Rear fender and rear carrier bar

An all terrain vehicle includes a main body and a rear fender mounted on a rear portion of the main body. The rear fender includes a rear central portion and two lateral portions extending from the rear central portion. The rear central portion of the rear fender defines a carrier surface with no bars or other members disposed on or above the carrier surface defined by the rear central portion of the rear fender. The rear central portion of the rear fender having a length that is greater than a width thereof. The rear carrier bar is arranged substantially parallel to, when viewed from above, at least a portion of an outer periphery of the rear central portion of the rear fender.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to all-terrain vehicles. More specifically, the present invention relates to a rear fender and a rear carrier bar for all-terrain vehicles.

2. Description of the Related Art

FIGS. 1A,1B, and IC illustrate a known all-terrain vehicle (ATV)101. The ATV101includes a body frame102formed mostly of pipe members assembled by welding. An engine125is mounted on a middle portion of the body frame102. Front wheels120provided with low-pressure tires, i.e., balloon tires, are suspended from front right and front left portions of the body frame102. Rear wheels121provided with low-pressure tires are suspended from rear right and rear left portions of the body frame102. The rear wheels121are supported on rear end portions of a swing arm129pivotally joined to a rear lower end portion of the body frame102for swinging motion in a vertical plane and supported by a suspension system132. The front wheels120are supported by right and left linkages130individually connected to a front lower end portion of the body frame102and supported by shock absorbers133so as to be able to swing in a vertical plane. The handlebar122is operated to control the front wheels120for steering.

As shown inFIG. 1A, the front wheels120and the rear wheels121are driven by a transmission including drive shafts, not shown, and differential gears134and135connected to the engine125and mounted on the body frame102. A front carrier rack131is mounted on the front fender107and permits loading and supporting of baggage thereon from the front side of the ATV101. Front fender107also encloses a pair of headlights106, as shown inFIG. 1B. The front carrier rack131, the handlebar122, the fuel tank124, and the seat123are arranged on the body frame102in that order from the front toward the rear of the body frame102. A rear carrier rack126is disposed behind the seat123and is mounted on the rear fender108.

The front wheels120are covered with the front fender107. The rear wheels121are covered with the rear fender108. A cover109is provided on the body frame102between the front fender107and the rear fender108so as to surround the fuel tank124. Exhaust pipes136extend rearward from the exhaust ports of the cylinders of the engine125and are connected to the muffler127.

One problem with ATV101is that the rear carrier rack131adds weight to the ATV101because it is made from a heavy material, for example a metal. Another problem with the ATV101is that additional manufacturing steps must be made in order to secure the rear carrier rack131to the ATV101. In addition, the addition of the rear carrier rack131requires extra parts, extra assembly and takes away from the aesthetic appearance of the ATV101.

FIG. 2illustrates another known ATV201. ATV201includes a pair of font wheels220and a pair of rear wheels221. The body of ATV201includes a front fender207, a rear fender208, and a cover209connecting the front fender207and the rear fender208. The handlebar222, the fuel tank224, the seat223, and the rear bar226are arranged in that order from the front toward the rear of the ATV201. The rear bar226is provided only for supporting the weight of the ATV201when the ATV is stored in a vertically upright position, as opposed to the horizontal operation position.

A problem with ATV201is that there is no place to mount or carry items. For example, there is no place on ATV201to attach a cooler. In the front of the ATV201, the front fender207is sloped at such an angle that no item can be securely and safely attached thereto. Although a rear bar226is provided in the rear of the ATV201, there is no space or carrying member provided between the end of the seat223and the central portion of rear fender208to attach or secure an item for carrying the item. In the middle of the ATV201, there is no safe place to secure an item because it would interfere with the rider's ability to safely operate the ATV201.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To overcome the problems described above, preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a rear carrier portion of an ATV that is easily formed, less expensive, lighter in weight, and has a much better appearance.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle includes a rear fender including a rear central portion and two lateral portions extending from the rear central portion, the rear central portion of the rear fender defines a carrier surface with no bars or other members disposed on or above the carrier surface defined by the rear central portion of the rear fender, and a rear carrier bar arranged to surround an outer periphery of the rear central portion of the rear fender.

It is preferable that the rear central portion of the rear fender having a length that is greater than a width thereof.

It is also preferable that rear carrier bar is arranged substantially parallel to, when viewed from above, at least an outer periphery of the rear central portion of the rear fender.

The rear carrier bar is preferably disposed slightly above a plane defined by the carrier surface of the rear fender.

The rear central portion of the rear fender preferably includes a plurality of ridges arranged in the carrier surface and may be reinforced by fiberglass.

The rear fender preferably includes two recessed portions that are located below opposite ends of the rear carrier bar that are attached to a body frame of the vehicle.

In one preferred embodiment, no portion of the rear fender is located directly below the rear carrier bar.

The carrier surface is preferably made of plastic and the rear carrier bar is preferably made of metal. The carrier surface may be reinforced with fiberglass and may include ridges.

The rear carrier bar is preferably arranged to surround the rear central portion such that securing members can be removably attached to the rear carrier bar to hold down objects on the carrier surface of the rear central portion of the rear fender. In this case, the rear carrier bar is preferably disposed slightly above a plane defined by the carrier surface of the rear fender, and the rear central portion of the rear fender preferably includes a plurality of ridges arranged in the carrier surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 3illustrates ATV1that includes a rear carrier bar2and a rear fender3according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The ATV1includes a pair of front wheels20and a pair of rear wheels21(only one rear wheel is shown inFIG. 3).

ATV1includes handlebars22for steering the front wheels20. A substantially v-shaped front carrier bar11is connected the body frame14of the ATV1. Directly behind the substantially v-shaped carrier bar11is an air shroud15for improving the air flow to the engine cooling apparatus (not shown). The front fender12is located above the air shroud15. ATV1also includes a pair of headlights13that are located next to the front fender12.

The fuel tank24is located next to the handlebars22. The seat23is located behind and adjacent to the fuel tank24. The rear carrier bar2and the rear fender3are located at the rear of the ATV1, behind the seat23. The rear fender3and front fender12are connected by cover16. Also, foot rests17are connected to the front fender12and the rear fender3on each side of the seat23.

FIG. 4Ais a top view of the rear of the ATV1;FIG. 4Bis a side view of the rear of the ATV1; andFIG. 4Cis a sectional view along line A-A inFIG. 4A. The rear fender3includes lateral portions5aand5band central portion4. No bars or other members are disposed on or above the carrier surface6of the rear fender3such that items may be carried on the carrier surface6of the rear fender3during the operation of the ATV1. For example, a rider (not shown) can place an item, for example, a cooler, on the carrier surface6of the central portion4of the rear fender3. The rear carrier bar2is arranged to surround the peripheral edge of the central portion4. The rear carrier bar2is arranged such that the item placed on the carrier surface6of the central portion4can be secured, for example with a rope, a bungee cord, or any other suitable means, to the rear carrier bar2.

As shown inFIG. 4A, the length (the direction from front to back of the ATV1) of the central portion4is preferably longer than the width (the direction perpendicular to the length) of the central portion4. However, the length of central portion4of the rear fender3could be the same as or shorter than the width of central portion4of the rear fender3.

Also as seen inFIG. 4A, the rear carrier bar3can also include a flag carrier10.

As seen inFIGS. 4A and 4C, the rear fender3includes two recessed portions9that are located adjacent to opposite ends of the carrier bar2. The rear fender3does not need to include the recessed portions9. That is, no portion of the rear fender3is required to be located below the rear carrier bar2. As seen inFIG. 4A, the portion of the rear fender3defined by dashed lined18need not be provided.

As seen inFIGS. 4B and 4C, the rear carrier bar2is generally located in the same plane defined by the carrier surface6of the rear fender3. As seen inFIG. 4C, the top portion of the rear carrier bar2is preferably slightly above the plane defined by the carrier surface6of the rear fender3. However, the rear carrier bar2may be located at or slightly below the plane defined by the carrier surface6of the rear fender3. As seen inFIG. 4B, the rear carrier bar2is preferably attached to the body frame14by four bolts8(only two bolts are shown). However, the body frame14can be attached in any suitable manner, for example welding.

The rear fender3, including the central portion4, may be made of plastic, including molded plastic, or any other suitable material. The rear carrier bar2may be made of metal or any other suitable material. The central portion4can include ridges7that provide extra rigidity to the central portion4. The central portion4can also be reinforced with fiberglass (not shown). By adding ridges7and by reinforcing the central portion4, heavier items may be secured on the carrier surface6of the central portion4.

With the unique structure and arrangement of preferred embodiments of the present invention shown inFIGS. 3-4C, the use of the expensive, heavy, cumbersome and awkward-appearing rear carrier rack is avoided. Accordingly, a rear carrier portion of an ATV is easily formed, less expensive and lighter in weight, and provides a much better appearance.