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US 8,827,028 B2Granted
Side-by-side ATV
AssigneePolaris Industries Inc.
InventorsRichard Larry Sunsdahl, Aaron David Deckard, Marcus Johannes Tullemans, Jason Carl Plugge, Alan A. Meyer, Geoffrey G. White, Brian Michael Safranski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to all terrain vehicles having at least a pair of laterally spaced apart seating surfaces. More particularly, the present invention relates to trail compliant side-by-side all terrain vehicles.
Claims101
An all-terrain vehicle including:
- a frame, comprising a front frame portion, a mid frame portion and a rear frame portion;
- an engine supported by the rear frame portion;
- a transmission coupled to the engine;
- a pair of front wheels operably coupled to the front frame portion, and drivingly coupled to the transmission;
- a pair of rear wheels operably coupled to the rear frame portion, and drivingly coupled to the transmission;
- a pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces supported by the mid frame portion;
- the engine is positioned longitudinally behind the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces;
- the rear frame portion comprising a lower rear frame portion and an upper rear frame portion, the rear frame portion being comprised of at least one vertical member extending between the lower rear frame portion and the upper rear frame portion,
- the upper rear frame portion is comprised of at least one frame member which extends in at least a partial lengthwise direction of the vehicle and at least one cross member, the upper rear frame portion at least partially extending over at least one of the engine and transmission rearward of the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces, and the upper rear frame portion further comprises a rear brace positioned over the engine and rearward of the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces, the rear brace being readily removable from the frame;
- wherein the lower rear frame portion at least partially supports the engine or transmission and the lower rear frame portion is comprised of cross members;
- and
- a passenger compartment intermediate the front and rear wheels, the passenger compartment comprising a front panel rearward of the front wheels, a floorboard rearward of the front panel, a base portion extending under the seating surfaces and a protective panel positioned rearwardly of the seating surfaces and forwardly of the engine.
9 more elements
An all-terrain vehicle including:
- a frame, comprising a front frame portion, a mid frame portion and a rear frame portion;
- a pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces supported by the mid frame portion;
- an engine supported by the rear frame portion and the engine being positioned longitudinally behind the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces;
- a transmission coupled to the engine;
- a pair of front wheels operably coupled to the front frame portion, and drivingly coupled to the transmission;
- a pair of rear wheels operably coupled to the rear frame portion and drivingly coupled to the transmission;
- and
- a rear axle assembly supported by the rear frame portion to drivingly couple the rear wheels;
- the rear frame portion supporting the engine, transmission, and rear axle assembly, rearward of the laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces, the rear frame portion comprising a lower rear frame portion and an upper rear frame portion, the lower rear frame portion at least partially extending under the engine, transmission and rear axle assembly, and the upper rear frame portion at least partially extending over the engine, transmission and rear axle assembly, the upper rear frame portion including an outer portion and a removable inner portion, the inner portion being removably coupled to the outer portion.
6 more elements
An all-terrain vehicle, comprising:
- a frame, comprising a front frame portion, a mid frame portion and a rear frame portion;
- a pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces including a driver seating surface and a passenger seating surface supported by the mid frame portion;
- a fuel tank positioned below one of the seating surfaces;
- a battery positioned below the other of the seating surfaces;
- an engine supported by the rear frame portion and the engine being positioned longitudinally behind the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces;
- a transmission coupled to the engine;
- a pair of front wheels operably coupled to the front frame portion, and drivingly coupled to the transmission;
- a front drive shaft extending forwardly from the transmission to a front drive to drivingly couple the front wheels, the front drive shaft being located laterally intermediate the laterally spaced apart seating surfaces and extending laterally between the fuel tank and the battery;
- a pair of rear wheels operably coupled to the rear frame portion;
- a rear drive supported by the rear frame portion and drivingly coupled to the rear wheels;
- the rear frame portion supporting and encompassing the engine, transmission, and rear drive, rearward of the laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces, the rear frame portion comprising a lower rear frame portion and an upper rear frame portion, the lower rear frame portion at least partially extending under the engine, transmission and rear drive, and the upper rear frame portion at least partially extending over the engine, transmission and rear drive, the vehicle defining a power to weight ratio, the power to weight ratio being equal to at least 0.045/1 horsepower/pound.
8 more elements
An all-terrain vehicle, comprising:
- a frame, comprising a front frame portion, a mid frame portion and a rear frame portion;
- a pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces including a driver seating surface and a passenger seating surface supported by the mid frame portion;
- a fuel tank positioned below one of the seating surfaces;
- a battery positioned below the other of the seating surfaces;
- an engine supported by the rear frame portion and the engine being positioned longitudinally behind the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces;
- a transmission coupled to the engine;
- a pair of front wheels operably coupled to the front frame portion, and drivingly coupled to the transmission;
- a front drive shaft extending forwardly from the transmission to drive the front wheels, the front drive shaft extending laterally intermediate the laterally spaced apart seating surfaces and extending laterally between the fuel tank and the battery;
- a pair of rear wheels operably coupled to the rear frame portion;
- a rear axle assembly supported by the rear frame portion and drivingly coupled to the rear wheels;
- and
- an outer body panel supported by the frame;
- the rear frame portion supporting and encompassing the engine, transmission, and rear axle assembly, rearward of the laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces, the rear frame portion comprising a lower rear frame portion and an upper rear frame portion, the lower rear frame portion at least partially extending under the engine, transmission and rear axle assembly, and the upper rear frame portion at least partially extending over the engine, transmission and rear axle assembly.
