Patents Examined by David E. Herron, II
  • Patent number: 6270106
    Abstract: An all terrain vehicle with a foot-shifted manual transmission and a full platform-style footrest. The all terrain vehicle has a chassis carrying a straddle-type seat which is sufficiently narrow to be straddled by a rider. A laterally extending footrest is provided on each side of the chassis. The manual transmission includes a foot-operable shift lever located on one side of the chassis adjacent the footrest for shifting the transmission among a plurality of forward gears. The footrest is generally rectangular, having generally horizontal heel and toe portions, and the shift lever is positioned at approximately the same height as the heel portion. The toe portion is positioned lower than the heel portion, permitting a rider to depress the shift lever to a position lower than the heel portion of the footrest to downshift the transmission, and permitting the rider to insert his toe in between the toe portion of the footrest and the shifting lever to move the lever upwards to upshift the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Polaris Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard R. Maki, Alan S. Olson, Mihai Rasidescu, Timothy S. Wysocki