Abstract:
A personal all-terrain vehicle is provided which is suitable for driving between rows of a vineyard for trimming vines. The vehicle includes a frame and an engine. A driver seat of the vehicle is positioned at an end of the frame beyond the wheels of the vehicle in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle facing perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Drive controls are foot and leg so that the operator&#39;s hands are free for performing work. A hitch member is supported at a rear end of the vehicle adjacent the seat for towing a cart including a tub for carrying trimmings therein. A chipper unit on the cart shreds the vine trimmings into smaller particulates.

Description:
This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C.119(e) of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/447,725, filed Feb. 19, 2003. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a personal all terrain vehicle and more particularly to a vehicle for use in agriculture and related fields to position an operator of the vehicle close to the ground for handling low lying vegetation. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Various types of low lying vegetation require care in the form of pruning, trimming, weeding or picking which represents a considerable backbreaking chore when large fields are to be managed. In the instance of pruning grape vines, the conventional method of pruning is to walk along the plant rows and prune the vines at approximately fifteen inches off the ground. The worker will stand bent over or kneel down at each plant to prune. This task is often carried out on steep hillsides and as a result productivity is low and workers suffer from back and leg strain. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 3,455,404 to Hansen, U.S. Pat. No. 2,583,358 to Cesan, U.S. Pat. No. 4,526,248 to Johansen and U.S. Pat. No. 3,614,120 to Cicero disclose variations to carts for supporting a worker thereon, and in particular for supporting a worker low to the ground for working on low lying vegetation. None of these vehicles however are suited for use on steep hillsides and in general, the operator is seated centrally on the vehicle which permits the vehicle to become easily hung up on rough terrain while limiting reach of the operator to handle vegetation on the ground. Furthermore the seat is not suitably oriented to position the operator for handling vegetation situated alongside a direction of travel of the vehicle with hands-free operation of the vehicle. 
   SUMMARY 
   According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a personal all-terrain vehicle comprising: 
   a frame supported for rolling movement along the ground on respective wheels; 
   an engine for driving the wheels to displace the vehicle in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle; and 
   a driver seat supported on the frame for supporting a driver of the vehicle thereon; 
   the driver seat being positioned at an end of the frame beyond the wheels of the vehicle in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. 
   According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a personal all-terrain vehicle comprising: 
   a frame supported for rolling movement along the ground on respective wheels; 
   an engine for driving the wheels to displace the vehicle in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle; and 
   a driver seat supported on the frame for supporting a driver of the vehicle thereon; 
   the drive seat facing transversely to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. 
   According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a personal all-terrain vehicle comprising: 
   a frame supported for rolling movement along the ground on respective wheels; 
   an engine for driving the wheels to displace the vehicle in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle; 
   a driver seat supported on the frame for supporting a driver of the vehicle thereon; and 
   a drive actuator controlling drive of the vehicle in the longitudinal direction, the drive actuator being positioned adjacent the drive seat for suitable actuation by a leg of the driver. 
   The use of an all terrain vehicle for supporting a worker thereon permits the vehicle to be used in varied types of terrain, including steep hillsides of typical vineyards. By positioning the seat towards one end of the vehicle beyond the wheels of the vehicle, larger all terrain wheels or track configurations are permitted while still positioning the seat close to the ground for handling low lying vegetation. The seat may also be supported transversely to the forward direction so that the driver is properly positioned for handling vegetation alongside the direction of travel of the vehicle. The addition of leg operated drive controls further permits hands-free operation to increase productivity of the worker. When the seat is positioned low to the ground at one end of the vehicle, permitting deflection of the seat relative to the vehicle frame eliminates the problem of the seat jamming into the ground and possibly causing the vehicle frame to be hung up on rough terrain. The use of tracks with large all terrain wheels ensures that the vehicle can be used in many adverse conditions and on steep rocky slopes regardless of loose mud, loose sand, frozen ground or snow covered ground. 
   The vehicle may comprise a tracked vehicle in which there is provided a track extending about respective ones of the wheels on each side of the frame. 
   The seat preferably includes a deck below a seating surface of the seat for supporting feet of the driver thereon in which the deck is positioned below a height of the tracks. 
   The seat may be supported directly in behind the wheels, in alignment in the longitudinal direction with the wheels. 
