Abstract:
An all-terrain vehicle having a unique suspension system for enabling handicapped individuals or invalids to easily access the vehicle and be self-transportable over ground or an ice surface.

Description:
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/200,675 filed Dec. 2, 2008. 
    
    
     The invention disclosed and claimed herein deals with an all-terrain vehicle having a unique suspension system for enabling handicapped individuals or invalids to be self transportable over a ground or ice surface. It allows the occupancy of the vehicle at ground level from the front of the vehicle either by a wheelchair or direct occupancy of the navigator chair owing to the unique suspension system which is used to lift the components of the vehicle except the suspension system and the endless belt track systems All of this activity is controlled by hand levers directly in front of the occupant of the vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There is a multiplicity of vehicles having different modes of support and transportation means to assist invalids or disabled persons in moving from one point to another. Typically, wheelchairs suffice for most of indoor use along with motorized vehicles that are designed to be used indoors. 
     However, there is still a major problem with movement of the disabled in the out-of-doors over gravel, cement, grass, ice, and general rubble in forests and roadways. 
     Devices have been designed to attempt to overcome this problem consisting essentially of a motor powered vehicle disclosed by C. E. Williams in U.S. Pat. No. 3,204,791, issued Sep. 7, 1965 which has a front ramp to allow the invalid to get into the vehicle while in a wheelchair. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,259,200 that issued on Jul. 5, 1966 to Maijala deals with a folding self-propelled invalid chair. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,077,483 that issued Mar. 7, 1978 to Randolph deals with an electrically powered vehicle for an invalid, said vehicle having a track drive with pivoted idlers accommodating travel over obstacles and through uneven terrain. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,619 that issued on Jun. 20, 2000 to Hammer deals with a self-powered all-terrain vehicle designed for self-assisted transfers of a paraplegic, or other disabled person, between the vehicle and a wheelchair. The vehicle is accessed over the track (fenders) and therefore the vehicle has a height limitation in that it has a passenger seating surface from at least 20 inches and not more than 27 inches above the ground surface. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,419,036 that issued Jul. 16, 2002 to Miglia deals with a vehicle for transporting an individual on a wheel chair over land, in which the vehicle utilizes a ramp or platform to allow access into the vehicle. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,688,414, that issued on Feb. 10, 2004 to Bruno deals with a vehicle for allowing users with limited physical capabilities to participate in off-road activities. The vehicle includes a housing having a bottom wall, a back wall, and a pair of side walls, a front drive system and a back drive system. The vehicle depends on a ramp to allow accessibility of a handicapped person into the vehicle. 
     Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 6,604,590 that issued Aug. 12, 2003 to Foulk, Jr. deals with a battery powered all-terrain vehicle for the physically challenged that comprises a battery powered transportation unit that allows a handicapped person to travel on otherwise inaccessible terrain. 
     None of the above-described vehicles have the capabilities of the device of the instant invention vehicle. For example, the vehicle of this invention allows for the insertion of a wheelchair directly into the front of the vehicle at ground level without a ramp device, or the occupancy of the navigator chair directly from the front at ground level, while the nearest thing to these modes that is in the prior art is low profile vehicles that allow occupancy by going over the fenders. 
     THE INVENTION 
     This invention deals with a new and novel vehicle all-terrain vehicle that will allow front accessibility at the ground level through the use of a novel moveable suspension system that lifts and lowers the entire components of the all-terrain vehicle except the endless drive tracks and drive means such as the supporting wheels for the track and the drive sprocket. 
     Thus, this invention deals in one embodiment with an all-terrain vehicle for enabling invalids or handicapped individuals to be self transportable over a ground or ice surface. The all-terrain vehicle comprises: a longitudinally elongated under frame carried between two endless track mechanisms, wherein each of the track mechanisms has an endless belt about the same, including pivotally mounted idler wheels and a rear drive sprocket in driving engagement with the belt, each said endless track mechanism covered by an enclosed fender. The endless belt track is adjustable by an adjustment mechanism. 
     There is a framed open space located between the two endless track mechanisms and a hydraulic drive means mounted on the frame of the framed open space, the hydraulic drive means including hydraulic motors coupled to the drive sprockets, each motor supported by a motor mount assembly attached to the under frame. 
     There is an internal combustion engine mounted on the frame of the framed open space and coupled to the hydraulic drive means for powering the vehicle, and a hydraulic drive control means mounted on the vehicle for initiating and controlling forward, reverse, and turning movements of the vehicle over ground and ice surfaces using hand levers. There is an auxiliary hydraulic pump in the system to allow for raising and lowering the components as set forth infra. The auxiliary is also used to operate any attachments that reside on the vehicle. 
     There is a novel suspension system associated with a means for lifting all of the vehicle components except the endless track means, drive sprockets and support wheels, simultaneously from ground level to any desired operating level, and lowering them simultaneously to any desired level from the operating level to the ground level, controlling such movement by hand levers, to enable the invalid or handicapped individual to enter the vehicle at ground level without the use of a ramp or other means and this is a second embodiment of this invention. 
     The vehicle of this invention has been described by a college professor of engineering as a vehicle, wherein “Stability is a huge issue. But the double tread and wide under base and the front loading with the removable seat is unique.” 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is front view in perspective of a device of this invention showing a navigator seat installed in the open space. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view in perspective of a device of this invention showing the placement of a wheelchair in the open space. 
         FIG. 3  is a view in perspective of the engine, drive mechanism, a portion of the hydraulics, and controls for a device of this invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a view in perspective of the support frame, hydraulic components, and unique suspension system for the devices of this invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a view in perspective of the components of  FIG. 3  and also including the endless drive tracks. 
         FIG. 6  is a view in perspective of a unique suspension system of this invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the front portion of  FIG. 6  showing the adjustment device for the endless belt track of this invention. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a vehicle of this invention with a front mounted snow blower. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a vehicle of this invention with a front mounted snow plow. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a vehicle of this invention with a back mounted ice auger. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a vehicle of this invention with a top cab over the vehicle. 
         FIG. 12  is a full side view of the adjustment device of  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Turning now to  FIG. 1  that is a front view in perspective of a device  1  of this invention showing a navigator seat  2  installed in an open space  3  in the middle of the vehicle. 
       FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the device  1  of  FIG. 1 , in which there is shown a wheel chair  9 . Provisions for the wheelchair  9  will be described infra. 
     In addition, there is shown a portion of an under frame  4  that is carried between two endless track mechanisms  5 , each said track mechanism  5  having an endless belt  6  and  6 ′. There is in addition, a series of pivotally mounted idler wheels  7  and rear drive sprockets  8  that are in driving engagement with the belts  6  and  6 ′ (the drive shown in  FIG. 3 ). As indicated Supra, there is a framed open space  3  created and located between the two endless track mechanisms  5 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , there is shown a hydraulic drive means  10  mounted on the vehicle  1 . The hydraulic drive means  10  consists of pumps, a right hand drive pump  65 , a left hand drive pump  59 , and an auxiliary pump  66  and hydraulic delivery hoses  12 , as well as hydraulic drive motors  14  attached to the drive sprockets  8  on each sprocket respectively. The hydraulic drive means  10  is coupled to hydraulic motors  14  by hydraulic hoses  12 , the hydraulic motors  14  being attached to the drive sprockets  8 . 
     The energy and the drive means for the vehicle  1  is a motor  15  (see  FIG. 3 ) which in this invention is a small internal combustion engine  23 . The motor  15  also powers the hydraulic system on the vehicle  1 . 
     Control of the movement of the vehicle  1  is provided by the handle bars  16 , which are attached to vertical posts  17 , which are pivotally connected  19  to the vehicle  1  which are in turn coupled to cable  18  by a cable control bar  20 . 
     A very unique feature of the inventive vehicle  1  is the hydraulic system. There are three hydraulic pumps, two for propelling the vehicle  1 , a left hand drive pump  59 , a right hand drive pump  65 , and a third pump  66 , which is the auxiliary pump for driving the options such as the vehicle lift system, operating the snow blade, the ice auger, the snow blower, etc. No other handicap vehicle is equipped in this manner. The control of all of these options is done by the hand levers  16 . 
     The navigator seat  2  is adjustable hydraulically in a vertical movement. 
     Covering the endless track mechanisms  5  are fenders  63 . Shown at the back end of the fenders  63 , on the right side, is an opening  22  for the fuel tank  24  for the small combustion engine  23 , which is not shown as the fender  21  covers the fuel tank  24 . The fuel tank  24  is mounted on a small shelf that is not shown. On the left side of the vehicle  1 , is an opening  25 , that is in the top of the fender  21 . Underneath this opening  25  is a battery compartment for a battery for the small combustion engine  23 . The battery is not shown as it is covered by the fender  21 . 
     For convenience, electric lights  26  are installed in the front of the fenders  63 , however, such lights do not need to be so installed and they can be installed at any place of convenience. Contemplated within the scope of this invention is a roll bar that is mounted over the top of the vehicle  1 , which could also provide a space for lights. Such a roll bar is conventional with vehicles of this type and is not shown for clarity of the overall invention. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 4 , which is a view in perspective of the support frame  4 , hydraulic components, and unique suspension system  29  for the devices of this invention, there is shown the entire support frame  4 , hydraulic hoses  12 , the motor  15 , and a portion of the hydraulic system  28 . 
     This Figure shows the novel and unique suspension system  29  for the vehicle  1 . As shown, the vehicle  1  requires a left version and a right version of the suspension system one (the left side) of which is shown in detail in  FIG. 6 , the suspension systems  29  being essentially mirror images of each other. Note that the suspension system and the endless belt track with accompanying wheels are the only portions of the vehicle  1  that are not lifted or lowered as will be described in detail infra.  FIG. 4  shows the opening  30  for the idler wheels  7  as this opening  30  cannot be observed in any other Figure in this application. 
