초록 ▼

In some embodiments, an accessory retainer apparatus for a vehicle may include one or more of the following features: (a) a handle member, (b) a shaft pivotally coupled to the handle member at the proximal end, the handle member pivotally rotatable between an open and closed position to move the sha

In some embodiments, an accessory retainer apparatus for a vehicle may include one or more of the following features: (a) a handle member, (b) a shaft pivotally coupled to the handle member at the proximal end, the handle member pivotally rotatable between an open and closed position to move the shaft in an axial direction, (c) a grommet located on the shaft at the distal end, (d) a fastener coupled to the shaft at the distal end, whereby the accessory retainer is adapted to retain an accessory to a mounting aperture located on the vehicle, (e) a spacer member located proximal of the grommet, (f) a second grommet located between the handle member and the spacer, and (g) a bracket member coupled at the proximal end of the shaft between the handle member and the spacer member.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A vehicle having an accessory attachment apparatus, comprising: a chassis carrying a seat; at least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel coupled to the chassis; a steering member for steering the at least one wheel; an engine carried by the chassis for powering the veh

What is claimed is: 1. A vehicle having an accessory attachment apparatus, comprising: a chassis carrying a seat; at least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel coupled to the chassis; a steering member for steering the at least one wheel; an engine carried by the chassis for powering the vehicle; at least one mounting aperture located on the vehicle; an expansion retainer having a proximal and distal end, comprising: a handle member; a shaft pivotally coupled to the handle member at the proximal end, the handle member pivotally rotatable between an open and closed position to move the shaft in an axial direction; a grommet located on the shaft at the distal end; and a fastener coupled to the shaft at the distal end, whereby the expansion retainer is adapted to hold an accessory to the mounting aperture when the expansion retainer is received within the mounting aperture and the handle member is rotated to a closed position. 2. The vehicle as in claim 1, further comprising a spacer member located proximal of the grommet. 3. The vehicle as in claim 2, further comprising a bracket member coupled to the shaft at the proximal end between the handle member and the spacer member. 4. The vehicle as in claim 2, further comprising a washer member coupled to the shaft at the proximal end between the handle member and the spacer member. 5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein a pin member pivotally couples the shaft to the handle member. 6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the bracket member is coupled to the accessory. 7. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the grommet is compressed between the spacer and the fastener and expands radially outward when the handle member is rotated to the closed position. 8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the mounting aperture located on an accessory platform couple to the chassis. 9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the grommet expands radially outward below a bottom surface of the accessory platform when the expansion retainer is received within the mounting aperture and the handle member rotated to a closed position. 10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the expansion retainer is pulled toward a top surface of the accessory platform when the grommet expands below the bottom surface. 11. A vehicle having an apparatus for retaining accessories, comprising: a chassis carrying a seat, at least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel coupled to the chassis, a steering member for steering the at least one wheel, means for powering the vehicle carried by the chassis, at least one mounting aperture located on the vehicle, an expansion retainer having a proximal and distal end, the distal end capable of being received by the mounting aperture, comprising: a handle member; a shaft pivotally coupled at the handle member at the proximal end, wherein the handle member can be pivotally rotated between an open and closed position to move the shaft in an axial direction; retainer means coupled at the distal end of the shaft; and retention means coupled at the distal end of the shaft distally from the retaining means, whereby the expansion retainer is adapted to secure an accessory to the mounting aperture when the retainer means is received within the mounting aperture and the handle member rotated to a closed position. 12. The vehicle as in claim 11, further comprising a spacer member located proximal of the retainer means. 13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the retainer means is compressed between the spacer and the retention means and expands radially outward when the handle member is rotated to the closed position. 14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the mounting aperture is located on an accessory platform coupled to the chassis. 15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the retainer means can extend past a bottom surface of the accessory platform when the expansion retainer is placed within the mounting aperture. 16. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the retainer means remains within the mounting aperture of the accessory platform when the expansion retainer is placed with the mounting aperture. 