[0001] The present disclosure relates to all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) having a driver seat laterally displaced from a centerline of the vehicle.

[0002] ATVs and side by side vehicles are well known in the powersports and recreational industry, and their utility is becoming known in other industries as well, such as medical uses, military uses and the like, due to their versatility and low cost.

[0003] In an embodiment disclosed herein, an all terrain vehicle comprises a frame; ground engaging members supporting the frame; a driver seat supported by the frame, where the driver's seat extends along a first longitudinal axis; and a passenger seat is supported by the frame, rearward of the driver's seat, and extends along a second longitudinal axis, where the first and second longitudinal axes are laterally spaced apart.

[0004] In another embodiment disclosed herein, an all terrain vehicle comprises a frame; ground engaging members supporting the frame; a driver seat supported by the frame, where the driver's seat extends along a first longitudinal axis; and a support assembly extends along a second longitudinal axis where the first and second longitudinal axes are laterally spaced apart.

[0005] In a further embodiment disclosed herein, an all terrain vehicle comprises a frame; ground engaging members supporting the frame; a driver seat supported by the frame, where the driver seat extends along a first longitudinal axis; and a

longitudinal centerline of the vehicle extends along a second longitudinal axis; the first and second longitudinal axes being laterally spaced apart.

[0006] In yet another embodiment, an all terrain vehicle comprises a frame and ground engaging members supporting the frame. A drive train is supported by the frame and is drivingly coupled to the ground engaging members. The drive train extends along a first longitudinal axis and the vehicle has a longitudinal centerline laterally spaced apart the first longitudinal axis. [0007] An embodiment according to the disclosure will now be described by way of the attached drawings. The foregoing aspects and many of the intended advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0008] The embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described by way of reference to the drawings, where:

[0009] Fig. 1 shows a left rear perspective view of the vehicle of the present application;

[0010] Fig. 2 shows a top diagrammatical view of the frame and powertrain of the vehicle of Fig. 1 ;

[0011] Fig. 3 shows the vehicle of Fig. 1 in a partially assembled state;

[0012] Fig. 4 is a right-hand side view of the vehicle of Fig. 3;

[0013] Fig. 5 is a front view of the vehicle the front and rear platforms;

[0014] Fig. 6 shows a side view of the vehicle of Fig. 5 in a partially assembled configuration;

[0015] Fig. 7 is a rear view of the vehicle of Fig. 5;

[0016] Fig. 8 shows a front view of the vehicle;

[0017] Fig. 9 is a right rear perspective view of the vehicle of Fig. 8;

[0018] Fig. 10 is a right front perspective view of the vehicle of Fig. 9 showing an enlarged view of the passenger seating area;

[0019] Fig. 1 1 is a right rear respective view of the passenger seat moved to a second position with a gurney positioned in a front-to-back supportive condition laterally offset from the driver; [0020] Fig. 12 is a right-hand side view of the vehicle and gurney as shown in Fig.

1 1 ;

[0021] Fig. 13 is an enlarged view of the passenger seat in the first position; and

[0022] Fig. 14 is an enlarged view of the passenger seat in the second position.

[0023] The embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may utilize their teachings. For example, while the following description refers primarily to an all terrain vehicle, it should be understood that the invention may have application to other types of vehicles, such as snowmobiles, watercraft, utility vehicles, and golf carts.

[0024] Referring initially to Figs. 1 and 2, one illustrative embodiment of an all terrain vehicle (ATV) 10 is shown. It should be understood that the ATV described herein is substantially similar to Applicant's Sportsman ^® style ATV, and to those shown in US Patents 7,845,452; 8,075,007; 8,091 ,657; 8,146,932; and 8,157,044 or US application 12/272,377 (Applicant Docket Number PLR-02-1962.0P); and/or PCT application PCT/US08/06097 (PCT Publication Number WO 2008/143836), the subject matter of which are all fully incorporated herein by reference. The ATV however has been modified from the vehicle described above, as disclosed herein.

