Claims:WE CLAIM:
1. A load deck (100) for a vehicle (10) comprising:
a floor member (102);
a base frame member (104) disposed below the floor member (102) and supported onto a pair of long members (106) of the vehicle (10); and
a displacement mechanism (108) connected between the floor member (102) and the base frame member (104), the displacement mechanism (108) configured to move the floor member (102) away from the base frame member (104) of the vehicle (10).

2. The load deck (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the displacement mechanism (108) comprises at least one pair of guide rails having a first guide rail (110) and a second guide rail (112) configured to be slidably disposed onto the first guide rail (110).

3. The load deck (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first guide rail (110) is attached to the base frame member (104) and the second guide rail (112) is attached to the floor member (102), the second guide rail (112) being slidably mounted onto the first guide rail (110).

4. The load deck (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second guide rail (112) is connected with a roller assembly (130) at each end (112A, 112B) of the second guide rail (112).

5. The load deck (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the outward movement of the floor member (102) from the base frame member (104) allows movement of weight mounted onto the floor member (102) away from the base frame member (104) for serviceability.

6. The load deck (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the weight mounted onto the floor member (102) being one or more of a machine (140) of the vehicle (10) and goods (140’) being carried on the vehicle (10).

7. The load deck (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the outward movement of the floor member (102) from the base frame member (104) provides an access to an engine bay area (150) disposed below the floor member (102).

8. The load deck (100) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the floor member (102) is connected with one or more supporting legs (118) at an edge (102A) of the floor member (102) for supporting the floor member (102) connected therein when the floor member (102) is slidably moved outwardly from the base frame member (104) of the vehicle (10).

9. The load deck (100) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the one or more supporting legs (118) are connected with castor wheels (120) for allowing a horizontal movement of the floor member (102).

10. The load deck (100) as claimed in claim 1 comprising a hydraulic system for lifting the floor member (104) to a predefined height for allowing sliding movement sideways.

11. A vehicle (10) comprising:
a pair of long members (106) extending in a vehicle front-rear direction (D1); and
a load deck (100) disposed onto the pair of long members (106), the load deck (100) comprising: a floor member (102), a base frame member (104) disposed below the floor member (102) and supported onto a pair of long members (106) of the vehicle (10); and a displacement mechanism (108) connected between the floor member (102) and the base frame member (104), the displacement mechanism (108) being at least one pair of guide rails (110, 112) configured to move the floor member (102) away from the base frame member (104) of the vehicle (10).
12. The vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 11, wherein a roller assembly (130) is provided in the guide rail (112) at each end (112A, 112B).

13. The vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 11 comprising a weight disposed onto the floor member (102) and the movement of the floor member (102) from the base frame member (104) carries along the weight away from the base frame member (104) for serviceability, the weight being one or more of a machine (140) of the vehicle (10) and goods (140’) being carried on the vehicle (10).

14. The vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the movement of the floor member (102) from the base frame member (104) provides an access to an engine bay area (150) disposed below the floor member (102) for serviceability.

15. The vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the floor member (102) is connected with one or more supporting legs (118) at an edge (102A) of the floor member (102) for supporting the floor member (102) during sliding movement.

16. The vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 15, wherein the one or more supporting legs (118) are connected with castor wheels (120) for allowing a horizontal movement of the floor member (102).
, Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The present invention generally relates to a vehicle. More particularly it relates to a slidable load deck for the vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] Typically, a three-wheeled vehicle is known for its utility and low cost. It may be contemplated that there is a scope for an increase in demand of new requirements in the existing three-wheeled vehicles. Reworking the existing vehicle to meet different customer requirements will avoid huge investments. This would further aid in commonization of major parts such as chassis, style parts etc. In one example of such requirement, a fire-fighting setup was installed in a three-wheeled vehicle. The setup can be installed in a cargo version of the three-wheeled vehicle to get a sufficient space in the rear load deck area for installation of the required aggregates.
[003] Generally, all the cargo vehicles will have an engine service door for ease of engine serviceability. But in cases when a load is kept on the load deck or in fire-fighting vehicles where firefighting equipment are installed over the load deck, the load deck cannot be removed frequently for the serviceability of the engine. Therefore, a challenge arises for accessing the engine area for engine serviceability along with the load or the firefighting equipment installed.
[004] Thus, there is a need in the art for a load deck for a vehicle which could address at least the aforementioned problems and limitations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[005] In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a load deck for a vehicle. The load deck includes a floor member, a base frame member disposed below the floor member and supported onto a pair of long members of the vehicle, and a displacement mechanism connected between the floor member and the base frame member. The displacement mechanism is configured to move the floor member away from the base frame member of the vehicle.
[006] In another embodiment, the displacement mechanism includes at least one pair of guide rails having a first guide rail and a second guide rail configured to be slidably disposed onto the first guide rail. The first guide rail is attached to the base frame member and the second guide rail is attached to the floor member. The second guide rail is slidably mounted onto the first guide rail. The second guide rail is connected with a roller assembly at each end of the second guide rail.
[007] In a further embodiment, the outward movement of the floor member from the base frame member allows movement of weight mounted onto the floor member away from the base frame member for serviceability.
[008] In a further embodiment, the weight mounted onto the floor member is one or more of a machine of the vehicle and goods being carried on the vehicle.
[009] The outward movement of the floor member from the base frame member provides an access to an engine bay area disposed below the floor member.
[010] In a further embodiment, the floor member is connected with one or more supporting legs at an edge of the floor member for supporting the floor member connected therein when the floor member is slidably moved outwardly from the base frame member of the vehicle. The one or more supporting legs are connected with castor wheels for allowing a horizontal movement of the floor member.
[011] In a further embodiment, the load deck includes a hydraulic system for lifting the floor member to a predefined height for allowing sliding movement sideways.
[012] In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a vehicle. The vehicle includes a pair of long members extending in a vehicle front-rear direction, and a load deck disposed onto the pair of long members. The load deck includes a floor member, a base frame member disposed below the floor member and supported onto a pair of long members of the vehicle, and a displacement mechanism connected between the floor member and the base frame member. The displacement mechanism is at least one pair of guide rails configured to move the floor member away from the base frame member of the vehicle.
[013] In a further embodiment, a weight is disposed onto the floor member and the movement of the floor member from the base frame member carries along the weight away from the base frame member for serviceability. The weight is one or more of a machine of the vehicle and goods being carried on the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[014] Reference will be made to embodiments of the invention, examples of which may be illustrated in accompanying figures. These figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in context of these embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these particular embodiments.
Figure 1 illustrates a side view of a vehicle having a load deck mounted with a machine, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 illustrates a rear view of the vehicle shown in Figure 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 illustrates a top view of the vehicle shown in Figure 2, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 illustrates a rear view of a vehicle having a load deck mounted with goods, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5 illustrates a top view of the vehicle shown in Figure 4, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[015] Various features and embodiments of the present invention here will be discernible from the following further description thereof, set out hereunder. In the ensuing exemplary embodiments, the vehicle is a three- wheeled vehicle. However, it is contemplated that the disclosure in the present invention may be applied to any automobile capable of accommodating the present subject matter without defeating the scope of the present invention.
[016] The present invention generally relates to a vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a slidable load deck for the vehicle.
[017] Figure 1 illustrates a side view of a vehicle 10 having a load deck 100 mounted with a machine 140, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the vehicle 10 is a three-wheeled vehicle, for example a three-wheeled cargo vehicle. It may be contemplated that the load deck 100 as explained in the present invention may also find its application in vehicles other than three-wheeled cargo vehicle like a four-wheeled cargo vehicle or a multi-axle and multi-wheeled vehicle as well. Therefore, the exemplary embodiment of three-wheeled vehicle should not be meant to limiting the scope of the present invention.
[018] The vehicle 10 as illustrated in the embodiment of the present invention includes an Internal combustion engine (not shown) or an electric powertrain (not shown) for driving the vehicle 10. The vehicle 10 further includes one or more front wheels 14, two or more rear wheels 16, a seat assembly 18, and a frame. The frame includes a pair of long members 106 (shown in Figure 3) that extend in a vehicle front-rear direction D1 between a front end and a rear end of the vehicle 10. The pair of long members 106 extending in the vehicle front-rear direction D1 are substantially parallel to each other. The frame further includes one or more cross members 106A (shown in Figure 3) that extend transversely between the pair of long members 106.
[019] The vehicle 10 further includes a steering assembly (not shown) operatively connected to the front wheel(s) 14. The front suspension is adapted to support the front wheel 14 of the vehicle 10. An upper portion of the front wheel 14 is covered by a front fender 28 which is mounted to a lower portion of the front suspension(s) at the end of a steering shaft (not shown). The vehicle 10 further includes a handlebar (not shown) which is fixed to an upper bracket (not shown) and can rotate about an axis of a steering shaft to both sides of the vehicle 10.
[020] A front portion of the frame is adapted to support a plurality of body panels to form a driver cabin 20. The driver cabin 20 is adapted to accommodate the seat assembly and the handlebar. The driver cabin 20 includes a pair of headlights 24 on its front face. Each of the rear wheels 16 of the vehicle 10 is covered by a rear fender 38 that is disposed above the rear wheel 16. The rear wheels 16 are rotated by a driving force of a vehicle powertrain (not shown). The vehicle 10 further includes a cargo deck or the load deck 100 that is mounted to the frame and supported onto the pair of long members 106 and is disposed at a rear portion of the vehicle 10.
[021] The load deck 100 includes a floor member 102. The floor member 102 is a planar structure which is adapted to carry one or more weights like goods (140’) (shown in Figures 4 and 5) or one or more machine(s) 140 detachably or fixed mounted onto the load deck 100. In the illustrated embodiment of Figures 1 – 3 in the present invention, the machine 140 is a fire-fighting equipment(s). The fire-fighting equipment(s) may include devices such as but not limited to fire extinguishers, ropes, ladders, hoses, water tanks, pressure pumps, firefighting wearable gear. The machine 140 in another embodiment may include, but not limited to, a kitchen set-up which may be used as a mobile food vehicle.
[022] The load deck 100 of the vehicle 10 further includes a base frame member 104 disposed below the floor member 102. The base frame member 104 is supported onto a pair of long members 106 of the vehicle 10. In an embodiment, the base frame member 104 includes two or more panels connected to each other to form a rectangular structure for accommodating the floor member 102. In an embodiment of the present invention, the base frame member 104 includes a rear base frame 104A, a left side base frame (not shown), and a right side base frame 104B. The load deck 100 of the present invention as referred in the Figures 1 – 3 further includes a displacement mechanism 108 disposed at the base frame member 104.
[023] The displacement mechanism 108 is connected between the floor member 102 and the base frame member 104. Specifically, the displacement mechanism 108 is connected between the floor member 102 and the rear base frame 104A of the base frame member 104 (clearly shown in Figure 2). The displacement mechanism 108 is configured to move the floor member 102 away from the base frame member 104 of the vehicle 10. In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the displacement mechanism 108 includes at least one pair of guide rails. The pair of guide rails includes a first guide rail 110 and a second guide rail 112. The second guide rail 112 is configured to be slidably disposed onto the first guide rail 110. As clearly shown in Figure 2, the first guide rail 110 is attached to the rear frame member 104A of the base frame member 104 and the second guide rail 112 is attached to the floor member 102.
[024] Referring again to Figure 2, the second guide rail 112 is connected with a roller assembly 130 at each end 112A, 112B of the second guide rail 112. As illustrated, the roller assembly 130 provided at the end 112A of the second guide rail 112 is configured to slide over the first guide rail 110 during movement of the load deck 100 away from the base frame member 104.
