Vehicle

• US 9,150,182 B1
• Filed: 05/30/2014
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
• Inventors: Schlangen, Adam J., Morisch, Bradley R., Maki, Richard R., Raska, Jason K., Ellefson, Travis J., Villafan Rojas, Carlos A.
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, DREW J
• Application Number:
  US14/292,310
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/144 with two lateral arms forming a parallelogram
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/13 Small sized city motor vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/20 all arms being rigid
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/001 Suspension arms, e.g. constructional features B60G7/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/06 with air cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/063 Arrangement of tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/34 for driving both front and rear wheels, e.g. four wheel drive vehicles arrangement or mounting of control devices for changing number of driven wheels B60K23/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0635 the fuel tank is arranged between the seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/012 The seat support being a part of the vehicle body or chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/38 specially constructed for use on tractors or like off-road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/00 Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0074 Utility vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/134 movable from a retracted to a protection position
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/13 Roll-over protection electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01
• 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 25/084 Radiator supports
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/20 Floors or bottom sub-units sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions B62D21/11; drip trays F16N31/006
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/02 Platforms; Open load compartments flat wagons including posts or standards B61D3/08
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/0273 Movable tailboards for vehicles comprising non-movable sideboards, e.g. pick-up trucks B62D33/037 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/06 Drivers' cabs overhead guards, e.g. against loads falling down B60R21/11; roll-over protection B60R21/13
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/0625 : open

Abstract

In one embodiment, a utility vehicle includes a plurality of ground-engaging members configured to contact a ground surface, and a powertrain assembly operably coupled to the ground-engaging members. The utility vehicle also includes a frame supported by the ground-engaging members and extending along a longitudinal axis of the utility vehicle. The utility vehicle further includes a rear seating area defined by longitudinally extending side by side seats arranged on both sides of the vehicle. A rear cab frame is positioned over the rear seating area and has an upright and folded position.

Claims

1. A utility vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of ground-engaging members configured to contact a ground surface;

a drivetrain assembly operably coupled to the ground-engaging members;

a frame supported by the ground-engaging members and extending along a longitudinal axis of the utility vehicle;

a rear support area supported by the frame, the rear support area having a rear platform having at least a first seating position; and

a rear cab frame having an upright position and a folded position, and the rear cab frame being positioned over the rear support area when in both the upright and folded positions, wherein when in the folded position, the rear cab grame rests on the rear platform.

2. The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein when in the upright position, the rear cab frame is positioned generally over the rear platform.

3. The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes a first seating area for the driver, a second seating area rearward of the first seating area, where the rear platform is positioned rearward of the second seating area.

4. The utility vehicle of claim 3, wherein the rear platform includes a first rear platform positioned on a first side of the vehicle and a second rear platform position on a second side of the vehicle.

5. The utility vehicle of claim 4, wherein the ground engaging members are tires, and a left platform is generally positioned over a left tire, and a right platform is positioned over a right tire.

6. The utility vehicle of claim 5, wherein each of the first and second rear platforms have two seating positions.

7. The utility vehicle of claim 3, further comprising a cab frame assembly positioned over the first and second seating areas.

8. The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein the rear cab frame includes a laterally extending support extending generally width-wise of the vehicle, and longitudinally extending supports extending generally length-wise of the vehicle.

9. The utility vehicle of claim 8, wherein the longitudinally extending supports fold inwardly against the laterally extending support, and the combination of the laterally extending support and longitudinally extending supports fold rearwardly and downwardly.

10. The utility vehicle of claim 9, wherein the longitudinally extending supports generally comprise a longitudinally extending portion coupled to the laterally extending support, and a vertically extending portion coupled to the frame.

11. The utility vehicle of claim 10, further comprising an upright coupled to each of the rear platforms and the vertically extending portions.

12. The utility vehicle of claim 11, wherein the uprights each angle outwardly towards the vertically extending portions.

13. A utility vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of ground-engaging members;

a frame assembly supported by the ground-engaging members and extending along a longitudinal axis of the utility vehicle;

seating sections supported by the frame assembly and including a first plurality of seats in a laterally side-by-side configuration, a second plurality of seats in a laterally side-by-side configuration, positioned rearward of the first plurality, and a third plurality of seats in a longitudinally side-by-side configuration, positioned rearward of the second plurality; and

a first cab frame positioned over the first and second seating positions, and a rear cab frame positioned over the third plurality of seats, the rear cab frame extending higher than the first cab frame.

14. The utility vehicle of claim 13, wherein the rear cab frame has an upright position and a folded position.

15. The utility vehicle of claim 14, wherein when in the upright position, the rear cab frame is positioned generally over the third plurality of seats.

16. The utility vehicle of claim 15, wherein the third plurality of seats is defined by a rear platform.

17. The utility vehicle of claim 16, wherein the rear platform includes a first rear platform positioned on a first side of the vehicle and defining the third plurality of seats, and a second rear platform on a second side of the vehicle opposite the first side and defining a fourth plurality of seats in a longitudinally side-by-side configuration opposed from the third plurality of seats.

18. The utility vehicle of claim 17, wherein when in the folded position, the rear cab frame rests on the rear platform.

19. The utility vehicle of claim 17, wherein the ground engaging members are tires, and the first rear platform is generally positioned over a left tire, and the second rear platform is positioned over a right tire.

20. The utility vehicle of claim 19, wherein each of the first and second rear platforms have two seating positions.

21. The utility vehicle of claim 13, wherein the rear cab frame includes a laterally extending support extending generally width-wise of the vehicle, and longitudinally extending supports extending generally length-wise of the vehicle.

22. The utility vehicle of claim 21, wherein the longitudinally extending supports fold inwardly against the laterally extending support, and the combination of the laterally extending support and longitudinally extending supports fold rearwardly and downwardly.

23. The utility vehicle of claim 22, wherein the longitudinally extending supports generally comprise a longitudinally extending portion coupled to the laterally extending support, and a vertically extending portion coupled to the frame.

24. The utility vehicle of claim 23, wherein the rear platform includes at least a first rear platform and a second rear platform, and an upright is coupled to each of the first and second rear platforms and the vertically extending portions.

25. The utility vehicle of claim 24, wherein the uprights each angle outwardly towards the vertically extending portions.

26. A utility vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of ground-engaging members configured to contact a ground surface;

a drivetrain assembly operably coupled to the ground-engaging members;

a frame supported by the ground-engaging members and extending along a longitudinal axis of the utility vehicle;

a rear support area supported by the frame, the rear support area having a rear platform having at least a first seating position; and

a rear cab frame having an upright position and a folded position, the rear cab frame is positioned generally over the rear platform when in the upright position and the rear cab frame rests on the rear platform when in the folded position.

27. A utility vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of ground-engaging members configured to contact a ground surface;

a drivetrain assembly operably coupled to the ground-engaging members;

a frame supported by the ground-engaging members and extending along a longitudinal axis of the utility vehicle;

a rear support area supported by the frame, the rear support area having a rear platform having at least a first seating position; and

a rear cab frame having an upright position and a folded position, and the rear cab frame including a laterally extending support extending generally width-wise of the vehicle and longitudinally extending supports extending generally length-wise of the vehicle, wherein the longitudinally extending supports fold inwardly against the laterally extending support, and the combination of the laterally extending support and longitudinally extending supports fold rearwardly and downwardly.

28. A utility vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of ground-engaging members;

a frame assembly supported by the ground-engaging members and extending along a longitudinal axis of the utility vehicle;

seating sections supported by the frame assembly and including a first plurality of seats in a laterally side-by-side configuration, a second plurality of seats in a laterally side-by-side configuration, positioned rearward of the first plurality, and a third plurality of seats in a longitudinally side-by-side configuration, positioned rearward of the second plurality; and

a first cab frame positioned over the first and second seating positions, and a rear cab frame positioned over the third plurality of seats, the rear cab frame including a laterally extending support extending generally width-wise of the vehicle and longitudinally extending supports extending generally length-wise of the vehicle, the longitudinally extending supports being configured to fold inwardly against the laterally extending support, and the combination of the laterally extending support and the longitudinally extending supports being configured to fold rearwardly and downwardly.