Abstract:
The present invention relates to all terrain vehicles having at least a pair of laterally spaced apart seating surfaces. More particularly, the present invention relates to side-by-side all terrain vehicles having plural rows of seats.

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to side-by-side all terrain vehicles having at least two rows of seating areas. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    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, specialty ATVs, such as those used for trail riding, racing, and cargo hauling have entered the market place. Most ATVs include seating for up to two passengers which are either seated side-by-side or with the passenger positioned behind the driver of the ATV. Side-by-side ATVs, in which the driver and passenger are seated beside each other on laterally spaced apart seats, have become popular because of the ability to allow the passenger to share the driver&#39;s viewpoint. It has also become common for riders to customize their vehicles and adding a second row of seats, for example by replacing a utility bed at the rear of the vehicle. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    According to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, a utility vehicle is shown comprising a frame extending in a generally longitudinal direction, a drive train supported by the frame and a plurality of wheels operably coupled to the frame. A first seating area is positioned at a first longitudinal position and a second seating area is positioned at a second longitudinal position. The second seating area is rearward of the first seating area and being profiled such that the hip pivot axis (H-point) of a passenger in the second seating area is higher than the hip pivot axis of a person in the first seating area. 
         [0004]    According to a further illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, a utility vehicle is shown which comprises a frame extending in a generally longitudinal direction, a drive train supported by the frame, and a plurality of wheels operably coupled to the frame. A front axle is coupled to one or more of the plurality of wheels and a rear axle is coupled to one or more of the plurality of wheels. A first seating area is comprised of side-by-side seat positions at a first longitudinal position. A second seating area is comprised of side-by-side seat positions at a second longitudinal position, where the second longitudinal position positions the hip pivot axis (H-point) of a passenger in the second seating area, either above or longitudinally forward of, a centerline of the rear axle. 
         [0005]    According to a further illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, a utility vehicle is shown which comprises a frame extending in a generally longitudinal direction, a drive train supported by the frame, the drive train comprising an engine and a plurality of wheels operably coupled to the frame. A front axle is coupled to one or more of the plurality of wheels and a rear axle is coupled to one or more of the plurality of wheels. A first seating area is positioned at a first longitudinal position and a second seating area is positioned at a second longitudinal position, where a passenger seating position is below a top plane of the engine. 
         [0006]    According to yet a further illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, a utility vehicle is shown which comprises a frame extending in a generally longitudinal direction, a drive train supported by the frame and a plurality of wheels operably coupled to the frame. A first seating area is positioned at a first longitudinal position and a second seating area is positioned rearward of the first seating area. A roll cage is substantially covering the first and second seating areas, the roll cage comprising a front section, a center section and a rear section, the front, center and rear sections being coupled to each other and to the frame. 
         [0007]    According to yet a further illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, a utility vehicle is shown which comprises a frame extending in a generally longitudinal direction, a drive train supported by the frame and a plurality of wheels operably coupled to the frame. A first seating area is positioned at a first longitudinal position and a second seating area is positioned rearward of the first seating area. A hand hold bar is positioned behind the first seating area and a seat belt retractor is mounted to the hand hold bar at a position adjacent to the first seating area. 
         [0008]    According to yet a further illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, a utility vehicle is shown which comprises a frame extending in a generally longitudinal direction having at least one elongate frame tube assembly comprised of plural sections, a drive train supported by the frame and a frame tube coupler coupling the frame tube sections at a longitudinal position within 25% of the length of the frame at either end. 
         [0009]    According to yet a further illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, a utility vehicle is shown which comprises a frame extending in a generally longitudinal direction, and having at least one elongate frame tube assembly comprised of plural sections and a drive train supported by the frame. A frame tube coupler couples the frame tube sections, where the frame tube coupler comprises coupler sections associated with each coupler end, and the coupler sections have an alignment assembly for aligning the coupler sections to each other. 
         [0010]    According to a further illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, an utility vehicle includes a frame extending in a generally longitudinal direction, and having at least one elongate frame tube assembly comprised of plural sections and a drive train is supported by the frame. A frame tube coupler couples the frame tube sections, where the frame tube coupler comprises coupler sections associated with each coupler end, and the coupler sections having complementary interengagement elements. Fasteners retain the interengaging elements together, where the fasteners are in tension to force the complementary interengaging elements into engagement. In this manner, any shear force is substantially taken up by the complementary interengaging elements. 
