US3840083A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Snowmobile chassis
Assignee: AMF Inc
•
Filing: 1973-07-09
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Granted: 1974-10-08
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Expires: 1993-07-09
Abstract
Abstract The front end ski post supporting structure is a single piece aluminum casting and the frame is fabricated from welded aluminum extruded and sheet stock. The design is modular in that the same components can be readily modified to make a 15, 18, or 21 inch chassis.
Inventors
- 👤 J Woods
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 14:48
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62B; B62B17/00; B62M; B62M27/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
A snowmobile chassis, comprising a modular frame constructed from lightweight extruded and sheet metal stock and a single piece lightweight metal front end modular ski post support, said modular frame comprising a tunnel having two extruded aluminum side panels, a top aluminum sheet joined to the upper portions of said side panels, a pair of aluminum sheets joined to the lower portions of said side panels to provide running boards on said tunnel, said ski post support comprising an integral generally Ushaped aluminum casting having its sides joined to the front ends of said side panels for reinforcing each other, said casting having a pair of integral front diverging ski post supporting arms formed thereon, integral tubular bearings formed in said arms for supporting a pair of ski posts therein, transverse corrugations formed in said top sheet to stiffen the same, and a pair of aligned bearing apertures formed in the portions of the casting sides and side panels which are joined to each other for supporting a snowmobile drive belt shaft therein.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
A snowmobile chassis, comprising a modular frame constructed from lightweight extruded and sheet metal stock and a single piece lightweight metal front end modular ski post support, said modular frame comprising a tunnel having two extruded aluminum side panels, a top aluminum sheet joined to the upper portions of said side panels, a pair of aluminum sheets joined to the lower portions of said side panels to provide running boards on said tunnel, said ski post support comprising an integral generally Ushaped aluminum casting having its sides joined to the front ends of said side panels for reinforcing each other, said casting having a pair of integral front diverging ski post supporting arms formed thereon, integral tubular bearings formed in said arms for supporting a pair of ski posts therein, transverse corrugations formed in said top sheet to stiffen the same, and a pair of aligned bearing apertures formed in the portions of the casting sides and side panels which are joined to each other for supporting a snowmobile drive belt shaft therein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
In a snowmobile chassis as in claim 1, wherein said modular frame is adapted to have different width top sheets joined to the side panels to vary the width of said tunnel, and said modular ski post support is adapted to fit different size tunnels by varying the cast width of said U-shaped aluminum casting, to match up the front end casting with the tunnel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
In a snowmobile chassis as in claim 2, wherein the upper and lower portions of said side panels have inwardly and outwardly directed integral shouldered ledges formed thereon for nesting the opposite edges and inner edges of said top and running board sheets therein, and said ledges and edges being spot welded to each other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
In a snowmobile chassis as in claim 3, overhanging shoulders formed on the upper portions of said side panels to align said modular ski post support and frame with each other, and the sides of said aluminum casting and side panels being riveted together.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
In a snowmobile chassis as in claim 3, integral overhanging ledges formed on the lower portions of said side panels adjacent to the shouldered ledges thereof, said overhanging and shouldered ledges being spaced from each other by a distance equivalent to the thickness of the running board sheets, and the inner edges of said running board sheets being nested between said spaced overhanging and shouldered ledges.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
In a snowmobile chassis as in claim 3, a pair of integral upwardly slanted foot rests formed on the front ends of said running board sheets, said foot rests being joined To said side panels, and a back panel at the rear end of said tunnel, said back panel being joined to said side panels and top sheet to reinforce the rear end of said tunnel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
94 words
A snowmobile chassis modular frame constructed from lightweight extruded and sheet metal stock, said modular frame comprising a tunnel having two extruded aluminum side panels, a top aluminum sheet joined to the upper portions of said side panels, a pair of aluminum sheets joined to the lower portions of said side panels to provide running boards on said tunnel, transverse corrugations formed in said top sheet to stiffen the same, and said modular frame being adapted to have different width top sheets joined to the side panels to very the width of said tunnel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
94 words
A snowmobile chassis modular frame constructed from lightweight extruded and sheet metal stock, said modular frame comprising a tunnel having two extruded aluminum side panels, a top aluminum sheet joined to the upper portions of said side panels, a pair of aluminum sheets joined to the lower portions of said side panels to provide running boards on said tunnel, transverse corrugations formed in said top sheet to stiffen the same, and said modular frame being adapted to have different width top sheets joined to the side panels to very the width of said tunnel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
In a snowmobile chassis modular frame as in claim 7, wherein the upper and lower portions of said side panels have inwardly and outwardly directed integral shouldered ledges form thereon for nesting the opposite edges and inner edges of said top and running board sheets therein, and said ledges and edges being spot welded to each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
68 words
In a snowmobile chassis modular frame as in claim 8, integral overhanging ledges formed on the lower portions of said side panels adjacent to the shouldered ledges thereof, said overhanging and shouldered ledges being spaced from each other by a distance equivalent to the thickness of the running board sheets, and the inner edges of said running board sheets being nested between said spaced overhanging and shouldered ledges.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
68 words
In a snowmobile chassis modular frame as in claim 9, a pair of integral upwardly slanted foot rests formed on the front ends of said running board sheets, said foot rests being joined to said side panels, and a back panel at the rear end of said tunnel, said back panel being joined to said side panels and top sheet to reinforce the rear end of said tunnel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
111 words
A snowmobile chassis single piece lightweight metal front end modular ski post support, said ski post support comprising an integral generally U-shaped aluminum casting, said casting having a pair of integral front diverging ski post supporting arms formed thereon, integral tubular bearings formed in said arms for supporting a pair of ski posts therein, a pair of aligned bearing apertures formed in the sides of U-shaped casting for supporting a snowmobile drive belt shaft therein, and said modular ski post support being adapted to fit different size snowmobile chassis frame tunnels by varying the cast width of said U-shaped aluminum casting, to match up the front end casting with the tunnel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
111 words
A snowmobile chassis single piece lightweight metal front end modular ski post support, said ski post support comprising an integral generally U-shaped aluminum casting, said casting having a pair of integral front diverging ski post supporting arms formed thereon, integral tubular bearings formed in said arms for supporting a pair of ski posts therein, a pair of aligned bearing apertures formed in the sides of U-shaped casting for supporting a snowmobile drive belt shaft therein, and said modular ski post support being adapted to fit different size snowmobile chassis frame tunnels by varying the cast width of said U-shaped aluminum casting, to match up the front end casting with the tunnel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3613205A
Cited
US3608658A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-07 | 1978-04-08 | 1978-10-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-07 | 1982-04-08 | 1982-10-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-07 | 1986-04-08 | 1986-10-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |