Suspension systems and grounds maintenance vehicles incorporating the same are disclosed. The suspension system may include biasing elements or springs that may be adjusted to vary the preload and thus change the spring and dampening characteristics of the suspension system. In some embodiments, the system may include an adjustment mechanism that permits simultaneous adjustment of two springs via a single action. In other embodiments, features adapted to assist an operator with mounting/dismounting the vehicle are disclosed.

Suspension systems and grounds maintenance vehicles incorporating the same are disclosed. The suspension system may include biasing elements or springs that may be adjusted to vary the preload and thus change the spring and dampening characteristics of the suspension system. In some embodiments, the system may include an adjustment mechanism that permits simultaneous adjustment of two springs via a single action. In other embodiments, features adapted to assist an operator with mounting/dismounting the vehicle are disclosed.

A vehicle body structure has a vehicle frame structure, a cabin structure, a cargo area structure and an elastic bumper element. The cabin structure is installed to a forward portion of the vehicle frame structure and defines a passenger compartment. The cabin structure also has a rearward wall. The cargo area structure is installed to a rearward portion of the vehicle frame structure. The cargo area structure has a forward wall spaced apart from the rearward wall of the cabin structure. The elastic bumper element is installed to one of the rearward wall or the forward wall such that in response to flexing of the vehicle frame structure, the elastic bumper element can contact the other of the rearward wall or the forward wall thereby restricting direct contact between the rearward wall and the forward wall.

A vehicle body structure has a vehicle frame structure, a cabin structure, a cargo area structure and an elastic bumper element. The cabin structure is installed to a forward portion of the vehicle frame structure and defines a passenger compartment. The cabin structure also has a rearward wall. The cargo area structure is installed to a rearward portion of the vehicle frame structure. The cargo area structure has a forward wall spaced apart from the rearward wall of the cabin structure. The elastic bumper element is installed to one of the rearward wall or the forward wall such that in response to flexing of the vehicle frame structure, the elastic bumper element can contact the other of the rearward wall or the forward wall thereby restricting direct contact between the rearward wall and the forward wall.

Proposed is a transmission mount for a vehicle in which the structure of an upper insert and a lower insert integrated with a single bridge among components of the transmission mount is improved to reduce the static stiffness in the right-left direction (i.e., the Y direction) of the transmission mount. The strength of the transmission mount in the front-rear direction (i.e., the X direction) and the static stiffness in the top-bottom direction (i.e., the Z direction) is reinforced so that the pitching motion and the vertical bounce behavior of the transmission may be efficiently controlled. Accordingly, booming noise caused by the rolling motion of the transmission is minimized, thereby improving NVH performance and meeting driving performance.

Proposed is a transmission mount for a vehicle in which the structure of an upper insert and a lower insert integrated with a single bridge among components of the transmission mount is improved to reduce the static stiffness in the right-left direction (i.e., the Y direction) of the transmission mount. The strength of the transmission mount in the front-rear direction (i.e., the X direction) and the static stiffness in the top-bottom direction (i.e., the Z direction) is reinforced so that the pitching motion and the vertical bounce behavior of the transmission may be efficiently controlled. Accordingly, booming noise caused by the rolling motion of the transmission is minimized, thereby improving NVH performance and meeting driving performance.

A vehicle body structure has a vehicle frame structure, a cabin structure, a cargo area structure and an elastic bumper element. The cabin structure is installed to a forward portion of the vehicle frame structure and defines a passenger compartment. The cabin structure also has a rearward wall. The cargo area structure is installed to a rearward portion of the vehicle frame structure. The cargo area structure has a forward wall spaced apart from the rearward wall of the cabin structure. The elastic bumper element is installed to one of the rearward wall or the forward wall such that in response to flexing of the vehicle frame structure, the elastic bumper element can contact the other of the rearward wall or the forward wall thereby restricting direct contact between the rearward wall and the forward wall.

A vehicle body structure has a vehicle frame structure, a cabin structure, a cargo area structure and an elastic bumper element. The cabin structure is installed to a forward portion of the vehicle frame structure and defines a passenger compartment. The cabin structure also has a rearward wall. The cargo area structure is installed to a rearward portion of the vehicle frame structure. The cargo area structure has a forward wall spaced apart from the rearward wall of the cabin structure. The elastic bumper element is installed to one of the rearward wall or the forward wall such that in response to flexing of the vehicle frame structure, the elastic bumper element can contact the other of the rearward wall or the forward wall thereby restricting direct contact between the rearward wall and the forward wall.

Disclosed is a vehicular device comprising a tether. The tether is anchored at a first point to the frame of the vehicle, and at a second point to the knuckle of a front wheel of the vehicle, wherein the knuckle couples the front wheel to the frame. The locations of the first anchor point and second anchor point, along with the length of the tether and the routing of the tether within the vehicle, are selected such that in a collision event between the front wheel and a barrier, when the knuckle becomes separated from the frame, the motion of the front wheel is constrained to exert force on both the barrier and the frame of the vehicle.

Disclosed is a vehicular device comprising a tether. The tether is anchored at a first point to the frame of the vehicle, and at a second point to the knuckle of a front wheel of the vehicle, wherein the knuckle couples the front wheel to the frame. The locations of the first anchor point and second anchor point, along with the length of the tether and the routing of the tether within the vehicle, are selected such that in a collision event between the front wheel and a barrier, when the knuckle becomes separated from the frame, the motion of the front wheel is constrained to exert force on both the barrier and the frame of the vehicle.