# US 11,993,124 B2 · Side-by-side vehicle

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- Number: US 11,993,124 B2
- Document ID: US11993124B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/098,318
- Filed: 2023-01-18
- Published: 2023-05-18
- Granted: 2024-05-28
- Earliest claimed: 2013-09-04
- Assignees: Polaris Industries Inc.
- Applicants: Polaris Industries Inc.
- Inventors: Aaron D. Deckard; Adam J. Schlangen; Dennis J. Lutz; Alex R. Scheuerell; Aaron J. Nysse
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11993124B2

## CPC

- B60G 21/055: Stabiliser bars
- B60G 3/20: all arms being rigid
- B60K 13/04: concerning exhaust
- B60K 17/22: characterised by arrangement, location, or type of main drive shafting, e.g. cardan shaft
- B60R 19/48: combined with, or convertible into, other devices or objects, e.g. bumpers combined with road brushes, bumpers convertible into beds
- B62D 3/12: of rack-and-pinion type
- B62D 7/18: Steering knuckles; King pins
- B62D 21/183: {specially adapted for sports vehicles, e.g. race, dune buggies, go-karts (tubular skeleton B62D23/005)}
- B62D 29/00: Superstructures, {understructures, or sub-units thereof,} characterised by the material thereof {(B62D33/044, B62D33/048 take precedence)}
- B62D 33/0625: {open}
- B60G 2200/144: with two lateral arms forming a parallelogram
- B60G 2200/44: steerable
- B60G 2300/124: Quads
- B60G 2300/13: Small sized city motor vehicles
- B60K 13/02: concerning intake
- B60K 2005/003: {the internal combustion or jet propulsion unit is arranged between the front and the rear axle}
- B60Y 2200/20: Off-Road Vehicles
- B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00})
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)
- B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY

## Abstract

A utility vehicle includes a plurality of ground-engaging members, a frame assembly, a cab frame assembly, a front suspension assembly, a rear suspension assembly, a power steering assembly, and a powertrain assembly, all of which may be configured to lower the center of gravity of the vehicle.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A utility vehicle, comprising:
a plurality of front ground engaging members;
a plurality of rear ground engaging members positioned rearward of the front ground engaging members;
a frame assembly supported by the front and rear ground engaging members;
a powertrain assembly operably coupled to the front and rear ground engaging members;
a front suspension assembly operably coupled to the front ground engaging members, the front suspension assembly including an upper alignment arm, a lower alignment arm, and a steering arm each coupled to a hub assembly, wherein the upper alignment arm is positioned vertically above the steering arm.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein the upper alignment arm includes a first end and a second end and the steering arm includes a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the upper alignment arm is positioned rearward of the first end of the steering arm and the second end of the upper alignment arm is positioned forward of the second end of the steering arm.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein the upper alignment arm includes an upward bend beneath which the steering arm is positioned.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein the upper alignment arm includes a forward upper alignment arm and a rearward upper alignment arm, wherein the rearward upper alignment arm is positioned crossing the steering arm vertically above the steering arm.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The utility vehicle of claim 4, wherein the lower alignment arm includes a forward lower alignment arm and a rearward lower alignment arm, wherein the rearward lower alignment arm is positioned crossing the steering arm vertically below the steering arm.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The utility vehicle of claim 5, wherein the rearward upward alignment arm includes a bend positioned vertically above the steering arm.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The utility vehicle of claim 6, wherein the bend includes a concave side and a convex side, wherein the concave side of the bend is positioned toward the steering arm.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein the hub assembly includes a king pin axis that is angled relative to a vertical axis of the hub assembly when the utility vehicle is a horizontal orientation.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The utility vehicle of claim 8, wherein the king pin axis is angled rearward relative to the vertical axis of the hub assembly above a center point of the hub assembly.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The utility vehicle of claim 8, wherein the rearward lower alignment arm includes a bend, the bend includes a concave side and a convex side, wherein the convex side is positioned toward the king pin axis.

### Claim 11

A utility vehicle, comprising:
a plurality of front ground engaging members;
a plurality of rear ground engaging members positioned rearward of the front ground engaging members;
a frame assembly supported by the front and rear ground engaging members;
a powertrain assembly operably coupled to the front and rear ground engaging members;
a front suspension assembly operably coupled to the front ground engaging members, the front suspension assembly including an upper alignment arm, a lower alignment arm, and a steering arm each coupled to a hub assembly, wherein the upper alignment arm is positioned traversing across a longitudinal axis of the steering arm from a rearward side to a forward side of the steering arm.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The utility vehicle of claim 11, wherein the upper alignment arm is positioned vertically above the steering arm.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The utility vehicle of claim 11, wherein the upper alignment arm includes a curved profile.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The utility vehicle of claim 13, wherein the curved profile defines a convex side and a concave side, wherein the concave side of the curved profile of the upper alignment arm is positioned facing the steering arm.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The utility vehicle of claim 11, wherein the upper alignment arm includes a first end and a second end and the steering arm includes a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the upper alignment arm is positioned rearward of the first end of the steering arm and the second end of the upper alignment arm is positioned forward of the second end of the steering arm.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The utility vehicle of claim 15, wherein the first end of the upper alignment arm is positioned vertically higher than the first end of the steering arm.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The utility vehicle of claim 15, wherein the second end of the upper alignment arm is positioned vertically higher than the second end of the steering arm.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The utility vehicle of claim 15, wherein the first and second ends of the upper alignment arm are positioned vertically higher than the first and second ends of the second arm.

### Claim 19

The utility vehicle of 56, wherein the lower alignment arm is positioned crossing the steering arm vertically below the steering arm.

### Claim 20 (depends on 11)

The utility vehicle of claim 11, wherein the steering arm is positioned intermediate the upper alignment arm and the lower alignment arm.