit in the frame, a first seat disposed in the
cockpit, a bed in the frame longitudinally rearward of the cockpit,
the bed having at least one side wall, a second seat disposed in
the bed, the second seat having a seat base and a seat back, the
seat back being foldable between a storage position and a seating
position, and a lateral retention member fixed to the at least one
side wall of the bed, at least a portion of the lateral retention
member being disposed higher than the seat base and forward of the
seat back of the second seat when in the seating position.
[0005] According to another aspect, a motor vehicle includes a
frame, a first pair of wheels connected to the frame, a second pair
of wheels connected to the frame, a motor supported by the frame
and operatively connected to at least one of the pair of wheels, a
cockpit in the frame, a roll cage supported by the frame
encapsulating the cockpit, a first seat disposed in the cockpit, a
bed in the frame longitudinally rearward of the cockpit, the bed
having at least one side wall, a second seat disposed in the bed,
the second seat having a seat base and a seat back, the seat back
being foldable between a storage position and a seating position, a
first lateral retention member fixed to the roll cage, at least a
portion of the lateral retention member being disposed higher than
the seat base and forward of the seat back of the first seat when
in the seating position, and a second lateral retention member
fixed to the at least one side wall of the bed, at least a portion
of the lateral retention member being disposed higher than the seat
base and forward of the seat back of the second seat when in the
seating position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is side perspective view of a motor vehicle.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a close up view of one embodiment of a front
lateral retention member of the motor vehicle in FIG. 1.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the front lateral
retention member of FIG. 2.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the front lateral
retention member of FIG. 2.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a close up view of another embodiment of a front
lateral retention member of the motor vehicle in FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of the front lateral
retention member of FIG. 5.
[0012] FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the front lateral
retention member of FIG. 5.
[0013] FIG. 8 is a close up view of an embodiment of a rear lateral
retention member of the motor vehicle in FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 9 is a side perspective view of the rear lateral
retention member of FIG. 8.
[0015] FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of the rear lateral
retention member of FIG. 8.
[0016] FIG. 11 is a close up view of another embodiment of a rear
lateral retention member of the motor vehicle in FIG. 1.
[0017] FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of the rear lateral
retention member of FIG. 11.
[0018] FIG. 13 is a side perspective view of the rear lateral
retention member of FIG. 11.
[0019] The figures depict various embodiments of the embodiments
for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will
readily recognize from the following discussion that alternative
embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be
employed without departing from the principles of the embodiments
described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] Embodiments are described with reference to the Figures in
which like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally
similar elements. Also in the figures, the left most digits of each
reference number corresponds to the figure in which the reference
number is first used.
[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a motor vehicle 100. The
motor vehicle 100 includes a frame 102, a front pair of wheels 104
and a rear pair of wheels 106 connected to the frame 102, and a
motor 108 held by the frame 102 that is operatively connected to at
least one of either the front wheels 104 or rear wheels 106. A
cockpit 110 is located in the middle of the frame 102, in which is
located the front seat 112 of the motor vehicle 100, as well as the
driver controls, such as the steering wheel 114 and the like,
necessary for an user to drive the motor vehicle 100. Located
longitudinally rearward of the cockpit 110 is a bed 116, in which
cargo may be loaded. The bed includes sidewalls 118 and a tailgate
120 that help to stow cargo. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the
bed 116 also includes a fold-down second row seat 122, which
enables the motor vehicle 100 to carry additional passengers.
[0022] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the motor vehicle also includes a
roll over protection structure 124. The roll over protection
structure 124 includes a roll cage 126, which protects the cockpit
110 and bed 116 in the event of a rollover, and netting 128, which
helps to prevent users or cargo from being ejected from the motor
vehicle 100 in the event of a rollover.
