Patent ID: 7543836
Filing Date: 2009-06-09
Classification: B62J,B62K,Y10S

Abstract:
1. An ATV comprising: a frame; at least four wheels suspended from the frame, two of which are rear wheels and two of which are front wheels, the front wheels defining a front axis and the rear wheels defining a rear axis, the front axis and the rear axis defining a wheelbase of between 132 cm and 183 cm, and each of the wheels including a tire; an engine disposed on the frame for driving at least one of the wheels; a straddle seat supported by the frame including a main seat portion being dimensioned to support a driver and a secondary seat portion, rearward of and adjacent to the main seat portion, being dimensioned to support a passenger; handlebars disposed on the frame for steering at least one of the wheels; right and left passenger grab handles disposed laterally outwardly from the secondary seat portion; a pair of front footrests for the driver connected to the frame, the front footrests each having a substantially flat surface with at least one anti-skid element attached thereto, each anti-skid element extending laterally in a direction generally perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle; a pair of rear footrests for the passenger connected to the frame, the front footrests each having a substantially flat surface with at least one anti-skid element attached thereto; the ATV being constructed and arranged such that the driver is seated in a driver position defined as the driver straddling and being seated on the seat on the main seat portion with its feet disposed on the front footrests and its hands disposed on the handlebars, and the passenger is seated in a passenger position defined as the passenger straddling and being seated on the seat on the secondary seat portion with its feet disposed on the rear footrests and its hands disposed on the grab handles; each of the front and rear footrests being constructed and arranged such that the feet of the driver and the passenger can be accommodated thereon along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle between front and rear fenders defining footwells therebetween, the substantially flat surface of the rear footrests being located higher than the substantially flat surface of the front footrests by a vertical distance, the vertical distance being adjustable between at least a first vertical distance and a second vertical distance greater than the first vertical distance.