Utility vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017166255-A1
Application number	US-201514965226-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 10, 2015
Priority date	Dec 10, 2015
Publication date	Jun 15, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vehicle includes a frame assembly extending along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and including a rear frame portion. The rear frame portion includes at least one upstanding member, at least one longitudinal member, and at least one coupling member coupled to the at least one upstanding member and the at least one longitudinal member. The vehicle also includes at least one front ground-engaging member supporting the frame assembly, at least one rear ground-engaging member supporting the frame assembly, a drivetrain assembly operably coupled to the front and rear ground-engaging member, and a rear suspension assembly. The rear suspension assembly includes at least one radius rod operably coupled to the at least one rear ground-engaging member and angled less than 90° relative to the at least one longitudinal member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A vehicle, comprising:
a frame assembly extending along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and including a rear frame portion, and the rear frame portion includes at least one upstanding member, at least one longitudinal member, and at least one coupling member coupled to the at least one upstanding member and the at least one longitudinal member; at least one front ground-engaging member supporting the frame assembly; at least one rear ground-engaging member supporting the frame assembly; a drivetrain assembly operably coupled to the front and rear ground-engaging members; and a rear suspension assembly including at least one radius rod operably coupled to the at least one rear ground-engaging member and angled less than 90° relative to the at least one longitudinal member.

2 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the at least one longitudinal member is angled relative to the longitudinal axis.

3 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the at least one radius rod includes an inner end operably coupled to the at least one coupling member and an outer end operably coupled to the at least one rear ground-engaging member, and the outer end of the radius rod is longitudinally forward of the inner end.

4 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the at least one coupling member includes a first surface configured to receive a portion of the at least one upstanding member, a second surface configured to receive a portion of the at least one longitudinal member, and a third surface configured to couple with the at least one radius rod.

5 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the at least one coupling member defines a rear corner of the rear frame portion.

6 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the at least one coupling member is fixed to the at least one upstanding member and the at least one longitudinal member, and the at least one coupling member is removably coupled to the at least one radius rod.

7 . A vehicle, comprising:
a frame assembly extending along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and including a rear frame portion, and the rear frame portion includes at least a first member, a second member, and a coupling member coupled to the first and second members; at least one front ground-engaging member supporting the frame assembly; at least one rear ground-engaging member supporting the frame assembly; a drivetrain assembly operably coupled to the front and rear ground-engaging members; and a rear suspension assembly including at least one radius rod pivotably coupled to the coupling member and configured to pivot in a vertical plane rearward of the coupling member.

8 . The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the coupling member includes a first surface configured to receive the first member and a second surface configured to receive the second member.

9 . The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the first member is fixed within the first surface and the second member is fixed within the second surface.

10 . The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the at least one radius rod includes an upper radius rod and a lower radius rod, and the upper radius rod is positioned longitudinally forward of the first surface and the lower radius rod is positioned longitudinally rearward of the first surface.

11 . The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the at least one radius rod includes an inner end pivotably coupled to the coupling member and an outer end operably coupled to the at least one rear ground-engaging member, and the outer end of the at least one radius rod is longitudinally forward of the inner end.

12 . The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the first member is angled relative to the second member.

13 . The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the second member is positioned longitudinally forward of the at least one radius rod.

14 . The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the coupling member defines a rear corner of the frame assembly.

15 . The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the coupling member includes a first portion coupled to the first member, a second portion coupled to the second portion, and a third portion coupled to the at least one radius rod, and the first, second, and third portions of the coupling member are integral with each other.

16 . A frame assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
a first member; a second member; and a coupling member including a first portion coupled to the first member, a second portion coupled to the second member, and a third portion configured to couple with a rear suspension assembly of the vehicle.

17 . The frame assembly of claim 16 , wherein the first member is an upstanding member and the second member is a longitudinal member.

18 . The frame assembly of claim 16 , wherein the third portion defines a rear surface of the coupling member.

19 . The frame assembly of claim 16 , wherein the first and second portions of the coupling member are fixed to the first and second frame members, and the third portion is removably coupled to the rear suspension assembly.

20 . The frame assembly of claim 16 , wherein the coupling member is a cast member.

Assignees

• Polaris Inc

Inventors

• Peterson Shawn D
• Houkom Austin L

Classifications

• B62D21/11

  with resilient means for suspension {, e.g. of wheels or engine; sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions} · CPC title

• B62D21/02 Primary

  comprising longitudinally or transversely arranged frame members · CPC title

• B62D21/183 Primary

  specially adapted for sports vehicles, e.g. race, dune buggies, go-karts (tubular skeleton B62D23/005) · CPC title

• B60R21/13

  Roll-over protection (electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01) · CPC title