Three-wheeled vehicle

Abstract

A three-wheeled vehicle is disclosed having a vehicle frame supported by front ground engaging members and a single rear ground engaging member. The vehicle includes an engine positioned forward of an operator area and a swing arm coupled to the single rear ground engagement member. The operator area of the vehicle may include seating for a driver and a passenger.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A three wheeled vehicle, comprising:
 a vehicle frame comprising a front frame portion, a mid frame portion and a rear frame portion;   an engine mounted to the front frame portion;   a front suspension coupled to the front frame portion, defined by left and right side suspension assemblies;   front wheels, defined by a front left wheel coupled to the left side suspension assembly and a front right wheel coupled to the right side suspension assembly;   a steering assembly coupled to the front wheels;   side by side seats supported by the mid frame portion, rearward of the engine; and   a single rear wheel coupled to the frame rearward of the mid frame portion, and drivingly coupled to the engine, the rear frame portion disposed generally above the single rear wheel.   
     
     
         22 . The three wheeled vehicle of  claim 21 , wherein the rear frame portion is removably coupled to the mid frame portion, whereby the rear frame portion is a replaceable portion of the vehicle frame. 
     
     
         23 . The three wheeled vehicle of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the mid frame portion comprises:
 a pair of rear frame tubes; 
 a left pair of plates fixed to a left portion of the pair of rear frame tubes; and 
 a right pair of plates fixed to a right portion of the pair of rear frame tubes; and 
   the rear frame portion comprises:
 a left frame tube removably coupled to the left pair of plates; and 
 a right frame rube removably coupled to the left pair of plates. 
   
     
     
         24 . The three wheeled vehicle of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 a left head protector coupled to at least one of the left pair of plates; and   a right head protector coupled to at least one of the right pair of plates.   
     
     
         25 . The three wheeled vehicle of  claim 23 , wherein:
 the left frame tube and the left pair of plates respectively include apertures alignable to receive at least one fastener to removably couple the left frame tube to the left pair of plates; and   the right frame tube and the right pair of plates respectively include apertures alignable to receive at least one fastener to removably couple the right frame tube to the right pair of plates.   
     
     
         26 . The three wheeled vehicle of  claim 23 , wherein:
 the mid frame portion further comprises:
 a second left pair of plates fixed to the left portion of the pair of rear frame tubes; and 
 a second right pair of plates fixed to the right portion of the pair of rear frame tubes; and 
   the rear frame portion further comprises:
 a second left frame tube with a rear end fixed to the left frame tube and a front end removably coupled to the second left pair of plates; and 
 a second right frame tube with a rear end fixed to the right frame tube and a front end removably coupled to the second right pair of plates. 
   
     
     
         27 . The three wheeled vehicle of  claim 21 , wherein the rear frame portion comprises:
 a left frame tube having a forward end connected to a left-rear portion of the mid frame portion, the left frame tube extending rearwardly and inwardly from its forward end toward a rearward end aligned with a front-to-rear centerline of the vehicle; and   a right frame tube having a forward end connected to a right-rear portion of the mid frame portion, the left frame tube extending rearwardly and inwardly from its forward end toward a rearward end aligned with the front-to-rear centerline of the vehicle,   the rearward end of the left frame tube joined to the rearward end of the right frame tube, such that the rear frame portion comes to a point aligned with the front-to-rear centerline of the vehicle.   
     
     
         28 . The three wheeled vehicle of  claim 27 , wherein the rear frame portion further comprises:
 a second left frame tube with a rear end fixed to the left frame tube and a front end removably coupled to the mid frame portion; and   a second right frame tube with a rear end fixed to the right frame tube and a front end removably coupled to the mid frame portion.   
     
     
         29 . The three wheeled vehicle of  claim 28 , wherein the second left frame tube and the second right frame tube extend generally parallel to the front-to-rear centerline of the vehicle. 
     
     
         30 . The three wheeled vehicle of  claim 28 , wherein the rear frame portion further comprises a bracing frame tube having a lower end removably coupled to the mid frame portion, the bracing frame tube extending upwardly and rearwardly from the lower end toward an upper end fixed to another frame tube of the rear frame portion. 
     
     
         31 . The three wheeled vehicle of  claim 30 , wherein the upper end of the bracing frame tube is fixed to the second left frame tube. 
     
     
         32 . The three wheeled vehicle of  claim 21 , further comprising a rear suspension system including a rear shock absorber and a rear swing arm, the rear swing arm defining a pivotable coupling with the mid frame portion, the rear shock absorber having an upper end coupled to the mid frame portion and a lower end coupled to the swing arm. 
     
     
         33 . The three wheeled vehicle of  claim 32 , wherein the rear frame portion defines a lower coupling with the mid frame portion near the pivotable coupling of the swing arm, and an upper coupling with the mid frame portion near the upper end of the rear shock absorber. 
     
     
         34 . The three wheeled vehicle of  claim 21 , wherein the single rear wheel extends rearwardly further than the rear frame portion. 
     
     
         35 . A frame assembly for a three wheeled vehicle, the frame assembly comprising:
 a front frame portion configured to support an engine and a front suspension system;   a mid frame portion coupled to a rear end of the front frame portion configured to support side by side seats;   a rear suspension system including a rear shock absorber and a rear swing arm, the rear swing arm defining a pivotable coupling with the mid frame portion and configured to rotatably support a single rear wheel, the rear shock absorber having an upper end coupled to the mid frame portion and a lower end coupled to the swing arm; and   a rear frame portion removably coupled to the mid-frame portion.   
     
     
         36 . The frame assembly of  claim 35 , wherein the rear frame portion defines a lower coupling with the mid frame portion near the pivotable coupling of the swing arm, and an upper coupling with the mid frame portion near the upper end of the rear shock absorber. 
     
     
         37 . The frame assembly of  claim 35 , wherein:
 the mid frame portion comprises:
 a pair of rear frame tubes; 
 a left pair of plates fixed to a left portion of the pair of rear frame tubes; and 
 a right pair of plates fixed to a right portion of the pair of rear frame tubes; and 
   the rear frame portion comprises:
 a left frame tube removably coupled to the left pair of plates; and 
 a right frame rube removably coupled to the left pair of plates. 
   
     
     
         38 . The frame assembly of  claim 35 , wherein the rear frame portion comprises:
 a left frame tube having a forward end connected to a left-rear portion of the mid frame portion, the left frame tube extending rearwardly and inwardly from its forward end toward a rearward end aligned with a front-to-rear centerline of the vehicle; and   a right frame tube having a forward end connected to a right-rear portion of the mid frame portion, the left frame tube extending rearwardly and inwardly from its forward end toward a rearward end aligned with the front-to-rear centerline of the vehicle, the rearward end of the left frame tube joined to the rearward end of the right frame tube, such that the rear frame portion comes to a point aligned with the front-to-rear centerline of the vehicle.   
     
     
         39 . The frame assembly of  claim 38 , wherein the rear frame portion further comprises:
 a second left frame tube with a rear end fixed to the left frame tube and a front end removably coupled to the mid frame portion; and   a second right frame tube with a rear end fixed to the right frame tube and a front end removably coupled to the mid frame portion.   
     
     
         40 . The frame assembly of  claim 39 , wherein the rear frame portion further comprises a bracing frame tube having a lower end removably coupled to the mid frame portion, the bracing frame tube extending upwardly and rearwardly from the lower end toward an upper end fixed to another frame tube of the rear frame portion.