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US 12,168,469 B2Granted
Recreational vehicle spindle
AssigneeArctic Cat Inc.
InventorsMarcus Charles Moldaschel, Benjamin Taylor Langaas, Nathan Lee Blomker, Steven Janzow, Guy L. Sibilleau
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments of the present disclosure describe a spindle for a recreational vehicle, such as a snowmobile, an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), or a side-by-side vehicle. The spindle includes a spine, optionally a front fin that extends from a front surface of the spine, and optionally a rear fin that extends from a back surface of the spine.
Claims23
A spindle, comprising:
- an upper control arm mount;
- a lower control arm mount, wherein a steering axis is defined through the upper control arm mount and the lower control arm mount;
- a base, the base including a ski mount, the ski mount including a hole defining an axis X;
- and
- a spindle body including a spine, a front fin extending from a front surface of the spine, and a rear fin extending from a back surface of the spine,
- wherein the steering axis is disposed forward of the axis X of the ski mount,
- wherein between 80% to 90% of the spindle body is positioned behind the steering axis.
4 more elements
A spindle, comprising:
- a top mount that is operably securable to a suspension component;
- a base including a bottom mount that is operably securable to a ski;
- a spindle body, the spindle body including:
- a curvilinear spine extending from the base to the top mount;
- and
- a rear fin extending from a back surface of the curvilinear spine, wherein the rear fin is positioned substantially orthogonal to the spine at one or both of a first position that is adjacent to the top mount and a second position that is adjacent to the base.
3 more elements
A snowmobile, comprising:
- a frame;
- a ski;
- an engine;
- a spindle connecting the frame to the ski, the spindle including a lower control arm mount and a spindle body, the lower control arm mount having a first height relative to a ground plane, the spindle securing the frame to the ski;
- and
- a track drive coupled to the engine, the track drive including a bottom track drive sprocket, the bottom track drive sprocket defining a track drive axis, the track drive axis having a second height relative to the ground plane,
- wherein the first height is between 66% to 75% of the second height.
4 more elements
A spindle comprising:
- an upper control arm mount;
- a lower control arm mount;
- a base comprising a ski mount;
- and
- a body extending between the base and the upper control arm mount, the body comprising a double curve defining a first forward facing concavity positioned along the body between the upper control arm mount and the lower control arm mount, a second forward facing concavity positioned along the body between the lower control arm mount and the base, and a rearward facing concavity positioned along the body between the first forward facing concavity and the second forward facing concavity,
- wherein the lower control arm mount extends forward and inboard from the body.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.