# US 10,479,448 B2 · Snowmobile having a snow guard > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,479,448 B2 - Document ID: US10479448B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/705,490 - Filed: 2017-09-15 - Published: 2019-03-21 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-09-15 - Assignees: BRP Finland Oy - Applicants: BRP FINLAND Oy - Inventors: Janne Tapio - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479448B2 ## CPC - B62M 27/02: power driven - B62D 55/07: Mono-track vehicles - B62D 55/088: with means to exclude or remove foreign matter, e.g. sealing means, self-cleaning track links or sprockets, deflector plates or scrapers - B62D 25/16: Mud-guards or wings; Wheel cover panels (equipped with means for freeing wheels or tyres from foreign matter B60S) - B62M 2027/028: {Snow mobiles characterised by chassis or bodywork} - B62M: RIDER PROPULSION OF WHEELED VEHICLES OR SLEDGES; POWERED PROPULSION OF SLEDGES OR {SINGLE-TRACK} CYCLES; TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SUCH VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of transmissions in vehicles in general B60K; transmission elements per se F16) - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) ## Abstract A snowmobile has a frame having a tunnel; at least one ski operatively connected to the frame; a motor supported by the frame; an endless drive track disposed at least in part below the tunnel and operatively connected to the motor for propulsion of the snowmobile; a suspension assembly operatively connected to the frame, the suspension assembly supporting and tensioning the endless drive track, the suspension assembly having a least one rear idler wheel, the at least one idler wheel defining an idler wheel rotation axis; and a snow guard connected to the suspension assembly. The snow guard has a deflector. The deflector has a leading edge and a trailing edge. The leading edge is rearward and upward of the idler wheel rotation axis. The trailing edge is rearward and upward of the idler wheel rotation axis. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A snowmobile comprising: a frame having a tunnel; at least one ski operatively connected to the frame; a motor supported by the frame; an endless drive track disposed at least in part below the tunnel and operatively connected to the motor for propulsion of the snowmobile; a suspension assembly operatively connected to the frame, the suspension assembly supporting and tensioning the endless drive track, the suspension assembly having a least one rear idler wheel, the at least one idler wheel defining an idler wheel rotation axis; and a snow guard connected to the suspension assembly, the snow guard having a deflector, the snow guard having a left arm and a right arm connecting the deflector to the rear suspension assembly, the deflector having a leading edge and a trailing edge, the leading edge being rearward and upward of the idler wheel rotation axis, and the trailing edge being rearward and upward of the idler wheel rotation axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The snowmobile of claim 1, wherein the leading edge is upward and forward of the trailing edge. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The snowmobile of claim 1, wherein an angle between the leading edge and the trailing edge about the idler wheel rotation axis is less than 90 degrees. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The snowmobile of claim 3, wherein the angle is less than 45 degrees. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The snowmobile of claim 1, wherein: the deflector has an inner arcuate surface and an outer surface; the inner arcuate surface faces the endless drive track; and the idler wheel rotation axis extends through a center of curvature of the inner arcuate surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The snowmobile of claim 1, wherein the deflector has a width that is greater than a width of the endless drive track. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The snowmobile of claim 6, the width of the deflector is greater than a width of a rear end of the tunnel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The snowmobile of claim 1, wherein: the at least one rear idler wheel is a rear left idler wheel and a rear right idler wheel; the suspension assembly has a left slide rail and a right slide rail; the rear left idler wheel is rotationally connected to the left slide rail; the rear right idler wheel is rotationally connected to the right slide rail; and the left arm connects the deflector to the left slide rail and the right arm connects the deflector to the right slide rail. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The snowmobile of claim 8, wherein: the left slide rail is laterally between the left arm and the rear left idler wheel; and the right slide rail is laterally between the right arm and the rear right idler wheel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The snowmobile of claim 8, wherein: the suspension assembly has an axle connected between the left slide rail and the right slide rail; the rear left idler wheel is rotationally connected to the axle; the rear right idler wheel is rotationally connected to the axle; the left arm is connected to the axle; and the right arm is connected to the axle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The snowmobile of claim 10, wherein: the suspension assembly has a left track tensioner connected between the axle and the left slide rail and a right track tensioner connected between the axle and the right slide rail; and the left and right track tensioners adjust a longitudinal position of the left and right rear idler wheels and of the snow guard, the snow guard moving longitudinally with the left and right idler wheels. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The snowmobile of claim 11, wherein: each of the left and right arms defines a slot; a left pin is connected to the left slide rail and is received in the slot of the left arm; and a right pin is connected to the right slide rail and is received in the slot of the right arm. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The snowmobile of claim 1, wherein front portions of the left and right arms are disposed laterally inward of lateral edges of the endless drive track. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The snowmobile of claim 1, wherein the snow guard has: a left snow scraper extending from the left arm toward an inner surface of the endless driver track; and a right snow scraper extending from the right arm toward the inner surface of the endless driver track. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The snowmobile of claim 1, wherein the deflector is disposed rearward of a rear end of the tunnel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The snowmobile of claim 15, further comprising a bumper connected to a rear portion of the tunnel; and wherein the deflector is disposed rearward of a rear end of the bumper. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The snowmobile of claim 1, wherein: the tunnel has a heat exchanger assembly; and the deflector has a width that is greater than a width of a rear portion of the heat exchanger assembly. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The snowmobile of claim 1, wherein the at least one idler wheel and the snow guard move together relative to the tunnel as the rear suspension assembly extends and compresses. ### Claim 19 A snowmobile comprising: a frame having a tunnel; at least one ski operatively connected to the frame; a motor supported by the frame; an endless drive track disposed at least in part below the tunnel and operatively connected to the motor for propulsion of the snowmobile, the endless drive track having a plurality of external lugs having a lug height; a suspension assembly operatively connected to the frame, the suspension assembly supporting and tensioning the endless drive track, the suspension assembly having a least one rear idler wheel, the at least one idler wheel defining an idler wheel rotation axis; and a snow guard connected to the suspension assembly, the snow guard having a deflector, the deflector having a leading edge and a trailing edge, the leading edge being rearward and upward of the idler wheel rotation axis, the trailing edge being rearward and upward of the idler wheel rotation axis, the deflector having an inner arcuate surface and an outer surface, the inner arcuate surface facing the endless drive track, a distance between the at least one rear idler wheel and the inner arcuate surface being greater than the lug height, a gap being defined between the inner arcuate surface and an end of an external lug of the plurality of external lugs that is disposed between the inner arcuate surface and the at least one idler wheel, and the gap being smaller than the lug height. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The snowmobile of claim 19, wherein the leading edge is upward and forward of the trailing edge. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The snowmobile of claim 19, wherein an angle between the leading edge and the trailing edge about the idler wheel rotation axis is less than 90 degrees. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The snowmobile of claim 19, wherein the deflector has a width that is greater than a width of the endless drive track. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The snowmobile of claim 19, wherein the at least one idler wheel and the snow guard move together relative to the tunnel as the rear suspension assembly extends and compresses. ### Claim 24 A snowmobile comprising: a frame having a tunnel; at least one ski operatively connected to the frame; a motor supported by the frame; an endless drive track disposed at least in part below the tunnel and operatively connected to the motor for propulsion of the snowmobile; a suspension assembly operatively connected to the frame, the suspension assembly supporting and tensioning the endless drive track, the suspension assembly having a least one rear idler wheel, the at least one idler wheel defining an idler wheel rotation axis; and a snow guard connected to the suspension assembly, the snow guard having a deflector, the deflector having a leading edge and a trailing edge, the leading edge being rearward and upward of the idler wheel rotation axis, the trailing edge being rearward and upward of the idler wheel rotation axis, the deflector having an inner arcuate surface and an outer surface, the inner arcuate surface facing the endless drive track, a line tangent to the inner arcuate surface at the leading edge of the deflector does not intersect the endless drive track, and the line intersecting the tunnel forward of a rear end of the tunnel. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The snowmobile of claim 24, wherein: the tunnel has a heat exchanger assembly; and the line intersects the heat exchanger assembly. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The snowmobile of claim 24, wherein the leading edge is upward and forward of the trailing edge. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The snowmobile of claim 24, wherein an angle between the leading edge and the trailing edge about the idler wheel rotation axis is less than 90 degrees. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) The snowmobile of claim 24, wherein the deflector has a width that is greater than a width of the endless drive track. ### Claim 29 (depends on 24) The snowmobile of claim 24, wherein the at least one idler wheel and the snow guard move together relative to the tunnel as the rear suspension assembly extends and compresses.