IP Library Granted Patent US 10,843,758
Granted Patent B2
US 10,843,758 · App. 16/634,705 · Granted Nov 24, 2020

Vehicle having a suspension assembly including a swing arm

Inventors: Sebastien Hebert (Sherbrooke, CA); Emile Maltais-Larouche (Valcourt, CA); Charles Lachance (Sherbrooke, CA)
Assignee: BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS INC.
B62K5/05B62J1/00B62J35/00B62K5/027B62K5/08B62K25/005B62M7/02B62M9/06B62M9/08B62M17/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,843,758
App. No.
16/634,705
Granted
Nov 24, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle includes a frame; two front ground-engaging members connected to the frame; a rear ground-engaging member connected to the frame; an engine supported by the frame; a powertrain operatively connecting the engine to the rear ground-engaging member; a seat connected to the frame; an exhaust system connected to the engine and supported by the frame; a swing arm operatively connecting the rear ground-engaging member to the frame; and a rear suspension operatively connected between the swing arm and the frame. The seat is positioned at least partially above the swing arm. The exhaust system is positioned at least partially below the swing arm. Each of the rear suspension and the powertrain is at least partially concealed by the swing arm from at least two of a top, a left side or a right side of the vehicle.

Claims (60)

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a frame;

two front ground-engaging members connected to the frame;

a rear ground-engaging member connected to the frame;

an engine supported by the frame;

a powertrain operatively connecting the engine to the rear ground-engaging member;

a seat connected to the frame;

an exhaust system connected to the engine and supported by the frame, the exhaust system comprising a muffler;

a swing arm operatively connecting the rear ground-engaging member to the frame; and

a rear suspension operatively connected between the swing arm and the frame,

the seat being positioned at least partially above the swing arm,

at least a portion of the muffler of the exhaust system being positioned below the swing arm,

each of the rear suspension and the powertrain being at least partially concealed by the swing arm from at least two of a top, a left side or a right side of the vehicle.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein:

the powertrain comprises a driveshaft extending rearwardly from the engine; and

at least a portion of the driveshaft is concealed by the swing arm from the at least two of the top, the left side and the right side of the vehicle.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein a majority of a length of the driveshaft is concealed by the swing arm from the at least two of the top, the left side and the right side of the vehicle.

4. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein:

the swing arm defines a channel; and

the driveshaft extends in the channel of the swing arm.

5. The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the channel extends along a majority of a length of the swing arm.

6. The vehicle of claim 2 , further comprising a final drive unit connected to the swing arm and operatively connected to the rear ground-engaging member, a rear end of the driveshaft being connected to the final drive unit.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein:

the swing arm has a top portion and at least one lateral side portion extending downwardly from the top portion; and

the at least one lateral side portion of the swing arm is at least partially vertically aligned with a lateral side of the muffler.

8. The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein:

the at least one lateral side portion of the swing arm includes a left lateral side portion and a right lateral side portion;

the left lateral side portion being at least partially vertically aligned with a left side of the muffler; and

the right lateral side portion being at least partially vertically aligned with a right side of the muffler.

9. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein:

the swing arm defines a pocket bound by a top wall, a bottom wall, a left lateral side wall and a right lateral side wall of the swing arm; and

the rear suspension is at least partially received in the pocket of the swing arm.

10. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein:

the rear suspension comprises a shock absorber; and

the shock absorber is positioned vertically between the muffler and the seat.

11. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein:

the muffler has a left side and a right side;

the swing arm is pivotally mounted to the frame via at least two laterally-spaced mount points; and

the mount points are positioned laterally outward from the left and right sides of the muffler.

12. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the at least two of the top, the left side or the right side of the vehicle includes the left and right sides of the vehicle.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the at least two of the top, the left side or the right side of the vehicle includes the top, the left side and the right side of the vehicle.

14. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the at least two of the top, the left side or the right side of the vehicle includes the top and the left side of the vehicle.

15. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the at least two of the top, the left side or the right side of the vehicle includes the top and the right side of the vehicle.

16. A vehicle, comprising:

a frame;

two front ground-engaging members connected to the frame;

a rear ground-engaging member connected to the frame;

an engine supported by the frame;

a powertrain operatively connecting the engine to the rear ground-engaging member;

a seat connected to the frame;

an exhaust system connected to the engine and supported by the frame;

a swing arm operatively connecting the rear ground-engaging member to the frame, the swing arm defining a pocket bound by a top wall, a bottom wall, a left lateral side wall and a right lateral side wall of the swing arm; and

a rear suspension operatively connected between the swing arm and the frame, the rear suspension being at least partially received in the pocket of the swing arm,

the seat being positioned at least partially above the swing arm,

the exhaust system being positioned at least partially below the swing arm,

each of the rear suspension and the powertrain being at least partially concealed by the swing arm from at least two of a top, a left side or a right side of the vehicle.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the at least two of the top, the left side or the right side of the vehicle includes the left and right sides of the vehicle.

18. The vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the at least two of the top, the left side or the right side of the vehicle includes the top, the left side and the right side of the vehicle.

19. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the at least two of the top, the left side or the right side of the vehicle includes the top and the left side of the vehicle.

20. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the at least two of the top, the left side or the right side of the vehicle includes the top and the right side of the vehicle.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 15, 2020
From: HEBERT, SEBASTIEN; MALTAIS-LAROUCHE, EMILE; LACHANCE, CHARLES
To: BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS INC.
Reel/Frame 054067/0277 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation In Part 16073718
Provisional Application 62539023 · Jul 31, 2017
Provisional Application 62289155 · Jan 29, 2016
Related Publication 20200216134A1 · Jul 9, 2020
Cited By (13)
US 1,063,697 US 1,082,637 US 12,187,381 US 12,208,854 US 12,434,783 US 12,503,200 US 12,630,259 US 12,630,260 US 12,637,174 US 12,679,503 US 12,698,054 US 12,703,451 US 12,715,547