Small four-wheeled vehicle

• US 6,260,913 B1
• Filed: 09/03/1999
• Issued: 07/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Murata, Yutaka, Sekita, Takahito
• Primary Examiner(s): Pape, Joseph D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Kiran B.
• Application Number:
  US09/390,410
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 296/185, 296/77.1, 296/68.1, 296/66, 296/190.08, 296/901, 280/748, 280/751
• US Class Current: 296/190.08
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/183 specially adapted for sports vehicles, e.g. race, dune buggies, go-karts tubular skeleton B62D23/005
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 31/003 compact cars, e.g. city cars

Abstract

A small four-wheeled vehicle frame cover covering a body frame for supporting a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels includes a floor panel, side decks, a front deck, and a rear deck. The side decks extend laterally from opposite sides of a cabin, the front deck is present in front of the cabin, and the rear deck is positioned behind the cabin. The decks surround the cabin, forming a gallery. An interior frame constituting the cabin includes a driver supporting unit which is composed of a seat cushion, a seat back, shoulder pads, and side supports. The interior frame and driver supporting unit are positioned way back from entrances in order to enlarge the entrances.

Claims

1. A small four-wheeled vehicle, comprising:

a pair of right and left front wheels;

a pair of right and left rear wheels being positioned downstream of said pair of right and left front wheels;

a cabin positioned between said pair of right and left front wheels and said pair of right and left rear wheels, said cabin having open right and left sides;

a driver supporting unit being disposed in said cabin, said driver supporting unit for supporting a user of said vehicle;

shoulder pads for supporting shoulders of the user, said shoulder pads positioned on said driver supporting unit to substantially prevent lateral movement of said user; and

side supports for supporting hips of said user, said side supports positioned on said driver supporting unit to further substantially prevent lateral movement of said user.

2. The small four-wheeled vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising flat platform means provided in front of, behind and at the opposite sides of said cabin, said flat platform means forming a continuous member, which forms a gallery around a periphery of said cabin.

3. The small four-wheeled vehicle according to claim 2, wherein front and rear bumpers are provided at the front and rear ends of the vehicle body, and foot steps are formed on said front and rear bumpers.

4. The small four-wheeled vehicle according to claim 2, wherein luggage fastening rails are disposed on said platform means in front of and behind said cabin.

5. The small four-wheeled vehicle according to claim 1, wherein each of said shoulder pads is comprised of three parts, a first part being an outer cover for a second part and a third part, said second part and said third part being attachable to make one integral member.

6. The small four-wheeled vehicle according to claim 5, wherein said first part has a slit defined in a rear end thereof, said slit facilitating insertion of said second part and said third part into said first part, whereby said second part and said third part are substantially covered thereby.

7. The small four-wheeled vehicle according to claim 5, wherein each of said second and third parts include a mounting part, said mounting part of each of said second and third parts forming a hole, when said second and third parts are integral, defined therebetween for encompassing a body part of said vehicle.

8. The small four-wheeled vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said side supports are contoured to contour fit under a bottom part of said shoulder pads, whereby said side supports and said shoulder pads appear as one contiguous member when positioned together along specific contoured edges.

9. A small four-wheeled vehicle, comprising:

a pair of right and left front wheels;

a pair of right and left rear wheels being positioned downstream of said pair of right and left front wheels;

a cabin positioned between said pair of right and left front wheels and said pair of right and left rear wheels, said cabin having open right and left sides; and

a curved transparent windshield being a part of said cabin, said transparent windshield for covering a mid-front part of said vehicle and extending over said cabin to provide cover therefor.

10. The small four-wheeled vehicle as set forth in claim 9, further including a driver supporting unit being disposed in said cabin, said driver supporting unit for supporting a user of said vehicle.

11. The small four-wheeled vehicle as set forth in claim 9, further comprising shoulder pads for supporting shoulders of the user, said shoulder pads positioned on said driver supporting unit to substantially prevent lateral movement of said user, and side supports for supporting the hips of said user, said side supports positioned on said driver supporting unit to further substantially prevent lateral movement of said user.

12. The small four-wheeled vehicle according to claim 9, further comprising flat platform means provided in front of, behind and at the opposite sides of said cabin, said flat platform means forming a continuous member, which forms a gallery around a periphery of said cabin.

13. The small four-wheeled vehicle according to claim 12, wherein front and rear bumpers are provided at the front and rear ends of the vehicle body, and foot steps are formed on said front and rear bumpers.

14. The small four-wheeled vehicle according to claim 12, wherein luggage fastening rails are disposed on said platform means in front of and behind said cabin.

15. The small four-wheeled vehicle according to claim 9, wherein each of said shoulder pads is comprised of three parts, a first part being an outer cover for a second part and a third part, said second part and said third part being attachable to make one integral member.

16. The small four-wheeled vehicle according to claim 15, wherein said first part has a slit defined in a rear end thereof, said slit facilitating insertion of said second part and said third part into said first part, whereby said second part and said third part are substantially covered thereby.

17. The small four-wheeled vehicle according to claim 16, wherein each of said second and third parts include a mounting part, said mounting part of each of said second and third parts forming a hole, when said second and third parts are integral, defined therebetween for encompassing a body part of said vehicle.

18. The small four-wheeled vehicle according to claim 9, wherein said side supports are contoured to contour fit under a bottom part of said shoulder pads, whereby said side supports and said shoulder pads appear as one contiguous member when positioned together along specific contoured edges.