Three wheeled vehicle

• US 8,544,587 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2012
• Issued: 10/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
• Inventors: Aramayo, Gustavo A., Utter, Brian T., Hohenstein, Jason J., Tomolillo, Vittorio, Ziliak, Mark Alan, Holroyd, James A. J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rocca, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): ENGLISH, JAMES A
• Application Number:
  US13/425,963
• Publication Number:
  US 20120241238A1
• Time in Patent Office: 559 Days
• Field of Search: 180/210, 180/217, 180/311, 180/312, 180/211, 180/213, 180/215, 280/781, 280/785, 280/796, 280/798
• US Class Current: 180/210
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/326 with two laterally spaced pivots, e.g. trailing frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/143 on the vehicle body or chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/02 Attaching arms to sprung part of vehicle B60G7/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/04 characterised by arrangement, location, or kind of gearing electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/043 Transmission unit disposed in on near the vehicle wheel, or between the differential gear unit and the wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 5/02 with the engine main axis, e.g. crankshaft axis, substantially in or parallel to the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/18 characterised by the vehicle type and not provided for in groups B62D21/02 - B62D21/17
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 23/005 with integrated chassis in the whole shell, e.g. meshwork, tubes, or the like B62D33/044 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 61/065 with single rear wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 1/00 Saddles or other seats for cycles; Arrangement thereof; Component parts
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 17/10 Ventilation or air guiding devices forming part of fairings
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2003/125 Tandems with side-by-side seating
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2201/08 Fluid springs
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/04 for mounting axles resiliently on cycle frame or fork for sidecars, forecars or the like B62K27/06
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/283 for cycles without a pedal crank, e.g. motorcycles
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/05 characterised by a single rear wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/06 Frames for tricycles
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/08 with steering devices acting on two or more wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 7/02 Frames

Abstract

A three wheeled vehicle is disclosed having a vehicle frame with a frame sidewall providing a substantially flat surface, with recesses in the flat surface. Alignment arms have inner ends and outer ends, where the inner ends are mounted to the frame sidewall, and the outer ends mount a wheel hub. The inner ends have couplings with pivotal portions and fixed portions, the pivotal portions being at least partially positioned within the recesses, and the fixed portions being attached to the substantially flat surface.

Claims

1. A three wheeled vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle frame comprising lower frame rails extending generally longitudinally and an engine mount area adjacent a front of the frame, a cross tube positioned generally rearward of the engine mount area, extending transversely to the lower frame rails and supported above and by the lower frame rails, and frame tubes extending downwardly from the cross tube and extending rearwardly to a position adjacent a rear of the frame, the frame tubes defining a driver compartment on one side of the frame tubes and a passenger compartment on the other side of the frame tubes, and the frame tubes defining a tunnel beneath the frame tubes;

an engine mounted to the engine mount area;

front wheels coupled to the frame;

a steering assembly coupled to the front wheels;

side by side seats mounted in the driver and passenger compartments;

a single rear wheel coupled to the frame rearward of the driver and passenger compartments; and

a drive shaft extending through the tunnel and coupled at a first end to the engine and at a second end to the single rear wheel.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises a final drive mount in communication with the tunnel.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, further comprising a final drive member supported by the final drive mount, the final drive member having an input shaft coupled to the second end of the drive shaft, and an output shaft coupled to the wheel.

4. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the drive shaft and final drive member are rotationally fixed, and longitudinally movable, relative to each other.

5. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the drive shaft and final drive member are rotationally fixed by way of longitudinally extending splines.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the ends of the cross tube include mounting flanges.

7. The vehicle of claim 6, further comprising an outer body portion supported by the frame, the outer body portion having an opening accessing the mounting flanges, and the mounting flanges supporting an accessory coupled to the mounting flanges.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the accessory is a rearview mirror.

9. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the accessory is an overhead canopy.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the frame tubes extend rearwardly beyond the compartments and define a platform, a fuel tank being supported by the platform.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, further comprising a console member positioned over the frame tubes and between the driver and passenger compartments.

12. The vehicle of claim 10, further comprising a dashboard extending over and supported by the cross tube.