17. The vehicle of claim 12, further comprising a bracket member coupled between the handle member and the spacer member. 18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the bracket member is coupled to the accessory. 19. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the retainer means expands radially outward below the bottom surface of the accessory platform when the expansion retainer is received within the mounting aperture and the handle member rotated to a closed position. 20. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the expansion retainer is pulled toward a top surface of the accessory platform when the retainer means expands below the bottom surface. 21. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the mounting aperture extends from a top surface to the bottom surface to prevent buildup of debris. 22. A vehicle, comprising: a chassis; a seat mounted to the chassis; a handlebar assembly carried by the chassis; an endless track carried by a rear suspension system mounted to the chassis; a front suspension system mounted to the chassis; left and right steerable skis carried by the front suspension system, the skis being steerably connected to the handlebars; an engine operably coupled to drive the endless track; at least one mounting aperture located on the vehicle; an expansion retainer having a proximal and distal end, comprising: a handle member, a shaft pivotally coupled to the handle member at the proximal end, the handle member pivotally rotatable between an open and closed position to move the shaft in an axial direction; a grommet located on the shaft at the distal end; and a fastener coupled to the shaft at the distal end, whereby the expansion retainer is adapted to hold an accessory to the mounting aperture when the expansion retainer is received within the mounting aperture and the handle member is rotated to a closed position. 23. The vehicle as in claim 22, further comprising a spacer member located proximal of the grommet. 24. The vehicle as in claim 22, wherein the grommet can have any shape. 25. The vehicle as in claim 22, wherein the grommet has a cylindrical shape. 26. The vehicle of claim 22, wherein a pin member pivotally couples the shaft to the handle member. 27. A vehicle comprising: a hull including a bottom hull and a top deck secured over the bottom hull, the hull defining an engine compartment sized to contain an internal combustion engine for powering a jet propulsion unit, the jet propulsion unit including a steerable water discharge nozzle, the top deck having a raised, longitudinally extending seat adapted to accommodate an operator in straddle fashion; at least one mounting aperture located on the vehicle; an expansion retainer having a proximal and distal end, comprising: a handle member; a shaft pivotally coupled to the handle member at the proximal end, the handle member pivotally rotatable between an open and closed position to move the shaft in an axial direction; a grommet located on the shaft at the distal end; and a fastener coupled to the shaft at the distal end, whereby the expansion retainer is adapted to hold an accessory to the mounting aperture when the expansion retainer is received within the mounting aperture and the handle member is rotated to a closed position. 28. The vehicle as in claim 27, further comprising a spacer member located proximal of the grommet. 29. The vehicle of claim 28, wherein the grommet is compressed between the spacer and the fastener and expands radially outward when the handle member is rotated to the closed position. 30. The vehicle of claim 27, wherein the mounting aperture located on an accessory platform couple to the chassis. 31. The vehicle of claim 30, wherein the grommet expands radially outward below a bottom surface of the accessory platform when the expansion retainer is received within the mounting aperture and the handle member rotated to a closed position. 32. The vehicle of claim 31, wherein the expansion retainer is pulled toward a top surface of the accessory platform when the grommet expands below the bottom surface. 33. An accessory retainer apparatus for a vehicle, comprising: a handle member; a shaft pivotally coupled to the handle member at the proximal end, the handle member pivotally rotatable between an open and closed position to move the shaft in an axial direction; a grommet located on the shaft at the distal end; a fastener coupled to the shaft at the distal end, whereby the accessory retainer is adapted to retain an accessory to a mounting aperture located on the vehicle; a spacer member located proximal of the grommet; a second grommet located between the handle member and the spacer, wherein the second grommet expands generally above a top surface or the accessory platform when the retainer is received within the mounting aperture and the handle member is rotated to a closed position; and a bracket member coupled at the proximal end of the shaft between the handle member and the spacer member. 34. The retainer of claim 33, wherein the mounting aperture is located on an accessory platform coupled to the vehicle. 35. The retainer of claim 34, wherein the accessory retainer is retained within an mounting aperture on the accessory platform when placed within the mounting aperture and when the handle member is rotated to a closed position. 36. The retainer of claim 35, wherein the grommet expands radially outward against the mounting aperture when the handle member is rotated to the closed position. 37. The retainer of claim 33, wherein the second grommet acts as a dampener between the accessory and the accessory platform. 38. The retainer of claim 33, wherein the retainer distributes the clamp force over a large area.