[025] In an embodiment, the floor member 104 is provided with a hydraulic system (not shown) below the floor member 104 such that the floor member 104 can be lifted upwards to a predefined height. Thus, freeing the floor member 104 for sliding movement when required. The hydraulic system may include one or more hydraulic cylinders which can be actuated by a pressure fluid via a switch (not shown) disposed in the driver’s cabin 20.
[026] In an embodiment, the floor member 102 is connected with one or more supporting legs 118 at an edge 102A of the floor member 102 for supporting the floor member 102 when the floor member 102 is slidably moved outwardly from the base frame member 104 of the vehicle 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the supporting legs 118 are a straight structure made of metal and are welded to the edge 102A of the floor member 102 at one end. The other end or the free end of the supporting leg 118 includes a castor wheel 120, which allows a smooth horizontal movement of the floor member 102. In another embodiment, the supporting legs 118 may adapted to be folded during a non-extended position of the floor member 102.
[027] In an embodiment of the present invention when a user requires to access an engine bay area 150 (shown in Figures 2 – 5) which is disposed below the floor member 102 for serviceability, the user will activate the hydraulic system of the vehicle 10 to lift the floor member 102 to the predefined height so that the floor member 102 is lifted slightly from the base frame member 104. The predefined height is the height sufficient to release the floor member 102 from the base frame member 104 such that the floor member 102 is capable of side movement slidably. Once the floor member 102 is lifted, the user can move the floor member 102 by holding the floor member 102 horizontally.
[028] In another embodiment, the floor member 102 can be slidably mounted on the base frame member 104 such that the floor member 102 is slidably moved without lifting the floor member 102. In this embodiment, the floor member 102 may not be provided with a hydraulic system. In other words, the floor member 102 can slide without lifting the floor member 102 of the load deck 100 by the hydraulic system.
[029] While the floor member 102 is moved horizontally, the displacement mechanism 108 having the first and second guide rails 110, 112 along with the roller assembly 130 will help to slide away the floor member 102 from the base frame member 104. In the illustrated embodiment in Figures 2 – 4 of the present invention since the guide rails 110, 112 are mounted at the rear frame member 104A, the floor member 102 is allowed to slide horizontally towards the side of the vehicle 10, particularly towards the left side of the vehicle 10. In may be contemplated that the guide rails 110, 112 may also be arranged on the rear frame member 104A in such a way that the floor member 102 can be moved towards the right side of the vehicle 10. For doing so, the supporting legs 118 may be suitably connected to a right side edge of the floor member 102.
[030] In yet another embodiment, the displacement mechanism 108 having the guide rails 110, 112 can also be connected to the left side frame or the right side frame 104B of the base frame member 104. In this embodiment, the floor member 102 is moved in a rearward direction, i.e., from the vehicle front-rear direction. Thus, it may be contemplated that the mounting of the displacement mechanism 108 having the guide rails 110, 112 on the base frame member 104 is not limited to the manner as illustrated in the Figures 1- 5 of the present invention.
[031] The outward movement of the floor member 102 from the base frame member 104 allows movement of the machine 140 or the goods 140’ mounted onto the floor member 102 away from the base frame member 104 for serviceability of an engine at the engine bay area 150. In other words, the floor member 102 when moved outwardly from the base frame member 104, the floor member 102 carries along the machine 140 or the goods 140’. Thus, the outward movement of the floor member 102 from the base frame member 104 provides an access to the engine bay area 150 disposed below the floor member 102 for serviceability without removing the machine 140 or the goods 140’ placed on the floor member 102 of the vehicle 10.
[032] Advantageously, the load deck of the present invention provides a sliding feature on the base frame member of the vehicle. Thereby, the load deck provides an ease of operation and accessibility of components kept below the load deck. Thus, the engine bay area of the vehicle can be easily accessed, thereby serviceability, ease of usage and operation has improved, and the service time is drastically reduced. Unlike in the prior arts where the engine is serviced only after the complete removal of the machine like firefighting equipment or the goods from the load deck, which takes more time for removal and cost for labour, however, in the present invention, since the load deck is slidable towards any side or rearwards, the engine can be serviced without removal of the machine (fire-fighting equipment), or the goods mounted on the floor member of the load deck. Further, since the supporting leg is provided in the bottom portion of the floor member of the load deck, the floor member is supported to stand when it is moved towards the side of the load deck. Also, the supporting leg holds the load deck in the side until the engine service is done.
[033] While the present invention has been described with respect to certain embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modification may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.