Spindle and suspension system for recreational vehicles
AssigneeArctic Cat Inc.
InventorsDavid L. Vigen, Guy L. Sibilleau
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention describe a recreational vehicle spindle, including a spindle body having one or more sockets in the spindle body, and an upper attachment mechanism in contact with the spindle body and adapted to attach to a steering component. The spindle also includes a lower attachment mechanism in contact with the spindle body and adapted to attach to a ski or wheel. The one or more sockets are adapted to each receive a ball and stud forming one or more ball joints.
Claims14
A recreational vehicle spindle, comprising:
- a spindle body, having one or more sockets in the spindle body, each socket including an inner wall and an outer wall,
- an upper attachment mechanism in contact with the spindle body, adapted to attach to a steering component;
- and
- a lower attachment mechanism in contact with the spindle body, adapted to attach to a ski or wheel;
- wherein the one or more sockets are adapted to each receive a ball and stud forming one or more ball joints.
A recreational vehicle suspension system, comprising:
- one or more spindle bodies;
- each body including:
- one or more sockets in the spindle body, each socket including an inner wall and an outer wall,
- an upper attachment mechanism in contact with the spindle body, attached to one or more steering components;
- and
- a lower attachment mechanism in contact with each spindle body, attached to a ski or wheel;
- one or more connecting arms, each connecting arm attached to a stud and ball at a distal end, forming a ball joint with each socket of the spindle body;
- and
- one or more dampening components, in contact with one or more of the connecting arms and spindle body at a distal end.
A recreational vehicle, comprising:
- one or more spindle bodies;
- each body including:
- one or more sockets in the spindle body, each socket including an inner wall and an outer wall,
- an upper attachment mechanism in contact with the spindle body, attached to one or more steering components;
- and
- a lower attachment mechanism in contact with each spindle body, attached to a ski or wheel;
- one or more connecting arms, each connecting arm in contact with a stud and ball at a distal end, forming a ball joint with each socket of the spindle body, and attached to a chassis at the proximal end;
- one or more dampening components, in contact with one or more of the connecting arms and spindle body at a distal end and attached to the chassis at a proximal end;
- an engine, mounted on the chassis;
- a drive track, in contact with the chassis;
- a drive train, operatively interconnecting the engine with the drive track for delivering propulsive power to the drive track;
- and
- a rear suspension system, in contact with at least the chassis and drive track.
A snowmobile comprising:
- a chassis;
- a rear suspension coupled to the chassis;
- an endless track;
- a front suspension coupled to the chassis;
- the front suspension comprising:
- an upper a-arm and a lower a-arm;
- a dampening member attached to at least one of the upper a-arm and lower a-arm;
- a ski;
- and
- a front spindle, the front spindle having a spindle body, the spindle body having at least two sockets formed therein;
- at least one of the at least two sockets having therein a ball, the ball attached to a stud, the stud extending from the ball;
- wherein at least one of the upper a-arm and the lower a-arm are attached to the stud and wherein the socket has a polymeric material disposed between the ball and the socket.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.