Utility vehicle with angled tank

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12459571-B2
Application number	US-202418909373-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 8, 2024
Priority date	Nov 2, 2023
Publication date	Nov 4, 2025
Grant date	Nov 4, 2025

Abstract

The utility vehicle that includes a frame carrying a prime mover and extending between a first end and a second end in a longitudinal direction. The vehicle also includes ground engaging members operatively attached to the frame. At least one of the ground engaging members is powered by the prime mover to propel the frame over a ground surface. Also, the vehicle includes a control tower (supporting operator controls) located at or near a rear end of the frame, a tank positioned lateral to the control tower, and a support pad connected to the control tower and configured to contact a leg of an operator. Further, a pad surface of the support pad is configured to align with a portion of an angled surface of the tank. Therefore, an operator leaning against the pad surface and angled surface of the tank experiences a smooth transition therebetween.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A utility vehicle comprising:
a frame carrying a prime mover and extending between a first end and a second end in a longitudinal direction; ground engaging members operatively attached to the frame, wherein at least one of the ground engaging members is powered by the prime mover to propel the frame over a ground surface; a control tower located at or near a rear end of the frame, the control tower carrying controls configured to be manipulated by an operator; a tank positioned lateral to the control tower, wherein the tank defines an angled surface; and a support pad connected to the control tower and configured to contact a leg of the operator, wherein a pad surface of the support pad is configured to align with a portion of the angled surface of the tank.

2 . The utility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the pad surface of the support pad and the portion of the angled surface of the tank are aligned such that a plane defined by each are within 1 inch of one another.

3 . The utility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the pad surface of the support pad and the angled surface of the tank are coplanar at a region in which the pad surface and the angled surface are most proximate one another.

4 . The utility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the support pad extends between a left side and a right side along a generally transverse direction, wherein the support pad defines a thickness at the left and right sides that is greater than a thickness at a middle portion between the left and right sides.

5 . The utility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the at least a portion of the support pad is configured to be deformable when a pressure is applied thereto, and wherein a pad surface of the support pad is aligned with the portion of the angled surface when the support pad is deformed.

6 . The utility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein a gap is defined between the support pad and the tank.

7 . The utility vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the gap defines a distance of 0.5 inches measured along a transverse direction.

8 . The utility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the tank is positioned on a left side of the control tower, wherein the utility vehicle further comprises an additional tank positioned lateral to a right side of the control tower, and wherein the pad surface is configured to align with a portion of an angled surface of the additional tank.

9 . The utility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the support pad is configurable to be deformed, wherein the pad surface of the support pad is located rearward of the angled surface of the tank at a region in which the pad surface and the angled surface are most proximate one another.

10 . The utility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the angled surface of the tank defines an angle of less than or equal to about 30 degrees relative to a transverse direction at a portion of the angled surface that is most proximate the support pad.

11 . The utility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the angled surface of the tank defines a first portion proximate the support pad and a second portion extending from the first portion, wherein the first portion of the angled surface extends outwardly at an angle of about 30 degrees relative to a transverse direction and the second portion of the angled surface extends outwardly at an angle of about 45 degrees relative to the transverse direction.

12 . The utility vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising an operator platform connected to the frame and extending rearward from the control tower, wherein the angled surface of the tank is lateral to the operator platform.

13 . The utility vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising an operator platform connected to the frame and extending rearward from the control tower, wherein the operator platform extends between a left platform side and a right platform side along a transverse direction, wherein at least one of the left and right platform sides is laterally overlapping with at least a portion of the tank along the transverse direction.

14 . The utility vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising an operator platform connected to the frame and extending rearward from the control tower, wherein the operator platform extends between a left platform side and a right platform side along a transverse direction, wherein the operator platform extends along a platform plane, wherein the operator platform comprises an angled platform portion located proximate at least one of the left and right platform sides, wherein the angled platform portion is angled relative to the platform plane such that a surface of the angled platform portion extends away from the platform plane in a direction towards the at least one of the left and right platform sides.

15 . The utility vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the angled platform portion is angled relative to the platform plane by about 10 degrees to 45 degrees.

16 . The utility vehicle of claim 14 , wherein a center portion of the operator platform defines a width that is similar to a width of the support pad.

17 . A utility vehicle comprising:
a frame carrying a prime mover and extending between a first end and a second end in a longitudinal direction; ground engaging members operatively attached to the frame, wherein at least one of the ground engaging members is powered by the prime mover to propel the frame over a ground surface; a control tower located at or near a rear end of the frame, the control tower carrying controls configured to be manipulated by an operator; a tank positioned lateral to the control tower, wherein the tank defines an angled surface; and a support pad connected to the control tower and configured to contact a leg of the operator, wherein a pad surface of the support pad is configured to align with a portion of the angled surface of the tank, and wherein the support pad contacts the tank when the support pad is deformed.

18 . The utility vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the pad surface of the support pad and the angled surface of the tank are coplanar at a region in which the pad surface and the angled surface are most proximate one another.

19 . The utility vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the support pad extends between a left side and a right side along a generally transverse direction, wherein the support pad defines a thickness at the left and right sides that is greater than a thickness at a middle portion between the left and right sides.

Assignees

• Exmark Mfg Company Incorporated

Inventors

• Fredenburg Michael S
• Guarneri Jonathan S
• Sands Patrick D
• Dragoo Derek L
• Nelson Kevin J
• Mawer Daniel L

Classifications

• B62D21/186

  for building site vehicles or multi-purpose tractors (tracked vehicles B62D55/10; tractors in general B62D49/00; building site vehicles in general E02F; lift-trucks B66F) · CPC title

• B62D33/02 Primary

  Platforms; Open load compartments {(flat wagons including posts or standards B61D3/08)} · CPC title

• B62D51/02

  the driver standing in the vehicle · CPC title

• B62D21/02 Primary

  comprising longitudinally or transversely arranged frame members · CPC title