Side-by-side ATV

US 20110048828A1
Filed: 10/25/2010
Published: 03/03/2011
Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2006
Status: Active Grant

First Claim

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1. An all-terrain vehicle including:

a frame;

an engine supported by the frame;

a transmission supported by the frame;

a pair of front wheels operably coupled to the frame;

a pair of rear wheels operably coupled to the frame, and drivingly coupled to the transmission;

a pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces supported by the frame;

the engine and transmission are positioned longitudinally behind the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces;

a drive shaft drivingly coupling the transmission to the front wheels andwherein a pair of outermost lateral points of the vehicle define a vehicle width less than 54 inches.

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Abstract

The present invention relates to all terrain vehicles having at least a pair of laterally spaced apart seating surfaces. More particularly, the present invention relates to trail compliant side-by-side all terrain vehicles.

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70 Claims

1. An all-terrain vehicle including:
- a frame;
  
  an engine supported by the frame;
  
  a transmission supported by the frame;
  
  a pair of front wheels operably coupled to the frame;
  
  a pair of rear wheels operably coupled to the frame, and drivingly coupled to the transmission;
  
  a pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces supported by the frame;
  
  the engine and transmission are positioned longitudinally behind the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces;
  
  a drive shaft drivingly coupling the transmission to the front wheels andwherein a pair of outermost lateral points of the vehicle define a vehicle width less than 54 inches.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
- - 2. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, wherein the drive shaft extends intermediate the laterally spaced apart seating surfaces.
  - 3. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a cab receiving the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces, the cab including a center console.
  - 4. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, further comprising an engine cooling intake positioned laterally intermediate the spaced-apart seating surfaces.
  - 5. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a cab receiving the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces, the cab including a dash panel and an adjustable grab bar extending from the dash panel.
  - 6. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, wherein the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces are defined by a bench seat.
  - 7. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, wherein the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces are defined by a pair of bucket seats.
  - 8. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle width is approximately 50 inches.
  - 9. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 8, wherein the vehicle width is defined by the outer sides of the front wheels.
  - 10. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a cab including a protective cage, the protective cage including an upper portion, the upper portion having a width less than the vehicle width.
  - 11. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, further including a protective panel positioned between the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces and the engine.
  - 12. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, wherein the transmission including a splined output shaft, and the driveshaft including a coupler adapted to operably couple with the splined output shaft.
  - 13. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, wherein the engine is coupled to the frame by a three position mounting system.
  - 14. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, further defining a weight and a power to weight ratio, the power to weight ratio being equal to at least 0.045/1 horsepower/pound.
  - 15. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, wherein at least one of the front wheels includes a braking assembly including a caliper and a brake disk having front and rear ends, the caliper positioned adjacent to the rear end of the brake disk.
  - 16. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, further including a fuel tank, the spaced-apart seating surfaces including a driver seating surface and a passenger seating surface, the fuel tank being positioned below the passenger seating surface.
  - 17. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 16, further including a battery positioned vertically below the driver seating surface.
  - 18. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, further including an adjustable steering wheel adapted to actuate the pair of front wheels.
  - 19. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 18, further comprising an adjustment device configured to lock the steering wheel in a selected position, the adjustment device being continuously adjustable within a range of motion.
  - 20. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a torsion bar operably coupled between the front wheels.
  - 21. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a front suspension operably coupling the front wheels to the frame for independent vertical movement, the front suspension including a stabilizer bar configured to transmit at least a portion of upward force exerted on one of the front wheels to the other of the front wheels.
  - 22. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, wherein the outermost lateral points include outer surfaces of tires mounted on the wheels.
  - 23. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, wherein the outermost lateral points include a pair of fenders.

24. An all-terrain vehicle including:
- a frame;
  
  an engine supported by the frame;
  
  a transmission supported by the frame;
  
  a pair of front wheels operably coupled to the frame, and drivingly coupled to the transmission;
  
  a pair of rear wheels operably coupled to the frame, and drivingly coupled to the transmission;
  
  a pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces supported by the frame; and
  
  wherein a pair of outermost lateral points of the vehicle define a trail compliant vehicle width.
- View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
- - 25. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 24, wherein the trail width compliant width is approximately 50 inches.
  - 26. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 24, further comprising a cab including a protective cage, the protective cage including an upper portion, the upper portion having a width less than the vehicle width.
  - 27. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 24, further comprising a guard rail positioned adjacent to an outside edge of at least one of the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces.
  - 28. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 24, wherein the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces are defined by a bench seat.
  - 29. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 24, wherein the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces are defined by a pair of bucket seats.
  - 30. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 24, wherein the engine and transmission are positioned longitudinally behind the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces.
  - 31. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 24, wherein:
    - the pair of rear wheels are spaced-apart from the pair of front wheels by a wheelbase distance, the pairs of front and rear wheels adapted to support the frame above a ground surface, the laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces being supported above a ground surface by a seat height distance; and
      
      the ratio of wheelbase distance to seat height distance being at least 6.0 to 1.
  - 32. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 24, further including a foot well including a side panel and a floorboard, the side panel extending upward from the floorboard.
  - 33. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 32, wherein the side panel extends upwardly from the floorboard by approximately four inches.
  - 34. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 33, further including a front panel supported by the frame and positioned above the pair of front wheels, and a hood removably coupled to the front panel, the front panel including a storage compartment.
  - 35. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 34, further comprising plungers supported by one of the hood and the front panel, and grommets supported by the other of the front panel and the hood, the plungers being removably received within the grommets to removably couple the hood to the front panel.
  - 36. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 35, further including a modular engine assembly having a clutch cooling inlet and an engine cooling inlet each adapted to communicate cooling air to the modular engine assembly, the clutch cooling inlet and the engine cooling inlet extending upwardly laterally between the spaced-apart seating surfaces.
  - 37. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 36, further including an engine cover adapted to cover the modular engine assembly, the clutch cooling inlet and the engine cooling inlet passing upwardly through the engine cover.

38. An all-terrain vehicle including:
- a frame, comprising a front frame portion, a mid frame portion and a rear frame portion;
  
  a front suspension supported by the front frame portion;
  
  at least two front wheels coupled to the front suspension;
  
  a front differential supported by the front frame portion and drivingly coupled to the front wheels;
  
  a seating area supported by the mid frame portion, comprising side by side seats;
  
  an engine supported by the rear frame portion, the engine positioned rearwardly of the seating area;
  
  a transmission coupled to the engine;
  
  a rear suspension supported by the rear frame portion;
  
  at least two rear wheels coupled to the rear suspension;
  
  a rear differential supported by the rear frame portion and drivingly coupled to the rear wheels;
  
  a front drive shaft extending between the transmission and the front differential for coupling the transmission to the front wheels; and
  
  a rear drive shaft extending between the transmission and the rear differential for coupling the transmission to the rear wheels.
- View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
- - 39. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 38, wherein the seating area is comprised of side-by-side bucket seats having a seat back and a seat bottom.
  - 40. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 39, wherein each bottom has a seating surface and a low point of the seating surface is below a top of the engine.
  - 41. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 40, further comprising a transmission shift lever extending through a floor board and positioned between the seat bottoms.
  - 42. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 38, wherein the rear frame portion comprises a lower rear frame portion and an upper rear frame portion.
  - 43. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 42, wherein the lower rear frame portion is comprised of lower cross members.
  - 44. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 42, wherein the upper rear frame portion is comprised of at least one cross member.
  - 45. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 42, wherein the upper rear frame portion at least partially extends over at least one of the engine or transmission.
  - 46. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 42, wherein the upper rear frame portion further comprises a rear brace positioned over the engine and transmission.
  - 47. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 46, wherein the rear brace is coupled to the frame rear portion.
  - 48. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 42, wherein an engine cover is positioned over and is supported by the upper rear frame portion.
  - 49. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 45, further comprising an outer body panel supported by the frame.
  - 50. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 49, wherein the outer body panel comprises a front body panel and a hood.
  - 51. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 42, further comprising a front storage area positioned under the hood.
  - 52. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 42, further comprising a protective panel positioned between the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces and the engine.
  - 53. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 52, wherein the front driveshaft extends under the protective panel.
  - 54. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 53, further comprising a fuel tank, the spaced-apart seating surfaces including a driver seating surface and a passenger seating surface, the fuel tank being positioned below one of the seating surfaces.
  - 55. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 54, further comprising a battery positioned below the other of the seating surfaces.
  - 56. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 55, wherein the driveshaft extends laterally between the fuel tank and the battery.

57. An all-terrain vehicle including:
- a frame;
  
  an engine supported by the frame;
  
  a transmission supported by the frame;
  
  a pair of front wheels operably coupled to the frame, and drivingly coupled to the transmission;
  
  a pair of front tires mounted on said front wheels;
  
  a pair of rear wheels operably coupled to the frame, and drivingly coupled to the transmission;
  
  a pair of rear tires mounted on said rear wheels;
  
  a pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces supported by the frame;
  
  the engine and transmission are substantially positioned rearward of the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces; and
  
  wherein a pair of outermost lateral points of the vehicle define a trail compliant vehicle width, the pair of outermost lateral points of the vehicle are defined by the tires, and wherein the forwardmost position is defined by the front tires.
- View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
- - 58. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 57, wherein the trail width compliant width is approximately 50 inches.
  - 59. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 57, further comprising a cab including a protective cage, the protective cage including an upper portion, the upper portion having a width less than the vehicle width.
  - 60. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 57, further comprising a guard rail positioned adjacent to an outside edge of at least one of the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces.
  - 61. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 57, wherein the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces are defined by a bench seat.
  - 62. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 57, wherein the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces are defined by a pair of bucket seats.
  - 63. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 57, wherein the engine and transmission are positioned longitudinally behind the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces.
  - 64. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 57, wherein the pair of rear wheels are spaced-apart from the pair of front wheels by a wheelbase distance, the pairs of front and rear wheels adapted to support the frame above a ground surface, the laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces being supported above a ground surface by a seat height distance.
  - 65. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 57, further including a foot well including a side panel and a floorboard, the side panel extending upward from the floorboard.
  - 66. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 65, wherein the side panel extends upwardly from the floorboard by approximately four inches.
  - 67. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 57, further including a front panel supported by the frame and positioned above the pair of front wheels, and a hood removably coupled to the front panel, the front panel including a storage compartment.
  - 68. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 67, further comprising plungers supported by one of the hood and the front panel, and grommets supported by the other of the front panel and the hood, the plungers being removably received within the grommets to removably couple the hood to the front panel.
  - 69. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 57, further including a modular engine assembly having a clutch cooling inlet and an engine cooling inlet each adapted to communicate cooling air to the modular engine assembly, the clutch cooling inlet and the engine cooling inlet extending upwardly laterally between the spaced-apart seating surfaces.
  - 70. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 57, further including an engine cover adapted to cover the modular engine assembly, the clutch cooling inlet and the engine cooling inlet passing upwardly through the engine cover.

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Current Assignee
Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
Original Assignee
Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
Inventors
Safranski, Brian Michael, Plugge, Jason Carl, Deckard, Aaron David, Parks McCoubrey, Thomas Samuel, Eck, Richard E., Tullemans, Marcus Johannes, Meyer, Alan A., White, Geoffrey G., Rengel, Laurie Jean, Sunsdahl, Richard Larry

Granted Patent

US 8,596,405 B2
Time in Patent Office

Days
Field of Search
US Class Current

180/68.1
CPC Class Codes

B60G 2200/144   with two lateral arms formi...

B60G 2204/122   Mounting of torsion springs

B60G 2204/1222   Middle mounts of stabiliser...

B60G 2204/1224   End mounts of stabiliser on...

B60G 2300/07   Off-road vehicles

B60G 2300/13   Small sized city motor vehi...

B60G 3/20   all arms being rigid

B60K 17/348   having differential means f...

B60K 5/00   Arrangement or mounting of ...

B60N 2/01   Arrangement of seats relati...

B62D 21/183   specially adapted for sport...

B62K 21/00   Steering devices steering d...

B62K 25/00   Axle suspensions for vehicl...

B62M 27/02   power driven

Side-by-side ATV

First Claim

1 Assignment

0 Petitions

Accused Products

Abstract

87 Citations

70 Claims

Specification

Solutions

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Side-by-side ATV

First Claim

1 Assignment

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Subscription Required

0 Petitions

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Accused Products

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Abstract

87 Citations

70 Claims

Specification

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Solutions

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