Patent ID: 7506714

Claim:
A recreational utility vehicle (RUV) capable of accommodating multiple passengers, the RUV comprising: right and left front wheels and left rear wheels, wherein the front wheels are spaced apart from the rear wheels by a wheelbase, and wherein each of the wheels is associated with a respective low-pressure tire having a respective internal pressure of 10 psi or less; right and left front fenders respectively extending behind respective rear edges of the right and left front tires, respectively, and right and left rear fenders respectively extending in front of respective front edges of the right and left rear tires, respectively; a saddle seat having a first portion, a second portion and a transitional portion extending in a manner that is at least partially non-horizontal, the transitional portion being positioned between the first and second portions, the second potion being behind the first portion; a longitudinally elongated frame to which the wheels, fenders and seat are coupled at least indirectly, the longitudinally elongated frame being sufficiently elongated to accommodate the saddle seat; a front and rear suspensions coupled to and spaced longitudinally along the frame, said front and rear suspensions being sufficiently sized and sprung to accommodate the wheelbase and the frame and the saddle seat; a handlebar and a rack supported at least indirectly by the elongated frame, wherein at least a part of the rack is positioned behind the saddle seat; a pair of grip handles on laterally opposite sides of the saddle seat and mounted to at least one of the longitudinally elongated frame and the rack, wherein the grip handles are in addition to the handlebar and the rack, and wherein the grip handles are positioned forward of the part of the rack and aft of the first portion of the saddle seat; right and left foot rest surfaces that are respectively position between the right front and rear fenders and left front and rear fenders, respectively, and that do not extend rearward of the front edges of the right and left rear tires, respectively, wherein each of the right and left foot rest surfaces has a respective length that is substantially equal to or greater than a diameter of at least one of the tires; wherein each of the right and the left foot rest surfaces includes a first tot rest portion and a second foot rest portion aft of and higher than the first foot rest portion; and wherein each of the first foot rest portion further includes a laterally extending raised rib portion for locating first feet and each of the second foot rest portion includes a laterally extending pocket portion defining a longitudinally extending tunnel thereunder for locating second feet.