ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE (ATV) PROPELLABLE ON WHEELS OR ENDLESS TRACKS
First Claim
1. An all-terrain vehicle (ATV), the ATV being equippable with a plurality of ground-engaging wheels or a plurality of ground-engaging track assemblies providing traction on the ground, each ground-engaging track assembly of the plurality of ground-engaging track assemblies comprising:
- a plurality of track-contacting wheels; and
an endless track disposed around the plurality of track-contacting wheels, the plurality of track-contacting wheels including a drive wheel for driving the endless track, the endless track comprising an inner side for facing the plurality of track-contacting wheels and a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the ground, the ATV comprising;
a powertrain for delivering power to the ground-engaging wheels when the ATV is equipped with the ground-engaging wheels and to the drive wheels of the ground-engaging track assemblies when the ATV is equipped with the ground-engaging track assemblies, the powertrain being operable in a wheel mode when the ATV is equipped with the ground-engaging wheels and in a track mode when the ATV is equipped with the ground-engaging track assemblies; and
a mode selector for selecting a particular one of the wheel mode and the track mode to cause the powertrain to operate in the particular one of the wheel mode and the track mode.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An all-terrain vehicle (ATV) equippable with a plurality of ground-engaging wheels or a plurality of ground-engaging track assemblies providing traction on the ground. The ATV is designed to facilitate its use whether it is equipped with the ground-engaging wheels or the ground-engaging track assemblies. A powertrain, a steering system, a suspension, a braking system, a body, and/or other components of the ATV have features which take into account that the ATV can be equipped with either the ground-engaging wheels or the ground-engaging track assemblies.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. An all-terrain vehicle (ATV), the ATV being equippable with a plurality of ground-engaging wheels or a plurality of ground-engaging track assemblies providing traction on the ground, each ground-engaging track assembly of the plurality of ground-engaging track assemblies comprising:
- a plurality of track-contacting wheels; and
an endless track disposed around the plurality of track-contacting wheels, the plurality of track-contacting wheels including a drive wheel for driving the endless track, the endless track comprising an inner side for facing the plurality of track-contacting wheels and a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the ground, the ATV comprising;a powertrain for delivering power to the ground-engaging wheels when the ATV is equipped with the ground-engaging wheels and to the drive wheels of the ground-engaging track assemblies when the ATV is equipped with the ground-engaging track assemblies, the powertrain being operable in a wheel mode when the ATV is equipped with the ground-engaging wheels and in a track mode when the ATV is equipped with the ground-engaging track assemblies; and a mode selector for selecting a particular one of the wheel mode and the track mode to cause the powertrain to operate in the particular one of the wheel mode and the track mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
- a plurality of track-contacting wheels; and
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33. A controller for an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), the ATV being equippable with a plurality of ground-engaging wheels or a plurality of ground-engaging track assemblies providing traction on the ground, each ground-engaging track assembly of the plurality of ground-engaging track assemblies comprising:
- a plurality of track-contacting wheels; and
an endless track disposed around the plurality of track-contacting wheels, the plurality of track-contacting wheels including a drive wheel for driving the endless track, the endless track comprising an inner side for facing the plurality of track-contacting wheels and a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the ground, the ATV comprising a powertrain for delivering power to the ground-engaging wheels when the ATV is equipped with the ground-engaging wheels and to the drive wheels of the ground-engaging track assemblies when the ATV is equipped with the ground-engaging track assemblies, the controller comprising;a processing portion; and a memory portion storing a program executable by the processing portion to control the powertrain such that the powertrain operates in a wheel mode when the ATV is equipped with the ground-engaging wheels and in a track mode when the ATV is equipped with the ground-engaging track assemblies.
- a plurality of track-contacting wheels; and
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34. Computer-readable storage media storing a program executable by at least one processor to implement a controller for an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), the ATV being equippable with a plurality of ground-engaging wheels or a plurality of ground-engaging track assemblies providing traction on the ground, each ground-engaging track assembly of the plurality of ground-engaging track assemblies comprising:
- a plurality of track-contacting wheels; and
an endless track disposed around the plurality of track-contacting wheels, the plurality of track-contacting wheels including a drive wheel for driving the endless track, the endless track comprising an inner side for facing the plurality of track-contacting wheels and a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the ground, the ATV comprising a powertrain for delivering power to the ground-engaging wheels when the ATV is equipped with the ground-engaging wheels and to the drive wheels of the ground-engaging track assemblies when the ATV is equipped with the ground-engaging track assemblies, the program when executed by the at least one processor causing the controller to control the powertrain such that the powertrain operates in a wheel mode when the ATV is equipped with the ground-engaging wheels and in a track mode when the ATV is equipped with the ground-engaging track assemblies.
- a plurality of track-contacting wheels; and
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35. An all-terrain vehicle (ATV), the ATV being equippable with a plurality of ground-engaging wheels or a plurality of ground-engaging track assemblies providing traction on the ground, each ground-engaging track assembly of the plurality of ground-engaging track assemblies comprising:
- a plurality of track-contacting wheels; and
an endless track disposed around the plurality of track-contacting wheels, the plurality of track-contacting wheels including a drive wheel for driving the endless track, the endless track comprising an inner side for facing the plurality of track-contacting wheels and a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the ground, the ATV comprising;a frame; a powertrain for delivering power to the ground-engaging wheels when the ATV is equipped with the ground-engaging wheels and to the drive wheels of the ground-engaging track assemblies when the ATV is equipped with the ground-engaging track assemblies; a steering system for steering the ATV on the ground; a suspension for allowing relative motion between the frame and the ground-engaging wheels when the ATV is equipped with the ground-engaging wheels and relative motion between the frame and the ground-engaging track assemblies when the ATV is equipped with the ground-engaging track assemblies; and a braking system for braking the ATV; at least one of the powertrain, the steering system, the suspension, and the braking system being operable in a wheel mode when the ATV is equipped with the ground-engaging wheels and in a track mode when the ATV is equipped with the ground-engaging track assemblies, the ATV comprising a mode selector for selecting a particular one of the wheel mode and the track mode to cause the at least one of the powertrain, the steering system, the suspension, and the braking system to operate in the particular one of the wheel mode and the track mode.
- a plurality of track-contacting wheels; and
Specification