Recreational off-highway vehicle with vehicle front structure

A recreational off-highway vehicle includes a vehicle frame, a plurality of wheels, a drive source, a vehicle body and a pair of headlights. The vehicle frame includes a front frame, a rear frame and an intermediate frame defining an open passenger compartment between the front and rear frames. The wheels support the vehicle frame. At least one of the wheels is a drive wheel. The drive source supported by the vehicle frame. The vehicle body is provided to the vehicle frame. The vehicle body includes a front grille panel that has an air intake area defined by a plurality of intake air openings. The headlights are located primarily at a middle point of the front grille panel with respect to a vertical direction of the recreational off-highway vehicle.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to the field of recreational off-highway vehicles. More specifically, the present invention relates to a vehicle front structure for a recreational off-highway vehicle.

Background Information

Generally, recreational off-highway vehicles are designed to be operated over rough terrain. Basically, a recreational off-highway vehicle is considered to be any small vehicle that is not street legal. In other words, a recreational off-highway vehicle is not equipped and licensed for use on public roads, while a street legal vehicle is equipped and licensed for use on public roads. These recreational off-highway vehicles are often driven on uneven terrain such as rough roads, steep inclines and declines. As a consequence of these considerations, the design of a recreational off-highway vehicle can be quite different from vehicles designed for driving on paved roads.

Various types of recreational off-highway vehicles that are designed to be primarily driven on unpaved surfaces and typically have one or more seats. One example of a recreational off-highway vehicles is a side-by-side off-road vehicle in which the driver and a passenger are seated side-by-side. Some side-by-side recreational off-road vehicles also have a second row of seats to accommodate one or more additional passengers. These recreational off-highway vehicles typically have a frame with an open cockpit, a roll cage, a steering wheel and four wheels. In the case of these side-by-side recreational off-highway vehicles, a drive source such as an internal combustion engine is utilized to drive one or more of the wheels. Typically, the drive source will be configured to drive two of the wheels or all four of the wheels. Typically, the engine is provided with a transmission that transfers power to an output shaft from a crankshaft of the engine. The output shaft drives the wheels through a drivetrain.

SUMMARY

Generally, the present disclosure is directed to various features of a vehicle front structure of a recreational off-highway vehicle. In recreational off-highway vehicles, the front end structure of a recreational off-highway vehicle needs to be configured to provide for headlights as well as a grille that provides for cooling air.

Accordingly, one object of the present disclosure is directed to an improved the front end structure of a recreational off-highway vehicle.

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a recreational off-highway vehicle is provided that basically comprises a vehicle frame, a plurality of wheels, a drive source, a vehicle body and a pair of headlights. The vehicle frame includes a front frame, a rear frame and an intermediate frame defining an open passenger compartment between the front and rear frames. The wheels support the vehicle frame. At least one of the wheels is a drive wheel. The drive source supported by the vehicle frame. The vehicle body is provided to the vehicle frame. The vehicle body includes a front grille panel that has an air intake area defined by a plurality of intake air openings. The headlights are located primarily at a middle point of the front grille panel with respect to a vertical direction of the recreational off-highway vehicle.

Also, other features, aspects and advantages of the disclosed recreational off-highway vehicle will become apparent to those skilled in the field of manufacturing recreational off-highway vehicles from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses several illustrative embodiments of a recreational off-highway vehicle with various features.

It should be noted that these figures are intended to illustrate the general characteristics of methods, structure and/or materials utilized in certain illustrative embodiment and to supplement the written description provided below. These figures are to reduce scale of the actual recreational off-highway vehicle but may not precisely reflect the precise structural or performance characteristics of any given embodiment. However, the dimensional relationships and the arrangement of the parts of the recreational off-highway vehicle are accurately depicted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Selected embodiments will now be explained with reference to the drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the recreational off-highway vehicle field from this disclosure that the following descriptions of the embodiments are provided for illustration only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. Like reference numerals in the drawings denote like similar or identical elements or features, and thus the descriptions of the similar or identical elements or features may be omitted in later embodiments.

Referring initially toFIGS. 1 to 6, a recreational off-highway vehicle10is illustrated in accordance with one illustrative embodiment. Here, the recreational off-highway vehicle10is a side-by-side recreational off-highway vehicle with rear seating for four people. As used herein, the term “recreational off-highway vehicle” refers to a vehicle that is not street legal (i.e. the off-highway vehicle is not equipped and licensed for use on public road). Of course, recreational off-highway vehicles such as the recreational off-highway vehicle10illustrated herein can be also driven on paved surfaces. In other words, in the illustrated embodiment, the vehicle10can be classified as a “recreational off-highway vehicle”. Hereinafter, for the sake of brevity, the recreational off-highway vehicle10will be referred to simply as the vehicle10.

In the following description, the terms “front” and “forward” refer to a direction in which the driver looks straight ahead while in seated driving position. Also, in the following description, the terms “rear,” “rearward” and “backward” refer to a direction opposite to the front or forward direction. Further in the following description, the term “lateral side” refer to a portion of the vehicle10that is one or the other side of a vertical center plane CP that bisect the vehicle10into right and left halves. Thus, as seen inFIG. 2, the vertical center plane CP divides the vehicle10into a first lateral side S1(i.e., the left side in the illustrated embodiment) and a second lateral side S2(i.e., the right side in the illustrated embodiment). The vertical center plane CP extends in a vehicle longitudinal vehicle direction as indicated inFIG. 3. Also, in the following description, the term “lateral vehicle direction” refer to a side to side direction that is perpendicular to a straightforward driving direction and “vehicle longitudinal vehicle direction” refers a direction that is parallel to a straightforward driving direction.

The vehicle10basically comprises a vehicle frame12, a vehicle body14, a pair of front wheels FR and FL a pair of rear wheels RR and RL, a driver seat16, a front passenger seat18, a first rear passenger seat20and a second rear passenger seat22. The vehicle body14, the seats16,18,20and22are attached to the vehicle frame14in a conventional manner. The front wheels FR and FL are connected to the vehicle frame12by a pair of independent front suspensions in a conventional manner, while the rear wheels RR and RL are connected to the vehicle frame12by a pair of independent rear suspensions in a conventional manner. While the vehicle10includes four seats, it is contemplated that the vehicle10can have only one seat.

Also, the vehicle10further comprises a steering wheel24that is disposed in front of the driver seat16. The steering wheel24is operatively connected to the front wheels FR and FL by a steering column in a conventional manner for turning the front wheels FR and FL in response to turning of the steering wheel24. In some applications, a control stick can be used in place of the steering wheel24. Other suitable steering devices also can be used, such as, without limitation, a handlebar, one or more push-buttons, one or more foot pedals and/or the like. Thus, here, the wheels FR and FL are steerable wheels for changing the travel path of the vehicle10.

The vehicle frame12is typically made from a plurality of hollow tubes and a plurality of brackets that are welded to each other. It is contemplated that at least some of the hollow tubes could be replaced by other types of supports such as solid support members and/or beams. While the hollow tubes have a cylindrical cross-section, it is contemplated that cross-sections other than circular. Preferably, the hollow tubes, the beams and the brackets are preferably made of a suitable rigid metallic material such as steel, aluminum, titanium, etc. It is also contemplated that at least some of the hollow tubes, the beams, and the brackets could be made of a non-metallic material, such as reinforced composite materials such as fiber reinforced plastics. It is also contemplated that at least some of the members and brackets could be joined to each other by means other than welding, such as by fastening and bonding for example. It is also contemplated that two or more of the hollow tubes, the beams, and the brackets described below could be cast or otherwise formed as a single component. It is also contemplated that the vehicle frame12could have more or less the hollow tubes, the beams, and the brackets than illustrated below depending on the type of materials used, the required strength and rigidity of the vehicle frame12and the weight of the components attached to the vehicle frame12for example.

As seen inFIG. 5, the vehicle body14is provided to the vehicle frame12in a conventional manner. The vehicle frame12has a front frame12A, a rear frame12B and an intermediate frame12C defining an open passenger compartment between the front and rear frames12A and12B. The front wheels FR and FL support the front frame12A of the vehicle frame12. The rear wheels RR and RL supports the rear frame12B of the vehicle frame12. As seen inFIGS. 5, 11 and 12, the vehicle10further comprises a front support26that is attached to the front frame12A. The front support26is made of a plurality of hollow tubes and a plurality of brackets that are welded to each other.

As seen inFIG. 5, the vehicle10includes a drive source28that is supported on the intermediate frame12C of the vehicle frame12. Basically, the drive source28is an internal combustion engine. However, the drive source28can be an electric motor. Here, the drive source28is primarily located between the driver seat16and the front passenger seat18. The first and second rear passenger seats20and22are located rearward of the drive source28. The drive source28is operatively coupled to at least one of the wheels FR, FL, RR and RL which is a drive wheel. Preferably, the vehicle10is a four-wheel drive vehicle in which both the front wheels FR and FL and the rear wheels RR and RL or only the front wheels FR and FL are drive wheels for propelling the vehicle10along the ground. Of course, it will be apparent from this disclosure that only the rear wheels RR and RL can be drive wheels. Here, the drive source28is operatively coupled to all of the wheels FR, FL, RR and RL via a drivetrain (not shown).

The vehicle body14includes a plurality of body panels that are connected the vehicle frame12. The body panels of the vehicle body14aid in protecting various components of the vehicle10and provide aesthetic features to the vehicle10. Here, the vehicle body14includes a front body assembly30that is connected the vehicle frame12. The front body assembly30includes a hood32, a pair of front fenders34R and34L, and a front grille panel36. The vehicle frame12includes other of body panels that will not be discussed or illustrated in detail herein for the sake of brevity. The hood32, the front fenders34R and34L, and the front grille panel36are constructed of suitable materials that are used for body panels. For example, the hood32, the front fenders34R and34L, and the front grille panel36can be constructed of metal panels, plastic panels, and/or fiber reinforced plastic panels.

The fenders34R and34L are disposed on lateral outward sides of the hood32, respectively. The fenders34R and34L are mirror images of each other. The hood32is a separate piece from the fenders34R and34L and the front grille panel36. Here, the hood32is made of a center hood section38and a pair of side hood sections40R and40L. The center hood section38of the hood32is either removably mounted or hingedly mounted to the vehicle frame12and/or other body panels. The side hood sections40R and40L can be fastened to the vehicle frame12and/or other body panels in a conventional manner (e.g., a plurality of fasteners) so that the side hood sections40R and40L remains attached to the vehicle10when the center hood section38of the hood32is removed. Alternatively, the side hood sections40R and40L can be fastened to the center hood section38in a conventional manner (e.g., a plurality of fasteners) so that the center hood section38and the side hood sections40R and40L are removably as a unit. In the illustrated embodiment, the center hood section38is removably mounted to other body panels using a plurality of snap fit connections. The center hood section38of the hood32includes a front vent38aand a pair of second vents38band38c.

The front support26supports the front grille panel36. The front grille panel36is attached to the front support26in a conventional manner (e.g., a plurality of fasteners). The front grille panel36is located below the hood32. Lateral ends of the front grille panel36are located between forward ends of the front fenders34R and34L and the side hood sections40R and40L. The front grille panel36defines a forwardly facing portion of the front body assembly30.

In the illustrated embodiment, the vehicle10includes a pair of headlights41R and41L. The headlights41R and41L are located primarily at a middle point of the front grille panel36with respect to a vertical direction D1of the vehicle10. The headlights41R and41L are disposed inwardly of the front wheels FR and FL. Also, in the illustrated embodiment, the vehicle10includes a pair of driving lights42R and42L. The headlights41R and41L are larger than the driving lights42R and42L. Also, the driving lights42R and42L are mounted to provide illumination forward of the vehicle10and in a range beyond the high beam of the headlights41R and41L.

The driving lights42R and42L are disposed above and at least partially outward of the headlights41R and41L, respectively. The front support26supports the front grille panel36, the headlights41R and41L, while the driving lights42R and42L supported by the front grille panel36. In other words, the front grille panel36and the headlights41R and41L are fastened to the front support26such that the front grille panel36can be removed while the headlights41R and41L remain attached to the front support26. Similarly, the headlights41R and41L can be removed while the front grille panel36remain attached to the front support26. On the other hand, the driving lights42R and42L are fastened directly to the front grille panel36.

In the illustrated embodiment, the front grille panel36includes an air intake area44defined by a plurality of intake air openings46. As seen inFIG. 2, the air intake area44extends greater in the vertical direction D1of the vehicle10than in a lateral vehicle direction D2of the vehicle10. The air intake area44has a lower minimum lateral width W1that is smaller than a vertical height H of the air intake area44. The air intake area44has an upper maximum lateral width W2that is greater than the vertical height H of the air intake area44. As seen inFIG. 2, the headlights41R and41L has an uppermost edge that is located below an uppermost one of the intake air openings46in the air intake area44. The headlights41R and41L has a lowermost edge that is located above a lowermost one of the intake air openings46in the air intake area44.

As seen inFIGS. 3, 9 and 10, the front grille panel36has a pair of headlight openings51R and51L in which the headlights41R and41L are disposed, respectively. The front grille panel36has a pair of driving light openings52R and52L in which the driving lights42R and42L are disposed, respectively. In the illustrated embodiment, as seen inFIG. 3, the headlight openings51R and51L are located primarily at a middle point of the front grille panel36with respect to the vertical direction D1of the vehicle10. The driving light openings52R and52L are disposed inwardly of the front wheels FR and FL. The headlight openings51R and51L are larger than the driving light openings52R and52L.

As seen inFIGS. 12 and 13, the vehicle10further comprises an oil cooler54that is supported on the front support26behind the air intake area44of the front grille panel36. The oil cooler54is located directly behind the air intake area44of the front grille panel36. In this way, air pass through the air intake area44of the front grille panel36and contact the oil cooler54for cooling the oil in the oil cooler54. In the illustrated embodiment, the oil cooler54is located along the vertical center plane CP of the vehicle10.

As seen inFIGS. 12 and 13, the vehicle10further comprises a radiator56and a radiator fan58. The radiator fan58is supported on the front support26by the radiator56. The radiator56and the radiator fan58are behind the oil cooler54. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, the radiator56and the radiator fan58are located along the vertical center plane CP of the vehicle10. In this way, intake air can be drawn through the intake air openings46in the air intake area44by the radiator fan58such that the intake air is also drawn through the oil cooler54and the radiator56.

The vehicle10further comprises many other conventional vehicle components, such as an accelerator pedal, a brake system, a fuel tank, an electrical system, an exhaust system, various lights, various displays, gauges, etc. that are typically provided on recreational off-highway vehicles. However, for the sake of brevity, only those vehicle components needed to understand the present invention will be illustrated and/or discussed herein.

In understanding the scope of the present invention, the term “comprising” and its derivatives, as used herein, are intended to be open ended terms that specify the presence of the stated features, elements, components, groups, integers, and/or steps, but do not exclude the presence of other unstated features, elements, components, groups, integers and/or steps. The foregoing also applies to words having similar meanings such as the terms, “including”, “having” and their derivatives. Thus, as used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Also, the terms “part,” “section,” “portion,” “member” or “element” when used in the singular can have the dual meaning of a single part or a plurality of parts. Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which illustrative embodiments of the inventive concepts belong. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly-used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled”” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. As used herein the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Additionally, similar words used to describe the relationship between elements or layers should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between”, “above” versus “directly above”, “below” versus “directly below”, “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” “on” versus “directly on”). Thus, components that are shown directly connected or contacting each other can have intermediate structures disposed between them unless specified otherwise.

It will be understood that, although the terms “first”, “second”, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, positions and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, positions and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, position or section from another element, component, region, layer, position or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, position or section discussed above could be termed a second element, component, region, position or section without departing from the teachings of illustrative embodiments.

Spatially relative terms, such as “forward”, “rearward”, “above”, “below”, “beneath”, “downward”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and “transverse” as well as any other similar spatial terms may be used herein for the ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) of the above embodiments. These terms, as utilized to describe the present invention should be interpreted relative to a recreational off-highway vehicle on a flat horizontal surface and with to a direction in which a driver looks straight when seated on a driver's seat in a straightforward driving direction. The terms of degree such as “substantially”, “about” and “approximately” as used herein mean an amount of deviation of the modified term such that the end result is not significantly changed.