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US 7,506,714 B2Granted
Two person RUV with ergonomic seating and feet placement
AssigneeAmerican Off-Road Technologies, LLC
InventorsRichard A. Davis, Eric A. Davis, Russell R. Kleiser
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A two or more person RUV (recreational utility vehicle) is provided with a multi-place multi-planar saddle seat assembly, multi-place multi-planar foot board assemblies, and grip handles.
Claims16
A recreational utility vehicle (RUV) capable of accommodating multiple passengers, the RUV comprising:
- right and left front wheels and left rear wheels, wherein the front wheels are spaced apart from the rear wheels by a wheelbase, and wherein each of the wheels is associated with a respective low-pressure tire having a respective internal pressure of 10 psi or less;
- right and left front fenders respectively extending behind respective rear edges of the right and left front tires, respectively, and right and left rear fenders respectively extending in front of respective front edges of the right and left rear tires, respectively;
- a saddle seat having a first portion, a second portion and a transitional portion extending in a manner that is at least partially non-horizontal, the transitional portion being positioned between the first and second portions, the second potion being behind the first portion;
- a longitudinally elongated frame to which the wheels, fenders and seat are coupled at least indirectly, the longitudinally elongated frame being sufficiently elongated to accommodate the saddle seat;
- a front and rear suspensions coupled to and spaced longitudinally along the frame, said front and rear suspensions being sufficiently sized and sprung to accommodate the wheelbase and the frame and the saddle seat;
- a handlebar and a rack supported at least indirectly by the elongated frame, wherein at least a part of the rack is positioned behind the saddle seat;
- a pair of grip handles on laterally opposite sides of the saddle seat and mounted to at least one of the longitudinally elongated frame and the rack, wherein the grip handles are in addition to the handlebar and the rack, and wherein the grip handles are positioned forward of the part of the rack and aft of the first portion of the saddle seat;
- right and left foot rest surfaces that are respectively position between the right front and rear fenders and left front and rear fenders, respectively, and that do not extend rearward of the front edges of the right and left rear tires, respectively,
- wherein each of the right and left foot rest surfaces has a respective length that is substantially equal to or greater than a diameter of at least one of the tires;
- wherein each of the right and the left foot rest surfaces includes a first tot rest portion and a second foot rest portion aft of and higher than the first foot rest portion;
- and
- wherein each of the first foot rest portion further includes a laterally extending raised rib portion for locating first feet and each of the second foot rest portion includes a laterally extending pocket portion defining a longitudinally extending tunnel thereunder for locating second feet.
9 more elements
A recreational utility vehicle (RUV) capable of accommodating a driver and a passenger in tandem, the RUV comprising:
- right and left front wheels and right and left rear wheels, wherein the front wheels are spaced apart from the rear wheels by a wheelbase, and wherein each of the wheels is associated with a respective tire;
- right and left front fenders respectively extending behind respective rear edges of the right and left front tires, respectively, and right and left rear fenders respectively extending in front of respective front edges of the right and left rear tires, respectively;
- a longitudinally elongated multi-place, multi-planar saddle seat having a first section, a second section aft of and higher than the first section, and a transition portion extending upwardly and rearwardly from the first section to the second section for accommodating the driver and the passenger in tandem;
- a longitudinally elongated frame to which the wheels, fenders and seat are coupled at least indirectly, the longitudinally elongated frame being sufficiently elongated to accommodate the saddle seat;
- front and rear suspensions couple to and spaced longitudinally along the frame, said front and rear suspensions being sufficiently sized and sprung to accommodate the wheelbase and the frame and the saddle seat;
- a handlebar and a rack supported at least indirectly by the longitudinally elongated frame, wherein at least a part of the rack is positioned behind the saddle seat;
- a pair of grip handles on laterally opposite sides of the saddle seat, wherein the grip handles are in addition to the handlebar and the rack, and wherein the grip handles are positioned forward of the part of the rack and aft of the first portion of the saddle seat;
- and
- a pair of multi-place, multi-planar foot board assemblies attached to the longitudinally elongated frame on laterally opposite sides of the multi-place, multi-planar saddle seat, each of the foot board assemblies having a first foot rest portion, a second foot rest portion aft of and higher than the first foot rest portion, and a transition potion extending upwardly and rearwardly from the first foot rest portion toward the second foot rest portion;
- wherein each of the multi-place, multi-planar foot board assemblies further includes a pocket portion for locating toes of the passenger's foot.
7 more elements
A recreational utility vehicle (RUV) capable of accommodating a driver and a passenger in tandem, the RUV comprising:
- right and left front wheels and right and left rear wheels, wherein the front wheels are spaced apart from the rear wheels by a wheelbase, and wherein each of the wheels is associated with a respective tire;
- right and left front fenders respectively extending behind respective rear edges of the right and left front tires, respectively, and right and left rear fenders respectively extending in front of respective front edges of the right and left rear tires, respectively;
- a longitudinally elongated multi-place, multi-planar saddle seat having a first section, a second section aft of and higher than the first section, and a transition portion extending upwardly and rearwardly from the first section to the second section for accommodating the driver and the passenger in tandem;
- a longitudinally elongated frame to which the wheels, fenders and seat are coupled at least indirectly, the longitudinally elongated frame being sufficiently elongated to accommodate the saddle seat;
- front and rear suspensions couple to and spaced longitudinally along the frame, said front and rear suspensions being sufficiently sized and sprung to accommodate the wheelbase and the frame and the saddle seat;
- a handlebar and a rack supported at least indirectly by the longitudinally elongated frame, wherein at least a part of the rack is positioned behind the saddle seat;
- a pair of grip handles on laterally opposite sides of the saddle seat, wherein the grip handles are in addition to the handlebar and the rack, and wherein the grip handles are positioned forward of the part of the rack and aft of the first portion of the saddle seat;
- and
- a pair of multi-place, multi-planar foot board assemblies attached to the longitudinally elongated frame on laterally opposite sides of the multi-place, multi-planar saddle seat, each of the foot board assemblies having a first foot rest portion, a second foot rest portion aft of and higher than the first foot rest portion, and a transition potion extending upwardly and rearwardly from the first foot rest portion toward the second foot rest portion;
- wherein each of the multi-place, multi-planar foot board assemblies further includes a toe support portion extending rearwardly and upwardly for providing a channel for locating toes of the passenger's foot.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.