Vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12208706-B2
Application number	US-202117494501-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 5, 2021
Priority date	Dec 22, 2016
Publication date	Jan 28, 2025
Grant date	Jan 28, 2025

Abstract

A utility vehicle includes a plurality of ground-engaging members, a frame supported by the ground-engaging members, and a plurality of body panels supported by the frame. The utility vehicle also includes a radiator supported on a rear portion of the frame. Additionally, the utility vehicle includes an air intake assembly partially supported by an upper portion of the frame.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A utility vehicle, comprising:
a plurality of ground-engaging members;
a frame assembly supported by the ground-engaging members and extending along a longitudinal axis defining a longitudinal centerline of the utility vehicle;
an operator area supported by the frame and including a seat for an operator having a seat bottom and a seat back, and at least a portion of the seat bottom being positioned to a first side of the longitudinal axis;
a steering assembly including a steering wheel positioned on the longitudinal axis;
a throttle input positioned below at least a portion of the steering assembly;
a brake input positioned below at least a portion of the steering assembly;
a shifter positioned to a second side of the longitudinal axis; and
a plurality of operator controls configured to control operation of the utility vehicle, the plurality of operator controls being positioned to a second side of the longitudinal axis, wherein the operator controls are different from the steering assembly, the throttle input, the brake input, and the shifter.

2. The utility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein a center of the seat bottom is aligned with the longitudinal axis.

3. The utility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the seat for the operator is the only seat of the vehicle.

4. The utility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein each operator control corresponding to a different one of the plurality of operator controls.

5. The utility vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of operator controls includes at least an input for a drive mode of the vehicle, an input configured to control at least one accessory of the vehicle, an input to control a stereo system of the vehicle, and an input configured to control lights of the vehicle.

6. The utility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of operator controls is positioned to a right side of the operator when the operator is seated on the seat.

7. The utility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of operator controls includes a first gauge having a portion positioned along the longitudinal axis and a second gauge positioned to the second side of the longitudinal axis and forward of the shifter.

8. The utility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein a right side of the vehicle includes a body panel fixed to the frame assembly and a left side of the vehicle includes a door configured to move relative to the frame assembly, and the body panel fixed to the frame assembly is positioned generally opposite the door.

9. The utility vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of operator controls are positioned on the right side of the vehicle adjacent the body panel fixed to the frame assembly.

10. The utility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of operator controls includes an ignition input positioned to a right side of the longitudinal axis.

11. A utility vehicle, comprising:
a plurality of ground-engaging members;
a frame assembly supported by the ground-engaging members and extending on a longitudinal axis defining a longitudinal centerline of the utility vehicle;
an operator area supported by the frame and including a seat for an operator having a seat bottom and a seat back, and at least a portion of the seat bottom being positioned to a first side of the longitudinal axis;
a steering assembly;
a throttle input positioned below at least a portion of the steering assembly;
a brake input positioned below at least a portion of the steering assembly and to the left of the throttle input, wherein the brake input is offset to a left side of the longitudinal axis such that a majority of the brake input is positioned on the left side of the longitudinal centerline; and
a plurality of operator controls configured to control operation of the utility vehicle, the plurality of operator controls being positioned to a second side of the longitudinal axis, the plurality of operator controls positioned forward of a shifter.

12. The utility vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the brake input includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being positioned at least partially under a center point of the steering wheel.

13. The utility vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the second portion of the brake input is spaced apart from the first portion by a wall.

14. The utility vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the wall extends generally rearward.

15. The utility vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the second portion of the brake input is positioned longitudinally rearward of the first portion.

16. The utility vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the second portion of the brake input is positioned laterally outward of the center portion of the steering wheel.

17. The utility vehicle of claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the seat bottom is positioned to a first side of the longitudinal axis, the steering wheel is positioned substantially along the longitudinal axis, and the throttle input is positioned to a second side of the longitudinal axis.

18. The utility vehicle of claim 11 , further comprising operator controls that are positioned on the right side of the longitudinal axis.

19. A utility vehicle, comprising:
a plurality of ground-engaging members;
a frame assembly supported by the ground-engaging members and extending on a longitudinal axis defining a longitudinal centerline of the utility vehicle;
an operator area supported by the frame and including a seat for an operator having a seat bottom and a seat back, and at least a portion of the seat bottom being positioned to a first side of the longitudinal axis;
a steering assembly including a steering wheel positioned substantially along the longitudinal axis;
a shifter positioned to a second side of the longitudinal axis; and
a plurality of operator controls configured to control operation of the utility vehicle, the plurality of operator controls being positioned to a second side of the longitudinal axis, the plurality of operator controls positioned forward of the shifter.

20. The utility vehicle of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of operator controls are positioned on a panel coupled to the frame assembly to a right sight of the longitudinal axis such that ingress and egress into the operator is limited on the right side.

21. The utility vehicle of claim 20 , wherein the right side of the vehicle includes a body panel fixed to the frame assembly and a left side of the vehicle includes a door configured to move relative to the frame assembly, and the body panel fixed to the frame assembly is positioned generally opposite the door.

22. The utility vehicle of claim 21 , wherein the plurality of operator controls are positioned on the right side of the vehicle adjacent the body panel fixed to the frame assembly.

Assignees

• Polaris Inc

Inventors

• Fredrickson Donovan L
• Lutz Dennis J
• Dickinson Owen J
• Sherrett Jason L
• Endrizzi James J
• Deckard Aaron D
• Roytek Corrie S

Classifications

• F02M35/048

  Arranging or mounting on or with respect to engines or vehicle bodies · CPC title

• F02M35/02416

  Fixing, mounting, supporting or arranging filter elements; Filter element cartridges · CPC title

• F16H57/0415

  Air cooling or ventilation; Heat exchangers; Thermal insulations · CPC title

• F02M35/10104

  Substantially vertically arranged ducts · CPC title

• F02M35/162

  Motorcycles; All-terrain vehicles, e.g. quads, snowmobiles; Small vehicles, e.g. forklifts · CPC title