Patent Abstract:
A first embodiment includes a utility terrain vehicle having four or more wheels, a frame held above the ground by the wheels, and a liquid storage tank. The liquid storage tank is attached to the frame to create a low center of gravity for the utility terrain vehicle.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/521,443, filed on Aug. 9, 2011, and entitled “Tank for an all terrain vehicle,” the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present application relates to personal off-road vehicles. More particularly, the application discloses a small off-road vehicle, commonly referred to as a utility terrain vehicle, with improvements geared towards applications for military, law enforcement, and emergency personnel. 
         [0003]    Over the last several years, the popularity of utility terrain vehicles (also referred to as “UTVs”) has greatly increased. UTVs are practical and versatile, as the vehicle may be used for work or leisure related tasks. The compact nature, mobility, and traction of UTVs means the vehicles are capable of traversing all sorts of surfaces, from the relatively smooth surfaces of paved roadways to rough, uneven terrains, including rocky areas, woodland trails, wetlands, and sand dunes. UTVs are also typically designed to pull or push various objects such as a trailer or a snow-plow. 
         [0004]    A typical UTV is a personal vehicle and may contain side by side seats. Such a vehicle comprises four or more wheels mounted to a frame, the front wheels being steerable. A fuel tank and a seat are disposed on an upper portion of the frame. The engine, which represents one of the heaviest components of the vehicle, is typically mounted in a central portion of the vehicle. The engine location is specifically chosen to ensure a proper weight distribution. If the engine is water cooled, a radiator will be provided in front of the engine. The fuel tank is adjacent the engine. 
         [0005]    While such a configuration provides vehicles with performance levels that are more than adequate, there are nonetheless many disadvantages associated with it. For example, if the vehicle is to be used for special utility purposes, or by emergency personnel or military personnel, additional vehicle storage, stability, and utility are required from what is typically found in a standard model known in the art. Particularly, absent in the prior art is a system with a large liquid holding tank. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    A first embodiment includes a utility terrain vehicle having four or more wheels, a frame held above the ground by the wheels, and a liquid storage tank. The liquid storage tank is attached to the frame to create a low center of gravity for the utility terrain vehicle. 
         [0007]    A second embodiment includes a utility terrain vehicle having two front tires and two rear tires, a vehicle frame held above the ground by the front tires and the rear tires, one or more seats, and a liquid storage tank. The seats have a seat frame, a lower seating surface, and an upper seating surface. The liquid storage tank is located above the vehicle frame and below the seat frame. 
         [0008]    A third embodiment includes a utility terrain vehicle having two front tires and two rear tires, a vehicle frame held above the ground by the front tires and the rear tires, a subframe attached to the vehicle frame to provide additional support to the vehicle, a first seat and a second seat, a flatbed, a pump carried on the flatbed, a liquid storage tank, and an inlet to the liquid storage tank. The first and second seats have a combined seat frame, a lower seating surface, and an upper seating surface. The liquid storage tank is located above the vehicle frame and below the lower seating surface. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of a tank for a utility terrain vehicle (UTV). 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the tank from the passenger&#39;s side of the vehicle. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the tank from the driver&#39;s side of the vehicle. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of the tank. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view of the tank from the driver&#39;s side of the vehicle. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is perspective view of a multi-passenger UTV with a specialized tank. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a tank beneath the seats of an UTV. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a rear perspective view of the tank from the driver&#39;s side of the vehicle with a portion of the seat removed. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a front perspective view of the tank from the driver&#39;s side of the vehicle with the seat removed. 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is front elevation view of the tank for the vehicle with a portion of the seat removed. 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a front perspective view of the tank from the passenger&#39;s side of the vehicle with the seat removed. 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is a passenger side elevation view of a multi-passenger UTV. 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  is a passenger side elevation view of the fuel tank for an UTV. 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  is a side elevation view of the UTV tank. 
           [0023]      FIG. 15  is a top plan view of a UTV tank beneath seating for the vehicle. 
           [0024]      FIG. 16  is a passenger&#39;s side perspective view of the UTV tank beneath seating for the vehicle. 
           [0025]      FIG. 17  is a driver&#39;s side perspective view of the UTV tank beneath seating for the vehicle. 
           [0026]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view of the tank and rear passenger seating area. 
           [0027]      FIG. 19  is a top plan view of the tank. 
           [0028]      FIG. 20  is a side plan view of the tank. 
           [0029]      FIG. 21  is a perspective view of the tank. 
           [0030]      FIG. 22  is a front elevation view of the tank. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0031]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of multi-passenger UTV  10  with liquid tank  30 .  FIG. 12  is a passenger side elevation view of multi-passenger UTV  10 . UTV  10  includes front wheels  12 , rear wheels  14 , main body portion  16 , cage  18 , flatbed  20 , gas tank  21 , pump  22 , cab  24 , seat frame  26 , upper seat  28 , lower seat  29  (not shown), liquid tank  30 , front footrest  32 , rear footrest  34 , liquid tank inlet  36 , flatbed tank  38 , a frame, and a subframe. Front wheels  12  are capable of being steered and front wheels  12  and rear wheels  14  are attached to a front axle and rear axle, respectively (not shown). Front wheels  12  and rear wheels  14  are part of a drive train system. Each axle is mounted on a suspension system relative to a frame. The frame supports the drive train system and an engine, where the engine actuates the drive train system. Main body portion  16  covers the frame. The frame is reinforced with a subframe to support the additional weight added to UTV  10  from liquid tank  30 . 
         [0032]    Other elements of UTV  10  include various support structures, such as flatbed  20  and cage  18 . Cage  18  is connected to main body portion  16  and assists in preventing injury to passengers from passing branches or similar obstacles, as well as acting as a support in the event of a vehicle rollover. Cab  24  is defined by main body portion  16  and cage  18 . Flatbed  20  extends rearward of cab  24 . Flatbed  20  supports pump  22 , flatbed tank  38 , and liquid tank inlet  36 . Pump  22  and liquid tank inlet  36  are connected to tank  30  with hoses. Liquid tank inlet  36  has the capacity to retain some liquid and is thus capable of acting as a surge when filing liquid tank  30 . Liquid tank inlet  36  creates a pressure differential between liquid tank  30  and liquid tank inlet  36  so that the liquid in liquid tank inlet  36  moves through the hose into liquid tank  30 . UTV  10  also includes gas tank  21  located rearward of liquid tank  30  on the passenger&#39;s side, to supply gas to the engine. UTV  10  further includes seat frame  26 , upper seat  28 , and lower seat  29 . Seat frame  26  is disposed on specialized tank  30 , and upper seat  28  and lower seat  29  are attached to seat frame  26 . Upper seat  28  provides support for the backs of the driver and passengers and lower seat  29  provides support for the sitting of the driver and passengers. 
         [0033]    In the embodiment shown, UTV  10  includes three seats: a driver&#39;s seat, a first passenger&#39;s seat next to the driver&#39;s seat, and a second passenger&#39;s seat rearward of the driver&#39;s seat. A portion of flatbed  20  extends behind the first passenger&#39;s seat and next to the second passenger&#39;s seat. In other embodiments, UTV  10  may include more seats or fewer seats. Front footrest  32  is forward of liquid tank  30  and provides a place for the driver and first passenger to rest their feet. Rear footrest  34  is located rearward of liquid tank  30  behind the driver&#39;s seat and provides a place for the second passenger to rest their feet. 
         [0034]      FIG. 21  is a perspective view of liquid tank  30 .  FIG. 19  is a top plan view of liquid tank  30 .  FIG. 22  is a front elevation view of liquid tank  30 .  FIG. 20  is a side plan view of liquid tank  30 . Tank  30  includes forward end  42 , aft end  44 , first side  46 , second side  48 , third side  54 , top side  50 , bottom side  52 , slanted aft end  56 , and curved edges  58 A and  58 B. Forward end  42  is connected to top side  50 , bottom side  52 , and curved edges  58 A and  58 B. Second side  48  is connected to curved edge  58 B, top side  50 , aft end  44 , and bottom side  52 . Aft end  44  is connected to top side  50 , second side  48 , bottom side  52 , and third side  54 . Second side  46  is connected to top side  50 , curved edge  58 A, slanted aft end  56 , and bottom side  52 . Third side  54  is connected to aft end  44 , top side  50 , bottom side  52 , and slanted aft end  56 . Slanted aft end  56  is connected to top side  50 , bottom side  52 , first side  46 , and third side  54 . Top side  50  is connected to forward end  42 , curved edges  58 A and  58 B, second side  48 , aft end  44 , third side  54 , slanted side  56 , and first side  46 . Bottom side  52  is connected to forward end  42 , curved edges  58 A and  58 B, second side  48 , aft end  44 , third side  54 , slanted side  56 , and first side  46 . 
         [0035]    In the embodiment shown, tank  30  has the following dimensions: height H of tank  30  is 15 inches; width W p  of tank  30  on the first passenger&#39;s side is 32 inches; width W b  of tank  30  on the driver&#39;s side bottom is 15 inches; width W t  of tank  30  on the driver&#39;s side top is 21 inches; forward length L f  of tank  30  is 59 inches; and rear length L r  of tank  30  behind the passenger&#39;s seat is 37 inches. The dimensions of tank  30  can be adjusted based on the size and arrangement of UTV  10 . For instance, in the case that UTV  10  does not have a second passenger&#39;s seat, tank  30  is capable of being shaped to fill the space that is left open for footrest  34  in the embodiment shown. 
         [0036]    Tank  30  extends under the driver&#39;s seat and passenger&#39;s seat, and rearward of the passenger&#39;s seat under a portion of flatbed  20 . The space behind the driver&#39;s seat is left open for rear footrest  34 . This allows the second passenger to have leg room when they are riding on UTV  10 . The second passenger&#39;s leg room is further expanded with slanted aft end  56 . Slanted aft end  56  allows tank  30  to extend fully rearward under the driver&#39;s seat, while at the same time providing more open space for rear footrest  34 . Top side  50  of tank  30  needs to extend fully rearward under the driver&#39;s seat to support seat frame  26 . 
         [0037]    Tank  30  is shaped to be placed under seat frame  26  on UTV  10 . Tank  30  is capable of supporting the weight of seat frame  26 , upper seat  28 , lower seat  29 , a portion of flatbed  20 , and the sitting weight of an operator and passenger. In the embodiment shown, tank  30  is made out of aluminum, although any material capable of supporting the weight and holding liquid can be used. The materials best suited for supporting the additional weight are rigid materials with a high tensile strength, and the materials best suited for holding liquid are rigid and non-corrosive materials. Tank  30  has the capacity to hold over 100 gallons of liquid. 
         [0038]    Tank  30  as designed and as located on UTV  10  provides many benefits, especially when UTV  10  is being used for military, emergency, medical, and fire protection purposes. In the prior art, liquid storage tanks are carried on flatbeds of a UTV. Carrying a liquid storage tank on a flatbed greatly raises the center of gravity of the UTV, which decreased the handling of the vehicles and increased the possibility of a roll-over. Placing tank  30  under seat frame  26  gives UTV  10  a low center of gravity, which improves the handling of UTV  10 . When tank  30  is empty, the center of gravity of UTV  10  is similar to the center of gravity of UTV  10  without tank  30 . When tank  30  is full, the center of gravity is still lower than the height of the tank and thus low on the vehicle, which reduces the risk of a roll-over. Placing tank  30  under seat frame  26  also distributes the weight of the liquid more evenly across front tires  12  and rear tires  14 , which again results in improved handling. 
         [0039]    Placing tank  30  under seat frame  26  allows for additional equipment to be carried on flatbed  20  of UTV  10 . Opening up this space increases the effectiveness of UTV  10  as a vehicle that can be used in fire fighting. Tank  30  allows for a larger amount of water to be carried on UTV  10  and leaves flatbed  20  open to carry a pump, hose, and other firefighting tools. Opening up flatbed  20  also increases the effectiveness of using UTV  10  for emergency purposes. Flatbed  20  is capable of holding a stretcher and other medical equipment. The configuration of UTV  10  also allows a paramedic to tend to a patient while UTV  10  is moving. Tank  30  is also capable of holding additional fuel for UTV  10 , which greatly increases the travel distance of UTV  10 . UTV  10  can also hold fire suppressant materials, chemical mixtures for pest control, and any other liquid. 
         [0040]      FIG. 9  is a front perspective view of tank  30  from the driver&#39;s side of UTV  10  with lower seat  29  removed.  FIG. 10  is front elevation view of tank  30  for UTV  10  with lower seat  29  removed.  FIG. 11  is a front perspective view of tank  30  from the passenger&#39;s side of UTV  10  with lower seat  29  removed. Tank  30  is located in cab  24  of UTV  10  under seat frame  26 . In the prior art, seat frame  26  was placed on top of a plastic support system with a cavity under the driver&#39;s seat to store small equipment. In order to maximize the amount of liquid that could be carried on UTV  10 , the prior plastic support system has been removed and replaced with tank  30 . Tank  30  extends fully from the driver&#39;s side of UTV  10  to the passenger&#39;s side of UTV  10 , as evident in  FIG. 10 . A part of the remaining plastic system can be seen as plastic front  70  in  FIGS. 9 and 11 . In the prior art, plastic front  70  wrapped around the edges of tank  30  and extended fully rearward. In order to maximize the span of tank  30  from the driver&#39;s side to the passenger&#39;s size, the edges and corners of plastic front  70  have been removed. 
