Shock mounted suspension system

Claim 2

An endless tread and body supporting subassembly for a snowmobile, comprising in combination: a. elongated tread supporting means adapted to move within the confines of said endless tread having a pair of upstanding members secured to each other in spaced and confronting relationship, the lower portion of said members forming a pair of runners; b. forward and rear body frame supporting double T-shaped lever members pivotally connected to said tread supporting means at the lower portions thereof, said rear lever members having stems constructed to be of variable length, the upper ends of said lever members adapted to be pivotally mounted to the snowmobile body; c. a plurality of wheel means secured to the rear portion of said tread supporting means, said wheel means having their axes of rotation in transverse relationship to the longitudinal direction of said elongated tread supporting means; d. a transverse bar member joining the lower portions of the upstanding members of said tread supporting means; e. a shock absorber having a telescoping spindle portion disposed intermediate the stems of said rear lever members and pivotally mounted at opposite ends thereof to said bar member and to said rear lever member, respectively, said shock absorber being mounted with its spindle axis substantially parallel to said rear lever members, but spatially disposed therefrom; and f. a plurality of spring bias mechanisms mechanically independent from each other, each including tension controlling mechanisms secured thereto controlling the tension in said bias mechanisms and cooperating with said shock absorber, said bias mechanisms engaging said front and rear lever members and urging the upper portion of said lever members away from said runners.

Claim 3

An endless tread and body supporting subassembly for a snowmobile, comprising in combination: a. elongated tread supporting means adapted to move within the confines of said endless tread having a pair of upstanding members secured to each other in spaced and confronting relationship, the lower portions of said members forming a pair of runners, substantially one-third of the forward portions of said runner means being inclined upwardly from the main rear portion thereof and terminating in an arcuate configuration at the forward end thereof, said runners while moving within the confines of said tread provide the sole backing for said endless tread between forward drive sprockets and the ground engaging forward portion of said runners; b. forward and rear body frame supporting double T-shaped lever members pivotally connected to said tread supporting means at the lower portions thereof, said rear lever members having stems constructed to be of variable length, the upper ends of said lever members adapted to be pivotally mounted on the snowmobile body; c. a plurality of wheel means secured to the rear portion of said tread supporting means, said wheel means having their axes of rotation in transverse relationship to the longitudinal direction of said elongated tread supporting means; d. a transverse bar member joining the lower portions of the upstanding members of said tread supporting means; e. a shock absorber having a telescoping spindle portion disposed intermediate the stems of said rear lever members and pivotally mounted at opposite ends thereof to said bar member and to said rear lever member, respectively, said shock absorber being mounted with its spindle axis substantially parallel to said rear lever members, but spatially disposed therefrom; and f. a plurality of spring bias mechanisms operable independently from each other including tension controlling mechanisms secured thereto controlling the tension in said mechanisms, said mechanisms engaging said front and rear lever members and urging the upper portion of said lever member away from said runners.

Claim 4

An endless tread and body supporting subassembly for a snowmobile, comprising in combination: a. elongated tread supporting means adapted to move within the confines of said endless tread having a pair of upstanding members secured to each other in spaced and confronting relationship, the lower portions of said members forming a pair of runners, substantially one-third of the forward portions of said runner means being inclined upwardly from the main rear portion thereof and terminating in an arcuate configuration at the forward end thereof, said runners while moving within the confines of said tread provide the sole backing for said endless tread between forward drive sprockets and the ground engaging forward portion of said runners; b. forward and rear body frame supporting double T-shaped lever members pivotally connected to said tread supporting means at the lower portions thereof, said rear lever members having stems constructed to be of variable length, the upper ends of said lever members adapted to be pivotally mounted on the snowmobile body; c. a plurality of wheel means secured to the rear portion of said tread supporting means, said wheel means having their axes of rotation in transverse relationship to the longitudinal direction of said elongated tread supporting means; d. a transverse bar member joining the lower portions of the upstanding members of said tread supporting means; e. a shock absorber having a telescoping spindle portion disposed intermediate the stems of said rear lever members and pivotally mounted at opposite ends thereof to said bar member and to said rear lever member, respectively, said shock absorber being mounted with its spindle axis substantially parallel to said rear lever members, but spatially disposed therefrom; and f. a plurality of spring bias mechanisms operable independently from each other including tension controlling mechanisms secured thereto controlling the tension in said mechanisms, said mechanisms engaging said front and rear lever members and urging the upper portion of said lever member away from said runners.