Patent ID: 7942447

Claim:
A frame for a reduced-size vehicle having a front section, a mid-section and a rear section positioned successively adjacent to one another between a front end and a rear end, and left and right sides extending between the front and rear ends, the frame comprising: a first strut portion extending generally through the mid-section from the front section to the rear section; a second strut portion extending generally through the mid-section from the front section to the rear section, wherein the first strut portion is positioned generally higher than the second strut portion, and the second strut portion is at least indirectly coupled to the first strut portion; and a third strut portion extending outward toward at least one of the left and right sides relative to the first strut portion, wherein the third strut portion is coupled at least indirectly to at least one of the first and second strut portions, and forms a loop that is situated substantially within the front section, wherein the frame is configured for receiving a steering column and the loop is configured to extend substantially between a steering column receiving position and the front end.