US 2003/0150659 A1 · Flexible grab handle

Abstract

A detachable passenger seat is selectively mountable onto a base frame of a snowmobile having a straddle-type rider seat. The passenger seat includes a cushioned seat portion supported by a seat frame. A forward portion of the passenger seat includes a bottom surface contoured to fit over and be supported by at least a portion of a rearward end of the rider seat when the passenger seat is attached to the snowmobile. Upwardly extending flexible grab handles are mounted to the lateral sides of the seat frame. Upper portions of the flexible grab handles extend higher than at least a portion of an upper surface of a cushioned seat portion of the passenger seat. The flexible grab handles are designed to be rigid enough to provide support to a passenger and flexible enough to allow a passenger to easily dismount the snowmobile.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A grab handle mountable to a vehicle having a straddle-type passenger seat, the grab handle comprising:

a mounting portion constructed and arranged to be mounted to the vehicle laterally-outwardly from the straddle-type passenger seat;
and
a handle portion extending upwardly from the mounting portion,
wherein the handle portion is flexible and at least bends laterally outwardly relative to the mounting portion when a predetermined outwardly-directed lateral load is applied to an upper portion of the handle portion, and
wherein the upper portion of the handle portion is constructed and arranged to be higher than at least a portion of an upper surface of a seat portion of the passenger seat.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Flexible grab handle

Life of this patent

Flexible grab handle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9