     It should also be noted from  FIG. 4  that the frame  4  is connected to the suspension system  29  by lift rods  31 , the lift rods  31  being a part of the suspension system  29 . 
       FIG. 5  is a view in perspective of the components of  FIG. 3  and also including the endless track mechanisms  5 . The endless track mechanism  5  components include an elongated support bar  32  on which are mounted a central set of two, side by side idler wheels  7 . Mounted on either side of the idler wheels  7  is a single set of wheels  33  at the front and a single set of wheels  34  at the back. The single set of wheels  33  at the front are mounted on an adjustment mechanism  35  for adjusting the tension in the endless belts  6 . Each of the wheels  7 ,  33  and  34  are free wheeling or are otherwise driven by the endless belts  6 . 
     The adjustment mechanism  35  is shown in  FIG. 7  and also in  FIG. 12  and is comprised of a carriage  67 , compression bolts  68 , compression walls  69 , drive tab  70 , and the drive mechanism  71 . 
     The drive mechanism  71  is comprised of a drive bolt  72  and a drive plate  73 . Internally threaded nuts  74  and  74 ′ are welded or otherwise affixed to the drive plate  73 . The drive plate  73  is fixedly attached to the support bar  32 . 
     In use, the bolts  68  are loosened and the compression walls  69  detract from each other and allow the adjustment mechanism  35  to be slidably moved forward or backward along the support bar  32  as is desired. There is one of these adjustment mechanisms  35  on each of the left and right support bars  32  at the front of the vehicle  1 . With the adjustment mechanism  35  loosened, the drive bolts  72  can be turned in or out to adjust the tension in the endless drive belts  5  and  5 ′. 
     The round bar  75  is the bar on which the front wheel  33  is mounted and the wheels  33  have been left off the  FIG. 12  for clarity. 
     Also shown in  FIG. 5  is the approximate location of the endless track mechanisms  5  on either side of the hydraulic pump  11  and hoses  12  and motor  15 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 6 , there is shown a view in perspective of a unique suspension system  29  of this invention without the set of idler wheels  7  in order to induce clarity to the drawing. 
     Each of the suspension systems  29  are comprised of the support bar  32  on which is mounted a set of forward wheels  33  and a set of rear wheels  34 . Also mounted on the inside of the center of the support bar  32  is a set of center pivots  36  having toothed forward edges  37 . The teeth  38  of the toothed forward edges  37  interleave. The center pivots  36  are supported by pins  39  and are mounted with sleeved bearings (not shown) on the pins  39 . 
     Each of the center pivots  36  have attached to them arms  40  that are affixed to the respective center pivots  36  and move simultaneously with the center pivots  36 . Attached to the top end  41  of the arms  40  are suspension springs  42 . The opposite ends  43  of the suspension springs  42  are attached to spring attachment arms  44  at point  45 . 
     At this point, the connection to the lift pivot arms, (at the back  50  and at the front  51 ) is different. At the front, pivot lift arm  51  is pivotally connected to the opposite end of arm  44  at point  46  and the lift rods  31  are fixedly attached to end  52  of the front pivot lift arm  51 . 
     In the back (rear), arm  44  is pivotally attached through the support bar  32 , to the rear lift pivot arm  50  at point  47 . Pivotally attached to the opposite end  53  of rear lift pivot arm  50  is a rocker take up  48 . This arrangement is essentially a pivot within a pivot. Attached to the opposite end  49  of the rocker take up  48  is the lift rod  31 . 
     Shown within the structure is the lift cylinder  54  that is hydraulically actuated. The hydraulic hoses are not shown, but the openings  55  and  56  are shown for coupling such hydraulic hoses. 
     When actuated by the driver of the vehicle  1 , the hydraulic system drives the arm  40  backward by attachment  57 , which is pivotally attached to the arm  40  at point  58 . Driving the arm  40  backward results in the teeth  38  meshing with the teeth on the other center pivot  36 , driving the arm  40  forward. 
     Simultaneously, the rear spring  42  moves backward driving the arm  44  backward, which tends to lower the rear lift pivot arm  50  and thus, lowers the rocker take up  48  and the rear lift rod  31 . Meanwhile, the forward spring  42  drives arm  44  forward which in turn raises the end  46  and lowers the end  52  thereby lowering the lift rod  31 . Anything attached to the lift rods  31  are thereby lowered, namely, the frame  4  with all of the aforementioned components located on or attached thereto. 
     Obviously, when the movement of the arms  40  in the opposite direction lifts the lift rods  31  and the frame  4 , and all of the aforementioned components located on or attached thereto. 
     The vehicle of this invention is capable of being equipped with a variety of useful pieces of equipment. For example,  FIG. 8  illustrates a vehicle of this invention with a front mounted snow blower  60 .  FIG. 9  illustrates a vehicle of this invention with a front mounted snow plow  61 .  FIG. 10  illustrates a vehicle of this invention with a back mounted ice auger  62  and  FIG. 11  illustrates a vehicle of this invention with a top cab  63  over the vehicle.