Abstract:
An all terrain vehicle is disclosed having a frame and ground engaging members supporting the frame. A driver&#39;s seat is supported by the frame, and extends along a first longitudinal axis. A passenger&#39;s seat is supported by the frame and extends along a second longitudinal axis, where the first and second longitudinal axes are laterally spaced apart. The passenger seat may also be movable to a second location to allow for the vehicle to support a gurney, which extends in a front to back orientation.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/547,385 filed Oct. 14, 2011, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure relates to all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) having a driver seat laterally displaced from a centerline of the vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 
     ATVs and side by side vehicles are well known in the powersports and recreational industry, and their utility is becoming known in other industries as well, such as medical uses, military uses and the like, due to their versatility and low cost. 
     In an embodiment disclosed herein, an all terrain vehicle comprises a frame; ground engaging members supporting the frame; a driver seat supported by the frame, where the driver&#39;s seat extends along a first longitudinal axis; and a passenger seat is supported by the frame, rearward of the driver&#39;s seat, and extends along a second longitudinal axis, where the first and second longitudinal axes are laterally spaced apart. 
     In another embodiment disclosed herein, an all terrain vehicle comprises a frame; ground engaging members supporting the frame; a driver seat supported by the frame, where the driver&#39;s seat extends along a first longitudinal axis; and a support assembly extends along a second longitudinal axis where the first and second longitudinal axes are laterally spaced apart. 
     In a further embodiment disclosed herein, an all terrain vehicle comprises a frame; ground engaging members supporting the frame; a driver seat supported by the frame, where the driver seat extends along a first longitudinal axis; and a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle extends along a second longitudinal axis; the first and second longitudinal axes being laterally spaced apart. 
     In yet another embodiment, an all terrain vehicle comprises a frame and ground engaging members supporting the frame. A drive train is supported by the frame and is drivingly coupled to the ground engaging members. The drive train extends along a first longitudinal axis and the vehicle has a longitudinal centerline laterally spaced apart the first longitudinal axis. 
     An embodiment according to the disclosure will now be described by way of the attached drawings. The foregoing aspects and many of the intended advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a left rear perspective view of the vehicle of the present application; 
         FIG. 2  shows a top diagrammatical view of the frame and powertrain of the vehicle of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  shows the vehicle of  FIG. 1  in a partially assembled state; 
         FIG. 4  is a right-hand side view of the vehicle of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the vehicle the front and rear platforms; 
         FIG. 6  shows a side view of the vehicle of  FIG. 5  in a partially assembled configuration; 
         FIG. 7  is a rear view of the vehicle of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 8  shows a front view of the vehicle; 
         FIG. 9  is a right rear perspective view of the vehicle of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a right front perspective view of the vehicle of  FIG. 9  showing an enlarged view of the passenger seating area; 
         FIG. 11  is a right rear respective view of the passenger seat moved to a second position with a gurney positioned in a front-to-back supportive condition laterally offset from the driver; 
         FIG. 12  is a right-hand side view of the vehicle and gurney as shown in  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 13  is an enlarged view of the passenger seat in the first position; and 
         FIG. 14  is an enlarged view of the passenger seat in the second position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may utilize their teachings. For example, while the following description refers primarily to an all terrain vehicle, it should be understood that the invention may have application to other types of vehicles, such as snowmobiles, watercraft, utility vehicles, and golf carts. 
     Referring initially to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , one illustrative embodiment of an all terrain vehicle (ATV)  10  is shown. It should be understood that the ATV described herein is substantially similar to Applicant&#39;s Sportsman® style ATV, and to those shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,845,452; 8,075,007; 8,091,657; 8,146,932; and 8,157,044 or U.S. application Ser. No. 12/272,377; and/or PCT application PCT/US08/06097 (PCT Publication Number WO 2008/143836), the subject matter of which are all fully incorporated herein by reference. The ATV however has been modified from the vehicle described above, as disclosed herein. 
     ATV  10  includes front end  12 , rear end  14 , straddle-type seat  16 , and handlebar assembly  18 . Front end  12  and rear end  14  are separated by footwells  20  on both lateral sides of ATV  10  and are separated by seat  16 . Front end  12  is supported by front wheels  22  and front suspension  24  ( FIG. 2 ), which is discussed in greater detail below. Front end  12  also includes front panel  26  which may include a front support platform  28 . Handlebar assembly  18  is operably coupled to front wheels  22  to allow a driver to steer ATV  10  when supported by seat  16  and/or footwells  20 . 
     Rear end  14  is supported by rear wheels  30  and rear suspension  32 . Rear end  14  also includes rear panel  34  and rear support platform  36 . Vehicle  10  also includes passenger seat  38 , which may include an accessory coupling system such as the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,055,454, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference; also known as assignees&#39; Lock &amp; Ride® expansion coupler mounts. A supported object  40  may be held and carried by ATV  10 , where in the embodiment shown; the supported object is a gurney. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 2 , frame  50  of ATV  10  in shown in diagrammatical format. As shown, frame  50  includes left frame tube  52  and right frame tubes  54  and  56 . Frames  52  and  54  are the original frame tubes as described in the ATV above. Frame tube  56  is provided as a lateral extension to the right hand side of the vehicle for the purposes described herein. Left frame tube  52  includes a front frame portion  52   a , a mid-frame portion  52   b  and a rear-frame portion  52   c . It should also be appreciated that front suspension  24  includes a front left A-arm  60  coupled at an inner end to front frame portion  52   a  and to front left wheel  22 . It should also be appreciated that rear suspension  32  includes a left rear A-arm  62  coupled at an inner end to rear frame tube portion  52   c  and at an outer end to rear wheel  30 . 
     Due to the lateral extension of vehicle frame  50  by way of the addition of frame tube  56 , a front right A-arm  64 , as part of the front suspension  24  is moved from a coupling connection with front frame tube portion  54   a  to a lateral position coupled to front frame tube portion  56   a . In a like manner, rear suspension  32  includes a right rear A-arm  66  which is moved from a coupling position on rear frame tube portion  54   c  to the position shown at rear frame tube portion  56   c . While the lateral spacing of the frame tubes  54  and  56  is somewhat arbitrary, the additional spacing of 10-12 inches provides the adequate lateral extension for the purposes described herein. In the embodiment shown, the lateral spacing between frame tubes  54  and  56  is approximately 11″ and the width W ( FIGS. 2 and 7 ) is 60 inches or less. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , outrigger frame tubes  68  have been added to frame  50  to support the lateral extension of the frame and for the right foot pedestals. As shown in  FIG. 2 , foot pedestal  20   a  is supported by the left frame tube  52  and foot pedestal  20   b  is supported by the extended right frame tube  56  and outrigger tubes  68 . 
     As shown best in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , a drive train D of ATV  10  ( FIG. 4 ) includes an engine and transmission as is more fully described in our patent application Ser. Nos. 12/069,511; 12/069,521; 12/961,301 and/or U.S. Pat. No. 7,845,452, the subject matter of which are all fully incorporated herein by reference. It should also be appreciated that drivetrain D extends generally along the first longitudinal axis. Drivetrain D would also include front and rear longitudinally extending drive shafts extending forwardly and rearwardly from the drivetrain D and driving coupled to the front and rear wheels  22 ,  30 , respectively. Drivetrain D would further include a front drive  70  (which may be a differential) and a rear drive  72  (which may be a differential). Front drive  70  is coupled to a left drive shaft  73  which couples to left front wheel  22 . Front drive  70  is also coupled to a right drive shaft  74  having an extension shaft  76  attached by way of a coupler  78  such as a U-joint. Drive shaft  74  may be supported by a pillow block bearing such as  80 . Rear drive  72  is coupled to a left rear drive shaft  90  which is drivingly coupled to left rear wheel  30 . Rear drive  72  is also coupled to right rear drive shaft  92  which in turn is coupled to a right rear extension  94  attached to shaft  92  by way of a U-joint  96 . Drive shaft  92  may be supported by way of a pillow block bearing at  100 . 
     With reference now to  FIG. 3-5 , the steering is also somewhat modified due to the lateral extension. As shown, a shown modified shock tower  110  is added which is asymmetrical, and which positions strut  112  ( FIG. 4 ) laterally outward due to the lateral extension. An elongate steering arm  114  ( FIG. 5 ) is provided which connects to steering link  116  ( FIG. 4 ). Otherwise, the steering is substantially similar to that shown in the above mentioned patents and patent applications. The steering may also include power steering, where the steering motor is supported by the front differential as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/228,597, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , a rear frame support is shown at  120 , which together with shock tower  110  provide front and rear supports for front and rear platforms  28 ,  36 . As shown in  FIGS. 5-8 , the lateral extension provided by frame tube  56  defines an asymmetry to the vehicle such that the driver seat  16  and drivetrain D are provided along a first longitudinal axis L 1  ( FIG. 7 ) and the passenger seat may be provided along a second longitudinal axis L 2  ( FIG. 7 ). As shown, L 2  is laterally displaced to the right of L 1 , when the passenger seat  38  is in the first position as shown in  FIGS. 8-10 . It should also be noted that the vehicle  10  includes a longitudinal centerline LC ( FIG. 7 ) wherein the first longitudinal axis L 1  is positioned laterally on one side of the longitudinal centerline LC and the second longitudinal axis L 2  is positioned laterally on the other side of the central longitudinal centerline. 
     As also shown in  FIGS. 8-12 , ATV  10  also includes a support assembly  120  including front and rear brackets  122 ,  124 . A supported object  40 , such as a gurney, may be supported by the front and rear platforms and held in place by the support assembly  120 . The gurney  40  may have elongate support poles  130 , a support canvas  132 , and support feet  134 . Feet  134  would correspond to front and rear brackets  122 ,  124  to hold gurney  40  in position by way of fasteners or latches (not shown). 
     As shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , passenger seat  36  includes a seat pedestal  150  having a support tube  152  ( FIG. 14 ) extending outwardly therefrom. To support the passenger seat  38  in the first position, the position of  FIG. 13 , the tube  152  is interlocked with a complementary tube, which extends below top surface  160  of rear platform  36 . Seat  38  and pedestal  150  are positioned within a recess  170  of top surface  160  of rear platform  36 . As shown in  FIG. 13 , rear panel  34  is provided with a recess  172  allowing for the passenger&#39;s feet and legs, and a pedestal  174  allows for the support of the passenger&#39;s feet. 
     Passenger seat  38  is moved to a second position, when gurney  40  is used. Passenger seat  38  is movable between the first position (position shown in  FIGS. 8-10  and  13 ) and the second position (position shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  11 ,  12  and  14 ). Passenger seat  38  includes a coupling assembly including couplers  154  ( FIG. 14 ) which locks seat  38  to the top surface  160  of rear platform  36 . Couplers  154  may be similar to those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,055,454, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. It should be appreciated that when in the second position, passenger positioned in passenger seat may provide care or assistance to a wounded person situated on gurney  40 , while a driver in driver&#39;s seat  16  drives vehicle  10 . 
     Other features may be incorporated into the vehicle described above, such as any of the features disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/079,082, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. Also as shown in  FIG. 9 , a compartment  180  is provided which may house the folded up gurney  40 . Other compartment features may also be added, for example the features as shown in Applicant&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 7,950,486; the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. Some features may be added for military use such as the rigidified front and rear platforms  28  and  35  ( FIG. 1 ), rigidified brush guard  200  ( FIG. 8 ); integrated D-rings  202  ( FIGS. 1 and 8 ); rigidified foot pedestals  20  ( FIG. 1 ), and support tubes  190  and  192  ( FIG. 12 ). 
     While this invention has been described as having an exemplary design, the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains.