Patent ID: 9365251
Filing Date: 2016-06-14
CPC Classification: B60G,B60K,B60Y,B62D,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. A vehicle, comprising: a frame; a plurality of ground engaging members supporting the frame; a power source supported by the frame and operatively coupled to at least one of the plurality of ground engaging members to propel the vehicle; a CVT supported by the frame and operatively coupled to the power source and the at least one of the plurality of ground engaging members; an operator area supported by the frame, the operator area including seating and operator controls, the plurality of ground engaging members including a first ground engaging member and a second ground engaging member both positioned rearward of the seating and a third ground engaging member and a fourth ground engaging member both positioned forward of the seating, the operator controls including a steering wheel operatively coupled to the third ground engaging member and the fourth ground engaging member, the seating including a plurality of bucket seats in a side-by-side arrangement; a cargo carrying portion supported by the frame and positioned rearward of the seating, the cargo carrying portion including a cargo bed having a floor and a plurality of upstanding walls, the plurality of upstanding walls including a front wall, a rear wall, and a plurality of sidewalls; a rear drive supported by the frame and positioned rearward of the operator area, the rear drive being operatively coupled to the power source; a first half shaft coupled to the rear drive and the first ground engaging member to transfer power received from the power source to the first ground engaging member; a front drive supported by the frame and positioned forward of the operator area, the front drive being operatively coupled to the power source; a second half shaft coupled to the front drive and the third ground engaging member to transfer power received from the power source to the third ground engaging member; a plurality of exterior body panels supported by the frame, the plurality of exterior body panels including a first exterior body panel having a portion positioned directly over a portion of the first ground engaging member; and a first rear suspension system moveably coupling the first ground engaging member to the frame, the first rear suspension system including a control arm coupled to the first ground engaging member, the control arm further moveably coupled to the frame at a first location rearward of the first half shaft and between a first plane passing through a first laterally extending end of the rear drive and a vertical centerline longitudinal plane of the vehicle, the first plane being parallel to the vertical centerline longitudinal plane of the vehicle, the first rear suspension further including a radius arm moveably coupled to the frame at a second location forward of the CVT, the second location being completely rearward of the steering wheel of the operator controls, the CVT and the power source being positioned rearward of the seating, and the first suspension further including a first dampening member moveably coupled to the radius arm at a third location completely forward of the first half shaft and moveably coupled to the frame at a fourth location rearward of the second location, the fourth location being positioned lower than the portion of the first exterior body panel.