Patent ID: 8262101

Claim:
A rough terrain vehicle comprising: a body for a vehicle operator to ride in; an elongated main frame for supporting said body; first and second forwardly-extending frame arms located on opposite sides of said main frame, each of which includes a proximal end and a distal end, each said proximal end being pivotably connected to said main frame, and each said distal end having at least one rotatable wheel mounted thereon; third and fourth rearwardly-extending frame arms located on opposite sides of said main frame, each of which includes a proximal end and a distal end, each said distal end having at least one rotatable wheel mounted thereon; a first pivot axle for connecting said proximal ends of said first and said second frame arms, said first pivot axle permitting relative movement of said first and said second frame arms about said first pivot axle; a second pivot axle for connecting said proximal ends of said third and said fourth frame arms, said first pivot axle permitting relative movement of said third and said fourth frame arms about said second pivot axle; a first generally U-shaped cross member pivotably connected to said first and second frame arms and supporting a forward end of said main frame; a second generally U-shaped cross-member pivotably connected to said third and fourth frame arms and supporting a rearward end of said main frame; said cross members being configured to enable said main frame and said frame arms to pivot about a lengthwise axis of said main frame for the purpose of maintaining said main frame level from side to side; a first length-adjustable member operatively connected to said first frame arm and said third frame arm; selective movement of said first length-adjustable member causing said distal end of said first frame arm to move up or down; a second length-adjustable member operatively connected to said second frame arm and said fourth frame arm; selective movement of said second length-adjustable member causing said distal end of said second frame arm to move up or down; and a level detector for producing and applying leveling signals to each of said length-adjustable members; said leveling signals causing each of said length-adjustable members to position each said first and second frame arms such that said elongated main frame is maintained in a relatively level orientation when said vehicle encounters uneven terrain.