Patent ID: 7357211

Claim:
An off-road vehicle comprising a frame, a first wheel and a second wheel supporting a forward portion of the frame, a generally vertical longitudinal center plane being defined through said frame, the first wheel being disposed on one side of the center plane and the second wheel being disposed on an opposite side of the center plane, a prime mover being supported by the frame, a drive system connecting the prime mover to the first and second wheels, a housing enclosing a portion of the drive system, the housing being positioned generally on the center plane of the frame and comprising a top surface, a steering system connected to the first and second wheels, the steering system comprising a steering control member, the steering control member being adapted for use by a driver of the vehicle, the steering control member being off-set relative to the center plane, an upper end of a steering shaft being connected to the steering member, the steering shaft defining an axis of rotation, the steering shaft being supported by the frame and being rotatable about the axis of rotation, a first tie-rod being connected to the first wheel and a second tie-rod being connected to the second wheel, a coupling assembly joining the steering shaft to the first and second tie-rods, the coupling assembly being adapted to convert rotation of the steering shaft to axial movement of the first and second tie-rods, a case enclosing at least a portion of the coupling assembly, a bottom of the case being positioned on the top surface of the housing such that said coupling assembly is intersected by the center plane.