Patent ID: 7004484
Filing Date: 2006-02-28
Classification: B60G,B62K

Abstract:
1. An all terrain vehicle (ATV) having at least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel, each wheel having a momentary contact point, the momentary contact points of the wheels defining a wheel contact plane of the ATV, the ATV comprising: a frame; a wheel carrier for rotatably supporting a supported wheel having a wheel radius; a suspension comprising an upper arm coupled to the wheel carrier at an upper coupling and a lower arm coupled to the wheel carrier at a lower coupling; the upper arm being rotatably coupled to the frame at an upper joint such that the upper arm rotates about an upper rotational axis; the lower arm being rotatably coupled to the frame at a lower joint such that the lower arm rotates about a lower rotational axis; the upper rotational axis and the lower rotational axis crossing one another to define a side view instant center axis of the suspension; the side view instant center axis intersecting a strategic region having a generally rectangular shape including four sides; a first side of the strategic region overlaying the wheel contact plane of the ATV; a second side of the strategic region being generally parallel to the first side and intersecting a pivoting axis of the supported wheel; a third side of the strategic region extending between the pivoting axis of the supported wheel, and the momentary contact point of the supported wheel; and a fourth side of the strategic region being generally parallel to the third side of the strategic region, and being located a predetermined distance behind the momentary contact point of the supported wheel.