초록

A utility vehicle with ergonomic, safety, and maintenance features is disclosed. The ergonomic, safety, and maintenance features enhance the utility of the vehicle.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A utility vehicle comprising: a main frame;a plurality of ground engaging members adapted to support the main frame above the ground;seating having a seating surface and being supported by the main frame;an engine supported by the main frame;a floor supported by the main frame and located forward

1. A utility vehicle comprising: a main frame;a plurality of ground engaging members adapted to support the main frame above the ground;seating having a seating surface and being supported by the main frame;an engine supported by the main frame;a floor supported by the main frame and located forward of the seating;a dashboard spaced apart from the seating, the seating, the floor, and the dashboard cooperating to define an operator space extending above the floor and the seating;a restrictor member configured to selectively restrict an operator's feet from leaving the operator space, the restrictor member being supported by the main frame and having its uppermost portion located below the seating surface; anda U-shaped member having a middle portion coupled to the floor and a support member extending generally upwardly from the middle portion of the U-shaped member, wherein the restrictor member is coupled to the support member. 2. A vehicle as in claim 1, wherein the restrictor member is pivotable and may be lowered to allow the operator's feet to leave the operator space. 3. A vehicle as in claim 1, wherein the restrictor member is detachable and may be detached to allow the operator's feet to leave the operator space. 4. A vehicle as in claim 1, further comprising an exoskeletal frame supported by the main frame, wherein the restrictor member is supported by the exoskeletal frame. 5. A vehicle as in claim 1, wherein the restrictor member is pivotably coupled to the support member and may be lowered to allow the operator's feet to leave the operator space. 6. A vehicle as in claim 1, wherein the restrictor member is detachably coupled to the support member and may be detached to allow the operator's feet to leave the operator space. 7. A vehicle as in claim 1, wherein the restrictor member reduces deflection of the main frame about the floor. 8. A utility vehicle comprising: a main frame;a plurality of ground engaging members adapted to support the main frame above the ground;seating having a seating surface and being supported by the main frame;an engine supported by the main frame;a floor supported by the main frame and located forward of the seating;a dashboard spaced apart from the seating, the seating, the floor, and the dashboard cooperating to define an operator space extending above the floor and the seating; and a restrictor member configured to selectively restrict an operator's feet from leaving the operator space, the restrictor member being supported by the main frame and having its uppermost portion located below the seating surface, wherein the plurality of ground engaging members include a plurality of front ground engaging members supporting the frame above the ground and a plurality of rear ground engaging members positioned rearward of the front ground engaging members and supporting the frame above the ground; wherein the dashboard includes a top surface; and the utility vehicle further comprising a cargo platform having upper and lower surfaces, the cargo platform being positioned forward of the dashboard and at least partially between the front ground engaging members, the upper surface being positioned below the top surface of the dashboard, and the cargo platform being normally exposed; and a radiator supported by the frame and positioned below the lower surface of the cargo platform. 9. The utility vehicle of claim 8, further comprising an accessory mount including a shaft and a first arm, the shaft being coupled to the dashboard and being supported by the frame, the first arm being coupled to the shaft on one end and adapted to support an accessory on the opposite end, and the first arm rotating about the shaft. 10. A utility vehicle comprising: a frame;a plurality of ground engaging members adapted to support the frame above the ground;side-by-side seating supported by the frame, at least two front grounding engaging members being positioned forward of the side-by-side seating and at least two rear ground engaging members being positioned rearward of the side-by-side seating;a plurality of front independent suspensions coupling the at least two front ground engaging members to the frame;a plurality of rear independent suspensions coupling the at least two rear ground engaging members to the frame;a floor supported by the frame and located forward of the side-by-side seating;a dashboard spaced apart from the side-by-side seating, the side-by-side seating, the floor, and the dashboard cooperating to define an operator space extending above the floor, the operator space having a leftside opening and a rightside opening each of which permits ingress and egress relative to the operator space;an engine supported by the frame, the engine being positioned completely rearward of the dashboard;a CVT unit operatively coupled to the engine and operatively coupled to at least a first forward ground engaging member and at least a first rear ground engaging member;a cargo bed supported by the frame and positioned rearward of the side-by-side-seating;a U-shaped frame member supported by the frame, the U-shaped frame member bounding a lower portion of the leftside opening of the operator space and including a front rearwardly angled member, a rear forwardly angled member, and a lower member extending between the front rearwardly angled member and the rear forwardly angled member; anda restrictor member supported by the frame and extending between the front rearwardly angled member of the U-shaped frame member and the rear forwardly angled member of the U-shaped frame member, an upper edge of the restrictor member being spaced apart from the lower member of the U-shaped frame member, wherein the restrictor member is positioned to block a foot of the operator from leaving the operator space. 11. The utility vehicle of claim 10, wherein the restrictor member is moveable relative to the U-shaped frame member. 12. The utility vehicle of claim 11, wherein a first portion of the restrictor member laterally aligned with the side-by-side seating is completely below a seating surface of the side-by-side seating. 13. The utility vehicle of claim 12, wherein the first portion of the restrictor member is completely below the side-by-side seating. 14. The utility vehicle of claim 12, wherein the restrictor member is completely below the side-by-side seating. 15. The utility vehicle of claim 10, wherein the restrictor member is completely below a steering wheel positioned in the operator space and operatively coupled to the front ground engaging members. 16. The utility vehicle of claim 10, wherein a lower edge of the restrictor members is spaced apart from the lower member of the U-shaped frame member. 17. The utility vehicle of claim 10, further comprising an exoskeletal frame supported by the main frame, wherein the restrictor member is supported by the exoskeletal frame. 18. The utility vehicle of claim 10, wherein the restrictor member forms a portion of the outermost lateral surface of the vehicle. 19. The utility vehicle of claim 10, wherein a portion of the restrictor member is pivotable relative to the U-shaped frame member. 20. A method of restraining occupants of a utility vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: providing a utility vehicle comprising a frame; a plurality of ground engaging members adapted to support the frame above the ground; side-by-side seating supported by the frame, at least two front grounding engaging members being positioned forward of the side-by-side seating and at least two rear ground engaging members being positioned rearward of the side-by-side seating; a plurality of front independent suspensions coupling the at least two front ground engaging members to the frame; a plurality of rear independent suspensions coupling the at least two rear ground engaging members to the frame; a floor supported by the frame and located forward of the side-by-side seating; a dashboard spaced apart from the side-by-side seating, the side-by-side seating, the floor, and the dashboard cooperating to define an operator space extending above the floor, the operator space having a leftside opening and a right-side opening each of which permits ingress and egress relative to the operator space; an engine supported by the frame, the engine being positioned completely rearward of the dashboard; a CVT unit operatively coupled to the engine and operatively coupled to at least a first forward ground engaging member and at least a first rear ground engaging member; a cargo bed supported by the frame and positioned rearward of the side-by-side-seating; and a U-shaped frame member supported by the frame, the U-shaped member bounding a lower portion of the leftside opening of the operator space and including a front rearwardly angled member, a rear forwardly angled member, and a lower member extending between the front rearwardly angled member and the rear forwardly angled member;coupling a restrictor member to the U-shaped frame member to block an operator's feet from leaving the operator space, the restrictor member extending between the front rearwardly angled member of the U-shaped frame member and the rear forwardly angled member of the U-shaped frame member, a first portion of the restrictor member laterally aligned with the side-by-side seating is completely below a seating surface of the side-by-side seating; andmoving the restraint member relative to the U-shaped frame member to faciliate egress by the operator from the operator space. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the restrictor member is completely below the seating surface of the side-by-side seating.