Vehicle with an actuator for adjusting a limiter strap

A vehicle, comprising:

• a chassis;
• at least one seat connected to the chassis;
• a motor connected to the chassis;
• an endless drive track disposed below the chassis, the endless drive track being operatively connected to the motor for propulsion of the vehicle;
• a rear suspension assembly supporting the endless drive track, the rear suspension assembly comprising:
• a left slide rail;
• a right slide rail;
• at least one suspension arm pivotally connected to one of the left and right slide rails and pivotally connected to the chassis;
• a shock absorber connected between the chassis and the one of the left and right slide rails;
• a limiter strap extending between the chassis and the one of the left and right slide rails, the limiter strap being substantially inextensible to limit separation between the one of the left and right slide rails and the chassis;
• a strap holder connected between an end of the limiter strap and one of:
• the one of the left and right slide rails, and
• the chassis,
• the strap holder being moveable between a first holder position and a second holder position, a position of the end of the limiter strap being different in the first strap holder position compared to the second strap holder position;
• a control cable having a first end operatively connected to the strap holder of the rear suspension assembly;
• a strap adjustment actuator operatively connected to a second end of the control cable, the strap adjustment actuator being disposed forward of the at least one seat, the strap adjustment actuator being operable by a user during operation of the vehicle,
• the strap adjustment actuator being operatively connected to the strap holder via the control cable, the strap adjustment actuator being movable between a plurality of actuator positions, the plurality of actuator positions including at least a first actuator position and a second actuator position, a position of the strap holder being related to a selected one of the plurality of actuator positions;
• and
• a handlebar connected to the chassis,
• the strap adjustment actuator being a twist grip actuator disposed on the handlebar,
• the twist grip actuator being movable between at least the first actuator position and the second actuator position by twisting the twist grip actuator about the handlebar.

A vehicle, comprising:

• a chassis;
• at least one seat connected to the chassis;
• a motor connected to the chassis;
• an endless drive track disposed below the chassis, the endless drive track being operatively connected to the motor for propulsion of the vehicle;
• a rear suspension assembly supporting the endless drive track, the rear suspension assembly comprising:
• a left slide rail;
• a right slide rail;
• at least one suspension arm pivotally connected to one of the left and right slide rails and pivotally connected to the chassis;
• a shock absorber connected between the chassis and the one of the left and right slide rails;
• a limiter strap extending between the chassis and the one of the left and right slide rails, the limiter strap being substantially inextensible to limit separation between the one of the left and right slide rails and the chassis;
• a strap holder connected between an end of the limiter strap and one of:
• the one of the left and right slide rails, and
• the chassis,
• the strap holder being moveable between a first holder position and a second holder position, a position of the end of the limiter strap being different in the first strap holder position compared to the second strap holder position;
• a control cable having a first end operatively connected to the strap holder of the rear suspension assembly;
• a strap adjustment actuator operatively connected to a second end of the control cable, the strap adjustment actuator being disposed forward of the at least one seat, the strap adjustment actuator being operable by a user during operation of the vehicle,
• the strap adjustment actuator being operatively connected to the strap holder via the control cable, the strap adjustment actuator being movable between a plurality of actuator positions, the plurality of actuator positions including at least a first actuator position and a second actuator position, a position of the strap holder being related to a selected one of the plurality of actuator positions;
• and
• a handlebar connected to the chassis, the strap adjustment actuator being a lever actuator disposed on the handlebar, the lever actuator being movable between at least the first actuator position and the second actuator position by at least one of:
• pushing the lever actuator, and
• pulling the lever actuator.

A vehicle, comprising:

• a chassis;
• at least one seat connected to the chassis;
• a motor connected to the chassis;
• an endless drive track disposed below the chassis, the endless drive track being operatively connected to the motor for propulsion of the vehicle;
• a rear suspension assembly supporting the endless drive track, the rear suspension assembly comprising:
• a left slide rail;
• a right slide rail;
• at least one suspension arm pivotally connected to one of the left and right slide rails and pivotally connected to the chassis;
• a shock absorber connected between the chassis and the one of the left and right slide rails;
• a limiter strap extending between the chassis and the one of the left and right slide rails, the limiter strap being substantially inextensible to limit separation between the one of the left and right slide rails and the chassis;
• a strap holder connected between an end of the limiter strap and one of:
• the one of the left and right slide rails, and
• the chassis,
• the strap holder being moveable between a first holder position and a second holder position, a position of the end of the limiter strap being different in the first strap holder position compared to the second strap holder position;
• a control cable having a first end operatively connected to the strap holder of the rear suspension assembly;
• a strap adjustment actuator operatively connected to a second end of the control cable, the strap adjustment actuator being disposed forward of the at least one seat, the strap adjustment actuator being operable by a user during operation of the vehicle,
• the strap adjustment actuator being operatively connected to the strap holder via the control cable, the strap adjustment actuator being movable between a plurality of actuator positions, the plurality of actuator positions including at least a first actuator position and a second actuator position, a position of the strap holder being related to a selected one of the plurality of actuator positions;
• and
• at least one body panel connected to and disposed above the chassis,
• the strap adjustment actuator being connected to the at least one body panel.

A vehicle, comprising:

• a chassis;
• at least one seat connected to the chassis;
• a motor connected to the chassis;
• an endless drive track disposed below the chassis, the endless drive track being operatively connected to the motor for propulsion of the vehicle;
• a rear suspension assembly supporting the endless drive track, the rear suspension assembly comprising:
• a left slide rail;
• a right slide rail;
• at least one suspension arm pivotally connected to one of the left and right slide rails and pivotally connected to the chassis;
• a shock absorber connected between the chassis and the one of the left and right slide rails;
• a limiter strap extending between the chassis and the one of the left and right slide rails, the limiter strap being substantially inextensible to limit separation between the one of the left and right slide rails and the chassis;
• a strap holder connected between an end of the limiter strap and one of:
• the one of the left and right slide rails, and
• the chassis,
• the strap holder being moveable between a first holder position and a second holder position, a position of the end of the limiter strap being different in the first strap holder position compared to the second strap holder position;
• a control cable having a first end operatively connected to the strap holder of the rear suspension assembly;
• a strap adjustment actuator operatively connected to a second end of the control cable, the strap adjustment actuator being disposed forward of the at least one seat, the strap adjustment actuator being operable by a user during operation of the vehicle,
• the strap adjustment actuator being operatively connected to the strap holder via the control cable, the strap adjustment actuator being movable between a plurality of actuator positions, the plurality of actuator positions including at least a first actuator position and a second actuator position, a position of the strap holder being related to a selected one of the plurality of actuator positions;
• and
• a handlebar riser connected to the chassis,
• wherein the strap adjustment actuator being disposed on the handlebar riser.

A snowmobile, comprising:

• a chassis,
• the chassis including a tunnel;
• at least one seat connected to the chassis;
• a motor connected to the chassis;
• an endless drive track disposed below the chassis, the endless drive track being operatively connected to the motor for propulsion of the vehicle;
• a rear suspension assembly supporting the endless drive track, the rear suspension assembly being connected to the tunnel, the rear suspension assembly comprising:
• a left slide rail;
• a right slide rail;
• at least one suspension arm pivotally connected to one of the left and right slide rails and pivotally connected to the chassis;
• a shock absorber connected between the chassis and the one of the left and right slide rails;
• a limiter strap extending between the chassis and the one of the left and right slide rails, the limiter strap being substantially inextensible to limit separation between the one of the left and right slide rails and the chassis;
• a strap holder connected between an end of the limiter strap and one of:
• the one of the left and right slide rails, and
• the chassis,
• the strap holder being disposed in an interior of the tunnel,
• the strap holder being moveable between a first holder position and a second holder position, a position of the end of the limiter strap being different in the first strap holder position compared to the second strap holder position;
• a control cable having a first end operatively connected to the strap holder of the rear suspension assembly, the control cable being disposed on an exterior side of a tunnel wall of the tunnel;
• a strap adjustment actuator operatively connected to a second end of the control cable, the strap adjustment actuator being disposed forward of the at least one seat, the strap adjustment actuator being operable by a user during operation of the vehicle,
• the strap adjustment actuator being operatively connected to the strap holder via the control cable, the strap adjustment actuator being movable between a plurality of actuator positions, the plurality of actuator positions including at least a first actuator position and a second actuator position, a position of the strap holder being related to a selected one of the plurality of actuator positions;
• a front right ski connected to a front right portion of the chassis;
• and
• a front left ski connected to a front left portion of the chassis.