         [0011]    The above mentioned and other features of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  shows a left front perspective view of the vehicle of the present disclosure; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  shows a left rear perspective view of the vehicle of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  shows a left side view of the vehicle of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  shows a top view of the vehicle of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  shows a front view of the vehicle of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  shows a rear view of the vehicle of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  shows a left side view of the vehicle similar to that of  FIG. 3  showing the chassis removed; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  shows the right side view of the vehicle of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a front perspective view of the vehicle frame and roll cage; 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  shows an enlarged view of the vehicle main frame; 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  shows an enlarged view of the vehicle front frame; 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  is a partially exploded and fragmented perspective view showing the coupler for coupling the main frame and front frame together; 
           [0024]      FIG. 13  shows a top perspective view of the roll cage; 
           [0025]      FIG. 14  shows a cross-sectional view through lines  12 - 12  of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 15  shows an enlarged view of the seat belt retractor; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 16  shows a perspective view of the seat poised for receipt in one of the seating areas. 
       
    
    
       [0028]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the drawings represent embodiments of the present invention, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to better illustrate and explain the present invention. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [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 UVs, certain features described herein may be applied to other applications such as ATVs, snowmobiles, motorcycles, mopeds, etc. 
         [0030]    With reference first to  FIGS. 1-6 , the vehicle of the present disclosure will be described. The vehicle is shown generally at  10  and is commonly referred to as an all terrain vehicle (ATV), a side-by-side vehicle (S×S) or a utility vehicle. As shown, vehicle  10  generally comprises a frame  12  ( FIG. 2 ) supported by ground engaging members  14  and  16 . As shown in this disclosure, ground engaging members  14  and  16  are comprised of wheels  18  and tires  20 ; and wheels  22  and tires  24 . Vehicle  10  further comprises a drivetrain  30  ( FIG. 2 ) operatively connected to frame  12  and drivingly connected to one or more of the ground engaging members  14 ,  16 . In the present disclosure, the drivetrain  30  is comprised of a fuel-burning engine and transmission combination, together with a driveshaft extending between the drivetrain and the front ground engaging members  14 . However, any drivetrain could be contemplated such as hybrid, fuel cell or electric. The drivetrain  30 , the front and rear suspension assemblies, and steering assemblies are more thoroughly described in our pending applications Ser. Nos. 11/494,891 filed Jul. 28, 2006 and 11/494,890 filed Jul. 28, 2006, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , vehicle  10  further includes a body portion or chassis shown generally at  40  to include a hood  42 , front fender  44 , dash  46 , sideboard  48 , front floorboard  50 , rear sideboard  52 , rear floorboard  54  and rear cargo area  56 . As also shown, vehicle  10  is comprised of two seating areas, namely a front seating area  60  and a rear seating area  62  where front seating area  60  is comprised of side-by-side seats, shown as bucket seats  64 ; and rear seating area  62  is comprised of side-by-side seats, shown as bucket seats  66 . As shown best in  FIG. 3 , front seats include a seat bottom  64   a  and a seat back  64   b,  while rear seat  66  includes a seat bottom  66   a  and a seat back  66   b.  Vehicle  10  also includes a roll cage  70  comprised of a front section  72 , a center section  74 , and a rear section  76 , where the front  72 , center  74  and rear  76  sections are attached to each other and to frame  12  as more fully described herein. 
         [0032]    With respect now to  FIGS. 7-12 , frame  12  will be described in greater detail. Frame  12  is generally comprised of a main frame section  80  and a front frame section  82 , where the two sections are interconnected by way of couplers  84 . With reference first to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the main frame section  80  is generally comprised of two longitudinal frame rails  90  interconnected by a plurality of struts such as  92 ,  94 ,  96  attaching frame rails  90  together in a predefined spaced-apart relation. Main frame section  80  also comprises a drivetrain mounting section  102  extending at a rear portion of main frame  80 . 
         [0033]    With respect now to  FIG. 10 , frame  80  also defines front seat support platform  110  and rear seat support platform  112 . Front seat support platform  110  includes a transversely extending tube  114  having legs  116  attached to outer frame rail  118  and inner legs  120  directly attached to frame tubes  90 . Frame tube  114  spans the distance across frame rails  118  and the frame tubes  90 . With reference still to  FIG. 10 , frame tubes  114  include a latch hook  122  as described further herein. Front seat support platform  110  further includes a transverse frame member  124  which as best shown in  FIG. 9  is attached to roll cage center section  74  as further described herein. Frame tube  124  includes latching pins  126  for inter-engagement with seats  64 . 
         [0034]    With reference still to  FIG. 10 , rear seat support platform  112  is comprised of frame tubes  130  which provide an elevated platform for transverse frame tubes  132  and  134 . Frame tubes  132  have latch hooks  136  (similar in nature to latch hooks  122 ) and frame tube  134  has latching pins  138  (similar to latching pins  126 ). 