   The drive seat may be oriented to faces laterally outward, substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction in operation. Preferably the seat is pivotal relative to the frame about a vertical axis between a first position facing laterally outward in a first substantially perpendicularly direction and a second position facing laterally outward in a second substantially perpendicularly direction opposite the first direction. 
   When there is provided a drive actuator controlling drive of the vehicle in the longitudinal direction, the drive actuator is preferably positioned adjacent the drive seat for suitable actuation by a leg of the driver. 
   The engine is preferably supported at an end of the frame beyond the wheels in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle opposite the driver seat for counterbalancing the weight of the operator on the seat. 
   The seat may be supported on the frame for upward pivotal movement of the seat relative to the frame about a substantially horizontal axis. 
   When there is provided a drive actuator for controlling drive of the vehicle in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle on the seat from, the drive actuator is preferably movable with the seat relative to the frame. 
   When there is provided a hitch member supported at a rear end of the vehicle adjacent the seat, the vehicle may be used in combination with a cart including a tub for carrying product therein. 
   The cart preferably includes a chipper unit for cutting up vegetation into smaller particulate material before being received in the tub. 
   When the tub includes an open top end, preferably the tub is supported on the cart for pivotal movement into a substantially inverted dumping position. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present invention: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the vehicle. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the vehicle with the seat frame deflected upwardly in relation to the normal position of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  are a side elevational views of the seat in respective level and inclined positions. 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic top plan view of the vehicle. 
       FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7  are perspective views of the cart used in combination with the vehicle in a normal position and in an inverted dumping position respectively. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring to the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a vehicle generally indicated by reference numeral  10 . The vehicle generally comprises a personal all terrain vehicle which is well suited for supporting the driver in a low seated position for handling low lying vegetation, for example for pruning grape vines. 
   The vehicle includes a vehicle frame  12  which is elongate, extending in a longitudinal direction between a front end  14  and a rear end  16 . The vehicle frame is surrounded by a main rectangular housing which supports two large track wheels  18  spaced apart from one another on each side  20  of the vehicle. A track  22  formed of pivotally adjoining steel plates with suitable gripping members formed thereon, extends about each pair of wheels  18  on each side  20  of the vehicle. 
   The track wheels  18  and tracks  22  are similar to many conventional tracks in which an inner surface of the tracks  22  includes a plurality of track bars  24  which mesh with respective slots  26  about a periphery of each track wheel  18 . The wheels  18  and track  22  on each side of the vehicle are thus arranged to rotate together for supporting the vehicle frame for rolling movement in a longitudinal direction of the frame. 
   An engine  28  is mounted on the housing at the front end  14  thereof so as to be positioned spaced outwardly beyond the wheels in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. 
   One of the track wheels  18  on each side of the vehicle includes a hydraulic motor  32  coupled to an axle of the wheel to drive rotation of the wheel. The hydraulic motors  32  are coupled to a hydrostatic drive  40  which operates similarly to conventional designs. The hydrostatic drive selectively engages the engine  28  with the wheels  18  in either forward or reverse directions for selectively driving movement of the vehicle in the longitudinal direction by action of the motors  32 . The hydraulic motors associated with each track  22  are independently operable to permit only one or both of the tracks  22  to be driven at any given time to provide steering to the vehicle in a skid steer configuration. 
   A seat frame  46  is pivotally mounted on the rear end  16  of the housing for upward pivotal movement of the seat frame about a horizontal axis relative to the housing. The seat frame  46  positions a seat  48  thereon such that the seat is positioned rearwardly of the wheels spaced outwardly beyond the wheels in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The seat frame is pivotally anchored adjacent a top end thereof to the vehicle frame in an abutted relationship. The abutting seat frame  46  and the vehicle frame  12  upon which it is mounted act as a stop mechanism to restrict downward movement of the seat frame relative to the vehicle frame such that only upward movement of the seat frame and seat  48  mounted thereon are permitted relative to the vehicle frame and housing from a horizontal position of the seat relative to the vehicle frame. 