         [0041]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of tank  30  beneath seat frame  26  of UTV  10 .  FIG. 13  is a passenger side elevation view of fuel tank  21  and tank  30  for UTV  10 . Tank  30  extends fully from the driver&#39;s side to the passenger&#39;s side of UTV  10 . As seen in  FIG. 7 , tank  30  extends rearward of the driver&#39;s seat to the second passenger&#39;s seat and rear footrest  34 . As seen in  FIG. 13 , tank  30  extends rearward of the passenger&#39;s seat underneath flatbed  20 . In the prior art, a third passenger&#39;s seat was provided in place of flat bed  20  on top of gas tank  21 . Flatbed  20  has been extended forward over gas tank  21  here so a stretcher can be placed on flatbed  20 . The stretcher will extend forward behind the first passenger&#39;s seat so that a passenger riding in the second passenger&#39;s seat can attend to a patient on the stretcher while UTV  10  is in operation. Further, removing the third passenger&#39;s seat allowed for tank  30  to extend further behind the first passenger&#39;s seat toward gas tank  21 . This further maximized the amount of liquid that can be carried in tank  30 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 17  is a driver&#39;s side perspective view of tank  30  beneath seat frame  26 .  FIG. 16  is a passenger&#39;s side perspective view of tank  30  beneath seat frame  26 .  FIG. 15  is a top plan view of tank  30  beneath seat frame  26 . Seat frame  26  is bolted to tank  30  in the embodiment shown, although other means of attaching the two can be used including any type of fastener. As stated previously, in the prior art seat frame  26  was attached to a plastic support system. In the present invention, seat frame  26  has been modified to attach to tank  30 . These modifications include adjusting the attachment means on seat frame  26  to fit with tank  30 , and removing the two side portions of plastic front  70  so that the space under seat frame  26  can be optimized. 
         [0043]      FIG. 8  is a rear perspective view of tank  30  from the driver&#39;s side of UTV  10  with lower seat  29  removed.  FIG. 18  is a perspective view of tank  30  and a rear passenger seating area. On the first passenger&#39;s side, tank  30  extends rearward underneath flatbed  20 . On the driver&#39;s side, tank  30  extends rearward until slanted aft end  56 . Slanted aft end  56  mimics the shape of the prior plastic support system under seat frame  26 . Slanted aft end  56  and rear footrest  34  are designed to provide leg and foot space for a second passenger. The design of slanted aft end  56  also allows tank  30  to extend fully rearward under the driver&#39;s seat to support seat frame  26 , which again allows the capacity of tank  30  to be maximized. Leaving space for the second passenger&#39;s seat also allows a passenger riding on the second passenger&#39;s seat to tend to a patient on a stretcher on flatbed  20 , as flatbed  20  extends forward next to the second passenger&#39;s seat. 
         [0044]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of tank  30  from the driver&#39;s side of UTV  10 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of tank  30  from the passenger&#39;s side of UTV  10 .  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 2  show tank  30  extending fully across UTV  10  from the driver&#39;s side to the passenger&#39;s side when lower seat  29  is attached to seat frame  26 . As evident, the location and arrangement of tank  30  allows leg and foot space for the driver and first passenger, similar to the prior art, while maximizing the capacity of tank  30 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of tank  30 .  FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of tank  30  for UTV  10 .  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 1  show how tank  30  extends rearward of the driver&#39;s seat to the second passenger&#39;s seat and rearward of the first passenger&#39;s seat underneath flatbed  20  to gas tank  21  with lower seat  29  attached to seat frame  26 . As discussed above, this arrangement maximizes the capacity of tank  30 .  FIG. 1  also shows stretcher  72  on flatbed  20 . Stretcher  72  is located beside the second passenger&#39;s seat, so that a passenger riding on the second passenger&#39;s seat can tend to a patient while UTV  10  is in operation. 
         [0047]      FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view of tank  30  from the driver&#39;s side of UTV  10 .  FIG. 5  shows the leg and foot room that is maintained for the second passenger&#39;s seat, while at the same time maximizing the capacity of tank  30 .  FIG. 14  is a side elevation view of tank  30  and gas tank  21 .  FIG. 14  shows how tank  30  extends rearward of the first passenger&#39;s seat to gas tank  21  underneath flatbed  20 . 
         [0048]    While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment(s), it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1