Suspended operator platform
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A riding utility vehicle, comprising:
- a chassis that supports a drive train;
a seat;
an operator platform that supports the seat and an entire body of an operator during use of the utility vehicle;
a suspension system connecting the operator platform to the chassis and permitting relative movement therebetween, the suspension system having a variable stiffness and including a stiffness adjuster that is adjustable for varying the stiffness of the suspension system, the stiffness adjuster being operable by a seated operator; and
steering controls for directing movement of the utility vehicle, the steering controls being connected to and moving in unison with the operator platform.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A suspended operator platform for use with a ride-on lawnmower or the like is connected to a rigid chassis of the ride-on lawnmower by a suspension system that has a parallelogram linkage. The operator platform supports an entire body of the operator and isolation mounts connect a seat assembly to the operator platform. Steering controls of the ride-on lawnmower are connected to the operator platform so that the steering controls move with the operator platform and are suspended and/or isolated from the chassis. The suspension system includes a course-stiffness adjuster and a fine-stiffness adjuster that adjust the suspension stiffness to correspond to a particular operator and/or terrain.
58 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A riding utility vehicle, comprising:
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a chassis that supports a drive train; a seat; an operator platform that supports the seat and an entire body of an operator during use of the utility vehicle; a suspension system connecting the operator platform to the chassis and permitting relative movement therebetween, the suspension system having a variable stiffness and including a stiffness adjuster that is adjustable for varying the stiffness of the suspension system, the stiffness adjuster being operable by a seated operator; and steering controls for directing movement of the utility vehicle, the steering controls being connected to and moving in unison with the operator platform. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A riding utility vehicle, comprising:
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a chassis that supports a drive train; a seat; an operator platform that supports the seat and an entire body of an operator during use of the utility vehicle; a suspension system connecting the operator platform to the chassis, the suspension system including (i) a front linkage that extends angularly between the chassis and a front portion of the operator platform, and (ii) a back linkage that extends angularly between and interconnects the chassis and a back portion of the operator platform so as to restrict movement of the back portion of the operator platform to movement along a generally vertical travel path. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A utility vehicle, comprising:
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a chassis that supports a drive train and that defines a front portion and a rear portion; a seat; an operator platform that supports the seat and an entire body of an operator during use of the utility vehicle and that defines a front portion and a rear portion; and a linkage system connecting the front portion of the operator platform to the front portion of the chassis and connecting the rear portion of the operator platform to the rear portion of the chassis, the linkage system allowing vertical movement of the operator platform with respect to the chassis and substantially preventing (i) transverse swaying of the operator platform with respect to the chassis, (ii) rolling of the operator platform about a longitudinal axis of the platform, and (iii) yawing of the operator platform about an upright axis extending longitudinally through the chassis. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A riding utility vehicle, comprising:
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a chassis that supports a drive train; a seat; an operator platform that supports the seat and an entire body of an operator during use of the utility vehicle; a suspension system connecting the operator platform to the chassis and permitting relative movement therebetween; steering controls for directing movement of the utility vehicle, the steering controls being connected to and moving in unison with the operator platform; a stiffness adjuster that adjusts the stiffness of the suspension system, the stiffness adjuster being operable by a seated operator.
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21. A riding utility vehicle, comprising:
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a chassis that supports a drive train and a mower deck; a seat; an operator platform that supports the seat and an entire body of an operator during use of the utility vehicle; a suspension system connecting the operator platform to the chassis and including (i) a course-stiffness adjuster that is configured to adjust a suspension stiffness setting within a first range of stiffness settings, and (ii) a fine-stiffness adjuster that, with respect to each of the first range of settings, is configured to adjust the suspension stiffness setting within a second range of stiffness settings. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A ride-on mower, comprising:
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a chassis that supports a drive train and a mower deck; an operator platform that supports an entire body of an operator during use of the ride-on mower; left and right steering control levers that are mounted on and move with the operator platform; a seat that is supported on the operator platform; elastomeric isolation mounts disposed between the seat and the operator platform; and a suspension system connecting the operator platform to the chassis and permitting relative movement therebetween, the suspension system including; a spring/shock system that maintains the operator platform in a fully raised position when no operator is on the operator platform; a stiffness adjuster connected to the spring/shock system and controlling the stiffness of the suspension as the operator platform moves with respect to the chassis, the stiffness adjuster being operable by a seated operator to adjust the stiffness of the suspension; a front linkage that extends angularly between the chassis and a front portion of the operator platform; and a back linkage that extends angularly between the chassis and a back portion of the operator platform.
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27. A method of operating a utility vehicle having a suspension system that connects an operator platform to a chassis while permitting relative movement with respect thereto, the operator platform supporting a seat, the method comprising:
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establishing a first setting of a suspension flexing stiffness; operating the ride-on mower; and while an operator is upon the ride-on mower, adjusting the suspension performance characteristic to a second setting that provides either (i) a relatively softer flexing of the suspension, or (ii) a relatively stiffer flexing of the suspension, with respect to the first setting.
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Specification