Patent ID: 7052001

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a full-length leaf spring having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate section between the first and second ends, the first end pivotally connected to a frame of a small utility vehicle over an axle and the second end being detached from the frame and the axle; a half-length leaf spring having a first end and a second end, the first end pivotally connected to the frame; a spacer plate between the intermediate section of the full-length leaf spring and the second end of the half-length leaf spring, the spacer plate being the only connection point between the full-length leaf spring and the half-length leaf spring; the first end of the half-length leaf spring being spaced from the second end of the full-length leaf spring when the small utility vehicle has a first load condition; the first end of the half-length leaf spring contacting the second end of the full-length leaf spring when the small utility vehicle has a second load condition heavier than the first load condition.