FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to portal wheel ends for lifting the wheels of an off road vehicle such as an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) or a utility task vehicle (UTV), and more particularly to a portal box and associated hardware end that provides wheel base extension in addition to lift.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Portal boxes are known to ATV and UTV enthusiasts for providing increased ground clearance, or lift, and the low gearing needed for bigger tires. Such boxes are typically mounted to an ATV/UTV by first mounting a backing plate to the suspension of the vehicle, and by then mounting the portal box to the backing plate. U.S. Pat. No. 8,985,264 to Shirley is one example of such a device.

The backing plate of Shirley, and of the other portal box mounting systems known to the art, have the input shaft positioned directly above the output shaft. This provides the greatest degree of lift, while minimizing the torque on the mounting assembly.

Applicant has determined that alternative mounting options may provide benefits not provided by prior art assemblies. A need therefore exists for a mounting assembly for a portal box in which the box may be mounted to the mounting plate in an alternative position. A need therefore exists for a mounting assembly for a portal box in which the user may select among two or more alternative positions in which the assembly may be mounted. The present invention addresses those needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly describing one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an adjustable portal box assembly for selectively mounting a wheel to an off road vehicle in either of two positions. The assembly includes a mounting plate mountable to the suspension of an off road vehicle, and a portal box is mountable to the mounting plate. The portal box includes an input shaft opening for an input shaft, and an output opening for an output shaft. The portal box is mountable to the mounting plate in a first position in which the output opening is positioned to extend the wheelbase relative to the input shaft opening, or in a second position in which the output opening is positioned in vertical alignment with the input shaft opening.

In another aspect of the present invention there is provided an adjustable portal box assembly for selectively mounting a wheel to an off road vehicle in a standard, lifted position, or in an extended, lifted position. The assembly comprises a mounting plate and a portal box, with the mounting plate being mountable to the suspension of an off road vehicle, and the portal box being mountable to the mounting plate. The portal box includes an input shaft opening for an input shaft, and an output opening for an output shaft, and is mountable to the mounting plate in either of two positions. In the first position the output opening is positioned below and forward of said input shaft opening when the assembly is adapted for mounting a forward wheel, and the output opening is positioned below and rearward of said input shaft opening when the assembly is adapted for mounting a rearward wheel. In the second position the output opening is positioned below and not forward of said input shaft opening when the assembly is adapted for mounting a forward wheel, and the output opening is positioned below and not rearward of said input shaft opening when the assembly is adapted for mounting a rearward wheel.

In another aspect of the present invention there is provided an adjustable portal box assembly for mounting a wheel to an off road vehicle in a lifted and extended wheelbase position. The assembly comprises a mounting plate and a portal box. The mounting plate is mountable to the suspension of an off road vehicle, and the portal box is mountable to said mounting plate. The portal box includes an input shaft opening for an input shaft, and an output opening for an output shaft. The portal box is mountable to the mounting plate in an extended wheelbase position in which the output opening is positioned below and forward of said input shaft opening when the assembly is adapted for mounting a forward wheel, and in which the output opening is positioned below and rearward of said input shaft opening when the assembly is adapted for mounting a rearward wheel.

In another aspect of the present invention there is provided an adjustable portal box assembly for selectively mounting a wheel to an off road vehicle in either of two positions. The assembly comprises a mounting plate, a portal box, and input shaft, and an output shaft. The mounting plate is mountable to the suspension of an off road vehicle, and the portal box is mountable to said mounting plate. The portal box includes an input shaft opening for receiving the input shaft, and an output opening for receiving the output shaft, and the input shaft is operably connected to the vehicle and extends into the portal box assembly through the input shaft opening, and the output shaft extends outward from the portal box assembly through said output opening. The portal box is mountable to the mounting plate in a first position in which the output shaft is positioned below and forward of said input shaft when the assembly is adapted for mounting a forward wheel, and below and rearward of said input shaft when the assembly is adapted for mounting a rearward wheel, and in a second position in which the output shaft is positioned below and in vertical alignment with said input shaft.

