US20020070573A1

US20020070573A1 - Pick up truck

Info

Publication number: US20020070573A1
Application number: US09/925,045
Authority: US
Inventors: Dae Song
Original assignee: Kia Motors Corp
Current assignee: Kia Corp
Priority date: 2000-12-13
Filing date: 2001-08-07
Publication date: 2002-06-13
Anticipated expiration: 2021-08-07
Also published as: US6447039B1; DE60128199T2; EP1215080B1; MY127177A; DE60128199D1; EP1215080A3; JP2002187576A; EP1215080A2; CN1162287C; CN1358642A

Abstract

A pick up truck is disclosed, in which a longer cargo can stably be loaded as the case may be by increasing the size of a cargo box. The pick up truck includes: a cap portion 10 driven by an engine and provided with seats at the front to allow a driver and passengers to ride thereon, having a top portion covered with a loop panel 11; a cargo load 20 having a load floor 21 extended toward a rear end of the cap portion 10, for loading various cargos on the load floor 21; a cap panel member 30 and a box panel member 40 raised between the cap portion 10 and the cargo load 20 to divide the cap portion 10 and the cargo load 20, having a back glass to see the rear; and a box panel switch means for switching the box panel member 40 to connect the cap portion 10 with the cargo load 20, so that an opening 100 is formed to extend the cargo load 20, wherein the box panel switch means separates the cap panel member 30 from the box panel member 40, so that hinges 31 and 41 are formed to allow the cap panel member 30 and the box panel member 40 to be respectively folded toward an inner side of the cap portion 10, the box panel member 40 having a panel member supporting means 50 for raising the cap portion 10 and the cargo load 20 to compartment them, thereby maintaining and fixing the raised state.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a pick up truck that transports light cargo, and more particularly, to a pick up truck that can stably load a longer cargo by increasing the size of a cargo box.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a rear side structure of a related art pick up truck. Referring to FIG. 1, the related art pick up truck includes a

cap portion

1 for carrying passengers and a cargo box 2 for carrying cargo. A side wall 4 is compartmented between the cap portion 1 and the cargo box 2. The side wall 4 is provided with a glass window 3 to allow a driver to ensure a rear view through a room mirror (not shown).

The related art pick up truck cannot transport a longer cargo than the length of the

cargo box

2. Therefore, to transport a longer cargo, although it is light, a truck more than a medium size has been required whether the cargo is light or heavy. This has increased the transport cost.

To solve such a problem, another type of pick up truck has been suggested as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,727. This related pick up truck is configured such that a

longer cargo

6 than a cargo box 2 is loaded in or on a wheel cover 5 projected in the cargo box 2.

Such a pick up truck includes a

cap portion

1, the cargo box 2, a box panel member 7, and a front side wall 8. The box panel member 7 is axially connected with the front side wall 8 of the cargo box 2 and is movable in a horizontal position.

Accordingly, the

box panel member

7 is partially overlapped with the wheel cover 5 and is supported by the wheel cover 5.

Furthermore, when the

box panel member

7 is in a horizontal position, the cargo box 2 includes a cargo box opening 9. Also, a cap panel member 9 a is axially mounted in the cap portion 1 and is movable between a vertical closed state and a horizontal open state.

Therefore, when the

cap panel member

9a is in the horizontal position and a cap opening 1 a is partially aligned with the cargo box opening 9, the cap portion 1 has the cap opening 1 a.

The related art pick up truck can increase the size of the cargo box by opening the cap panel member and the box panel member as the case may be so as to load a longer cargo. However, the related art pick up truck has several problems.

First, since the cap panel member and the box panel member separated from each other are unfolded toward the cargo box, the box panel member is put on the wheel cover. In this case, the box panel member does not require a separate support member but the cap panel member requires a relatively expensive shock absorber to maintain the horizontal state. This increases the production cost.

Furthermore, since the box panel member is put on the wheel cover, the box panel member is not flush with the bottom. This causes unstable load state in case of a longer cargo.

Finally, when the longer cargo is loaded, an unnecessary portion is formed between the wheel cover and the bottom of the cargo box, thereby reducing a practical load area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a pick up truck that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An object of the present invention is to provide to a pick up truck in which a cap panel member and a box panel member can be folded toward a cap portion in a state where they are separated from each other, so that the box panel member is flush with a bottom surface of a cargo box.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pick up truck in which a rear seat is not damaged even if a longer cargo is loaded in a state where a box panel member is folded.

Other object of the present invention is to provide a pick up truck in which a cap panel member is only folded toward a cap portion to conveniently open a cap opening, thereby ventilating the inside of the pick up truck.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the scheme particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, a pick up truck according to the present invention includes: a cap portion driven by an engine and provided with seats at the front to allow a driver and passengers to ride thereon, having a top portion covered with a loop panel; a cargo load having a load floor extended toward a rear end of the cap portion, for loading various cargos on the load floor; a cap panel member and a box panel member raised between the cap portion and the cargo load to divide the cap portion and the cargo load, having a back glass to see the rear; and a box panel switch means for switching the box panel member to connect the cap portion with the cargo load, so that an opening is formed to extend the cargo load, wherein the box panel switch means separates the cap panel member from the box panel member, so that hinges are formed to allow the cap panel member and the box panel member to be respectively folded toward an inner side of the cap portion, the box panel member having a panel member supporting means for raising the cap portion and the cargo load to compartment them, thereby maintaining and fixing the raised state.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the

cap panel member

30 and the box panel member 40 are separated from each other and folded toward an inner portion of the cap portion 10, it is convenient to use them.

Furthermore, since the

cap panel member

30 and the box panel member 40 are not exposed toward a rear end of the cap portion 10, a desirable appearance can be obtained.

It is possible to prevent the

cap panel member

30 and the box panel member 40 from moving and colliding against a cargo S even if load vibration occurs during driving of the pick up truck. It is possible to also prevent vibration noise from occurring.

Moreover, since the box panel member is flush with the bottom surface of the cargo box in a state where it is folded, it is convenient to load a longer cargo S and a rear seat is not damaged.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ATTACHED DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements wherein: [0026]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a related art pick up truck; [0027]
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an open state of a cap panel member in another related art pick up truck; [0028]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a pick up truck in accordance with the present invention; [0029]
FIGS. 4A and 4B are longitudinal sectional views illustrating an operation state of a pick up truck in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 4[0030] a is a state view in which a cap opening and a cargo box opening are closed, and FIG. 4b is a state view in which a rear seat is folded and a cap opening and a cargo box opening are opened; and
FIGS. 5A and 5B are longitudinal sectional views illustrating an operation state of a pick up truck in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 5[0031] a is a state view in which a cap opening and a cargo box opening are closed, and FIG. 5b is a state view in which a rear seat is folded and a cap opening and a cargo box opening are opened.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. [0032]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a pick up truck in accordance with the present invention, in which a [0033] cap panel member 30 and a box panel member 40 are folded toward an inner portion of a cap portion 10 in a state where they are separated from each other.
FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a pick up truck in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the [0034] cap panel member 30 and the box panel member 40 are separated from each other and folded by a hinge at a boundary between them. In a lower portion of the box panel member 40, a hinge 41 is rotatably fixed to a supporter 42 at a bottom surface of the cap portion 10. Accordingly, to load a longer cargo S, as shown in FIG. 4B. the lower portion of the box panel member 40 is folded in a state where the cap panel member 30 is overlapped with the box panel member 40, so that an opening 100 is formed to connect a cargo load 20 with the cap portion 10.
Meanwhile, in a [0035] loop panel 11, the cap panel member 30 is maintained so as not to be folded in a vertically closed state and a cap panel member locking means 60 for releasing a locking state when the cap panel member 30 is folded is rotatably mounted.
In case where a seat is disposed at the rear of a driver's seat, a seat folding means should be provided so as not to affect movement of the [0036] box panel member 40.
In other words, a [0037] rear seat 14 and a seat back portion 15 disposed at the rear of the driver's seat in two rows are formed to be folded around pivot shafts 16 and 17. Thus, when the box panel member 40 is folded and rotated, the rear seat 14 is raised and the seat back portion 15 moves correspondingly, so that the box panel member 40 is folded to be put on the seat back portion 15, thereby extending the length of the cargo load 20 to the inner portion of the cap portion 10.
Furthermore, a [0038] panel member supporter 50 is provided on a bottom surface 19 of a cargo box to firmly maintain the state of the box panel member 40 raised to close the opening 100. That is to say, a stopper 51 is fixably mounted at one side of the box panel member 40 to firmly support the raised state of the box panel member 40 at one side opposite to a direction in which the box panel member 40 is folded.
Meanwhile, a weather strip w[0039] 1 that maintains tightness with the cap panel member 30 is mounted at an end portion of the loop panel 11 so that rainwater is prevented from being entered into the cap portion 10 along edges of the cap panel member 30 and the box panel member 40 having mobility. Also, a weather strip w2 that maintains tightness with a contact portion between the cap panel member 30 and the box panel member 40 is mounted on the box panel member 40.
Furthermore, a weather strip w[0040] 3 is mounted in a contact portion between the stopper 51 and the box panel member 40.
The operation of the aforementioned pick up truck according to the first embodiment of the present invention will now be described in more detail. [0041]
First, as shown in FIG. 4[0042] a, in a state where the cap panel member 30 and the box panel member 40 are maintained in a vertical direction, a boundary between the cap portion 10 and the cargo load 20 is cut off so that the opening 100 is closed.
At this state, in the same manner as a typical pick up truck, the [0043] cap portion 10 and the cargo load 20 are compartmented and a plurality of weather strips w1, w2, and w3 maintain tightness. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent any noise from occurring during driving of the pick up truck and to also prevent rainwater or dust from being entered into the cap portion 10.
Under the circumstances, to load a longer cargo S, the [0044] opening 100 in a closed state should be opened. To this end, as shown in FIG. 4a, the rear seat 14 which is unfolded is raised in an arrow direction to maintain a vertical state and at the same time the seat back portion 15 is pulled back counterclockwise so that it is folded toward the rear seat 14.
As described above, once the [0045] rear seat 14 and the seat back portion 15 are folded in such a manner that they are switched to each other, a locking member 61 of the cap panel member locking means 60 is separated and moved from its state which supports the inner side end of the cap panel member 30. Thus, the cap panel member locking means 60 is released.
The locking [0046] member 61 is swingably mounted at the base of the loop panel 11. The locking member 61 is configured to have more powerful fixed force at the location where it is closely contacted with the cap panel member 30 and the swing location at both ends where the close contact is released.
Next, the [0047] cap panel member 30 is closely contacted with the box panel member 40 by inwardly folding the cap panel member 30 connected with the box panel member 40 by the hinge 31. Then, the box panel member 40 is inwardly pushed, so that the box panel member 40 is put on the seat back portion 15 in a state where the box panel member 40 is overlapped with the cap panel member 30. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4b, the box panel member 40 is flush with a bottom surface of a load floor 21.
Therefore, the [0048] opening 100 closed by the cap panel member 30 and the box panel member 40 is opened, so that the longer cargo S can stably be loaded using an upper surface of the box panel member 40 and the load floor 21.
When it is not necessary to load the longer cargo, the [0049] box panel member 40 and the cap panel member 30 are raised contrary to the above operation and the locking member 61 of the cap panel member locking means 60 moves to support the inner side end of the cap panel member 30. Then, the rear seat 14 and the seat back portion 15 are returned to their original location so that the inner portion of the cap portion 10 is sealed and the cargo load 20 is compartmented.
FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate another pick up truck according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, a [0050] cap panel member 30 is closely contacted with the base of a loop panel 11 in a state where a cap panel member 30 and a box panel member 40 are completely separated from each other. The box panel member 40 moves to be put on a portion where a rear seat 14 and a seat back portion 15 are folded, so as to form an opening 100.
In other words, in a state where the [0051] cap portion 10 and the cargo load 20 are compartmented, the cap panel member 30 and the box panel member 40 are separated from each other in a horizontal direction. The cap panel member 30 is formed to be folded together with an end of the loop panel 11 by a hinge 31 while the box panel member 40 is formed to be folded with a supporter 42 raised on a bottom surface 19 of a cargo box by a hinge 41.
A fixed means [0052] 70 consisting of a pair of hooks 71 and 72 is mounted in the loop panel 11 to maintain the opening 100 in an open state in a state where the cap panel member 30 is tightly folded.
Also, in case where a seat is disposed at the rear of a driver's seat, a seat folding means is provided so as not to affect movement of the [0053] box panel member 40 in the same manner as the first embodiment.
In other words, the [0054] rear seat 14 and the seat back portion 15 disposed at the rear of the driver's seat in two rows are mounted to be folded around pivot shafts 16 and 17. Thus, when the box panel member 40 is folded and rotated, the rear seat 14 is raised and the seat back portion 15 moves correspondingly, so that the box panel member 40 is folded to be put on the seat back portion 15, thereby extending the length of a cargo load 20 to the inner portion of the cap portion 10.
Furthermore, in the same manner as the first embodiment, a panel member supporter is provided on the [0055] bottom surface 19 of the cargo box to firmly maintain the state of the box panel member 40 raised to close the opening 100. That is to say, a stopper 51 is fixably mounted at one side of the box panel member 40 to support the raised state of the box panel member 40. Thus, the stopper 51 firmly the raised state of the box panel member 40 at one side opposite to a direction in which the box panel member 40 is folded.
Meanwhile, a weather strip wl that maintains tightness with the [0056] cap panel member 30 is mounted at an end portion of the loop panel 11 so that rainwater is prevented from being entered into the cap portion 10 along edges of the cap panel member 30 and the box panel member 40 having mobility. Also, a weather strip w2 that maintains tightness with a contact portion between the cap panel member 30 and the box panel member 40 is mounted on the box panel member 40.
Furthermore, a weather strip w[0057] 3 is mounted in a contact portion between the stopper 51 and the box panel member 40.
The operation of the aforementioned pick up truck according to the second embodiment of the present invention will now be described in more detail. [0058]
First, as shown in FIG. 5[0059] a, in a state where the cap panel member 30 and the box panel member 40 are maintained in a vertical direction, the opening 100 is closed. In this case, the cap portion 10 and the cargo load 20 are compartmented like a typical pick up truck. Tightness is maintained between the cap panel member 30 and the box panel member 40 by means of several weather strips w1, w2, and w3. Therefore, it is possible to prevent any noise from occurring during driving of the pick up truck and to also prevent rainwater or dust from being entered into the cap portion 10.
Under the circumstances, to load a longer cargo S, the [0060] opening 100 in a closed state should be opened. To this end, as shown in FIG. 5a, the rear seat 14 which is unfolded is raised in an arrow direction to maintain a vertical state and at the same time the seat back portion 15 is pulled back counterclockwise so that the seat back portion 15 is folded toward the rear seat 14.
As described above, once the [0061] rear seat 14 and the seat back portion 15 are folded, the cap panel member 30 is inwardly raised and is closely fixed to the loop panel 11 by the fixed means 70. Then, the box panel member 40 is inwardly pushed, so that the box panel member 40 is put on the seat back portion 15. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5b, the box panel member 40 is flush with a bottom surface of a load floor 21. As a result, the longer cargo can stably be loaded using the box panel member 40 and the load floor 21.
In the second embodiment of the present invention, the [0062] rear seat 14 and the seat back portion 15 are only folded in a state where the cap panel member 30 is not opened. Thus, the box panel member 40 is only folded toward the cap portion 10 to load the longer cargo. Alternatively, the cap panel member 30 is only folded toward the inner side of the cap portion 10 to ventilate the inner portion during driving of the pick up truck.
As aforementioned, the pick up truck according to the present invention has the following advantages. [0063]
First, since the cap panel member and the box panel member are separated from each other and folded toward the cap portion, a desirable appearance and a simple structure can be obtained, thereby saving the production cost. [0064]
Second, the box panel member is put on the folded seat back portion so that it is flush with the bottom surface of the cargo box. Accordingly, it is convenient to stably load the longer cargo. [0065]
Third, since the longer cargo is put on the rear side of the box panel member in a state where the seat back portion is folded, a rear seat is not damaged. [0066]
Finally, since the seat back portion is mounted at the rear seat, it is possible to prevent a passenger sit on the rear seat from spring out of the truck through the cap opening and the opening of the cargo box even if any crash occurs. [0067]
The foregoing embodiments are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. The present teachings can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. The description of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. [0068]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A pick up truck comprising:

a cap portion driven by an engine and provided with seats at the front to allow a driver and passengers to ride thereon, having a top portion covered with a loop panel;

a cargo load having a load floor extended toward a rear end of the cap portion, for loading various cargos on the load floor;

a cap panel member and a box panel member raised between the cap portion and the cargo load to divide the cap portion and the cargo load, having a back glass to see the rear; and

a box panel switch means for switching the box panel member to connect the cap portion with the cargo load, so that an opening is formed to extend the cargo load,

wherein the box panel switch means separates the cap panel member from the box panel member, so that hinges are formed to allow the cap panel member and the box panel member to be respectively folded toward an inner side of the cap portion, the box panel member having a panel member supporting means for raising the cap portion and the cargo load to compartment them, thereby maintaining and fixing the raised state.

2. The pick up truck of claim 1, wherein the cap panel member includes a cap panel member locking means for raising the cap portion and the cargo load to compartment them, thereby maintaining and fixing the raised state.

3. The pick up truck of claim 1 or 2, further comprising a seat folding means for rotating a rear seat and a seat back portion disposed at the rear of a driver's seat, toward the inner side of the cap portion, to put the box panel member on the seat back portion.

4. The pick up truck of claim 1, wherein the panel member supporting means includes a stopper fixably mounted at one side of the box panel member to support the box panel member at one side opposite to a direction in which the box panel member is folded.

5. The pick up truck of claim 1, wherein the loop panel includes a fixed means consisting of a pair of hooks to maintain the opening in an open state in a state where the cap panel member is tightly folded.

6. The pick up truck of claim 2, wherein the cap panel locking means includes a locking member swingably mounted at the base of the loop panel, the locking member being configured to have more powerful fixed force at the location where it is closely contacted with the cap panel member and the swing location at both ends where the close contact is released.

7. The pick up truck of any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising weather strips disposed along the cap panel member and the box panel member to maintain tightness.