Land vehicles – Wheeled – Occupant propelled type
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-04
2001-08-07
Mai, Lanna (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Occupant propelled type
C280S824000, C280S762000, C280S163000, C280S169000, C280S748000, C180S021000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06270106
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to all terrain vehicles (“ATV's”), and, in particular, to ATV's having full platform style footrest protection for the feet of a driver while accommodating a conventional single lever foot shifted manual transmission.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
All terrain vehicles (“ATV's”) have become very popular for both recreational and utility purposes. ATV's are off-road vehicles characterized by having four wheels (two front and two rear) with low pressure tires, handlebars connected to the front wheels for steering, a straddle-type seat designed for a single rider, laterally extending footrests on opposite sides of the vehicle, and an engine and transmission located generally beneath the straddle-type seat and substantially between the footrests. Typically ATV's are not wider than about 50 inches—most commonly about 44-48 inches in overall width. The transmission typically is connected by a suitable drive train to the rear wheels. In many applications, it is desirable to have all four wheels driven by the engine. Four wheel drive ATV's typically have one drive train connecting the transmission to the rear wheels and a separate drive train connecting the transmission to the front wheels.
Two types of transmissions systems have been employed on ATV's: manual transmissions and continuously variable transmissions (CVT's). Most ATV manufacturers have historically used manual transmissions. The manually shifted transmission receives rotational power from the engine and, through gear reduction, provides that power to the drive wheels. Manual transmissions typically employ a conventional shifting clutch which can be activated by a handlebar-mounted hand operated lever or can be semi-automatically actuated by the shifting mechanism. The shift mechanisms of such manual transmissions typically employ a foot-operable shift lever located at a convenient position—usually on the left side of the vehicle a few inches in front of a laterally extending foot peg on which the rider rests the foot used to operate the lever.
A number of years ago the assignee of the present invention introduced the use of continuously variable transmissions (CVT's) on ATV's. CVT's typically employ a pair of split sheave clutches around which an endless belt is disposed. One of the clutches is connected to the output shaft of the engine, and the other clutch is connected to the input shaft of a gearbox. The CVT provides automatic and infinitely variable gear reduction from the output shaft of the engine to the input shaft of the gearbox, thus eliminating the need to shift the vehicle from one forward gear to the next as the vehicle accelerates. The gearbox is employed simply to shift from forward to neutral and reverse, as the CVT eliminates any need to shift among various forward gears. If desired, the gearbox may provide some additional gear reduction, and may include, e.g., an extra low forward gear for heavy pulling conditions. The gearbox is shifted by a hand operated lever when the vehicle is not moving.
Since the CVT eliminated the need for a foot-operated shift lever, it was possible for the assignee of the present invention to replace the foot pegs with full platform-style foot rests. Such footrests are shown, e.g., in U.S. Pat. No. D389,440. Each footrest provides a generally rectangular platform which is both longer and wider than the rider's foot. Each footrest also includes front and rear walls extending upwardly from the ends of the platform. Since each footrest is disposed between one of the front wheels and one of the rear wheels, the front wall of the footrest forms a part of the front fender, and the rear wall of the footrest forms a part of the rear fender.
Manufacturers of ATV's utilizing manual transmissions shifted by a foot-operated shift lever have occasionally attempted to increase the protection for a rider's foot by providing a footrest larger than the traditional foot peg. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,768,799 shows a footguard which can be retrofitted onto an ATV with a conventional foot peg/shift lever system. The footguard includes a generally rectangular metal frame extending around the area of the foot peg and shift lever, and includes a plate on which the rider may rest his heel. To permit the required up and down movement of the shift lever, however, the pad of the shift lever (i.e., the portion of the shift lever engaged by the rider's foot) is generally centered in a large opening in the footguard—the opening being sufficiently large for the rider to insert his foot through the opening (this being necessary to permit the operator to push the lever upward to upshift the manual transmission).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides an all terrain vehicle with a conventional single lever foot-shifted manual transmission and a full platform-style footrest. The all terrain vehicle has a chassis carrying a straddle-type seat which is sufficiently narrow to be straddled by a rider. A pair of front wheels are mounted to the chassis and steered by handlebars connected to a suitable steering linkage. A pair of rear wheels are also mounted to the chassis. A laterally extending footrest is provided on each side of the chassis. The ATV's engine, carried by the chassis generally beneath the straddle-type seat and between the footrests, is connected to a manual transmission which in turn is connected to a drive train supplying motive power to at least the rear wheels.
The transmission includes a foot-operable shift lever located on one side (typically the left side) of the chassis adjacent the footrest for shifting the transmission among a plurality of forward gears. The footrest is generally rectangular, having generally horizontal heel and toe portions, and the shift lever is positioned at generally the same height as the heel portion. The toe portion is positioned lower than the heel portion, permitting a rider to depress the shift lever to a position lower than the heel portion of the footrest to downshift the transmission, and permitting the rider to insert his foot in between the toe portion and the shift lever to move the shift lever upward to upshift the transmission. The platform is configured and arranged so as to prevent a toe of a rider's shoe from extending therethrough, however, thus providing full protection of the foot from below.
Preferably the heel and toe portions of the footrest are defined by a continuous platform, and include a cleat formed integrally with the platform, the cleat having an upper surface positioned higher than the heel portion of the footrest. The cleat defines the forward edge of the heel portion and the rearward edge of the toe portion of the footrest. The rider can engage his heel against the cleat to properly locate his foot, and the cleat also provides an edge around which the rider may pivot his foot during upward and downward shifting movement.
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Maki Richard R.
Olson Alan S.
Rasidescu Mihai
Wysocki Timothy S.
Fredrikson & Byron , P.A.
Herron, II David E.
Mai Lanna
Polaris Industries Inc.
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