10 more elements
An all-terrain vehicle, comprising:
- a frame, comprising a front frame portion, a mid frame portion and a rear frame portion;
- a pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces including a driver seating surface and a passenger seating surface supported by the mid frame portion;
- a fuel tank positioned below one of the seating surfaces;
- a battery positioned below the other of the seating surfaces;
- an engine supported by the rear frame portion and the engine being positioned longitudinally behind the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces;
- a transmission coupled to the engine;
- a pair of front wheels operably coupled to the front frame portion, and drivingly coupled to the transmission;
- a front drive shaft extending forwardly from the transmission to drive the front wheels, the front drive shaft extending laterally intermediate the laterally spaced apart seating surfaces and extending laterally between the fuel tank and the battery;
- a pair of rear wheels operably coupled to the rear frame portion;
- a rear axle assembly supported by the rear frame portion and drivingly coupled to the rear wheels;
- the rear frame portion supporting and encompassing the engine, transmission, and rear axle assembly, rearward of the laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces, the rear frame portion comprising a lower rear frame portion and an upper rear frame portion, the lower rear frame portion at least partially extending under the engine, transmission and rear axle assembly, and the upper rear frame portion at least partially extending over the engine, transmission and rear axle assembly, the upper rear frame portion including an outer portion and a removable inner portion, the inner portion being removably coupled to the outer portion, and the upper frame outer portion being a fixed portion of the frame and the inner portion being readily removable.
8 more elements
An all-terrain vehicle including:
- a frame, comprising a front frame portion, a mid frame portion and a rear frame portion;
- a pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces supported by the mid frame portion;
- an engine supported by the rear frame portion and positioned longitudinally behind the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces;
- a transmission coupled to the engine, the transmission including a portion positioned rearward of the engine;
- a pair of front wheels operably coupled to the front frame portion, and drivingly coupled to the transmission;
- a pair of rear wheels operably coupled to the rear frame portion, and drivingly coupled to the transmission;
- a front axle assembly supported by the front frame portion drivingly coupled to the front wheels;
- a front drive shaft extending forwardly from the transmission wherein the front drive shaft extends laterally intermediate innermost sides of the laterally spaced apart seating surfaces, and is drivingly coupled to the front axle assembly;
- a rear axle assembly supported by the rear frame portion and drivingly coupled to the rear wheels;
- the rear frame portion comprising a lower rear frame portion and an upper rear frame portion, the upper rear frame portion at least partially extending over at least one of the engine and transmission rearward of the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces;
- and
- a passenger compartment intermediate the front and rear wheels, the passenger compartment comprising a front panel rearward of the front wheels, a floorboard rearward of the front panel, a base portion extending under the seating surfaces and a protective panel extending rearwardly of the seating surfaces and forwardly of the engine.
9 more elements
An all-terrain vehicle, comprising:
- a frame, comprising a front frame portion, a mid frame portion and a rear frame portion;
- a pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces including a driver seating surface and a passenger seating surface supported by the mid frame portion;
- a fuel tank positioned below one of the seating surfaces;
- a battery positioned below the other of the seating surfaces;
- an engine supported by the rear frame portion and the engine being positioned longitudinally behind the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces;
- a transmission coupled to the engine;
- a pair of front wheels operably coupled to the front frame portion, and drivingly coupled to the transmission;
- a front drive shaft extending forwardly from the transmission to drive the front wheels, the front drive shaft extending laterally intermediate the laterally spaced apart seating surfaces and extending laterally between the fuel tank and the battery;
- a pair of rear wheels operably coupled to the rear frame portion;
- a rear axle assembly supported by the rear frame portion and drivingly coupled to the rear wheels;
- the transmission being coupled to the rear axle assembly to drivingly couple the rear wheels;
- the rear frame portion supporting and encompassing the engine, transmission, and rear axle assembly, rearward of the laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces, the rear frame portion comprising a lower rear frame portion and an upper rear frame portion, the lower rear frame portion at least partially extending under the engine, transmission and rear axle assembly, and the upper rear frame portion at least partially extending over the engine, transmission and rear axle assembly.
9 more elements
An all-terrain vehicle including:
- a frame, comprising a front frame portion, a mid frame portion, and a rear frame portion;
- an engine supported by the rear frame portion;
- a transmission coupled to the engine;
- a pair of front wheels operably coupled to the front frame portion, and driven by the transmission;
- a pair of rear wheels operably coupled to the rear frame portion, and driven by the transmission;
- a pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces supported by the mid frame portion;
- the engine being positioned longitudinally behind the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces;
- a utility bed positioned over the engine and rearward of the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces;
- the rear frame portion comprising a lower rear frame portion and an upper rear frame portion, the upper rear frame portion supporting the utility bed and the lower rear frame portion supporting at least one of the engine and transmission rearward of the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces;
- a front axle assembly supported by the front frame portion and a front drive shaft coupling the transmission to the front axle assembly to drive the front wheels, the front drive shaft extending longitudinally while remaining laterally intermediate innermost sides of the laterally spaced apart seating surfaces;
- a rear axle assembly supported by the rear frame portion and coupled to the transmission to drive the rear wheels;
- and
- a passenger compartment intermediate the front and rear wheels, comprising a front panel, a floorboard rearward of the front panel, a base portion positioned under the seating surfaces and a protective panel positioned rearward of the seating surfaces and forward of the engine.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.