ALL TERRAIN VEHICLE
First Claim
1. An all terrain vehicle comprising a body having a bottom wall and side walls extending upward the the edges of the bottom wall to form an upward concave impervious body cavity, portions of said side walls adjacent said bottom wall defining laterally opposed openings therethrough, first and second drive shafts transpiercing said openings and being journalled for rotation relative said body, first and second means for sealing said shafts at said openings so as to prevent fluid passage therethrough, each said shaft having an inner end within the body cavity and an outer end exterior thereof, means within said body cavity for rotatively driving said shafts, first and second traction members on the outer ends of respective shafts for engagement with the terrain on which the vehicle operates, at least one arm having a first end pivotally mounted on the outer end of said shaft and a second end remote from said first end, a traction member journalled for rotation at the second end of said arm, means associated with said arm for establishing a driving connection between the outer end of said shaft and last said traction member, means for resiliently biasing said arm relative said body toward the terrain on which the vehicle operates;
- a stabilizer bar having an outer end joined to said arm at a point adjacent the second end thereof, said stabilizer bar having an inner end remote from said outer end, and means for pivotally connecting said inner end to said bottom wall for pivotally connecting said inner end to said bottom wall for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to and in substantial vertical alignment with said drive shafts; and
, a portion of said bottom wall defining a downward concave slot, said slot extending from said pivotal connecting means to the edge of said body adjacent said point so that said stabilizer bar can enter said slot.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An all terrain vehicle and a suspension system for an all terrain vehicle is disclosed with a drive system that affords steerage by braking the wheels on one or the other sides of the vehicle and without turning the wheels. The improved suspension system is provided with independently suspended wheels which can have interchangeable parts with each wheel independently adjustable to adapt the vehicle for travel over relatively rough terrain or over relatively smooth terrain. Provision is made to shield the driving and suspending members for all wheels from the terrain and elements ambient to the terrain. A body is disclosed with an all terrain vehicle that is lightweight, reinforced for strength, and substantially water tight.
145 Citations
6 Claims
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1. An all terrain vehicle comprising a body having a bottom wall and side walls extending upward the the edges of the bottom wall to form an upward concave impervious body cavity, portions of said side walls adjacent said bottom wall defining laterally opposed openings therethrough, first and second drive shafts transpiercing said openings and being journalled for rotation relative said body, first and second means for sealing said shafts at said openings so as to prevent fluid passage therethrough, each said shaft having an inner end within the body cavity and an outer end exterior thereof, means within said body cavity for rotatively driving said shafts, first and second traction members on the outer ends of respective shafts for engagement with the terrain on which the vehicle operates, at least one arm having a first end pivotally mounted on the outer end of said shaft and a second end remote from said first end, a traction member journalled for rotation at the second end of said arm, means associated with said arm for establishing a driving connection between the outer end of said shaft and last said traction member, means for resiliently biasing said arm relative said body toward the terrain on which the vehicle operates;
- a stabilizer bar having an outer end joined to said arm at a point adjacent the second end thereof, said stabilizer bar having an inner end remote from said outer end, and means for pivotally connecting said inner end to said bottom wall for pivotally connecting said inner end to said bottom wall for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to and in substantial vertical alignment with said drive shafts; and
, a portion of said bottom wall defining a downward concave slot, said slot extending from said pivotal connecting means to the edge of said body adjacent said point so that said stabilizer bar can enter said slot.
- a stabilizer bar having an outer end joined to said arm at a point adjacent the second end thereof, said stabilizer bar having an inner end remote from said outer end, and means for pivotally connecting said inner end to said bottom wall for pivotally connecting said inner end to said bottom wall for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to and in substantial vertical alignment with said drive shafts; and
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2. A vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said slot defining portion of said bottom wall includes spaced apart generally vertically extending plates that afford reinforcement to said bottom wall.
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3. A vehicle according to claim 2 wherein said biasing means comprises a compression spring having upper and lower ends, means for fastening said upper end to said body at preselected locations along a horizontal path on said body and means for fastening said lower end to said arm at a region adjacent the second end of said arm.
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4. In an all terrain vehicle comprising a body having a bottom wall and side walls extending upward from the edges of the bottom wall to form an upward concave impervious body cavity, portions of said side walls adjacent said bottom wall defining laterally opposed openings therethrough, first and second drive shafts transparencing said openings and being journalled for rotation relative to said body, first and second means for sealing said shafts at said openings so as to prevent fluid passage therethrough, each said shaft having an inner end within said body cavity and an outer end exterior thereof, means within said body cavity for rotatively driving said shafts, an arm having a first and pivotally mounted on the outer end of said shaft and a second end remote from said first end, a traction member journalled for rotation at the second end of said arm, mEans associated with said arm for establishing a driving connection between the outer end of said shaft and said traction member, means for resiliently biasing said arm relative to said body toward the terrain on which said vehicle operates, a stabilizer bar having an outer end joined to said arm at a point adjacent the second end thereof, said stabilizer bar having an inner end remote from said outer end, and means for pivotally connecting said inner end to said bottom wall for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to and in substantial vertical alignment with said drive shafts;
- and, a portion of said bottom wall defining a downward concave slot, aid slot extending from said pivotal connecting means to the edge of said body adjacent said points so that said stabilizer bar can enter said slot.
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5. A vehicle according to claim 4 wherein said slot defining portion of said bottom wall includes spaced apart generally vertically extending plates that afford reinforcement to said bottom wall.
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6. A vehicle according to claim 4 wherein said biasing means comprises a compression spring having an upper and lower end;
- means for fashioning said upper end to said body at preselected locations along a horizontal path on said body; and
, means for fastening said lower end to said arm at a region adjacent the second end of said arm.
- means for fashioning said upper end to said body at preselected locations along a horizontal path on said body; and
Specification