   The seat frame  46  includes a bottom deck plate  50  which is positioned below a height of the wheel axes substantially below an overall height of the wheels in a normal undeflected position. A seat support structure  52  is mounted on the bottom deck plate  50  for supporting the seat  48  thereon. The seat  48  includes a seating surface substantially at a height of the wheels. The seat support structure permits the seat to be pivotal relative to the frame about a vertical axis between a first position facing laterally outward in a first substantially perpendicularly direction and a second position facing laterally outward in a second substantially perpendicularly direction opposite the first direction. A back rest  54  and associated arms of the seat are fixed with the seating surface to firmly secure a torso of an operator of the vehicle therein for travel over uneven terrain, despite the seat  48  facing laterally outwardly in a sideways configuration, perpendicularly to the forward longitudinal direction of travel of the vehicle in operation in one of the first or second positions noted above. 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the seat support structure  52  includes a levelling mechanism  53  in the form of a plate which is arched in the longitudinal direction and slidable along the arch of the plate in the longitudinal direction relative to the seat frame whereby the seat can be positioned at various inclinations in relation to the seat frame. A suitable locking lever  55  is provided which can be engaged to lock the seat in a fixed position whereby further rotation or sliding of the seat relative to the seat frame can be restricted. 
   The seat supporting structure  52  also includes suitable suspension for the seat incorporated therein and positions the seating surface above the bottom deck plate  50  such that the bottom deck plate  50  is suitably positioned for supporting the feet of a driver siting in the driver seat  48 . Accordingly, the deck plate  50  includes gripping members  57  formed along a periphery thereof on either side of the vehicle for providing a foot hold for the operator to rest their feet on. The vehicle frame and wheels mounted on each side of the frame are arranged to be sufficiently narrow that the seat overlaps the wheels in a lateral direction so as to be in longitudinal alignment with at least a portion of the track  22  on each side of the vehicle. 
   The seat frame  46  further includes an end plate  56  which extends upwardly from the free end of the bottom deck plate  50 . A hitch  58  projects outwardly from the end plate  56  in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle for attaching the hitch mount of a vehicle to be towed. The end plate and hitch  58  of the seat frame  46  are fixed in relation to the bottom deck plate  50  for pivotal movement with the seat frame relative to the vehicle frame together at the rear end of the vehicle. 
   An ignition control  62  is provided on the frame of the vehicle  10  so as to be accessible from the seat  48 . Drive controls for controlling speed and direction of the vehicle are provided on the seat frame  46  in such a manner that they are pivotal with the seat frame relative to the vehicle frame which supports the engine. 
   The vehicle is arranged such that the engine power is progressively distributed to the wheels in either forward or reverse directions as determined by a increasing deflection of a throttle lever  64 . The throttle lever  64  comprises a hydrostatic control including a flexible hydraulic hose  66  which couples between the hydrostatic drive  40  on the vehicle frame and the throttle lever  64  on the seat frame. 
   The throttle lever  64  includes a piston which applies pressure to hydraulic fluid in the flexible hose  66  in which position of the piston and accordingly control of the hydrostatic drive  40  is controlled by position of the lever  64 . A set of pedals  68  are supported above the deck plate  50  of the seat frame on either side of the vehicle below the seat  48  so as to be readily accessible for stepping on by an operator seated in the seat  48 . Downward motion on the pedals  68  from either side of the vehicle causes deflection of the throttle lever  64  to drive the vehicle in a rearward direction with the seat  48  being at a leading end of the vehicle in the rearward direction. 
   A movable panel  70  is supported on the seat frame to span laterally across a width of the vehicle adjacent the seat  48 . The panel is coupled to the throttle lever  64  for movement therewith whereby depressing the panel  70  inward towards the vehicle frame causes the lever  64  to be displaced in such a manner that the vehicle is driven forward with the seat  48  is positioned at a trailing end of the forward motion. The lever  64  is a progressive control whereby the amount of deflection of the lever by the pedals  68  in the rearward direction or the panel  70  in the opposing forward direction is directly proportional to the speed of the vehicle. 
   Steering is provided by a steering lever  72  which is pivotally mounted at its centre below the seat  48  to extend laterally outwardly in both directions. A pair of paddles  74  are mounted at spaced positions at each end of the lever  72  in which the paddles  74  are suitably spaced for receiving the leg of an operator seated in the seat  48  therebetween. 