[0023] The roll over protection structure 124 further includes a
front lateral retention member 200, one embodiment of which is
illustrated in FIGS. 2-4, and a second embodiment of which is
illustrated in FIGS. 5-7. The front lateral retention member 200
operates as part the roll over protection structure 124 by being
adjacent the torso of a user to keep the torso inside of the motor
vehicle 100 during a rollover event. As shown in FIG. 3, block 202
represents the upper arm of a user seated in the front seat 112 of
the motor vehicle 100. The front lateral retention member 200 is a
generally U-shaped tube or pipe 206, the ends of which are welded
to the B-pillar 204 of the roll cage 126 of the rollover protection
structure 124. The front lateral retention member 200 is located
primarily forward of the seat back 208, above the seat cushion 210,
and beneath the top of the block 202, signifying that the front
lateral retention member 200 is adjacent the upper arm and beneath
the shoulder of the typical user. In the embodiment shown, the
netting 128 is located inside of the front lateral retention member
200, between the front lateral retention member 200 and the front
seat 112.
[0024] FIGS. 5-7 illustrate an alternate embodiment of the front
lateral retention member 200. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the front
lateral retention member 200 is a generally L-shaped tube or pipe
500 that includes brackets 602, 604 at each end. The brackets 602,
604 are in turn bolted to the roll over protection structure 124.
The upper bracket 602 is bolted to the B-pillar 204 of the roll
cage 126, and as shown in FIGS. 6-7, the lower bracket 604 is
bolted to a support structure 606 of the roll cage 126 attached to
the B-pillar 204. As with the previous embodiment, the front
lateral retention member 200 is located primarily forward of the
seat back 208, above the seat cushion (not shown), and beneath the
top of the block 202, signifying that the front lateral retention
member 200 is adjacent the upper arm and beneath the shoulder of
the typical user.
[0025] The roll over protection structure 124 further includes a
rear lateral retention member 800, one embodiment of which is
illustrated in FIGS. 8-10, and a second embodiment of which is
illustrated in FIGS. 11-13. The rear lateral retention member 800
operates as part the roll over protection structure 124 by being
adjacent the torso of a user seated in the rear seat 122 to keep
the torso inside of the motor vehicle 100 during a rollover event.
As shown in FIG. 8, block 802 represents the upper arm of a user
seated in the rear seat 122 of the motor vehicle 100. The rear
lateral retention member 800 is a generally U-shaped tube or pipe
806, the ends of which are welded to the side wall 118 of the bed
116 of the motor vehicle 100. The rear lateral retention member 800
is located primarily forward of the seat back 808, above the seat
cushion (not shown), and beneath the top of the block 802,
signifying that the rear lateral retention member 800 is adjacent
the upper arm and beneath the shoulder of the typical user. In the
embodiment shown, the netting 128 is located inside of the rear
lateral retention member 800, between the rear lateral retention
member 800 and the rear seat 122.
[0026] FIGS. 11-13 illustrate an alternate embodiment of the rear
lateral retention member 800. As illustrated in FIG. 13, the rear
lateral retention member 800 is a generally U-shaped tube or pipe
1100 that includes brackets 1302, 1304 at each end. The brackets
1302, 1304 are in turn bolted to the side wall 118 of the bed 116.
The first bracket 1302 is bolted to a first portion 1306 of the
side wall 118 of the bed 116, and as shown in FIGS. 12-13, the
second bracket 1304 is bolted to a second portion 1308 of the side
wall 118 of the bed 116. As with the previous embodiment, the rear
lateral retention member 800 is located primarily forward of the
seat back 808, above the seat cushion (not shown), and beneath the
top of the block 802, signifying that the rear lateral retention
member 800 is adjacent the upper arm and beneath the shoulder of
the typical user as seated in the rear seat 122.
[0027] Reference in the specification to "one embodiment" or to "an
embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or
characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is
included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrase
"in one embodiment" or "an embodiment" in various places in the
specification are not necessarily all referring to the same
embodiment.
[0028] In addition, the language used in the specification has been
principally selected for readability and instructional purposes,
and may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the
inventive subject matter. Accordingly, the disclosure of the
embodiments is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of
the scope of the embodiments, which is set forth in the claims.
[0029] While particular embodiments and applications have been
illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that the
embodiments are not limited to the precise construction and
components disclosed herein and that various modifications,
changes, and variations may be made in the arrangement, operation,
and details of the methods and apparatuses of the embodiments
without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments as
defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *