US 2014/0265284 A1 · REDUCED-SIZE VEHICLE WITH LARGE INTERNAL VOIDS

Abstract

Various embodiments of reduced-size vehicles such as all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and utility vehicles (UVs) are disclosed herein. In at least some embodiments, the vehicles include frames that are wider near the front and rear sections of the vehicles than within the mid-sections of the vehicles. This, in combination with the use of shock-absorbers that are substantially vertically oriented, allows for the opening-up of large interior cavities within the front and rear sections of the vehicles within which can be positioned large front and rear internal compartments that can provide storage/carrying capacity as well as added buoyancy for the vehicle, among other things. Also, in at least some embodiments, the vehicles can include special cooling and/or exhaust systems having components that are positioned substantially within the mid-sections of the vehicles, thus further increasing the amounts of space available for the cavities/compartments within the front and rear sections of the vehicles.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A reduced-size vehicle having a wheelbase and a front section, a rear section, and a mid-section extending between the front and rear sections, wherein a central axis of the vehicle extends between front and rear ends of the vehicle, the reduced-size vehicle comprising:

a first storage compartment positioned substantially within the front section of the vehicle, wherein the first storage compartment has a first length as measured along a first axis that is substantially parallel to the central axis;
and
a second storage compartment positioned substantially within the rear section of the vehicle, wherein the second storage compartment has a second length as measured along a second axis that is substantially parallel to the central axis;
wherein a sum of the first and second lengths is greater than 50% of the wheelbase, wherein under operating circumstances a center of gravity of the vehicle is at or above a center of gravity of at least one of the first and second storage compartments when empty or completely filled with a homogeneous material;
and
wherein a first ratio of at least one of a first width of the first storage compartment and a second width of the second storage compartment to an overall vehicle width is at least 46%.

3 more elements

A reduced-size vehicle having a front section, a mid-section and a rear section positioned successively adjacent to one another between a front end and a rear end, and left and right sides extending between the front and rear ends, the reduced-size vehicle comprising:

a first strut portion extending generally through the mid-section from the front section to the rear section;
a second strut portion extending generally through the mid-section from the front section to the rear section, wherein the first strut portion is positioned generally higher than the second strut portion, and the second strut portion is at least indirectly coupled to the first strut portion;
a third strut portion extending outward toward at least one of the left and right sides relative to the first strut portion, wherein the third strut portion is coupled at least indirectly to at least one of the first and second strut portions, and forms a loop that is situated substantially within the front section;
and
an internal compartment positioned within an internal cavity defined at least in part by the third strut portion, wherein the internal compartment extends at least 45% of a distance between the first and second strut portions.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

14/142,284Filed 27 Dec 2013

Priority

30 Dec 2004

Published

18 Sep 2014

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification24 codes

B62K 19/46
Cycle frames: luggage carriers forming part of frame
B60G 3/06
The arm being essentially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle: the arm being rigid
B60G 3/20
With two or more pivoted arms, e.g. parallelogram: all arms being rigid
B60G 7/001
Pivoted suspension arms; Accessories thereof: suspension arms, e.g. constructional features

Family

Application60/640,410Us provisional application · filed 30 Dec 2004

Application11/324,139Continuation · filed 30 Dec 2005

Application11/324,176Continuation · filed 30 Dec 2005

Application11/323,309Continuation · filed 30 Dec 2005

Application11/323,351Division · filed 30 Dec 2005

Application12/684,767Continuation · filed 8 Jan 2010

Application12/701,331Continuation · filed 5 Feb 2010

Application13/093,404Continuation · filed 25 Apr 2011

Application13/093,385Continuation · filed 25 Apr 2011

Application13/488,037Continuation · filed 4 Jun 2012

Application14/142,284Continuation