   The steering lever  72  is similarly connected to the hydrostatic drive  40  of the vehicle in a manner so as to not interfere with pivotal movement of the seat frame relative to the vehicle frame. In an undeflected position, the steering lever  72  is oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle for driving the vehicle straight in the longitudinal direction by providing equal drive to both tracks  22 . Deflecting the lever  72  from the straight position in either right or left inclined position permits drive to the tracks  22  to be progressively distributed to a respective one of the tracks more than the other track to operate steering in a typical skid steer configuration. 
   Both the paddles for steering and the pedals  68  and panel  70  for drive are accessible from both sides of the vehicle for easy operation of the vehicle in either right side or left side configurations of the seat. 
   A canopy  76  is supported above the seat by a post  78  which extends upwardly from the frame of the vehicle. Suitable bracing is provided between the post and the frame of the vehicle. 
   A cart  80  may be provided coupled to the hitch  58  at the rear end  16  of the vehicle adjacent the seat  48 . The cart  80  includes a longitudinally extending frame comprising two elongate side members  82  extending in a longitudinal direction of the cart at spaced apart positions. Wheels  84  are provided at front and rear ends of the frame which are substantially equal in width to the overall width of the vehicle  10 . 
   A hitch tongue  86  is secured to the frame  80  to project forwardly therefrom for connection to the hitch  58  of the vehicle  10 . The hitch tongue  86  is permitted to move relative to the frame of the cart to accommodate for pivotal deflection of the seat frame relative to the vehicle  10 . 
   A tub  88  is provided on the cart, pivotally mounted on the frame between the side members  82 . The tub comprises two parallel side walls  89  and a semicircular bottom wall  90  spanning the side walls. The tub is pivotal about a central axis of the semi circular bottom which extends horizontally in a lateral direction between the opposed side members  82  spaced above the ground. 
   An open top end  92  of the tub receives clippings from a chipper unit  94  supported on the frame of the cart between the tub and the hitch tongue  86 . The chipper unit includes a feed chute  96  projecting forwardly towards the seat  48  of the vehicle above the hitch  58  to permit an operator in the seat of the vehicle to readily place clippings into the feed chute within an arms reach. The chipper unit  94  includes a dispensing chute  98  projecting into the open top  92  of the tub  88  whereby the clippings are cut up into smaller pieces for more compact storage within the tub  88 . 
   When the tub is nearly full of clippings, the tub may be pivoted about its horizontal axis into a partially inverted position in which the open top end  92  faces partly downwardly. The chipper unit  94  is pivotally mounted on the frame to permit pivotal movement of the unit forwardly away from the tub during movement of the tub into the dumping position as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . 
   The cart is coupled to the electrical system of the vehicle  10  for driving the chipper with electrical power from the alternator of the vehicle  10 . 
   In further embodiments, direction of the vehicle may be reversed such that the seat is instead positioned at the forward end with the engine again being positioned opposite the seat to act as a counterbalance to the weight of the driver. When the seat is positioned at the end of the vehicle beyond the wheels it remains desirable to permit the seat to be deflected upwardly, however this may be accomplished by a slide configuration or a suitable parallel linkage and the like. Also in further embodiments, the track may be replaced with any suitable all terrain type wheeled drive for example a set of four large all terrain wheels which are configured for all-wheel drive or different types of tracks may be used including hinged metal plates or rubber and the like. In addition to leg actuation of the drive controls, other controls such as steering or throttle may also be provided with leg actuated levers on the seat frame. 
   As described above, the seat may be pivotally supported relative to the seat frame for rotation about an upright axis to reorient the seat to face sideways in the opposite direction to the one illustrated herein. The vehicle may thus be operated in either left or right hand modes by providing steering and drive controls accessible from both sides of the vehicle. Alternatively, the seat and drive controls may be supported by threaded fasteners and the like so as to permit mounting on the seat frame in either right or left hand modes of operation. The seat frame may further include additional seating for supporting two or more persons thereon, with the additional seating also preferably being oriented to face laterally outward, general perpendicularly to the forward travelling direction of the vehicle. When additional seating is provided, the seats are preferably all secured on the seat frame for movement with the seat frame relative to the housing between the normal and deflected positions noted above. 
   While various embodiments of the present invention have been described in the foregoing, it is to be understood that other embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention. The invention is to be considered limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.