Vehicle structure

A fiber reinforced plastic frame member including means formed therein for attaching to the member associated drive wheels, front wheel supports, pivotable steering means and an engine transaxle module having plate means that is attachable to one surface of the frame member, with spacer means being provided between the plate means and a second surface of the frame member for limiting compression forces exerted on the frame member as tightening means secure the plate means to the frame member.

A fiber reinforced plastic frame member, including means formed therein for attaching to the member an engine, a transaxle and associated drive wheels, and front wheel supports and pivotable steering means, said means for attaching including a downwardly extending channel means adapted to receive a cross bar means for supporting pivotable wheel support means, the frame member being further adapted to mount a mower deck therebeneath, said deck including front and rear pairs of draft links which are pivotally attached to the deck at their lower end portions, with the front pair being swingably carried at their upper end portions by the cross bar means.

A fiber reinforced plastic frame member, including means formed therein for attaching to the member an engine, a transaxle and associated drive wheels, and front wheel support and pivotable steering means;

• said means for attaching including a downwardly extending channel means adapted to receive a cross bar means for supporting pivotable wheel support means, the frame member being further adapted to mount a mower deck therebeneath, said deck including front and rear pairs of draft links which are pivotally attached to the deck at their lower end positions, with the front pair being swingably carried at their upper end portions by the cross bar means for limited transverse swinging movement.

A monocoque vehicle assembly comprised of a fiber reinforced lower frame member joined to a plastic upper body, the frame member being adapted for mounting an engine, a transaxle, associated drive wheels and steerable wheels therewith, the body member being adapted to mount clutch and brake pedals with the pedals being carried for swinging movement inside an upstanding steering column formed in the body member, with foot engaging portions projecting out of the and to the sides of column.

A monocoque vehicle assembly comprised of a fiber reinforced lower frame member joined to a plastic upper body member, said members including means formed therein and therebetween for attaching an engine, a transaxle and a pair of associated drive wheels, a pair of steerable wheels, steering means for the steerable wheels, clutch and brake means and a mounting for a fore-and-aft shiftable operator seat including means between the frame and body members for supporting and guiding the seat during shifting, the means including a fore-and-aft extending surface abuttable with the seat for transferring the weight of the operator and seat to the members, a laterally extending surface abuttable with the seat for restricting outwardly shifting of the seat when occupied, and fore-and-aft aligned indexing means carried by the body member for defining a plurability of fore-and-aft locations at which the seat can be positioned.

Mounting means usable with a plastic lower frame member adapted to be joined with a plastic upper body member to form a monocoque vehicle assembly having a compartmentilized area formed by the assembled members, the area including an opening in the frame member through which an engine may be received and operatively secured to the assembly.