# US 9,434,244 B2 · Side-by-side ATV

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- Number: US 9,434,244 B2
- Document ID: US9434244B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/776,588
- Filed: 2013-02-25
- Published: 2013-06-27
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2006-07-28
- Assignees: Polaris Industries Inc.
- Applicants: Polaris Industries Inc.
- Inventors: Richard L. Sunsdahl; Aaron D. Deckard; Marcus J. Tullemans; Richard E. Eck; Jason C. Plugge; Alan A. Meyer; Laurie J. Rengel; Geoffrey G. White; Thomas S. P. McCoubrey; Brian M. Safranski
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9434244B2

## CPC

- B60G 3/20: all arms being rigid
- B60K 5/00: Arrangement or mounting of internal-combustion or jet-propulsion units (B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00)
- B60K 17/348: having differential means for driving one set of wheels, e.g. the front, at one speed and the other set, e.g. the rear, at a different speed (B60K17/346 takes precedence)
- B60N 2/01: Arrangement of seats relative to one another
- B62D 21/183: {specially adapted for sports vehicles, e.g. race, dune buggies, go-karts (tubular skeleton B62D23/005)}
- B62K 21/00: Steering devices
- B62K 25/00: Axle suspensions (for vehicles in general B60G)
- B60G 2200/144: with two lateral arms forming a parallelogram
- B60G 2204/122: Mounting of torsion springs
- B60G 2204/1222: Middle mounts of stabiliser on vehicle body or chassis
- B60G 2204/1224: End mounts of stabiliser on wheel suspension
- B60G 2300/07: Off-road vehicles
- B60G 2300/13: Small sized city motor vehicles
- B62M 27/02: power driven
- B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00})
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)
- B62K: CYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDECARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE
- B62M: RIDER PROPULSION OF WHEELED VEHICLES OR SLEDGES; POWERED PROPULSION OF SLEDGES OR {SINGLE-TRACK} CYCLES; TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SUCH VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of transmissions in vehicles in general B60K; transmission elements per se F16)

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An all-terrain vehicle, comprising:
a frame;
a pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces supported by the frame, the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces including a lower seating surface having an upward facing seating surface height and a seating surface low point height, the lower seating surface further including a lower seating surface rearmost point, the lower seating surface rearmost point being located within a vertical rear seat plane, a rearward seat height point being defined at the upward facing seating surface height within the vertical rear seat plane;
an engine located rearwardly of the vertical rear seat plane,
a transmission,
a pair of front wheels;
a pair of rear wheels spaced-apart from the pair of front wheels by a wheelbase distance, the pairs of front and rear wheels adapted to support the frame above a ground surface, the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces supported above the frame by a seat height distance;
front and rear axle attachment points that are fixed relative to the frame and are operable to respectively couple a front axle and a rear axle to the frame;
a power train drivingly coupled to front and rear wheels, the power train including a front drive shaft operable to drive the front wheels, a portion of the drive shaft being located in a space that is:
1) lower than the upward facing seating surface height,
2) higher than a portion of the frame that supports the laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces,
3) rearward of a forwardmost portion of the lower seating surfaces, and
4) forward of the vertical rear seat plane; and
wherein the front and rear axle attachment points define a first attachment axis therebetween, the front axle attachment point and the rearward seat height point defining a second axis therebetween, the first and second axes cooperating to define a first angle, the first angle being less than 12 degrees, further wherein a pair of outermost lateral points of the vehicle define a vehicle width of less than 54 inches.

### Claim 2

An all-terrain vehicle, comprising:
a frame:
a pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces supported by the frame, the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces including a lower seating surface having an upward facing seating surface height and a seating surface low point height, the lower seating surface further including a lower seating surface rearmost point, the lower seating surface rearmost point being located within a vertical rear seat plane, a rearward seat height point being defined at the upward facing seating surface height within the vertical rear seat plane;
an engine located rearwardly of the vertical rear seat plane.
a transmission,
a pair of front wheels;
a pair of rear wheels spaced-apart from the pair of front wheels by a wheelbase distance, the pairs of front and rear wheels adapted to support the frame above a ground surface, the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces supported above the frame by a seat height distance;
front and rear axle attachment points that are fixed relative to the frame and are operable to respectively couple a front axle and a rear axle to the frame;
a power train drivingly coupled to front and rear wheels, the power train including a front drive shaft operable to drive the pair of front wheels, a portion of the front drive shaft being located in a space that is:
1) lower than the upward facing seating surface low point height,
2) higher than a portion of the frame that supports the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces,
3) rearward of a forwardmost portion of the lower seating surfaces, and
4) forward of the vertical rear seat plane and
wherein the front and rear axle attachment points define a first attachment axis therebetween, the front axle attachment point and the rearward seat height point defining a second axis therebetween, the first and second axes cooperating to define a first angle, the first angle being less than 12 degrees, the engine is part of a modular engine assembly having a clutch cooling inlet and an engine cooling inlet each adapted to communicate cooling air to the modular engine assembly, the clutch cooling inlet and the engine cooling inlet extending upwardly laterally between the laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a cab including a protective cage, the protective cage including an upper portion, the upper portion having a width less than the vehicle width.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a torsion bar operably coupled between the pair of front wheels.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, wherein the engine is supported by the frame and defines a power output, further wherein the all-terrain vehicle defines a weight and a power to weight ratio, the power to weight ratio being equal to at least 0.045/1 horsepower/pound.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, wherein the rear axle attachment point and the rearward seat height point define a third axis therebetween, the first and third axes cooperating to define a second angle, the second angle being less than 22 degrees.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, wherein the rear axle attachment point and the rearward seat height point define a third axis therebetween, the second and third axes cooperating to define a third angle, the third angle being greater than 147 degrees.

### Claim 8

An all-terrain vehicle, comprising:
a frame including a lower frame member that defines a ground clearance height for the vehicle;
a pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces supported by the frame, the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces including a lower seating surface having an upward facing seating surface height and a seating surface low point height, the lower seating surface further including a lower seating surface rearmost point, the lower seating surface rearmost point being located within a vertical rear seat plane, a rearward seat height point being defined at the upward facing seating surface height within the vertical rear seat plane;
an engine located rearwardly of the vertical rear seat plane,
a transmission,
a pair of front wheels defining a front wheelbase vertical plane;
a pair of rear wheels defining a rear wheelbase vertical plane, the front and rear wheelbase vertical planes being spaced-apart to define a wheelbase distance, the pairs of front and rear wheels adapted to support the frame above a ground surface;
front and rear lower frame wheelbase points that are defined at the ground clearance height on the front and rear wheelbase vertical planes, respectively;
a power train drivingly coupled to front and rear wheels, the power train including a front drive shaft operable to drive the pair of front wheels, a portion of the front drive shaft being located in a space that is:
1) lower than the upward facing seating surface low point height,
2) higher than a portion of the frame that supports the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces,
3) rearward of a forwardmost portion of the lower seating surfaces, and
4) forward of the vertical rear seat plane; and
wherein the front and rear lower frame wheelbase points define a first axis therebetween, the front lower frame wheelbase point and the rearward seat height point defining a second axis therebetween, the first and second axes cooperating to define a first angle, the first angle being less than 17 degrees, further wherein a pair of outermost lateral points of the vehicle define a vehicle width of less than 54 inches.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the rear lower frame wheelbase point and the rearward seat height point define a third axis therebetween, the first and third axes cooperating to define a second angle, the second angle being less than 32 degrees.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The all-terrain vehicle of claim 8, wherein the rear lower frame wheelbase point and the rearward seat height point define a third axis therebetween, the second and third axes cooperating to define a third angle, the third angle being greater than 131 degrees.

### Claim 11

An all-terrain vehicle, comprising:
a frame;
a pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces supported by the frame, the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces including a lower seating surface having a low point; an engine located rearwardly of a vertical rear seat plane containing the low point,
a transmission,
a pair of front wheels;
a pair of rear wheels spaced-apart from the pair of front wheels by a wheelbase distance, the pairs of front and rear wheels adapted to support the frame above a ground surface, the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces supported above the frame by a seat height distance;
front and rear axle attachment points that are fixed relative to the frame and are operable to respectively couple a front axle and a rear axle to the frame;
a power train drivingly coupled to front and rear wheels, the power train including a front drive shaft operable to drive the pair of front wheels, a portion of the front drive shaft being located in a space that is:
1) lower than the lower seating surface low point,
2) higher than a portion of the frame that supports the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces,
3) rearward of a forwardmost portion of the lower seating surfaces, and
4) forward of the vertical rear seat plane; and
wherein the front and rear axle attachment points define a first attachment axis therebetween, the front axle attachment point and the lower seating surface low point defining a second axis therebetween, the first and second axes cooperating to define a first angle, the first angle being less than 12 degrees when viewed in a lateral plan view, further wherein a pair of outermost lateral points of the vehicle define a vehicle width of less than 54 inches.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The all-terrain vehicle of claim 11, wherein the rear axle attachment point and the lower seating surface low point define a third axis therebetween, the first and third axes cooperating to define a second angle, the second angle being less than 21 degrees.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The all-terrain vehicle of claim 11, wherein the rear axle attachment point and the lower seating surface low point define a third axis therebetween, the second and third axes cooperating to define a third angle, the third angle being greater than 147 degrees.

