Off road vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12358367-B2
Application number	US-202318371781-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 22, 2023
Priority date	Aug 23, 2015
Publication date	Jul 15, 2025
Grant date	Jul 15, 2025

Abstract

An off-road vehicle includes a frame, a front suspension, and a rear suspension. In some examples of the off-road vehicle, the rear suspension includes trailing arms with are pivotally attached to the frame rearward of an operator area. Further, the frame can include a front subframe assembly and a rear subframe assembly which are easily removable from the main frame of the vehicle to permit access to various components of the off-road vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An off-road vehicle comprising:
a main frame;
a front suspension pivotably coupled to the main frame; and
a rear suspension pivotably coupled to the main frame, the rear suspension comprising a first trailing arm and a second trailing arm, the first and second trailing arms being generally parallel to one another, the first trailing arm being above the second trailing arm, wherein the first trailing arm has a greater cross-sectional area than the second trailing arm, wherein a rear spring/shock is coupled to the first trailing arm along a line extending between a center of a wheel hub coupled to the first trailing arm and a frame attachment location at which the first trailing arm is coupled to the main frame, and wherein the first and second trailing arms are configured to move along an arc.

2. The off-road vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the rear spring/shock is comprised of a coil-over spring.

3. The off-road vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the frame attachment location is positioned vertically at least half a total height of the vehicle.

4. The off-road vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the frame attachment location is positioned vertically at least 60% the total height of the vehicle.

5. The off-road vehicle of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first trailing arm and the second trailing arm are connected to the main frame forward of a rear of a seatback.

6. The off-road vehicle of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first trailing arm and the second trailing arm are connected to the main frame rearward of a rear of a seatback.

7. The off-road vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of lateral links and a wheel hub, the lateral links coupled to the main frame and the wheel hub, wherein the lateral links extend laterally and rearwardly.

8. The off-road vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:
a dry sump oiling system.

9. The off-road vehicle of claim 1 , wherein movement of the first and second trailing arms along the arc is governed in part by one or more lateral links.

10. An off-road vehicle comprising:
a main frame;
a front suspension pivotably coupled to the main frame; and
a rear suspension pivotably coupled to the main frame, the rear suspension comprising a first trailing arm and a second trailing arm, the first and second trailing arms being generally parallel to one another, the first trailing arm being above the second trailing arm, wherein the first trailing arm has a greater cross-sectional area than the second trailing arm, wherein the first and second trailing arms are configured to move along an arc.

11. The off-road vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the rear suspension further includes a rear spring/shock attached to the first trailing arm.

12. The off-road vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the rear spring/shock is comprised of a coil-over spring.

13. The off-road vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the rear spring/shock is connected to the main frame at a frame attachment location.

14. The off-road vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the frame attachment location is positioned vertically at least half a total height of the vehicle.

15. The off-road vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the frame attachment location is positioned vertically at least 60% the total height of the vehicle.

16. The off-road vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the rear spring/shock is coupled to the first trailing arm along a line extending between a center of a wheel hub coupled to the first trailing arm and a location at which the first trailing arm is coupled to the main frame.

17. The off-road vehicle of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the first trailing arm and the second trailing arm are connected to the main frame forward of a rear of a seatback.

18. The off-road vehicle of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the first trailing arm and the second trailing arm are connected to the main frame rearward of a rear of a seatback.

19. The off-road vehicle of claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of lateral links extending laterally and rearwardly.

20. The off-road vehicle of claim 19 , further comprising a wheel hub, wherein the lateral links coupled to the main frame and the wheel hub.

Assignees

• Arctic Cat Inc

Inventors

• Harris Brian
• Macdonald Todd
• Kallock Cody
• Sorenson Derek
• Keller Dustin

Classifications

• B60Y2200/20

  Off-Road Vehicles · CPC title

• B62D23/005

  with integrated chassis in the whole shell, e.g. meshwork, tubes, or the like (B62D33/044 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60G2204/15

  Mounting of subframes · CPC title

• B60G3/145

  the arm forming the axle housing · CPC title

• B60G3/207

  the arms being essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle · CPC title