ADJUSTABLE FOOT CONTROL FOR VEHICLE

• US 20080173122A1
• Filed: 01/16/2008
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
• Inventors: Bagnariol, David L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,832,516 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/478
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/04 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 17/04 Windscreens
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 35/00 Fuel tanks specially adapted for motorcycles or engine-assisted cycles; Arrangements thereof fuel tanks forming part of cycle frames B62K11/00; tanks in general B60K ; closure caps for fuel tanks B60K15/0406
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/08 the beam being fabricated from sheet metal, e.g. forming fuel tank walls
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/283 for cycles without a pedal crank, e.g. motorcycles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20055 Foot operated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20189 Foot operated

Abstract

A vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle may include multiple fuel storage tanks arranged in a split side-by-side configuration. The vehicle may include a rear suspension having a linkage which moves in a direction not parallel with a centerline plane of the vehicle. The vehicle may include a tip-over structure which prevents unwanted tip-over of the vehicle. The vehicle may have moveable foot control levers to accommodate different size riders. The vehicle may include a moveable windshield.

Claims

1. A vehicle for operation by a rider, comprising

a plurality of ground engaging members;

a frame supported by the plurality of ground engaging members;

a straddle seat supported by the frame;

a component supported by the plurality of ground engaging members;

a first member supported by the frame;

a second member supported by the frame, the second member being moveable relative to the first member; and

a foot actuatable control lever coupled to the second member, the foot actuatable control lever being operatively coupled to the component to provide an input to the component, wherein an initial position of the foot actuatable control lever is set based on the position of the second member relative to the first member, the initial position being selected based on the rider.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the second member is translatable relative to the first member.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the second member is translatable along a first linear axis relative to first member.

4. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the first member includes a channel and the second member includes a first portion which is received in the channel of the first member, the channel and the first portion having complementary shapes.

5. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the initial position of the foot actuatable control lever is selected from a plurality of predetermined positions, the plurality of predetermined positions corresponding to a plurality of predetermined positions of the second member relative to the first member.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the plurality of predetermined positions are spaced apart along a line.

7. The vehicle of claim 5, further comprising a coupler which secures second member relative to first member in a selected one of the plurality of predetermined positions of the second member relative to the first member.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first member is a support and the second member is a mount, the foot actuatable control lever being rotatably coupled to the mount, the mount being translatable relative to the support.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, further comprising a foot rest rotatably coupled to the support.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the foot rest includes an upper surface and the mount is translatable in a direction parallel to the upper surface of the foot rest.

11. A method of adjusting the position of a foot peg of a foot actuatable control lever of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a mount and a support, the mount being translatable relative to the support;

coupling the foot actuatable control lever of the vehicle to the mount;

translating the mount relative to the support to position the foot peg; and

securing the mount and the support together.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the foot actuatable control lever is rotatably coupled to the mount.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the support and the mount include complementary shapes which restrain the movement of the mount relative to the support to a first linear axis.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the support includes a channel and the step of translating the mount relative to the support to position the foot peg includes moving the mount within the channel of the support.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of predetermined adjustment locations at which the mount may be secured to the support; and

selecting a first location of the predetermined adjustment locations.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of securing the mount and the support together includes positioning the mount relative to the support at the first location and coupling the mount to the support at the first location with a fastener.