Claims
- 1. An off-road vehicle comprising a frame, a plurality of wheels supporting the frame, and a prime mover powering the wheels, the prime mover being mounted on the frame, the frame having a plurality of frame portions extending adjacent to the prime mover, and at least one of the plurality of frame portions being detachably affixed to the rest of the frame.
- 2. The off-road vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the frame portions surround the prime mover at least on three sides.
- 3. The off-road vehicle as set forth in claim 2, wherein the three sides are lateral sides and a rear side.
- 4. The off-road vehicle as set forth in claim 3, wherein the detachably affixed frame portion is detachably affixed to at least one of the lateral sides.
- 5. The off-road vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the prime mover is an internal combustion engine.
- 6. The off-road vehicle as set forth in claim 5, wherein the engine has a portion extending generally upward, the detachably affixed frame portion being disposed adjacent to the generally upwardly extending portion of the engine.
- 7. The off-road vehicle as set forth in claim 5, wherein the engine has a cylinder head, the detachably affixed frame portion being disposed adjacent to the cylinder head.
- 8. The off-road vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein each frame portion is formed with a tubular member or a generally U-shaped member.
- 9. An off-road vehicle comprising a frame, a plurality of wheels supporting the frame, and a prime mover powering the wheels, the frame comprising a plurality of frame members, the frame members being divided into first and second groups, the first and second groups being offset fore to aft relative to each other and overlapping with each other in a rear section of the first group and in a front section of the second group, the rear section of the first group defining a first portion coupled with the second group, and the front section of the second group defining a second portion coupled with the first group.
- 10. The off-road vehicle as set forth in claim 9, wherein either the rear section of the first group or the front section of the second group extends farther from a longitudinal axis of the frame extending fore to aft.
- 11. The off-road vehicle as set forth in claim 10, wherein the wheels include a pair of front wheels, a front section of the first group at least in part being interposed between the front wheels, the front wheels being coupled with the front section.
- 12. The off-road vehicle as set forth in claim 11, wherein the front section of the first group is narrower than the rear section of the first group or the front section of the second group.
- 13. The off-road vehicle as set forth in claim 11, wherein the wheels include a pair of rear wheels, a rear section of the second group at least in part being interposed between the rear wheels, the rear wheels being coupled with the rear section.
- 14. The off-road vehicle as set forth in claim 13, wherein the rear section of the second group is narrower than the rear section of the first group or the front section of the second group.
- 15. The off-road vehicle as set forth in claim 10, wherein the first and second groups are arranged generally symmetrically relative to the longitudinal axis.
- 16. The off-road vehicle as set forth in claim 9, wherein the wheels include a pair of front wheels, a front section of the first group at least in part being interposed between the front wheels, the front wheels being coupled with the front section.
- 17. The off-road vehicle as set forth in claim 9, wherein the wheels include a pair of rear wheels, a rear section of the second group at least in part is interposed between the rear wheels, the rear wheels are coupled with the rear section.
- 18. The off-road vehicle as set forth in claim 17, wherein the rear section of the second group is narrower than the rear section of the first group or the front section of the second group.
- 19. The off-road vehicle as set forth in claim 9, wherein one of the frame members that belongs to the first group and another one of the frame members that belongs to the second group are spaced apart from each other except for the first and second portions.
- 20. The off-road vehicle as set forth in claim 19, wherein the frame members extend generally straight except for the first and second portions, the first portion being bent to the another one of the frame members that belongs to the second group, and the second portion being bent to the one of the frame members that belongs to the first group.
- 21. The off-road vehicle as set forth in claim 9, wherein the frame members are tubular or U-shaped in section.
- 22. The off-road vehicle as set forth in claim 9, wherein the frame members are rectangular in section.
- 23. The off-road vehicle as set forth in claim 22, wherein the frame members have vertical and horizontal surfaces, the vertical surface being longer than the horizontal surface.
- 24. The off-road vehicle as set forth in claim 9, wherein the first group supports a front portion of the prime mover, and the second group supports a rear portion of the prime mover.
PRIORITY INFORMATION
[0001] The present application is based on and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/460,069, filed on Apr. 2, 2003, under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e), the entire contents of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60460069 |
Apr 2003 |
US |