Abstract:
An ATV is disclosed which includes a pedestal assembly incorporated into the foot-wells, which cooperate with a removable passenger seat. Furthermore, passenger seat is selectively added or removed from ATV by way of a latch assembly. Hand grips flank the removable seat and are attached to a rear accessory panel. The rear accessory panel also includes an integrated cup holder, and rack tie-downs are formed in a front or rear accessory panel.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is related to application Ser. No. 12/012,587 filed Feb. 4, 2008, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and more particularly, for seating arrangements for a passenger on an ATV. 
       BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 
       [0003]    Generally, all terrain vehicles (“ATVs”) and utility vehicles (“UVs”) are used to carry one or two passengers and a small amount of cargo over a variety of terrains. Due to increasing recreational interest in ATVs, ATVs for multiple riders have become more popular in the market place. Most ATVs include an engine including between one and three cylinders. Most ATVs include a straddle or saddle type seat positioned above the engine. Seating systems for supporting people in a seated position on such vehicles, for example, on ATVs, are well-known. Most systems generally involve a straddle type seat being secured to a frame structure. 
         [0004]    Conventional straddle type seats on recreational and utility vehicles generally hold a number of people, and most commonly, the seats function in supporting one or two persons. In one example, a two-person seating system is designed with an elongated bench portion of the straddle type seat so as to support one person in front of the other. In another example, discrete seats bottoms are provided for supporting one person in front of the other, with the passenger elevated in relation to the driver. 
         [0005]    It is desirable on ATVs to provide the most comfortable and ergonomically pleasing ride for either one or two ATV riders. Embodiments of the invention can be used to generally overcome the above shortcomings as well as others. 
         [0006]    According to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, an all-terrain vehicle includes a frame, a straddle type seat mounted to the frame for a driver, a passenger seat positioned rearward of the straddle type seat and is movable in dampened movement in at least a partially vertical travel component. 
         [0007]    In another embodiment, a vehicle comprises a frame, a straddle type seat mounted to the frame for a driver, and a passenger support assembly positioned rearward of the straddle type seat, where the passenger support assembly is comprised of a seat frame assembly and a seat assembly, wherein the seat frame assembly is pivotally movable relative to the vehicle frame and the seat assembly is removably mounted to the seat frame assembly. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, a vehicle comprises a frame; a straddle type seat mounted to the frame for a driver; and a passenger support assembly positioned rearward of the straddle type seat, where the passenger support assembly is comprised of a seat bottom and a seat back, the seat back being adjustably movable to a plurality of positions for the ergonomic comfort of the passenger. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of vehicle described; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a left side plan view of the vehicle of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a a rear perspective view in partial cutaway showing the passenger seat attached to the vehicle frame; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a view similar to that of  FIG. 3 , showing the passenger seat assembly removed; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the pivot support link shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  shows an underside perspective view of the passenger seat assembly; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a shows a top perspective view of the seat frame; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a lower perspective view of the seat frame of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  shows a rear perspective view of the seat back and seat attachment assembly; 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  shows a partially exploded view of the seat back and seat attachment assembly of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  shows a rear perspective view of the assembly of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0020]      FIGS. 12 and 13  show front and rear perspective views of the lower seat back frame; 
           [0021]      FIGS. 14 and 15  show inner and outer perspective views of the upper seat back frame; 
           [0022]      FIG. 16  shows an exploded view of an underside of a portion of the passenger seat assembly, and in particular the latch assembly; 
           [0023]      FIG. 17  shows the pivot link and passenger seat poised for receipt onto the frame rearward of the driver seat; 
           [0024]      FIG. 18  shows an underside perspective view of the passenger seat assembly poised for receipt over the mating pin on the pivot support link; 
           [0025]      FIG. 19  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken through the shock absorber, in perspective view; 
           [0026]      FIG. 20  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken through the shock absorber; 
           [0027]      FIG. 21  shows a side plan view of the passenger seat assembly showing the extreme positions of the passenger seat through the dampening; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 22  shows the extreme positions of the seat back plate for the passenger seat. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0029]    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, motorcycles, watercraft, utility vehicles, scooters, golf carts, and mopeds. 
         [0030]    Referring initially to  FIGS. 1-3 , one illustrative embodiment of an all terrain vehicle (ATV)  10  is shown, ATV  10  includes a frame  12 , a chassis  14  mounted on the frame  12 , where the frame  12  is supported by front and rear tires  16 ,  18 , respectively. ATV  10  also includes a front end  20  and a rear end  22 . Front end  20  and rear end  22  are separated by handlebar assembly  24 , straddle-type seat  26 , drive-train  28 , and foot-wells  30 . Foot-wells  30  are located on both lateral sides of ATV  10 , and flank the straddle-type seat  26 , providing an area for the foot rest of the driver and passenger&#39;s feet. 
         [0031]    Front end  20  also includes front accessory panel  32  which may include a tool storage compartment. Handlebar assembly  24  is operably coupled to front wheels  16  to allow a rider to steer ATV  10  when supported by straddle-type seat  26 . Rear end  22  also includes rear accessory panel  34  which may also include a tool storage compartment. Front panel  32  and rear panel  34  may also 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. 
         [0032]    Positioned rearward of the straddle type seat  26  is a passenger support assembly  36 , which is comprised of a passenger seat assembly  38 , and a seat frame assembly  40  ( FIG. 3 ). As described herein, passenger seat assembly  38  is selectively removable from the ATV  10  by way of a release mechanism  42 . With the above generally described vehicle, the passenger support assembly will be described more fully below. 
         [0033]    With respect to  FIGS. 3-4 , seat frame assembly  40  is comprised of a pivot support link  44  and a suspension coupling  46 , both of which are attached to a rear portion  48  of vehicle frame  12 . As best viewed in  FIG. 4 , rear frame portion  48  is comprised of main frame tubes  50  having mounting brackets  52  positioned on opposing main frame tubes  50 . Rear portion  48  is further comprised of a rear support platform  54  supporting mounting bracket  56 , which supports suspension coupling  46  ( FIG. 3 ), as described herein. 
         [0034]    With reference now to  FIG. 5 , pivot support link  44  is shown in greater detail. Pivot support link  44  is comprised of frame members  60  having a generally horizontal portion  62  and upright portions  64 . A mounting axle  66  connects the frame members  60  at one end and includes a through opening  68  for mounting purposes. Meanwhile, axle portions  70  are mounted to the free ends of upright frame portions  64  where the axle portions  70  are spaced apart for receipt of the suspension coupling  46  as described herein. Each of the axle portions  70  includes an opening  72  as also described further herein. Pivot support link  44  further includes a bracket  74  interconnecting the frame members  60  and has a pin latching  76  attached thereto where the pin is comprised of a lead-in section  78  and an undercut latching area  80 . Finally, pivot support link  44  includes a bracket  82  extending between the frame members  60  adjacent to the axle portions  70  forming a stop surface, as described herein. 
         [0035]    With reference now to  FIG. 6 , passenger seat assembly  38  is comprised of a seat bottom  90  and a seat back  92  where the seat back  92  is attached to the seat bottom  90  by way of a seat back support  94 . The seat bottom  90  is comprised of a seat bottom frame  96  together with the appropriate seat padding shown generally at  100 . The seat back support  94  includes a lower seat back frame  102  and an upper seat back frame  104 . The release mechanism  42  includes latch assembly  106  which is attached to seat bottom frame  96  by way of connection to lower seat back frame  102  as described herein. 
         [0036]    With respect now to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the seat bottom frame  96  is shown in greater detail. Seat bottom frame portion  96  includes a lower wall  110  having a central wall portion  112  separated by way of alignment ribs  114 . Alignment ribs  114  are used for alignment with pivot support link  44  as will be described herein. Central wall portion  112  further includes openings at  116  and through holes  118 . Locking hooks  120  are integrally molded to the central wall portion  112  whereas a slot  122  is molded through a wall portion  124  to access an inside of central wall portion  112  as best shown in  FIG. 7 . The seat bottom frame  96  further includes a transition wall  128  leading onto a surface  130  having apertures  132  and mounting apertures  134 . 
         [0037]    With respect now to  FIGS. 9-13 , seat back support  94  is shown with the lower seat back frame  102  and upper seat back frame  104  attached to a seat back platform  140  by way of a bracket  142 . As shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , lower seat back frame  102  includes a base portion  150  having inner apertures  152  and outer apertures  154 . A mounting plate portion  156  is positioned in a different plane as base portion  150  by way of a transition section  158 . Mounting plate portion  156  includes mounting apertures  160 . A transition wall  162  extends upwardly from base portion  150  and includes an opening  164 . Finally an upright portion  166  is provided having an opening at  168 . 