         [0035]    With respect still to  FIG. 10 , main frame member  80  further includes roll cage mounting sections  150  and  152 . As shown, mounting section  150  includes a plate  154  on each side spanning tube  90  and frame rail  118 . Mounting section  152  is provided by a plate  156  provided on frame tube  158  which spans uprights  160  of frame rail  118 . 
         [0036]    With respect now to  FIG. 11 , front frame member  82  will be described in greater detail. Front frame member  82  includes frame tubes  170  which complement frame tubes  90 , and are held in a fixed relation by tubes  172 ,  174 . Frame rails  178  are fixed in relation to frame tubes  170  by way of a strut  180 . Front frame  82  further comprises front roll cage mounting sections  182  comprising plates  184  positioned between cross tubes  186 ,  188 , and elevated by way of uprights  192 ,  194 . 
         [0037]    As described, frame  80  is comprised of main frame member  90  and front frame member  82 . Splitting the frame into two separate modular subassemblies allows for easier processing of the entire vehicle  10 . Due to the load on the frame tubes  90 ,  170 , the connection provided by coupler  84  takes place at a longitudinal position from either end of the frame  80 , within a distance from the end, of approximately 30% of the length of frame  80 . The coupler  84  could also be placed at the rear of frame tubes  90 . 
         [0038]    With reference now to  FIG. 12 , frame tube coupler  84  is shown poised for receipt within frame tubes  90 ,  170 . As shown, coupler  84  is comprised of individual coupler members  200 . The coupler members  200  are identical, and each comprises a tube connecting section  202  and an alignment or interengaging section  204 . The interengaging sections  204  include interengaging elements, shown here as projections  206  and recesses  208 . Projections  206  are shown as frusto-conical in shape, and recesses have a complementary frusto-conical recessed configuration. The interengaging sections  204  further comprise apertures  216  which self align with apertures  216  in the opposite interengaging section  204  when complementary projections  206  and recesses  208  align. As also shown in  FIG. 12 , tube connecting sections  202  include legs  210  and stand-offs  212 . Finally, a connecting bracket  220  is provided for connecting frame rails  118  and  178 . 
         [0039]    To connect main frame member  80  and front frame member  82 , the individual coupler members  200  are each inserted into respective ends of the frame tubes  90 ,  170  until such time as stand-offs  212  abut an end edge of the frame tubes  90 ,  170 . Stand-off  212  leaves a weld gap for welding the individual couplers  200  to the frame tubes  90 ,  170 . The individual couplers  200  are shown welded in place to respective frame tubes  90 ,  170  in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . 
         [0040]    Coupler  84  allows alignment of frame tubes  90  and  170  as individual couplers  200  are each aligned with respective frame tubes  90 ,  170  and individual couplers  200  are alignable to each other. Couplers  84  also allow alignment of frame tubes  90 ,  170  when the main frame  80  and front frame  82  are not themselves perfectly aligned. That is, once individual coupler members are close to alignment, fasteners (not shown) are positioned into and through complementary apertures  216 , whereby the fasteners may be drawn tight until the projections and recesses are in engagement with each other. This aligns the tubes  90 ,  170 . At the same time, any shear forces on the coupler  84  is taken up through the projections and recesses, not through the fasteners. 
         [0041]    With respect now to  FIG. 13 , roll cage  70  is shown comprised of front  72 , center  74  and rear  76  roll cage sections; and are shown connected at connection joints  230  and  232 . Such joints are known in the industry. 
         [0042]    Front roll cage section  72  is comprised of uprights  234 , transverse sections  236 , and longitudinally extending sections  238 . Mounts  240  are provided at the front and extend from uprights  234 . It should be appreciated that mounts  240  cooperate with mounting sections  182  ( FIG. 11 ) by way of fasteners (not shown). 
         [0043]    Center roll cage section  74  is comprised of uprights  246 , transverse section  248  and longitudinally extending sections  250 . Mounts  252  are provided at the lower end of upright  246  and is comprised of stand-offs  254  and mounting brackets  256 . It should be appreciated that mounting brackets  256  cooperate with mounting section  150  ( FIG. 10 ) by way of fasteners (not shown). 
         [0044]    Rear roll cage section  76  is comprised of uprights  260 , transverse section  262 , and longitudinally extending section  264 . Mounts  268  are provided at the lower end of uprights  260  which cooperate with mounting sections  152  ( FIG. 10 ). 
         [0045]    Roll cage assembly  70  comprises ergonomic features for the driver and passengers. First, supports  276  are provided on uprights  246  extending forwardly. These supports are positioned adjacent to seats  64 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , and enclose the driver and front passenger. Second, supports  280  are provided between uprights  246  and  260 , and include an upper portion  282 , lower portion  284  and transition portion  286 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , support  280  is shown in position where lower portion extends across the entry spaced above floorboard  54 . Transition section  286  and upper portion  282  extend across the seat  66  and enclose the rear passengers. Finally, rear passenger hand bar  290  extends between uprights  246 , and as best shown in  FIG. 14 , extends behind front seats  64 , as described below. 
         [0046]    As shown in  FIG. 14 , rear seat bottoms  66   a  are shown elevated relative to front seat bottoms  64   a.  Thus the rear passenger hand bar  290 , which extends behind front seat backs  64   b  is positioned at shoulder height relative to the persons in front seats  64 . As shown best in  FIG. 15 , seat belt retractor  300  is positioned on hand bar  290 , and is attached to bracket  302  which is connected between hand bar  290  and upright  246 . This places the seat belt retractor  300  in a convenient location for those in front seats  64 , yet keeps the retractor away from the rear passengers. 
         [0047]    Vehicle  10  is also ergonomically designed for the rear passenger&#39;s riding experience. For example, and with respect still to  FIG. 14 , uprights  246  are shown flaring outwardly. For example, uprights at the frame are spaced apart by a dimension of D 1  but extend upwardly to a dimension of D 2  which is larger than D 1 . This provides a spacing at  310  between uprights and seat backs  64   b  providing extra room for the passenger&#39;s knees. 
         [0048]    The vehicle design also provides easy ingress and egress. As shown best in  FIG. 14 , the driver and front passenger may easily enter vehicle  10  without contacting longitudinally extending sections  238 . This is due to the fact that the distance (D 6 ) between sections  238  is less than the extreme position adjacent the top of uprights  234  (D 5 ) and is less than the distance between the extreme position adjacent the top of uprights  246  (D 4 ). This insetting of longitudinally extending sections  238  provides easy ingress. In a like manner relating to the rear passengers, and as best shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  6  and  14 , longitudinally extending section  264  are inset from extreme positions of both uprights  246  and  260 , that is D 6  is less than both D 2  and D 7  ( FIGS. 4 and 6 ). This provides easy ingress for rear passengers. 
         [0049]    The design also provides an enhanced ride for the rear passenger. Due to the elevated rear seats  66 , the rear passengers can view over the top of the front seats  64 . As shown best in  FIG. 7 , the elevation of the seats is such that the hip pivot axis (H-point) of the rear passenger (H 2 ) is higher than the H-point of the driver (H 1 ). Also, for ride purposes, the H-point of the rear passenger (H 2 ) is positioned either over, or forward of, the centerline of the rear axle. As shown best in  FIG. 7 , H 2  and the axle centerline are spaced apart by a distance D 8 . Also, in order to enhance the ride of the rear passenger, as w ell as keep the center of gravity low, a seating position  310  of the rear passenger is positioned lower than a top  320  of the engine  322 . The seating position is the location on the seat having the highest distribution of load from the passenger while idle. This area is normally substantially adjacent to an intersecting line through the torso of the passenger and the seat bottom  66   a.  In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 7 , this distance is shown as D 9 . Finally, seating position  310  is also forward of, a forward most point  330  of engine  322 , and as shown best in  FIG. 7 , this distance is depicted as D 10 . It should be appreciated that the seating positions could also be lower than the highest point  320  of engine  322  and behind the forward most point  330 , if the seats laterally straddled the engine  322 . 
         [0050]    With respect now to  FIG. 16 , the vehicle  10  provides enhanced serviceability and functionality. As shown, each seat  64 ,  66  may be removed. The seat  64  is shown having a lower base  350  having locking feet  352  receivable under latch hook  122  and a latch  354  which is receivable over latching pin  126 . Latch release  356  releases latch  354  from the latch-locked condition. Latch  354  is substantially similar to the latch shown in pending U.S. application Ser. No. 12/246,948 filed Oct. 7, 2008 (This is the X2 seat). This provides access to a battery (not shown) in battery box  360 . Also as transverse tube  124  is bolted to stand-offs  254  ( FIG. 9 ), removal of tube  124  allows the molded covering  360  to be easily removed. 
         [0051]    It should be appreciated that one or more of the rear seats  66  may be removed in an identical manner to that described with respect to front seats  64 . Removing one or more of the rear seats may be desired if extra storage space is required and the space is not required for a rider. Also, accessory mounts could be provided (having a similar construction and footprint to that of seat base  350 ) and snapped in place in one or both seat positions. For example, such accessories could include coolers, tool boxes, trunks, water tanks, fuel containers, camping/fishing gear, a dog crate/kennel, and the like. This enhances the functionality of vehicle  10 . 
         [0052]    While this invention has been described as having an exemplary design, the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains.