Patent ID: 12227058

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present technology will be described with respect to a four-wheel off-road vehicle10having two side-by-side seats and a steering wheel. However, it is contemplated that some aspects of the present technology may apply to other types of vehicles such as, but not limited to, off-road vehicles having more or less than four wheels.

The general features of the off-road vehicle10will be described with respect toFIG.1. The vehicle10has a frame12, two front wheels14connected to a front of the frame12by front suspension assemblies16and two rear wheels18connected to the frame12by rear suspension assemblies20.

The frame12defines a central cockpit area22inside which are disposed a driver seat24and a passenger seat26. In the present implementation, the driver seat24is disposed on the left side of the vehicle10and the passenger seat26is disposed on the right side of the vehicle10. However, it is contemplated that the driver seat24could be disposed on the right side of the vehicle10and that the passenger seat26could be disposed on the left side of the vehicle10. A user-operated steering input device28is disposed in front of the driver seat24. In this implementation, the user-operated steering input device28is a steering wheel28. The steering wheel28is used to turn the front wheels14to steer the vehicle10. Various displays and gauges (not shown) are disposed above the steering wheel28to provide information to the driver regarding the operating conditions of the vehicle10. Examples of displays and gauges include, but are not limited to, a speedometer, a tachometer, a fuel gauge, a transmission position display, and an oil temperature gauge.

An engine30(shown schematically inFIG.1) is connected to the frame12in a rear portion of the vehicle10. The engine30is connected to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) (not shown) disposed on a left side of the engine30. The CVT is operatively connected to a transaxle (not shown) to transmit torque from the engine30to the transaxle. The transaxle is disposed behind the engine30. The transaxle is operatively connected to the front and rear wheels14,18to propel the vehicle10. A fuel tank (not shown) is suspended from the frame12in front of the driver seat26. The fuel tank is disposed above the floor of the cockpit area22to the right of a longitudinal centerplane19(shown inFIG.4) of the vehicle10.

The vehicle10has a plurality of body panels that are connected to the frame12. The panels help protect the internal components of the vehicle10and provide some of the aesthetic features of the vehicle10. Front panels40are connected to a front of the frame12. The front panels40are disposed forward of the front suspension assemblies16and laterally between the front wheels14. The front panels40define two apertures inside which the headlights42of the vehicle10are disposed. A cover44extends generally horizontally reward from a top of the front panels40. The cover44defines an aperture45through which tops of the front suspension assemblies16protrude. Front fenders46are disposed rearward of the front panels40on each side of the vehicle10. Each front fender46is disposed in part above and in part behind of its corresponding front wheel14. Lower panels48extend along the bottom of the frame12between the front and rear wheels14,18. Each lower panel48has a front end disposed under the bottom portion of its corresponding front fender46and extends rearward therefrom. A generally L-shaped panel49is disposed behind the rear end of each lower panel48. Generally L-shaped rear fenders50extend upward and then rearward from the rear, upper ends of the L-shaped panels49. Each rear fender50is disposed in part above and in part forward of its corresponding rear wheel18. The rear fenders50define apertures at the rear thereof to receive the brake lights of the vehicle10. It is contemplated that the brake lights64could be replaced with reflectors or that reflectors could be provided in addition to the brake lights64.

On each side of the vehicle10, the front fender46, the lower panel48, the L-shaped panel49and the rear fender50define a passage through which a driver (or passenger depending on the side of the vehicle10) can enter or exit the vehicle10. Each side of the vehicle10is provided with a door54that selectively closes an upper portion of the corresponding passage. Each door54is hinged at a rear thereof to its corresponding rear fender50and associated portion of the frame12and is selectively connected at a front thereof to its corresponding front fender46via a releasable latch (not shown).

The rear fenders50define a cargo space56therebetween behind the seats24,26. The cargo space56has a floor58extending horizontally between the rear fenders50. The floor58has a plurality of apertures such that the floor58can act as an attachments base to receive anchors such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,875,830, issued Nov. 4, 2014, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference, in order to secure various items in the cargo space56. It is contemplated that the floor58could be replaced by a cargo box that can be tilted in order to dump its content. A separation panel extends laterally and is disposed longitudinally between the seats24,26and the floor58. As a result, the separation panel separates the cockpit area22from the cargo area56.

The frame12of the vehicle10has a central portion100, a front portion102and a rear portion104. As their names suggest, the front portion102is disposed in front of the central portion100and the rear portion104is disposed behind the central portion100. The central portion100defines the cockpit area22in which the seats24,26are disposed. The central portion100also includes a roll cage106which will be described in more detail below. The front suspension assemblies16are connected to the central and front portions100,102of the frame12. The engine30, the CVT and the transaxle are supported by the rear portion104of the frame12. The rear suspension assemblies20are connected to the central and rear portions100,104of the frame12.

The frame12is made from a plurality of hollow cylindrical steel members and steel brackets that are welded to each other. It is contemplated that at least some of the hollow cylindrical members could be replaced by other types of members such as solid cylindrical members, hollow tubes having a cross-section other than circular, and beams, for example. It is also contemplated that the members and brackets could be made of another type of metal, such as aluminum for example. It is also contemplated that at least some of the members and brackets could be made of a non-metallic material, such as composite materials or plastics for example. 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 members and brackets could be cast or otherwise formed as a single component.

The roll cage106is connected at its front to the front portion102of the frame12and at its rear to the rear portion104of the frame12. With reference toFIG.2, the roll cage106has a left front leg110and a right front leg110which are mirror images of each other about the longitudinal centerplane19of the vehicle10. The front legs110are connected to respective left and right brackets (not shown) of the frame12and extend upward and rearward therefrom. In particular, each of the front legs110has a front connecting end112that connects to a respective one of the left and right brackets of the frame12. At their rear ends, the left and right front legs110are respectively connected to or integrally made with left and right upper members114that define a roof portion of the roll cage106. Notably, the upper members114are disposed vertically higher than the front legs110. A front cross-member116is connected to and extends between the front legs110. The cross-member116has two angled portions118and a lateral portion120disposed between the angled portions118. The angled portions118of the cross-member116extend upward, rearward and laterally inward from the front legs110. Reinforcing brackets122connect the angled portions118to the front legs116and to the upper members114. Together, the front legs110and the front cross-member116define a windshield area125of the roll cage106that is disposed forward of the driver and passenger seats24,26.

A rear cross-member124is connected to and extends between the upper members114. The cross-member124is disposed rearward of the cross-member116. The cross-member124has two angled portions and a lateral portion disposed between the angled portions. The angled portions of the cross-member124extend rearward and laterally inward from the upper members114. As shown inFIG.2, left and right frame members132are connected between the cross-members116,124. Notably, the left and right frame members132extend longitudinally between the cross-members116,124are disposed laterally between the left and right upper members114. The frame members132extend over the central portion of the cockpit area22. In this embodiment, the frame members132are arched and are vertically higher than the top of the upper members124.

As shown inFIG.1, a windshield assembly200provides protection at the windshield area125defined by the roll cage106. Notably, the windshield assembly200includes a windshield202(shown in transparency inFIG.1) that provides protection from wind and small debris (e.g., dust, insects, etc.), and an intrusion bar204that blocks part of the windshield area125in order to provide protection from large debris that can be encountered in off-road conditions. The windshield202includes a pane of transparent material203, namely glass in this embodiment. It is contemplated that the windshield200could be made from other materials, such as polycarbonate for example. As shown inFIG.3, at its upper end, the windshield202has an upper connector206that connects the windshield202to the cross-member116. At its lower end, the windshield202has a lower connector210that connects the windshield202to a front portion of the vehicle10. The windshield202has left and right lateral ends208(FIG.3) defining a width of the windshield202therebetween.

As shown inFIG.1, in this embodiment, the intrusion bar204extends along part of the windshield202. Notably, the pane203of the windshield202extends over the intrusion bar204(i.e., the intrusion bar204is positioned under the windshield202). With reference toFIG.2, the intrusion bar204has left and right longitudinal members212that extend downward and forward from the cross-member116. The left and right longitudinal members212are disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal centerplane19of the vehicle10. The rear ends of the longitudinal members212are fastened to the cross-member116. The front ends of the longitudinal members212are fastened to a lower cross-member214of the intrusion bar204. The lower cross-member214is connected between the left and right front legs110of the roll cage106. The lower cross-member214is disposed vertically lower than the cross-member116. As best shown inFIGS.2and4, the lower-cross member214has left and right angled portions218and a central portion220extending therebetween. Each of the angled portions218extends upwardly and laterally outwardly from the central portion220.

As shown inFIGS.3and4, the windshield assembly200also includes left and right connectors230that connect the windshield200and the intrusion bar204to the left and right front legs110respectively. Notably, the connectors230allow the simultaneous connection of both the windshield202and the intrusion bar204to the roll cage106.

The connectors230will now be described in detail with reference toFIGS.4A to6. In this embodiment, the left and right connectors230are mirror images of each other about the longitudinal centerplane19, and therefore only the left connector230will be described in detail herein in relation to the left front leg110. It is to be understood that the same description applies to the right connector230in relation to the right front leg110.

With reference toFIGS.5and6, the connector230includes a clamp232that is clamped about the front leg110of the roll cage106. As will be explained in more detail below, the clamp232clamps part of the windshield202to the front leg110and is also simultaneously fastened to the intrusion bar204. In this embodiment, the clamp232includes a first portion234and a second portion236opposite the first portion234. The first and second portions234,236define a passage244therebetween to receive the front leg110therein. Notably, in this example, the first portion234is disposed on an upper side117of the front leg110while the second portion236is disposed on a lower side119of the front leg110. As such, the first and second portions234,236may in some cases be referred to as an upper portion234and a lower portion236. Each of the first and second portions234,236has a concave shape to partly wrap about the front leg110. For instance, in this embodiment, each of the first and second portions234,236is generally C-shaped. As shown inFIG.5, the first portion234of the clamp232defines an internal recess235that receives a part of the windshield202therein, including part of the corresponding lateral end208of the windshield202. In particular, the part of the windshield202that is received in the internal recess235is held between the first portion234and the upper side117of the front leg110. The clamp232retains the part of the windshield202by extending in an aperture215(FIG.5) defined by the windshield202, namely by the pane203. More specifically, the first portion234of the clamp232extends in the windshield aperture215.

As best shown inFIGS.4A,5and6, in this embodiment, the first and second portions234,236are fastened to each other by a plurality of fasteners, including two inner lateral fasteners240and two outer lateral fasteners242, in order to clamp the front leg110between the first and second portions234,236. The inner lateral fasteners240are disposed closer to the longitudinal centerplane19than the outer lateral fasteners242. Notably, the passage244within which the front leg110is received is disposed laterally between the inner and outer lateral fasteners240,242. In this embodiment, the inner and outer lateral fasteners240,242are bolts. It is contemplated that the inner and outer lateral fasteners240,242could be different mechanical fasteners in other embodiments.

With reference toFIG.5, the clamp232defines apertures for receiving the inner and outer lateral fasteners240,242. More specifically, the first portion234of the clamp232defines two apertures252(one of which is shown inFIG.5) and the second portion236of the clamp232defines two apertures254(one of which is shown inFIG.5) that are aligned with each other (i.e., coaxial). The inner lateral fasteners240are inserted through the apertures252,254. In this embodiment, a receiving fastener260(e.g., a nut) is received in a recess defined by the second portion236and engages a corresponding inner lateral fastener240to secure the first and second portions234,236together.

Similarly, the first portion234defines two apertures256(one of which is shown inFIG.5) and the second portion236defines two apertures258(one of which is shown inFIG.5) that are aligned with each other, and the outer lateral fasteners242are inserted through the apertures256,258. In this embodiment, a receiving fastener262(e.g., a nut) is received in a recess defined by the second portion236and engages a corresponding outer lateral fastener242to secure the first and second portions234,236together.

In this embodiment, the inner lateral fasteners240fasten the intrusion bar204to the clamp232. Notably, the inner lateral fasteners240engage a left end portion225of the lower cross-member214of the intrusion bar204to connect the intrusion bar204to the clamp232. More specifically, the end portion225of the intrusion bar204is clamped between the first and second portions234,236and an aperture270(FIG.5) defined by the end portion225is aligned to be coaxial with the apertures252,254of the first and second portions234,236. The inner lateral fasteners240are then inserted within the apertures252,254and the aperture270. As such, the outer lateral end of the lower cross-member214of the intrusion bar204is held between the first and second portions234,236of the clamp232.

Since the inner lateral fasteners240extend through the end portion225of the intrusion bar204whereas the outer lateral fasteners242do not, the inner lateral fasteners240are longer than the outer lateral fasteners242. Moreover, as can be seen inFIG.5, the inner lateral fasteners240are positioned such that a longitudinal axis255of each of the inner lateral fasteners240extends through the aperture215of the windshield202. In addition, the longitudinal axes255of the inner lateral fasteners240extend between a lateral inner end271of the clamp232(a lateral end of the clamp232closest to the longitudinal centerplane19) and the internal recess235of the first portion234. Conversely, a longitudinal axis257of each of the outer lateral fasteners242extends between a lateral outer end273of the clamp232(opposite the lateral inner end271) and the internal recess235of the first portion234. The longitudinal axes257of the outer lateral fasteners242do not extend through the pane203of the windshield202.

As shown inFIGS.3,4and5, in this embodiment, caps290are engaged with the windshield202at each windshield aperture215to cover respective edge portions of the pane203that define the apertures215. Notably, the caps290can provide a more aesthetic look to the windshield assembly200.

As will be understood from the above, the connectors230provide an easy manner in which the roll cage106can be outfitted with both the intrusion bar204and the windshield202. Moreover, the connectors230are relatively compact and easy to use thus facilitating their implementation.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the connectors230can also be used when installing a different type of windshield on the roll cage106. In particular, with reference toFIG.7, it may be desirable to install a different windshield202′ on the roll cage106together with the intrusion bar204(illustrated schematically inFIG.7). The windshield202′ differs from the previously-described windshield202in that it is a “flip up” windshield that is pivotably connected to the roll cage106, namely to the front cross-member116thereof. Apart from that, unless mentioned otherwise, the windshield202′ is similar to the windshield202described above and therefore the corresponding parts of the windshield202′ have been identified in the drawings with the same reference numerals used to describe the windshield202. In this case, since the windshield202′ is selectively flipped up, the connectors230do not clamp the windshield202′ to the front legs110of the roll cage106, but instead support the windshield202′ on the front legs110when the windshield202′ is in a lowered position (i.e., pivoted down), thus allowing the windshield202′ to be flipped up.

In order to accommodate the flip-up windshield202′ on the roll cage106, the connectors230are mounted differently to the respective front legs110. More specifically, to support the windshield202′ on the roll cage106, the first portion234of each clamp232is disposed on the lower side119of the corresponding front leg110, while the second portion236of the clamp232is disposed on the upper side117of the corresponding front leg110. In other words, the positions of the first and second portions234,236of the clamps232are interchanged relative to that described above for connecting the windshield202. As such, when the connectors230are used in conjunction with the windshield202′, the first and second portions234,236thereof could be referred to as a lower portion234and an upper portion236. As shown inFIG.8, in this case, the internal recess235of the first portion234of each clamp232does not receive part of the windshield202′ therein as the clamp232does not clamp the windshield202′ to the corresponding front leg110. The internal recess235thus remains empty, or, in some cases, the internal recess235of each clamp232could be filled with a plug made of polymeric material (e.g., rubber) for aesthetic purposes. Instead of clamping part of the windshield202′ to the corresponding front leg110, the windshield202′ is partially rested on the second portion236of each clamp232such that the second portion236supports part of the windshield202′, including for example the corresponding lateral end208of the windshield202′.

As shown inFIG.8, in this example, the flip-up windshield202′ has a metallic windshield support structure207and left and right inner sealing members209(one of which is shown inFIG.8) disposed on an inner side of the windshield202′. The inner sealing members209extend near the respective lateral ends208of the windshield202′. In the lowered position of the windshield202′, the inner sealing members209abut the front legs110and the clamps232. As such, in the lowered position of the windshield202′, the windshield202′ is supported by the clamps232and the inner sealing members209form respective seals with the front legs110(along parts of the front legs110above and below the connectors230) and also form seals along respective portions of the inner sealing members209abutting the outer surfaces of the clamps232. In particular, as will be appreciated, for each clamp232, a thickness of the second portion236(i.e., a distance between outer and inner surfaces of the second portion236) along a lateral span thereof that overlaps the clamped front leg110is smaller than a thickness of the first portion234(i.e., a distance between outer and inner surfaces of the first portion234) along a lateral span thereof that overlaps the clamped front leg110. This reduced thickness of the second portion236relative to the first portion234allows the corresponding inner sealing member209to form a seal with the front leg110despite the contact with the clamp232. The inner sealing member209is simply slightly more compressed at its interface with the clamp232than along its interface with the front leg110. In this example, each of the inner sealing members209has a cross-sectional profile that is generally square in an undeformed state of the inner sealing member209. Moreover, in this example, the inner sealing members209are made of foam and/or rubber. Despite the positions of the first and second portions234,236of the clamps232being inverted relative to that described above, the intrusion bar204is fastened to the clamps232in the same manner, namely clamping the end portions225of the intrusion bar204between the first and second portions234,236of the clamps232.

Modifications and improvements to the above-described embodiments of the present technology may become apparent to those skilled in the art. The foregoing description is intended to be exemplary rather than limiting. The scope of the present technology is therefore intended to be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.