Abstract: A riding lawn care vehicle (10, 310) may include a frame (30, 330), an engine (340, 40), a steering assembly, a support platform (20, 30, 320) and a front platform (348, 48). At least a pair of drive wheels may be operably coupled to the frame (30, 330). The engine (340, 40) is operably coupled to the frame (30, 330) via an engine platform (342, 42). The engine (340, 40) is disposed substantially between the drive wheels to selectively provide drive power to the drive wheels via respective hydraulic pumps (346, 46). The steering assembly includes control levers (50) operably coupled to respective ones of the drive wheels via the respective hydraulic pumps (346, 46). The steering assembly enables steering of the riding lawn care vehicle (10, 310) based on drive speed control of the drive wheels responsive to positioning of the control levers (50).

Abstract: A riding lawn care vehicle may include a frame, an engine, a steering assembly, a support platform and a front platform. At least a pair of drive wheels may be operably coupled to the frame. The engine is operably coupled to the frame via an engine platform. The engine is disposed between the drive wheels to selectively provide drive power to the drive wheels via respective hydraulic pumps. The steering assembly includes control levers operably coupled to respective drive wheels via the respective hydraulic pumps. The steering assembly enables steering of the lawn care vehicle based on drive speed control of the drive wheels responsive to positioning of the control levers. The support platform is operably coupled to the frame at a rear portion of the lawn care vehicle. The front platform is operably coupled to the frame forward of the engine platform. The front platform supports the hydraulic pumps.

Abstract: A riding lawn care vehicle (10, 310) may include a frame (30, 330), an engine (340, 40), a steering assembly, a support platform (20, 30, 320) and a front platform (348, 48). At least a pair of drive wheels may be operably coupled to the frame (30, 330). The engine (340, 40) is operably coupled to the frame (30, 330) via an engine platform (342, 42). The engine (340, 40) is disposed substantially between the drive wheels to selectively provide drive power to the drive wheels via respective hydraulic pumps (346, 46). The steering assembly includes control levers (50) operably coupled to respective ones of the drive wheels via the respective hydraulic pumps (346, 46). The steering assembly enables steering of the riding lawn care vehicle (10, 310) based on drive speed control of the drive wheels responsive to positioning of the control levers (50).

Abstract: Riding lawn mowers may utilize friction drives configured with a variable normal force between frictional components. In a riding lawn mower, an internal combustion engine may be coupled to a differential via a friction drive, wherein the friction drive is configured with a variable normal force in order to provide improved power transfer and/or shifting performance.

Abstract: An all terrain vehicle with a tool less maintainable drive system, and having a seat designed to be straddled by the operator. The vehicle has a frame, a plurality of wheels attached to the frame, a steering mechanism attached at least one of the plurality of wheels, an engine mounted to the frame, and a clutch attached to the engine. The vehicle contains a system of features that can be removed without the use of tools. The system has a support attached to and extending outward from the frame, a removable footrest, a receiver attached to the removable footrest and configured to mate with the support, a locking mechanism attached to the receiver to secure the removable footrest with respect to the footrest support; and a removable clutch housing.

Abstract: Riding lawn mowers may utilize friction drives configured with a variable normal force between frictional components. In a riding lawn mower, an internal combustion engine may be coupled to a differential via a friction drive, wherein the friction drive is configured with a variable normal force in order to provide improved power transfer and/or shifting performance.

Abstract: A first embodiment includes a utility terrain vehicle having four or more wheels, a frame held above the ground by the wheels, and a liquid storage tank. The liquid storage tank is attached to the frame to create a low center of gravity for the utility terrain vehicle.

Abstract: An all terrain vehicle with a tool less maintainable drive system, and having a seat designed to be straddled by the operator. The vehicle has a frame, a plurality of wheels attached to the frame, a steering mechanism attached at least one of the plurality of wheels, an engine mounted to the frame, and a clutch attached to the engine. The vehicle contains a system of features that can be removed without the use of tools. The system has a support attached to and extending outward from the frame, a removable footrest, a receiver attached to the removable footrest and configured to mate with the support, a locking mechanism attached to the receiver to secure the removable footrest with respect to the footrest support; and a removable clutch housing.

Abstract: A roller furler assembly for furling a sail where the luff is vertically or diagonally supported by a stay cable. The assembly includes a hollow drive shaft longitudinally aligned around the stay cable adjacent to the luff. A drive mechanism is coupled to the lower end of the drive shaft. Integrally formed or connected to the drive shaft is a torque input device that connects to a portion of a hollow, flexible sail edge device fitted over the middle and upper sections of the drive shaft. The sail edge device includes a longitudinally aligned slot or track that directly connects to a beaded edge attached to the luff. The torque input device is approximately 5%-25% of the stay cable so when the drive shaft is rotated, torque or rotational force is applied directly to the section of the luff located perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the torque input device.

Abstract: An all terrain vehicle with a tool less maintainable drive system, and having a seat designed to be straddled by the operator. The vehicle has a frame, a plurality of wheels attached to the frame, a steering mechanism attached at least one of the plurality of wheels, an engine mounted to the frame, and a clutch attached to the engine. The vehicle contains a system of features that can be removed without the use of tools. The system has a support attached to and extending outward from the frame, a removable footrest, a receiver attached to the removable footrest and configured to mate with the support, a locking mechanism attached to the receiver to secure the removable footrest with respect to the footrest support; and a removable clutch housing.

Abstract: An all terrain vehicle with a tool less maintainable drive system, and having a seat designed to be straddled by the operator. The vehicle has a frame, a plurality of wheels attached to the frame, a steering mechanism attached at least one of the plurality of wheels, an engine mounted to the frame, and a clutch attached to the engine. The vehicle contains a system of features that can be removed without the use of tools. The system has a support attached to and extending outward from the frame, a removable footrest, a receiver attached to the removable footrest and configured to mate with the support, a locking mechanism attached to the receiver to secure the removable footrest with respect to the footrest support; and a removable clutch housing.

Abstract: A roller furler assembly for furling a sail where the luff is vertically or diagonally supported by a stay cable. The assembly includes a hollow drive shaft longitudinally aligned around the stay cable adjacent to the luff. A drive mechanism is coupled to the lower end of the drive shaft. Integrally formed or connected to the drive shaft is a torque input device that connects to and re-enforces a portion of a hollow, flexible sail edge device fitted over the middle and upper sections of the drive shaft. The sail edge device includes a longitudinally aligned slot or track that directly connects to a beaded edge attached to the luff. The length of the torque input device is approximately 5%-25% of the stay cable and sufficient so that when the drive shaft is rotated, torque or rotational force is applied directly to the section of the luff located perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the torque input device and near the sail's geometric center.

Abstract: An all terrain vehicle with a tool less maintainable drive system, and having a seat designed to be straddled by the operator. The vehicle has a frame, a plurality of wheels attached to the frame, a steering mechanism attached at least one of the plurality of wheels, an engine mounted to the frame, and a clutch attached to the engine. The vehicle contains a system of features that can be removed without the use of tools. The system has a support attached to and extending outward from the frame, a removable footrest, a receiver attached to the removable footrest and configured to mate with the support, a locking mechanism attached to the receiver to secure the removable footrest with respect to the footrest support; and a removable clutch housing.