         [0038]    Upper seat back frame  104  is shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15  and includes an angled wall  170  for covering wall  162  and has marginal walls  172  for overlapping wall  162 . Upper seat back frame  104  further includes a vertical wall portion  174  for covering wall portion  166  and includes marginal wall portions  176  for overlapping wall portion  166 . A lower cutout section is provided at  180  and an upper cutout section is provided at  182  which are generally aligned with openings  164  and  168  ( FIGS. 12 and 13 ) as described further herein. An upper wall portion  190  is provided having marginal wall portions  192  with mounting tab portions  194  positioned adjacent to a top of marginal wall portions  192 . Intersecting circular apertures  196  are provided in tab portions  194  and provide closely spaced apertures as described herein. Finally, as shown in  FIG. 15 , angled wall  170  includes an aperture  198 , as described herein. 
         [0039]    With respect again to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , mounting bracket  142  includes mounting ears  200  which are profiled for receipt within marginal wall portions  176  and for attachment by way of a fasteners  202 ,  204 . Meanwhile, bracket  142  includes upper ears  208  which may be positioned inside of tabs  194  such that the aperture in ear  208  may be aligned with one of the circular openings of the openings  196  and can be locked into one of multiple positions by way of fasteners  210 ,  212 . Meanwhile seat back plate  140  may be attached to the bracket  142  by way of fasteners  220 ,  222 . 
         [0040]    With reference now to  FIG. 16 , latch assembly  106  includes a lanyard assembly  248 , receiver plate  290 , latch spring  292 , spring block  294  and back up plate  296 . Receiver plate  290  includes a pin receiving aperture  300 , and spring  292  includes a spring portion  302  overlapping aperture  300 . Block  294  and back up plate  296  also include throughholes  312 ,  314 , respectively, which align with aperture  300  as described herein. With reference still to  FIG. 16 , lanyard assembly  248  includes a strap  320  having a pull loop  322  ( FIG. 6 ) at one end and a connection link  324  at the opposite end. Link  324  is connected to release member  326  having engagement members  328  as will be described herein. Link  324  and release member  326  are attached together by way of rivets  330 . 
         [0041]    With reference still to  FIG. 16 , block  294  includes bosses  388  profiled to receive fasteners  310  therethrough. Block  294  further also includes U-shaped channels  390 , posts  392 , and a central post  394  which forms opening  312 , and where post  394  is formed with a cut-away portion  395 . As also shown in  FIG. 16 , release member  326  includes trunnions  396  on each side thereof, and are profiled for receipt within the U-shaped channels  390 . The engagement members  328  include gripping channels  397 . Finally, spring  292  includes clip ends  398 . Thus as shown, lanyard assembly  248 , receiver plate  290 , spring  292 , block  294  and back up plate  296  stack together and may be fastened to base portion  150  by way of fasteners  310  threadably engaging threaded apertures  152  ( FIG. 12 ). 
         [0042]    The spring latch assembly  106  is assembled as follows: strap  320  and link  324  are first attached to release member  326  by way of rivets  330 . Trunnions  396  are then positioned in U-shaped channels  390 . Spring  292  is positioned with spring portion  302  positioned in cutaway  395  and in gripping channels  397 , and with clip ends  398  positioned within posts  392 . Receiver plate  290  and back-up plate  296  are then positioned over bosses  388 , and fasteners  310  may be received therethrough and threaded into the threaded openings  152  ( FIG. 12 ), to retain the assembly in place to the base portion  150 . The seat back support  94  is completed by positioning the upper seat back frame  104  to the lower seat back frame  102  and attaching the seat back platform  140  to the upper seat back frame  104  by way of bracket  142  as described herein. 
