US4633964A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Snowmobile
Assignee: Yamaha Motor Co Ltd
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Filing: 1985-12-23
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Granted: 1987-01-06
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Expires: 2005-12-23
Abstract
Abstract A small, light-weight snowmobile having a chassis frame assembly comprised of a front frame member supporting a pair of steerable skis and a driver's seat and a rear frame member supporting an engine and a drive track device. The rear frame is swingably connected to the front frame by a parallel link mechanism and the arrangement is such that the driver is situated lower to the ground whereby the feeling of traveling at higher than actual speed is enhanced.
Inventors
- 👤 Kirk A. Boyer
- 👤 Tesuo Imai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 08:45
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62M; B62M27/00; B62M27/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
A snowmobile comprising: (a) a front frame member supporting a pair of steerable skis and a driver's seat; (b) a rear frame member supporting an engine and a drive track device drivable by said engine; and (c) a link mechanism having an upper arm assembly and a lower arm assembly, each pivotally coupled between the rear end of said front frame member and the front end of said rear frame member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
71 words
A snowmobile comprising: (a) a front frame member supporting a pair of steerable skis and a driver's seat; (b) a rear frame member supporting an engine and a drive track device drivable by said engine; and (c) a link mechanism having an upper arm assembly and a lower arm assembly, each pivotally coupled between the rear end of said front frame member and the front end of said rear frame member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
A snowmobile according to claim 1, wherein said rear frame member is of a box-like construction comprising at least an upper wall, a front wall, and a pair of side walls, said drive track device being housed in said box-like construction, said engine being fixed to an upper surface of said upper wall and a shock absorber disposed between said rear frame member and said rear end of said front frame member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A snowmobile according to claim 2 wherein said shock absorber has a lower end thereof pivotally coupled to said upper arm assembly and an upper end pivotally coupled to said rear end of said front frame member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A snowmobile according to claim 2 wherein said rear frame member has a pair of laterally spaced stays affixed to a front portion of said upper wall with said drive track device being swingably supported at said laterally spaced stays.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
A snowmobile according to claim 1, wherein said drive track device comprises drive wheels operatively coupled to said engine, idler wheels, track belts trained around said drive and idler wheels, and slide rails slidably held against inner surfaces of said track belts, said slide rails being pivotally supported on said rear frame member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A snowmobile according to claim 5, wherein said slide rails are pivotally supported on said rear frame member through resilient or torsional members to dampen shocks and vibrations applied to the slide rails.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A snowmobile according to claim 6 wherein weight is transferred from said skis to said rear frame member upon acceleration of said track belt.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A snowmobile according to claim 1, wherein said skis are independently suspended on said front frame member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A snowmobile according to claim 1 and further including swing arms resiliently supported by torsion rubber members on said front frame member, said skis being supported by said swing arms.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A snowmobile according to claim 1 and further including a fuel tank disposed below said driver's seat on said front frame member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A snowmobile according to claim 1 wherein said driver's seat comprises a generally horizontal seat portion and a rearwardly and upwardly sloping backrest portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The snowmobile as in claim 11 and further including a cover surrounding said engine, the front side surface of said cover being generally parallel to said rearwardly sloping backrest portion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
CA610777A
Cited
FR1298357A
Cited
US3213955A
Cited
US3712396A
Cited
US3719242A
Cited
US3734221A
Cited
US3828872A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-01-05 | 1990-07-07 | 1991-01-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-01-05 | 1994-07-07 | 1995-01-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-01-05 | 1998-07-07 | 1999-01-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |