Utility vehicle

• US 9,623,912 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2013
• Issued: 04/18/2017
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morrow, Jason S
• Application Number:
  US14/430,074
• Publication Number:
  US 20150343900A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,306 Days
• Field of Search: 296205, 280756
• 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 tunnel member coupled to the frame and extending along the longitudinal axis. The tunnel member is positioned at a first height from the ground surface. Additionally, the utility vehicle includes a cargo portion supported by the frame and positioned generally rearward of the tunnel member. The cargo portion has a cargo surface substantially aligned with the tunnel member and positioned at a second height from the ground surface. The first height is approximately equal to the second height.

Claims

1. A utility vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of ground-engaging members;

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

a frame assembly supported by the ground-engaging members and extending along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, the frame assembly including at least one central frame member;

a seating section defining an operator area and supported by the frame assembly, the seating section including at least a first seat and a second seat in a side-by-side configuration, the first and second seat being laterally outward of the at least one central frame member of the frame assembly; and

a roll cage assembly coupled to the frame assembly and generally surrounding the seating section, the roll cage assembly including a plurality of roll cage members, and at least one of the roll cage members includes an upper end and a lower end, and the lower end is angled downwardly and laterally inwardly toward the longitudinal axis relative to the upper end to couple with the at least one central frame member of the frame assembly, the at least one roll cage member being configured to increase space in the operator area.

2. The utility vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a tunnel member coupled to the at least one central frame member and the at least one roll cage member.

3. The utility vehicle of claim 2, wherein the first seat defines an operator seat and the second seat defines a front passenger seat, and the at least one roll cage member includes a first roll cage member positioned rearward of the operator seat and a second roll cage member positioned rearward of the front passenger seat.

4. The utility vehicle of claim 3, wherein the tunnel member is configured to support at least one of a passenger and cargo between the first and second roll cage members.

5. The utility vehicle of claim 3, wherein each of the first and second roll cage members includes a lower end coupled to the tunnel member and an upper end coupled to an upper portion of the roll cage assembly, a first width is defined between lower ends of the first and second roll cage members and a second width is defined between the upper ends of the roll cage assembly, the first width is less than a second width.

6. The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least one central frame member includes a first upper frame member, a second upper frame member, a first lower frame member, and a second lower frame member, the first and second lower frame members are positioned laterally outward of the first and second upper frame members.

7. The utility vehicle of claim 6, wherein the tunnel member is coupled to the first and second upper frame members, and the tunnel member, the first and second lower frame members, and the first and second upper frame members define a trapezoid in cross-section.

8. The utility vehicle of claim 2, wherein the at least one roll cage member extends through a portion of the tunnel member to couple with the at least one central frame member.

9. The utility vehicle of claim 2, further comprising a cargo portion supported by the frame and positioned generally rearward of the tunnel member, wherein the tunnel member is positioned at a first height from a ground surface and the cargo portion is positioned at a second height from the ground surface, and the first height is approximately equal to the second height.

10. The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein the seating section includes a forward seating section including the first and second seats and a rearward seating section positioned longitudinally rearward of the forward seating section, and the at least one roll cage member is longitudinally intermediate the forward and rearward seating sections.

11. The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least one roll cage member has an upper portion angled rearwardly relative to a lower portion.

12. A utility vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of ground-engaging members;

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

a frame assembly supported by the ground-engaging members and including at least one central frame member;

a seating section defining an operator area and supported by the frame assembly, the seating section including at least a first seat and a second seat in a side-by-side configuration, the first and second seat being laterally outward of the at least one central frame member of the frame assembly; and

a roll cage assembly coupled to the frame assembly and generally surrounding the seating section, the roll cage assembly including a first roll cage member positioned rearward of the first seat and a second roll cage member positioned rearward of the second seat, and the first and second roll cage members each extend downwardly and inwardly to couple with the at least one central frame member of the frame assembly to increase space in the operator area, and each of the first and second roll cage members includes a lower end coupled to the at least one central frame member and an upper end coupled to an upper portion of the roll cage assembly, a first width is defined between the lower ends of the first and second roll cage members and a second width is defined between the upper ends of the first and second roll cage members, and the first width is less than a second width.

13. The utility vehicle of claim 12, further comprising a tunnel member coupled to the at least one central frame member and the first and second roll cage members.

14. The utility vehicle of claim 13, wherein the tunnel member is configured to support at least one of a passenger and cargo between the first and second roll cage members.

15. A utility vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of ground-engaging members;

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

a frame assembly supported by the ground-engaging members and including at least one central frame member, and the at least one central frame member including a first upper frame member, a second upper frame member, a first lower frame member, and a second lower frame member, the first and second lower frame members are positioned laterally outward of the first and second upper frame members;

a seating section defining an operator area and supported by the frame assembly, the seating section including at least a first seat and a second seat in a side-by-side configuration, the first and second seat being laterally outward of the at least one central frame member of the frame assembly;

a roll cage assembly coupled to the frame assembly and generally surrounding the seating section, the roll cage assembly including a plurality of roll cage members, and at least one of the roll cage members extends downwardly and inwardly to couple with the at least one central frame member of the frame assembly, the at least one roll cage member being configured to increase space in the operator area; and

a tunnel member coupled to the at least one central frame member and the at least one roll cage member, the tunnel member being coupled to the first and second upper frame members, and the tunnel member, the first and second lower frame members, and the first and second upper frame members defining a trapezoid in cross-section.