[0025] ATV 10 includes front end 12, rear end 14, straddle-type seat 16, and handlebar assembly 18. Front end 12 and rear end 14 are separated by footwells 20 on both lateral sides of ATV 10 and are separated by seat 16. Front end 12 is supported by front wheels 22 and front suspension 24 (Fig. 2), which is discussed in greater detail below. Front end 12 also includes front panel 26 which may include a front support platform 28. Handlebar assembly 18 is operably coupled to front wheels 22 to allow a driver to steer ATV 10 when supported by seat 16 and/or footwells 20.

[0026] Rear end 14 is supported by rear wheels 30 and rear suspension 32. Rear end 14 also includes rear panel 34 and rear support platform 36. Vehicle 10 also includes passenger seat 38, which may include an accessory coupling system such as the one disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 7,055,454, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference; also known as assignees' Lock & Ride ^® expansion coupler mounts. A supported object 40 may be held and carried by ATV 10, where in the embodiment shown; the supported object is a gurney.

[0027] With reference now to Fig. 2, frame 50 of ATV 10 in shown in

diagrammatical format. As shown, frame 50 includes left frame tube 52 and right frame tubes 54 and 56. Frames 52 and 54 are the original frame tubes as described in the ATV above. Frame tube 56 is provided as a lateral extension to the right hand side of the vehicle for the purposes described herein. Left frame tube 52 includes a front frame portion 52a, a mid-frame portion 52b and a rear-frame portion 52c. It should also be appreciated that front suspension 24 includes a front left A-arm 60 coupled at an inner end to front frame portion 52a and to front left wheel 22. It should also be appreciated that rear suspension 32 includes a left rear A-arm 62 coupled at an inner end to rear frame tube portion 52c and at an outer end to rear wheel 30.

[0028] Due to the lateral extension of vehicle frame 50 by way of the addition of frame tube 56, a front right A-arm 64, as part of the front suspension 24 is moved from a coupling connection with front frame tube portion 54a to a lateral position coupled to front frame tube portion 56a. In a like manner, rear suspension 32 includes a right rear A-arm 66 which is moved from a coupling position on rear frame tube portion 54c to the position shown at rear frame tube portion 56c. While the lateral spacing of the frame tubes 54 and 56 is somewhat arbitrary, the additional spacing of 10-12 inches provides the adequate lateral extension for the purposes described herein. In the embodiment shown, the lateral spacing between frame tubes 54 and 56 is approximately 1 1 " and the width W (Figs. 2 and 7) is 60 inches or less.

[0029] As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, outrigger frame tubes 68 have been added to frame 50 to support the lateral extension of the frame and for the right foot pedestals. As shown in Fig. 2, foot pedestal 20a is supported by the left frame tube 52 and foot pedestal 20b is supported by the extended right frame tube 56 and outrigger tubes 68.

[0030] As shown best in Figs. 2 and 4, a drive train D of ATV 10 (Fig. 4) includes an engine and transmission as is more fully described in our patent application serial numbers 12/069,51 1 (Applicant Docket Number PLR-02-1962.03P); 12/069,521 (Applicant Docket Number PLR-02-1962.04P); 12/961 ,301 (Applicant Docket Number PLR-02-1962.07P) and /or US Patent 7,845,452, the subject matter of which are all fully incorporated herein by reference. It should also be appreciated that drivetrain D extends generally along the first longitudinal axis. Drivetrain D would also include front and rear longitudinally extending drive shafts extending forwardly and rearwardly from the drivetrain D and driving coupled to the front and rear wheels 22, 30, respectively. Drivetrain D would further include a front drive 70 (which may be a differential) and a rear drive 72 (which may be a differential). Front drive 70 is coupled to a left drive shaft 73 which couples to left front wheel 22. Front drive 70 is also coupled to a right drive shaft 74 having an extension shaft 76 attached by way of a coupler 78 such as a U-joint. Drive shaft 74 may be supported by a pillow block bearing such as 80. Rear drive 72 is coupled to a left rear drive shaft 90 which is drivingly coupled to left rear wheel 30. Rear drive 72 is also coupled to right rear drive shaft 92 which in turn is coupled to a right rear extension 94 attached to shaft 92 by way of a U-joint 96. Drive shaft 92 may be supported by way of a pillow block bearing at 100.

[0031] With reference now to Fig. 3-5, the steering is also somewhat modified due to the lateral extension. As shown, a shown modified shock tower 1 10 is added which is asymmetrical, and which positions strut 1 12 (Fig 4) laterally outward due to the lateral extension. An elongate steering arm 1 14 (Fig 5) is provided which connects to steering link 1 16 (Fig. 4). Otherwise, the steering is substantially similar to that shown in the above mentioned patents and patent applications. The steering may also include power steering, where the steering motor is supported by the front differential as described in US Patent Application 12/228,597 (Applicant Docket Number PLR-02-22826.01 P), the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0032] As shown in Figure 3, a rear frame support is shown at 120, which together with shock tower 1 10 provide front and rear supports for front and rear platforms 28, 36. As shown in Figures 5-8, the lateral extension provided by frame tube 56 defines an asymmetry to the vehicle such that the driver seat 16 and drivetrain D are provided along a first longitudinal axis L1 (Fig. 7) and the passenger seat may be provided along a second longitudinal axis L2 (Fig. 7). As shown, L2 is laterally displaced to the right of L1 , when the passenger seat 38 is in the first position as shown in Figures 8-10. It should also be noted that the vehicle 10 includes a longitudinal centerline LC (Fig. 7) wherein the first longitudinal axis Li is positioned laterally on one side of the longitudinal centerline LC and the second longitudinal axis L ₂ is positioned laterally on the other side of the central longitudinal centerline.

[0033] As also shown in Figures 8-12, ATV 10 also includes a support assembly 120 including front and rear brackets 122, 124. A supported object 40, such as a gurney, may be supported by the front and rear platforms and held in place by the support assembly 120. The gurney 40 may have elongate support poles 130, a support canvas 132, and support feet 134. Feet 134 would correspond to front and rear brackets 122, 124 to hold gurney 40 in position by way of fasteners or latches (not shown).

[0034] As shown in Figs. 13 and 14, passenger seat 36 includes a seat pedestal 150 having a support tube 152 (Fig. 14) extending outwardly therefrom. To support the passenger seat 38 in the first position, the position of Fig. 13, the tube 152 is interlocked with a complementary tube, which extends below top surface 160 of rear platform 36. Seat 38 and pedestal 150 are positioned within a recess 170 of top surface 160 of rear platform 36. As shown in Fig. 13, rear panel 34 is provided with a recess 172 allowing for the passenger's feet and legs, and a pedestal 174 allows for the support of the

passenger's feet.

[0035] Passenger seat 38 is moved to a second position, when gurney 40 is used. Passenger seat 38 is movable between the first position (position shown in Figs. 8-10 and 13) and the second position (position shown in Figs. 1 , 1 1 , 12 and 14). Passenger seat 38 includes a coupling assembly including couplers 154 (Fig. 14) which locks seat 38 to the top surface 160 of rear platform 36. Couplers 154 may be similar to those disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 7,055,454, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. It should be appreciated that when in the second position, passenger positioned in passenger seat may provide care or assistance to a wounded person situated on gurney 40, while a driver in driver's seat 16 drives vehicle 10.

[0036] Other features may be incorporated into the vehicle described above, such as any of the features disclosed in U.S. Patent Application No. 12/079,082 (Applicant Docket Number PLR-02-1602.02P), the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. Also as shown in Fig. 9, a compartment 180 is provided which may house the folded up gurney 40. Other compartment features may also be added, for example the features as shown in Applicant's US Patent 7,950,486; the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. Some features may be added for military use such as the rigidified front and rear platforms 28 and 35 (Fig. 1 ), rigidified brush guard 200 (Fig. 8); integrated D-rings 202 (Figs. 1 and 8); rigidified foot pedestals 20 (Fig. 1 ), and support tubes 190 and 192 (Fig. 12).

[0037] While this invention has been described as having an exemplary design, the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains.