Vehicle Having Zero Tracking Front Arm Assemblies
OwnerStephen Kariniemiinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An All-Terrain Vehicle with a front arm designed to minimize lateral wheel tracking. The front arm may comprise an assembly comprising an upper front arm and a lower front arm, in an embodiment. The front arm may attach along a hinge line that is perpendicular to a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle. Tire tracking can be a safety hazard for ATV's and off road vehicles. In conventional systems, as a wheel droops, the wheel can have an arcuate path inward or laterally towards the centerline of the vehicle. If this tire tracking, or inward distance, is too large, a safety hazard situation may exist. This disclosure describes a way to overcome or minimize this tire tracking.
Claims20
A vehicle comprising:
- a frame;
- a first front arm, having a first front arm first proximal end portion and a first front arm first distal end portion;
- wherein the first front arm first proximal end portion is configured to be attached in a hinged configuration to the frame at a first frame attachment zone;
- and
- wherein when the first front arm is moved vertically between a first neutral configuration towards a second configuration wherein the second configuration is at least 7 inches from the first neutral configuration, a reference point along the first front arm has substantially the same lateral perpendicular dimension from a longitudinal centerline along the vehicle at the first neutral configuration and at the second configuration.
A front arm comprising:
- a first front arm first proximal portion and wherein the first front arm first proximal portion is configured to be attached in a hinged configuration with a frame at a first frame attachment zone;
- wherein the first front arm further comprises a first front arm distal portion configured to be attached to a spindle assembly;
- and
- wherein when the first front arm is attached to the frame at the first frame attachment zone and when the first front arm distal portion is moved vertically upward at least 7 inches between a first configuration and a second configuration wherein the first configuration is at a neutral or intended ride height configuration, a reference point along the first front arm has a substantially equal perpendicular lateral distance from a longitudinal center line along the frame at the first and second configuration.
A front arm for a vehicle suspension, comprising:
- a first proximal portion configured to be hingedly attached to a vehicle frame at a first hinge point;
- a second proximal portion configured to be hingedly attached to the vehicle frame at a second hinge point, the first and second hinge points defining a hinge axis;
- Wherein the hinge axis is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle frame;
- a distal portion configured to be attached to a spindle assembly at a spindle attachment point;
- and
- wherein the front arm is configured such that a first perpendicular distance, measured perpendicular to the hinge axis from the first hinge point to the spindle attachment point axis, is substantially equal to a second perpendicular distance, measured perpendicular to the hinge axis from the second hinge point to the spindle attachment point.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.