US3878900A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Snowmobile trail groomer
Assignee: Bombardier Inc
•
Filing: 1973-10-17
•
Granted: 1975-04-22
•
Expires: 1993-10-17
Abstract
Abstract A grooming apparatus for snow surfaces such as snowmobile trails comprises a heavy elongate frame having an articulated forward end supported on skis, and a rear end supported on a skid. Centrally of the frame is a transverse blade structure behind which is positioned a massive pivotally mounted compactor bar. In contrast to new equipment of this type, the present grooming apparatus provides for vertical adjustment of the frame relative to the front skis and the rear skid.
Inventors
- 👤 Pierre Paul Boisse
- 👤 Jacques Bombardier
- 👤 Rejean Leclerc
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 13:10
CPC Classifications
E; E01; E01H; E01H4/00; E01H4/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
Apparatus for grooming a snow surface comprising an elongate frame having forward and rearward ends and skid means adjacent each end to support the frame for sliding movement upon the snow surface, a blade structure carried by said frame and extending transversely thereof, said blade structure having a generally horizontal lower edge, a horizontal compactor extending transversely of the frame and mounted thereon rearwardly of the blade structure, said compactor comprising a heavy, rigid, elongate member pivotally mounted on an axis transverse to said frame, abutment means on said frame defining a limiting position for said compactor, said limiting position being spaced rearwardly and downwardly of the pivotal axis such that the compactor is urged by gravity towards said limiting position but in operation may be displaced pivotally upwardly and rearwardly by the mass of snow to be compacted, and means for adjusting the height of said frame relative to saId skid means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
Apparatus for grooming a snow surface comprising an elongate frame having forward and rearward ends and skid means adjacent each end to support the frame for sliding movement upon the snow surface, a blade structure carried by said frame and extending transversely thereof, said blade structure having a generally horizontal lower edge, a horizontal compactor extending transversely of the frame and mounted thereon rearwardly of the blade structure, said compactor comprising a heavy, rigid, elongate member pivotally mounted on an axis transverse to said frame, abutment means on said frame defining a limiting position for said compactor, said limiting position being spaced rearwardly and downwardly of the pivotal axis such that the compactor is urged by gravity towards said limiting position but in operation may be displaced pivotally upwardly and rearwardly by the mass of snow to be compacted, and means for adjusting the height of said frame relative to saId skid means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
153 words
Apparatus for grooming a snow surface comprising an elongate frame having forward and rearward ends and skid means adjacent each end to support the frame for sliding movement upon the snow surface, a blade structure carried by said frame and extending transversely thereof, said blade structure having a generally horizontal lower edge, a horizontal compactor extending transversely of the frame and mounted thereon rearwardly of the blade structure, said compactor comprising a heavy, rigid, elongate member pivotally mounted on an axis transverse to said frame, abutment means on said frame defining a limiting position for said compactor, said limiting position being spaced rearwardly and downwardly of the pivotal axis such that the compactor is urged by gravity towards said limiting position but in operation may be displaced pivotally upwardly and rearwardly by the mass of snow to be compacted, and means for adjusting the height of said frame relative to saId skid means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
153 words
Apparatus for grooming a snow surface comprising an elongate frame having forward and rearward ends and skid means adjacent each end to support the frame for sliding movement upon the snow surface, a blade structure carried by said frame and extending transversely thereof, said blade structure having a generally horizontal lower edge, a horizontal compactor extending transversely of the frame and mounted thereon rearwardly of the blade structure, said compactor comprising a heavy, rigid, elongate member pivotally mounted on an axis transverse to said frame, abutment means on said frame defining a limiting position for said compactor, said limiting position being spaced rearwardly and downwardly of the pivotal axis such that the compactor is urged by gravity towards said limiting position but in operation may be displaced pivotally upwardly and rearwardly by the mass of snow to be compacted, and means for adjusting the height of said frame relative to saId skid means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
141 words
Apparatus for grooming a snow surface comprising an elongate frame having forward and rearward ends and skid means adjacent each end to support the frame for sliding movement upon the snow surface, a blade structure carried by said frame and extending transversely thereof, said blade structure having a generally horizontal lower edge, a horizontal compactor extending transversely of the frame and mounted thereon rearwardly of the blade structure, a deflector plate mounted on said frame above and adjacent the rear of said blade structure, said deflector plate being of a length corresponding to that of the blade structure and being downwardly inclined in the rearward direction so that in operation it acts to deflect snow shaved by the blade structure downwards into the path of the compactor, and means for adjusting the height of said frame relative to said skid means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
141 words
Apparatus for grooming a snow surface comprising an elongate frame having forward and rearward ends and skid means adjacent each end to support the frame for sliding movement upon the snow surface, a blade structure carried by said frame and extending transversely thereof, said blade structure having a generally horizontal lower edge, a horizontal compactor extending transversely of the frame and mounted thereon rearwardly of the blade structure, a deflector plate mounted on said frame above and adjacent the rear of said blade structure, said deflector plate being of a length corresponding to that of the blade structure and being downwardly inclined in the rearward direction so that in operation it acts to deflect snow shaved by the blade structure downwards into the path of the compactor, and means for adjusting the height of said frame relative to said skid means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the blade structure is downwardly and forwardly inclined at an angle of approximately 45* to the vertical.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said front skid means comprises a pair of spaced skis on the front portion of the frame adjacent the lateral edges thereof the rear skid means comprising a plate which extends the full width of the frame.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said blade structure and said compactor extend over substantially the full width of the frame.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
75 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising a support pivotally mounted on a transverse axis at the rear of said frame said support carrying a pair of spaced, downwardly extending arms and the lower end of each arm being pivoted to the rear skid means, and actuator means on said frame operative to pivot said support relative to said frame thereby to adjust the effective height of said frame relative to said rear skid means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said actuator means comprises a fluid pressure operated piston and cylinder assembly connected at one end to said frame and at its opposite end of said support at a location spaced from the pivotal axis of the latter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
78 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said frame has a forward section upon which said front pair of skis is mounted and which is articulated with respect to the remainder of said frame upon which said blade and said compactor are mounted, said forward section of the frame being adjustable in the vertical direction with respect to the remainder of said frame thereby to vary the effective height of the latter with respect to the front skid means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said vertical adjustment is effected through a fluid pressure operated piston and cylinder assembly connected between the forward section of said frame and the remainder of the frame.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein at least the lateral end portions of said blade structure are forwardly inclined with respect to said transverse direction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said blade structure comprises two blade sections which meet centrally of the frame and extend laterally therefrom at a slight forward inclination.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the front skid means comprises a pair of spaced skis on the front portion of the frame adjacent the lateral edges thereof, the rear skid means comprising a plate which extends the full width of the frame.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US243261A
Cited
US1796166A
Cited
US2635888A
Cited
US2786283A
Cited
US2681519A
Cited
US2880528A
Cited
US3091476A
Cited
US3043034A
Cited
US3237324A
Cited
US3490541A
Cited
US3755930A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-21 | 1978-10-21 | 1979-04-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-21 | 1982-10-21 | 1983-04-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-21 | 1986-10-21 | 1987-04-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |