초록 ▼

A utility vehicle is disclosed that may be used in multiple modes of use, such as a low speed transport vehicle or a golf cart. The vehicle has a rear passenger seat area which can be converted into a golf bag carrying mechanism. The vehicle also has a foot pedestal for use when operating with rear

A utility vehicle is disclosed that may be used in multiple modes of use, such as a low speed transport vehicle or a golf cart. The vehicle has a rear passenger seat area which can be converted into a golf bag carrying mechanism. The vehicle also has a foot pedestal for use when operating with rear passengers, and which may fold up when not in use.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A low speed vehicle, comprising: a frame;a driver seat mounted to the frame;a rear facing side by side passenger seat mounted behind the driver seat, the rear facing passenger seat having a down position for use with passengers and an upright position for storage when no passengers;a rear wall in

1. A low speed vehicle, comprising: a frame;a driver seat mounted to the frame;a rear facing side by side passenger seat mounted behind the driver seat, the rear facing passenger seat having a down position for use with passengers and an upright position for storage when no passengers;a rear wall intermediate the driver seat and the rear facing passenger seat;a security bar positioned intermediate the side by side positions of the rear facing passenger seat, the security bar having an upright position for use with passengers and a down position for use with no passengers;a latching assembly having a first latch mechanism located on the rear facing passenger seat proximate the security bar, a second latch mechanism on the security bar, and a third latch mechanism positioned on the rear wall, wherein when the rear facing passenger seat is down, the first latch mechanism is latched to the second latch mechanism to hold the security bar up, and when the rear facing passenger seat is folded up, the first latch mechanism is unlatched from the second latching mechanism, and the first latch mechanism is latched to the third latching mechanism. 2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein when in the down position, the security bar may be folded up with the passenger seat. 3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the rear facing passenger seat is defined by a seat base with side by side cushions thereon. 4. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the seat base has an integrally molded slot therein profiled to receive the security bar when in the down position. 5. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a rearwardly facing back rest, positioned for supporting the passenger's backs in the rear facing passenger seat. 6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the rearwardly facing back rest is supported by a back frame which extends across the back of the vehicle. 7. The vehicle of claim 6, further comprising pillars extending upwardly from the frame, wherein the back frame spans the pillars. 8. The vehicle of claim 3, further comprising arms rests attached to the seat base. 9. The vehicle of claim 8, further comprising pillars extending upwardly from the frame, wherein the arm rests rotate up with the seat frame, and flank the pillars. 10. The vehicle of claim 3, further comprising seat belt buckles attached to the seat base. 11. A low speed vehicle, comprising: a frame;a driver seat mounted to the frame;a rear facing side by side passenger seat mounted behind the driver seat, the rear facing passenger seat having a down position for use with passengers and an upright position for storage when no passengers;a rear wall intermediate the driver seat and the rear facing passenger seat;a security bar positioned intermediate the side by side positions of the rear facing passenger seat, the security bar having an upright position for use with passengers and a down position for use with no passengers, wherein when in the down position, the security bar may be folded up with the passenger seat. 12. The vehicle of claim 11, further comprising a latching assembly having a first latch mechanism located on the rear facing passenger seat proximate the security bar, a second latch mechanism on the security bar, and a third latch mechanism positioned on the rear wall, wherein when the rear facing passenger seat is down, the first latch mechanism is latched to the second latch mechanism to hold the security bar up, and when the rear facing passenger seat is folded up, the first latch mechanism is unlatched from the second latching mechanism, and is latched to the third latching mechanism. 13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the rear facing passenger seat is defined by a seat base with side by side cushions thereon. 14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the seat base has an integrally molded slot therein profiled to receive the security bar when in the down position. 15. The vehicle of claim 12, further comprising a rearwardly facing back rest, positioned for supporting the passenger's backs in the rear facing passenger seat. 16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the rearwardly facing back rest is supported by a back frame which extends across the back of the vehicle. 17. The vehicle of claim 16, further comprising pillars extending upwardly from the frame, wherein the back frame spans the pillars. 18. The vehicle of claim 13, further comprising arms rests attached to the seat base. 19. The vehicle of claim 18, further comprising pillars extending upwardly from the frame, wherein the arm rests rotate up with the seat frame, and flank the pillars. 20. The vehicle of claim 13, further comprising seat belt buckles attached to the seat base. 21. A low speed vehicle, comprising: a frame;rear vehicle operational lights mounted to the frame;a driver seat mounted to the frame;a rear facing passenger seat mounted behind the driver seat; anda foot pedestal attached to the frame and having a first position for use with rear facing passengers, and an upright position for use with no passengers, the foot pedestal having an operating position angled towards the vehicle at an angle of between 5° and 10° elevated from horizontal to allow the passengers feet to be angled up relative to the ground. 22. The vehicle of claim 21, wherein the foot pedestal is at an angle of 7°. 23. The vehicle of claim 21, wherein the foot pedestal has an upright position substantially perpendicular to the ground. 24. The vehicle of claim 23, wherein the foot pedestal is held in the upright position by way of a popper pin. 25. A low speed vehicle, comprising: a frame;rear vehicle operational lights mounted to the frame;a driver seat mounted to the frame;a rear facing passenger seat mounted behind the driver seat; anda foot pedestal attached to the frame and having a first position for use with rear facing passengers, and an upright position for use with no passengers, the foot pedestal having openings therethrough at locations proximate the rear vehicle operational lights, to view the rear vehicle operational lights from a rear thereof when the foot pedestal is in the upright position. 26. The vehicle of claim 25, wherein the foot pedestal is a molded device with integrally molded internal openings adjacent to corners of the molded device. 27. A low speed vehicle, comprising: a frame;a driver seat mounted to the frame;a rear facing passenger seat mounted behind the driver seat; anda foot pedestal attached to the frame and having a first position for use with rear facing passengers, and an upright position for use with no passengers, the foot pedestal being operational as a rear bumper in either the upright or down position. 28. A low speed vehicle, comprising: a frame;a driver seat, comprising a seat bottom and a seat back;a driver seat adjustment mechanism positioned intermediate the frame and the driver seat back, the driver seat adjustment mechanism allows the seat back to move forwardly, rearwardly and vertically relative to the seat bottom, with the seat bottom being maintained in a generally horizontal position. 29. The low speed vehicle of claim 28, wherein the driver seat adjustment mechanism is comprised of a four bar linkage arrangement, with fixed links attached to the frame and the seat back and two movable links connected to the fixed links. 30. The low speed vehicle of claim 29, wherein one of the movable links includes a rotary detent member, providing multiple detented positions for the driver seat back. 31. A low speed vehicle, comprising: a frame;a driver seat, comprising a seat bottom and a seat back;front pillars mounted to the frame forward of the driver seat on left and right hand sides of the vehicle, the front pillars having an upper portion above a driver's head when seated;rear pillars mounted to the frame rearward of the driver seat on left and right hand sides of the vehicle, the rear pillars having an upper portion above a driver's head when seated;a longitudinal frame member extending between each of the upper portions of the front and rear pillars; anda canopy operatively connected to the front and rear pillars, the canopy being spaced from at least a part of the longitudinal frame member to allow the driver and or passenger to use the longitudinal frame members as hand holds. 32. The low speed vehicle of claim 31, wherein the longitudinal frame is continuous with the front pillars. 33. A low speed vehicle, comprising: a frame;a driver seat mounted to the frame;a drivetrain;fixed brackets mounted to opposite side of the frame;an axle, having axle brackets attached thereto, in general lateral alignment with the fixed brackets;trailing links extending between the fixed brackets and the axle brackets;linear force elements extending between the axle and the frame; anda cross link extending between and movably attached to the fixed brackets and the axle. 34. The low speed vehicle of claim 33, wherein the cross link has triangular points of connection between the fixed brackets and the axle. 35. The low speed vehicle of claim 34, wherein the cross link is defined by a generally U-shaped member. 36. The low speed vehicle of claim 35, wherein the cross link is attached to the fixed brackets at substantially equal longitudinal positions, and connected to the axle at a position longitudinally rearward from the connection to the fixed brackets. 37. The low speed vehicle of claim 36, wherein the cross link connection at the axle is by way of a bushing extending along a longitudinal axis. 38. The low speed vehicle of claim 33, wherein the vehicle is defined as a golf cart.