Utility vehicle

• US 9,073,535 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2012
• Issued: 07/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Asw, LLC
• Original Assignee: American SportWorks, LLC
• Inventors: Jenkins, Philip Joseph Jr., Turner, Joshua Robert, Roberts, Bradley Michael, Kemp, Jonathan Melven, Arnone, Shawn Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, John Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHALEN, MICHAEL F
• Application Number:
  US13/440,097
• Publication Number:
  US 20120259493A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,188 Days
• Field of Search: 701/22
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0444 Arrangement on a trailer
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/20 the prime-movers consisting of electric motors and internal combustion engines, e.g. HEVs
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 8/00 Arrangement or mounting of propulsion units not provided for in one of the preceding main groups
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2300/40 Carts, e.g. trolleys
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 53/005 Combinations with at least three axles and comprising two or more articulated parts articulated buses B62D47/025
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 59/04 driven from propulsion unit on trailer
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/902 Prime movers comprising electrical and internal combustion motors

Abstract

A utility vehicle is provided that includes first and second pairs of wheels, a controller, and a potentiometer. The first pair of wheels is propelled by an internal combustion engine. The second pair of wheels is propelled by a battery-operated motor. The motor drives a transaxle that drives the second pair of wheels. The controller controls operation of the motor. The potentiometer is configured to be manually activated to propel the utility vehicle, and is coupled to the controller to send a signal to the controller to rotate the motor. The potentiometer is also configured to activate fuel flow into the internal combustion engine.

Claims

1. A utility vehicle comprising:

a first pair of wheels;

a second pair of wheels located opposite the first pair of wheels;

a first motor that is selected from the group consisting of a first electric motor and a first internal combustion engine;

wherein the first motor selectively moves the second pair of wheels;

a pusher cart selectively attachable to the utility vehicle, wherein the pusher cart includes;

a third pair of wheels;

a second motor configured to move the third pair of wheels;

wherein the second motor is selected from the group consisting of a second electric motor and a second internal combustion engine;

a hitch assembly that attaches to the utility vehicle such that the pusher cart cannot pivot laterally relative to the utility vehicle;

wherein the hitch assembly on the pusher cart also includes a first rod that attaches to the utility vehicle at a first position and to the pusher cart at a second position;

wherein the first position at the utility vehicle is higher in a vertical plane with respect to the second position at the pusher cart so when the third pair of wheels is rotated by the second motor, at least a portion of the weight of the utility vehicle is transferred to the pusher cart; and

a controller assembly located in the utility vehicle and tethered to the pusher cart to control the operation of the pusher cart to move the utility vehicle.

2. The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein the hitch assembly further includes a second rod located adjacent the first rod such that the second rod attaches to the utility vehicle at a third position and to the pusher cart at a fourth position such that the third position at the utility vehicle is higher in the vertical plane with respect to the fourth position at the pusher cart.

3. The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein the hitch assembly further includes a third rod located higher in the vertical plane than the first rod and attaches to the utility vehicle at a fifth position and to the pusher cart at a sixth position such that the fifth position at the utility vehicle is in about the same horizontal plane as the sixth position at the pusher cart.