### Claim 14

An all-terrain vehicle, comprising:
a frame including a lower frame member that defines a ground clearance height for the vehicle;
a pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces supported by the frame, the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces including a lower seating surface having a low point;
an engine located rearwardly of a vertical rear seat plane containing the low point,
a transmission,
a pair of front wheels defining a front wheelbase vertical plane;
a pair of rear wheels defining a rear wheelbase vertical plane, the front and rear wheelbase vertical planes being spaced-apart to define a wheelbase distance, the pairs of front and rear wheels adapted to support the frame above a ground surface;
front and rear lower frame wheelbase points that are defined at the ground clearance height on the front and rear wheelbase vertical planes, respectively;
a power train drivingly coupled to front and rear wheels, the power train including a front drive shaft operable to drive the pair of front wheels, a portion of the front drive shaft being located in a space that is:
1) lower than the lower seating surface low point,
2) higher than a portion of the frame that supports the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces,
3) rearward of a forwardmost portion of the lower seating surfaces, and
4) forward of the vertical rear seat plane; and wherein the front and rear lower frame wheelbase points define a first axis therebetween, the front lower frame wheelbase point and the lower seating surface low point defining a second axis therebetween, the first and second axes cooperating to define a first angle, the first angle being less than 18 degrees when viewed in a lateral plan view, further wherein a pair of outermost lateral points of the vehicle define a vehicle width of less than 54 inches.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the rear lower frame wheelbase point and the lower seating surface low point define a third axis therebetween, the first and third axes cooperating to define a second angle, the second angle being less than 31 degrees.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The all-terrain vehicle of claim 14, wherein the rear lower frame wheelbase point and the lower seating surface low point define a third axis therebetween, the second and third axes cooperating to define a third angle, the third angle being greater than 132 degrees.

### Claim 17

An all-terrain vehicle, comprising:
a frame including a lower frame member that defines a ground clearance height for the vehicle;
a pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces supported by the frame, the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces including a lower seating surface having a low point;
an engine located rearwardly of a vertical rear seat plane containing the low point,
a transmission,
a pair of front wheels;
a pair of rear wheels, the pairs of front and rear wheels adapted to support the frame above a ground surface;
front and rear wheel-axle points that are defined at centers of the front and rear wheels, respectively;
a power train drivingly coupled to front and rear wheels, the power train including a front drive shaft operable to drive the pair of front wheels, a portion of the front drive shaft being located in a space that is:
1) lower than the lower seating surface low point,
2) higher than a portion of the frame that supports the pair of laterally spaced-apart seating surfaces,
3) rearward of a forwardmost portion of the lower seating surfaces, and
4) forward of the vertical rear seat plane; and
wherein the front and rear wheel-axle points define a first axis therebetween, the front wheel-axle point and the lower seating surface low point defining a second axis therebetween, the first and second axes cooperating to define a first angle, the first angle being less than 15 degrees when viewed in a lateral plan view, further wherein a pair of outermost lateral points of the vehicle define a vehicle width of less than 54 inches.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the rear wheel-axle point and the lower seating surface low point define a third axis therebetween, the first and third axes cooperating to define a second angle, the second angle being less than 27 degrees.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The all-terrain vehicle of claim 17, wherein the rear wheel-axle point and the lower seating surface low point define a third axis therebetween, the second and third axes cooperating to define a third angle, the third angle being greater than 138 degrees.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the transmission has a forwardmost point that is not located forward of a forwardmost point of the engine.

### Claim 21 (depends on 8)

The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the transmission has a forwardmost point that is not located forward of a forwardmost point of the engine.

### Claim 22 (depends on 11)

The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the transmission has a forwardmost point that is not located forward of a forwardmost point of the engine.

### Claim 23 (depends on 14)

The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the transmission has a forwardmost point that is not located forward of a forwardmost point of the engine.

### Claim 24 (depends on 17)

The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the transmission has a forwardmost point that is not located forward of a forwardmost point of the engine.