Converted high mobility vehicle and conversion method therefor

Abstract

Method is provided for after market conversion of a 4×4 vehicle produced by a manufacturer into a high mobility vehicle having increased maneuverability and on-road and/or off-road capability, relative to the 4×4 vehicle. The 4×4 vehicle has a chassis with a frame, front axle and rear axle, said chassis having a standard wheelbase. The method includes dismounting at least one of the front axle or rear axle from the frame; shortening said frame; and mounting the dismounted axle to the shortened frame so as to obtain a shortened chassis having a shortened wheelbase which is shorter than any standard wheelbase of the line of models produced by the manufacturer.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for manufacturing an armored high mobility vehicle from an after market 4×4 produced by a manufacturer, having a chassis with a frame, front axle and rear axle, the chassis having a standard wheelbase, the high mobility vehicle having increased maneuverability and on-road and/or off-road capability, relative to the 4×4, the method comprising:
 dismounting at least one of the front axle or rear axle from the frame;   shortening the frame;   mounting the dismounted axle to the shortened frame so as to obtain a shortened chassis having a shortened wheelbase which is shorter than any standard wheelbase of the line of models produced by the manufacturer; and   protecting at least a portion of the high mobility vehicle by armor.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the shortening of the frame is performed by cutting off the rear overhang of the frame. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the shortening of the frame is performed by cutting off the front overhang of the frame. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the shortening of the frame is performed by cutting off a middle part of the frame and restoring the frame integrity. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the standard wheelbase is about 140″ or more and the shortened wheelbase is about 112″ or less. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the 4×4 has a driver's cabin comprising at least two doors and a rear wall, the method further comprising:
 cutting off the cabin's rear wall; and   extending the cabin by mounting of a rear part including floor, side and roof extensions and a rear wall, with optional seats, side doors, rear door, trunk and trunk lid.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the 4×4 has a first GVW and the converted high mobility vehicle including the armor has a second GVW not exceeding the first GVW. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the 4×4 has a first GVW and the converted high mobility vehicle including the armor has a second GVW not exceeding the first GVW. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the 4×4 has a driver's cabin, the method further comprising:
 removing the driver's cabin; and   building an armored vehicle body on the shortened frame.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the 4×4 has a first GVW and the converted high mobility vehicle including the armor has a second GVW not exceeding the first GVW. 
     
     
         31 . A high mobility vehicle manufactured by the method of  claim 21 . 
     
     
         32 . The high mobility vehicle of  claim 31 , wherein the standard wheelbase is about 140″ or more and the shortened wheelbase is about 112″ or less. 
     
     
         33 . The high mobility vehicle of  claim 31 , wherein the 4×4 has a driver's cabin comprising a rear wall, the vehicle having a body obtained from the driver's cabin by cutting off the rear wall and extending the driver's cabin by mounting of a rear part including floor, side and roof extensions and a rear wall, with optional seats, side doors, rear door, trunk and trunk lid. 
     
     
         34 . The high mobility vehicle of  claim 33 , wherein the seats, side doors, rear door, trunk and trunk lid are designed so as to allow insertion of a medical stretcher or other equipment into the cabin or emergency exit from the cabin. 
     
     
         35 . The high mobility vehicle of  claim 31 , wherein the vehicle is protected by armor. 
     
     
         36 . The high mobility vehicle of  claim 35 , wherein the armor is add-on armor. 
     
     
         37 . The high mobility vehicle of  claim 35 , wherein the 4×4 has a first GVW and the high mobility vehicle including the armor has a second GVW not exceeding the first GVW. 
     
     
         38 . The high mobility vehicle of  claim 31 , wherein the 4×4 has a driver's cabin, the driver's cabin having been removed and an armored vehicle body built on the shortened frame. 
     
     
         39 . The high mobility vehicle of  claim 35 , having a vehicle body that includes a floor with front and rear seats thereon, and is mounted on the shortened frame, further comprising armored fenders, armored hood, armored windshield and windshield frame; four armored doors, an armored roof and an armored rear body portion with optional armored rear door or armored trunk and armored trunk lid. 
     
     
         40 . The high mobility vehicle of  claim 39 , wherein the armored rear body portion, rear seats, armored rear door or armored trunk and armored trunk lid are designed so as to allow insertion of a medical stretcher in the vehicle body or emergency exit from the cabin. 
     
     
         41 . The high mobility vehicle of  claim 38 , wherein the 4×4 has a first GVW and the high mobility armored vehicle including the armor has a second GVW not exceeding the first GVW. 
     
     
         42 . The high mobility vehicle of  claim 31 , comprising an armored floor. 
     
     
         43 . A high mobility vehicle manufactured from a 4×4, produced by a manufacturer, the 4×4 having a chassis with a frame, front axle and rear axle, the chassis having a standard wheelbase, into the high mobility vehicle having increased maneuverability and on-road and/or off-road capability, relative to the 4×4 and comprising:
 a chassis with a wheelbase shorter than any standard wheelbase of the line of models produced by the manufacturer; and   at least a portion of the vehicle protected by armor.   
     
     
         44 . The high mobility vehicle of  claim 43 , wherein the 4×4 has a first GVW and the high mobility vehicle including the armor has a second GVW not exceeding the first GVW. 
     
     
         45 . The high mobility vehicle of  claim 43 , wherein the 4×4 has a driver's cabin, the cabin having portions of the armor, comprising at least one layer, attached to the cabin from the outside. 
     
     
         46 . The high mobility vehicle of  claim 43 , wherein the high mobility vehicle has a cabin comprising an armored rear body portion, rear seats, rear door or trunk and trunk lid, designed so as to allow insertion of a medical stretcher in the vehicle body or emergency exit from the cabin.