         [0043]    With reference still to  FIG. 16 , fasteners  310  are positioned through receiver plate  290  and with spring  292  positioned on the plate  290 , fasteners can extend through the block  294 , and back up plate  296 , and are attached to base portion  150 . It should be appreciated that release member  326  is moveably trapped between plate  290  and block  294 . It should also be appreciated that strap  320  is laced through aperture  164  and exits through aperture  168  to position loop  322  on the backside of seat  138  as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0044]    The passenger seat assembly is completed by placing the mounting plate  156  ( FIG. 12 ) of the lower seat back frame  102  through the slot  122  ( FIGS. 7-9 ) so as to align apertures  160  and  118 . As apertures  160  are threaded, bolts  440  ( FIG. 6 ) may be positioned through apertures  118  and into threaded engagement with the mounting plate  156 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , this places the transition wall  162  ( FIG. 12 ) adjacent to transition wall  128  ( FIG. 8 ) with upright portion  166  and upper wall portion  190  extending upwardly from the seat bottom  90  as shown in  FIG. 6 . With reference still to  FIG. 6 , a rubber bushing  450  is positioned in aperture  198  ( FIG. 15 ), and rubber bushings  452  are positioned in apertures  116  ( FIG. 7 ). 
         [0045]    With reference now to  FIG. 17 , pivot support link  44  and suspension coupling  46  may now be attached to rear portion  48  of frame  12 . Mounting axle  66  is positioned between mounting brackets  52  and elongate fastener such as a bolt or a stud  460  is positioned between brackets  52  and into and through mounting axle  66  whereby it may be attached with a fastener such as a nut  462 . Suspension coupling  46  has an upper connection link  464  which may be placed intermediate axle portions  70  and receive a fastener such as a bolt or stud  466  therethrough and be retained by a nut  468 . Meanwhile, suspension coupling  46  includes a lower coupling  470  which is now positioned in bracket  56  and attached thereto by way of fasteners  472 ,  474 . As such, pivot support link  44  is moveable relative to rear portion  48  of frame  12  by way of dampened movement subject to the dampening of the suspension coupling  46 . 
         [0046]    Thus as described and with reference now to  FIGS. 18-20 , seat assembly  38  is attached to vehicle  10  by positioning seat frame  96  against the pivot support link  44 , such that the mounting hooks  120  couple around the axle  66  and such that the alignment ribs  114  flank the frame members  60 . The attached position is shown in  FIGS. 19 and 20 . This aligns the pin  76  with opening  300  ( FIG. 18 ) in receiving plate  290 , as shown in  FIG. 20 . It should be appreciated that when pin  76  is aligned with opening  300 , spring portion  302  resiles into pin groove  386  ( FIG. 16 ) to retain the passenger seat assembly  38  in position. When the seat needs to be removed, loop  322  of strap  320  is pulled which causes release plate  326  to rotate about trunnions  396  ( FIG. 16 ). Gripping channels  397  grip spring portion  302  and disengage spring  292  from pin  382 , which allows the seat to pull straight off of pin  76 , and then rotate out. 
         [0047]    It should be noted that the movable portion of the latch assembly  42 , that is release member  326  and spring  292 , are movably attached to the seat. It should also be noted that lanyard strap  320  is pulled generally vertically to release the latch assembly  42  from the pin  76 . Therefore, the directional component of the force on the lanyard  320  assists in the removal of the passenger seat assembly  38 . As mentioned above, isolation mounts  450 ,  452  are positioned against bracket  82  and frame portions  62 , respectively, which provide for vibration dampening between the frame of the vehicle and the frame of the passenger seat. 
         [0048]    At the same time, the entire pivot support link  44  is attached to the frame in a dampened manner by way of suspension coupling  46 . Suspension coupling  46  is comprised of at least one element acting along a linear path, such as a shock absorber, damper, air shock, shock and spring combination, or other linear force element (LFE). Thus any vibration or bumps encountered by the vehicle  10  will be dampened by the suspension coupling  46 , rather than being transferred to the passenger seat assembly  38 .  FIG. 21  displays the extreme positions available given the stroke of the suspension coupling  46 . As also shown in  FIG. 21 , the upward projection of frame portions  64  provides more vertical clearance for the suspension coupling  46 , thus allowing maximum vertical stroke. 
         [0049]    As also shown in  FIG. 22 , the seat back platform  140  is movable by way of the fasteners  202 ,  210  between the position shown. Thus the entire seat back  92  may be moved between these positions to accommodate the best ergonomic fit for the passenger. While not shown, some access means, such as a zipper or other opening could be positioned in the padding or covering of the seat back  92 , and adjacent to the fasteners  202 ,  210 , for access and adjustment of the seat back platform  140 .