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US 8,297,394 B2Granted
Two person RUV with ergonomic seating and feet placement
AssigneeAmerican Off-Road Technology, 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.
Claims11
A recreational utility vehicle (RUV) capable of accommodating multiple passengers, 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 low-pressure tire having a respective internal pressure;
- right and left front fenders respectively extending behind respective rear edges of the right and left front wheels, respectively, and right and left rear fenders respectively extending in front of respective front edges of the right and left rear wheels, 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 positioned between the first and second sections;
- 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 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 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
- right and left foot rest surfaces that are respectively positioned between the right front and rear fenders and the left front and rear fenders, respectively, and that do not extend rearward of the front edges of the right and left rear wheels, respectively,
- wherein the transition portion of the multi-place, multi-planar saddle seat extends upwardly and rearwardly from the first section toward the second section for accommodating at least two riders in tandem;
- and
- wherein the second section of the multi-place, multi-planar saddle seat at least partially extends over at least one of a pair of drive shafts used for driving the front and the rear wheels.
9 more elements
A recreational utility vehicle (RUV) capable of accommodating multiple passengers, 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 low-pressure tire having a respective internal pressure;
- right and left front fenders respectively extending behind respective rear edges of the right and left front wheels, respectively, and right and left rear fenders respectively extending in front of respective front edges of the right and left rear wheels, 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 portion 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;
- 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 flume and the saddle seat;
- an output shaft of an internal combustion engine that is connected at least indirectly to the longitudinally elongated frame, the output shaft extending from the engine and connected through a power take-off to a transmission and a pair of drive shafts to drive the front and rear wheels;
- 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
- right and left foot rest surfaces that are respectively positioned between the right front and rear fenders and the left front and rear fenders, respectively, and that do not extend rearward of the front edges of the right and left rear wheels, respectively,
- wherein at least one of the pair of drive shafts used to drive the front and rear wheels is positioned at least partially beneath the second portion of the saddle seat.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.