Zero-turn utility vehicle
AssigneeBriggs & Stratton Corporation
InventorsSamuel Gerrits, James Mast
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A zero-turn utility vehicle includes a frame, a pair of drive wheels disposed proximate to the front end of the frame, a rear wheel disposed proximate to the rear end of the frame, a prime mover supported by the frame above the drive wheels, the prime mover configured to power the drive wheels, a seat supported by the central structure, the seat disposed between the prime mover and the rear end, the seat configured to support a user facing towards the front end in a normal operating position, a pair of footrests located on opposite sides of the seat, a tool attachment coupled to the frame and powered by the prime mover, and user controls configured to operate the drive wheels, wherein each of the drive wheels may be operated independently with the user controls.
Claims22
A zero-turn utility vehicle, comprising:
- a frame having a front end, a rear end, a right side, a left side, and a central structure located between the right side and the left side;
- a pair of drive wheels disposed proximate to the front end of the frame, each drive wheel having a drive mechanism, the first drive wheel located on the left side of the frame and the second drive wheel located on the right side of the frame;
- a rear wheel disposed proximate to the rear end of the frame;
- a prime mover supported by the frame above the drive wheels, the prime mover configured to power the drive wheels via the drive mechanisms;
- a seat supported by the central structure, the seat disposed between the prime mover and the rear end, the seat configured to support a user facing towards the front end in a normal operating position;
- a pair of footrests located on opposite sides of the seat, each of the footrests configured to support one of the user's feet, the footrests separated from one another by the central structure so that the first footrest is located on the right side of the frame and the second footrest is located on the left side of the frame;
- a tool attachment coupled to the frame and powered by the prime mover;
- and
- user controls configured to operate the drive wheels, wherein the user faces the user controls in the normal operating position;
- wherein each of the drive wheels may be operated independently with the user controls.
A zero-turn utility vehicle, comprising:
- a frame having a front end, a rear end, a right side, and a left side;
- a pair of drive wheels disposed proximate to the front end of the frame, each drive wheel having a drive mechanism, the first drive wheel located on the left side of the frame and the second drive wheel located on the right side of the frame;
- a rear wheel disposed proximate to the rear end of the frame;
- a prime mover supported by the frame above the drive wheels, the prime mover configured to power the drive wheels via the drive mechanisms;
- a seat supported by the frame, the seat disposed between the prime mover and the rear end, the seat fixed in a single orientation to support a user facing towards the front end in a normal operating position;
- a front mount located proximate the front end and forward of the drive wheels, the front mount configured to receive a tool attachment to be powered by the prime mover;
- a mid mount located between the drive wheels and the rear wheel and rearward of the prime mover, the mid mount configured to receive the tool attachment;
- and
- user controls configured to operate the drive wheels, wherein the user faces the user controls in the normal operating position;
- wherein each of the drive wheels may be operated independently with the user controls.
A zero-turn utility vehicle, comprising:
- a frame having a first end and a second end;
- two drive wheels disposed proximate to the first end of the frame;
- a third wheel disposed proximate to the second end of the frame;
- a prime mover supported proximate the first end of the frame, the prime mover configured to power the drive wheels;
- a handlebar mechanism configured to operate the drive wheels, the handlebar mechanism rotatable about an axis from a neutral position into a first rotation zone and a second rotation zone;
- and
- a controller receiving an input from the handlebar mechanism, the controller coupled to the drive wheels;
- wherein the controller directs the drive wheels to rotate such that the vehicle turns about a point outboard from the first drive wheel when the handlebar mechanism is in the first rotation zone;
- and wherein the controller directs the drive wheels to rotate such that the vehicle turns about a point between the first drive wheel and the second drive wheel when the handlebar mechanism is in the second rotation zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.