Utility vehicle

Abstract

A utility vehicle includes a plurality of ground-engaging members, a frame, a powertrain assembly, a front suspension assembly, and a rear suspension assembly. A cargo bed may be supported by the frame at the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle also includes an operator seat and at least one passenger seat positioned within an operator area. In one embodiment, the vehicle includes doors to enclose the operator area.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vehicle, comprising:
 a plurality of ground engaging members;   a frame assembly supported by the ground engaging members and including a lower frame portion and an upper frame portion coupled to the lower frame portion to define an operator area;   an operator seat positioned within the operator area and supported by the frame assembly, the operator seat including a seat bottom, a seat back, and a head rest positioned above the seat back;   a first opening defined along a first side of the vehicle for ingress and egress from the operator area and having a first longitudinal length extending from a forward end to a rearward end of the first opening; and   a first door positioned within the first opening and having a longitudinal length approximately equal to the longitudinal length of the first opening, the first door having an upper portion extending along a portion of the upper frame portion and adjacent a portion of the seat back.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second opening defined along a second side of the vehicle for ingress and egress from the operator area and having a second longitudinal length extending from a forward end to a rearward end of the second opening; and   a second door positioned within the second opening and having a longitudinal length approximately equal to the longitudinal length of the second opening, the second door having an upper portion extending along a portion of the upper frame portion and adjacent a portion of the seat back.   
     
     
         3 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion of the first door and the upper portion of the second door are both positioned below the head rest. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second doors includes an outer panel, an inner panel, and a frame member positioned intermediate the outer and inner panels, and the frame member is die-cast. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicle of  claim 4 , wherein the frame member of the first door includes an upper end partially defining the upper portion of the first door, and the upper end of the frame member includes a mounting surface for coupling to an accessory for the first door. 
     
     
         6 . The vehicle of  claim 5 , wherein the accessory is configured to be positioned above the first door. 
     
     
         7 . The vehicle of  claim 5 , wherein the accessory defines an upper door member coupled to the first door and extending above the head rest of the operator seat. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second doors includes at least one hinge member coupled to the frame member, the at least one hinge member includes a vertically aligned aperture configured to correspond to a vertically aligned aperture on a bracket of the frame assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle of  claim 8 , further comprising a fastener configured to be vertically received through the vertically aligned aperture of the hinge member and the vertically aligned aperture on the bracket of the frame assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the frame member for each of the first and second doors includes an upper end aligned with a portion of the upper frame portion which defines the upper end of each of the first and second doors. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of fasteners and each of the plurality of fasteners extends between the inner panel, the frame member, and the outer panel. 
     
     
         12 . A utility vehicle, comprising:
 a plurality of ground engaging members;   a frame assembly supported by the ground engaging members above a ground surface and including a lower frame portion and an upper frame portion coupled to the lower frame portion to define an operator area, the lower frame portion including a frame member;   an operator seat positioned within the operator area and supported by the frame assembly at a position adjacent the frame member, the operator seat including a seat bottom and a seat back; and   a first door having a forward portion adjacent a portion of the operator area forward of the seat bottom and having a first height relative to the frame member, an intermediate portion adjacent the seat bottom and having a second height relative to the frame member, and a rearward portion adjacent the seat back and having a third height relative to the frame member, and the second height being less than the first and third heights relative to the frame member.   
     
     
         13 . The utility vehicle of  claim 12 , wherein the first and third heights are approximately equal. 
     
     
         14 . The utility vehicle of  claim 12 , wherein an outer surface of the rearward portion includes an outer door latch and an inner surface of the intermediate portion includes an inner door latch. 
     
     
         15 . The utility vehicle of  12 , further comprising a second door having a forward portion adjacent a portion of the operator area forward of the seat bottom and having a first height relative to the frame member, an intermediate portion adjacent the seat bottom and having a second height relative to the frame member, and a rearward portion adjacent the seat back and having a third height relative to the frame member, and the second height being less than the first and third heights relative to the frame member. 
     
     
         16 . The utility vehicle of  claim 12 , wherein the rearward portion of the first door is adjacent a portion of the upper frame portion. 
     
     
         17 . The utility vehicle of  claim 12 , wherein the first door includes at least one hinge configured to couple with an upstanding member of the frame assembly along an inner surface of the forward portion. 
     
     
         18 . The utility vehicle of  claim 12 , wherein the second height is less than the first and third heights relative to the ground surface. 
     
     
         19 . A utility vehicle, comprising:
 a plurality of ground engaging members;   a frame assembly supported by the ground engaging members above a ground surface and including a lower frame portion and an upper frame portion coupled to the lower frame portion to define an operator area, the lower frame portion including an upstanding frame member;   an operator seat positioned within the operator area and supported by the frame assembly at a position adjacent the frame member, the operator seat including a seat bottom and a seat back;   a first door extending rearwardly from the upstanding frame member and having and outer surface facing away from the operator area and an inner surface facing the operator area; and   a hinge assembly operably coupled to the upstanding member and the first door, the hinge assembly positioned adjacent the inner surface of the door and facing the operator area.   
     
     
         20 . The utility vehicle of  claim 19 , wherein the hinge assembly is concealed from the outer surface of the first door.