IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0197146
(2005-08-04)
|
등록번호 |
US-7490694
(2009-02-17)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Berg,Norman O.
- Aronson,Robert C.
- McCarroll,Levi J.
- Anderson,Lance L.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
6 인용 특허 :
10 |
초록
▼
Some embodiments of the invention include a vehicle having a chassis and an engine supported by the chassis, the engine coupled to a drive train useful for propelling the vehicle. The vehicle may include a steering indexing assembly useful for positioning a steering control between a first steering
Some embodiments of the invention include a vehicle having a chassis and an engine supported by the chassis, the engine coupled to a drive train useful for propelling the vehicle. The vehicle may include a steering indexing assembly useful for positioning a steering control between a first steering position having the steering control positioned generally along the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle and a second steering position having the steering control positioned laterally of the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A vehicle comprising: a chassis and an engine supported by the chassis, the engine coupled to a drive train useful for propelling the vehicle; and a steering indexing assembly useful for positioning a steering control between a first steering position having the steering cont
What is claimed is: 1. A vehicle comprising: a chassis and an engine supported by the chassis, the engine coupled to a drive train useful for propelling the vehicle; and a steering indexing assembly useful for positioning a steering control between a first steering position having the steering control positioned generally along the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle and a second steering position having the steering control positioned laterally of the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle, the steering indexing assembly supporting the steering control and including a linkage assembly having at least a first bent arm that couples the steering control to the chassis, the first bent arm pivotally coupled to the chassis at a first pivot point and pivotally coupled to the steering control at a second pivot point. 2. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a latch configured to engage the first bent arm to maintain the steering control in the first steering position and the second steering position. 3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the linkage assembly comprises a second bent arm pivotally coupled to the chassis at a third pivot point. 4. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the first pivot point and the third pivot point are separated by a first lateral distance and the first bent arm is functionally coupled to a steering post and spaced therefrom by a second lateral distance, the second lateral distance being less than the first lateral distance. 5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the indexing assembly includes a guide system. 6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the guide system includes an upper track and a lower track. 7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the indexing assembly allows the steering control to move laterally and one or more of vertically and longitudinally. 8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the steering control is coupled to a steering post having more than one joint and a sleeve configured to adjust a length of the steering post. 9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes a plurality of wheels configured to propel the vehicle and the steering control is coupled to a drag link assembly that transfers movement of the steering control to the plurality of wheels. 10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the angle of the axis of rotation of the steering control is generally constant relative to a vertical plane containing the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle when the steering control is in the first steering position and the second steering position. 11. A vehicle comprising: a chassis and an engine supported by the chassis, the engine coupled to a drive train useful for propelling the vehicle; a steering indexing assembly useful for positioning a steering control between a first steering position and a second steering position having the steering control positioned laterally of the first steering position, the steering indexing assembly being coupled to the chassis at a location rearward of the steering control; a first seating configuration having a first seat disposed directly behind the steering control in the first steering position; and a second seating configuration having a second seat disposed laterally of the first seat and directly behind the steering control in the second steering position. 12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the indexing assembly includes a linkage assembly having at least a first bent arm that couples the steering control to the chassis, the first bent arm pivotally coupled to the chassis at a first pivot point and pivotally coupled to the steering control at a second pivot point. 13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the linkage assembly comprises a second bent arm pivotally coupled to the chassis at a third pivot point. 14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the first pivot point and the third pivot point are separated by a first lateral distance and the first bent arm is functionally coupled to a steering post and spaced therefrom by a second lateral distance, the second lateral distance being less than the first lateral distance. 15. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the indexing assembly includes a guide system. 16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the guide system includes an upper track and a lower track. 17. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the indexing assembly allows the steering control to move laterally and one or more of vertically and longitudinally. 18. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the steering control is coupled to a steering post having more than one joint and a sleeve configured to adjust a length of the steering post. 19. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the vehicle includes a plurality of wheels configured to propel the vehicle and the steering control is coupled to a drag link assembly that transfers movement of the steering control to the plurality of wheels. 20. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the steering control has an axis of rotation that extends substantially over a centerline of the first seat when the steering control is in the first steering position and extends over a centerline of the second seat when the steering control is in the second steering position. 21. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the steering control is positioned generally along the centerline of the vehicle when in the first steering position, the first seat includes a seat bottom having a support surface positioned generally at a first seating elevation, and the second seat includes a seat bottom having a support surface positioned generally at a second seating elevation that is lower than the first seating elevation. 22. The vehicle of claim 21, wherein the steering control has a first steering elevation when in the first steering position and a second steering elevation when in the second steering position that is lower than the first steering elevation. 23. The vehicle of claim 22, wherein the second seating configuration has a third seat, wherein the first seat of the first seating configuration is positioned laterally between the second and third seats of the second seating configuration. 24. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the first seat is a straddle-type seat and the second seat is a bucket-type seat. 25. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first pivot point and the second pivot point cooperate to define an axis, at least a middle portion of the first bent arm being offset from the axis to define a space between the middle portion of the first bent arm and the axis. 26. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the location in which the steering indexing assembly is coupled to the chassis is forward of the first seat. 27. A vehicle comprising: a chassis; an engine supported by the chassis; a drive train coupled to the engine to propel the vehicle; a steering control; a steering indexing assembly supporting the steering control in a first steering position having the steering control positioned generally along a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle and in a second steering position having the steering control positioned laterally of the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle, the steering indexing assembly including at least first and second arms pivotally coupled to the chassis, the first arm pivotable about a first pivot axis relative to the chassis and the second arm pivotable about a second pivot axis relative to the chassis, the first pivot axis being forward of the second pivot axis being separated by a longitudinal distance. 28. The vehicle of claim 27, wherein the first arm and the second arm are bent. 29. The vehicle of claim 27, wherein the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis are separated by a lateral distance. 30. The vehicle of claim 27, wherein the first arm and the second arm are separated by a vertical distance. 31. The vehicle of claim 27, further comprising a third arm coupled to the second arm and pivotable about the second pivot axis relative to the chassis.
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