# US 2008/0185204 A1 · Snow vehicle

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- Number: US 2008/0185204 A1
- Document ID: US20080185204A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 11/956,859
- Filed: 2007-12-14
- Published: 2008-08-07
- Earliest claimed: 2007-02-01
- Assignees: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Shinichi MATSUDO
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080185204A1

## CPC

- B62M 27/02: power driven
- 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)

## Abstract

A snow vehicle includes a track belt unit having an endless track belt, an engine arranged to drive the track belt unit, a steering mechanism to which a pair of steerable skis positioned in a forward direction of the track belt unit and being steerable to the left and right are attached, and a handlebar section coupled to the steerable skis via the steering mechanism and adapted to be gripped by a rider. The handlebar section and the rear end of the cylinder head are in generally the same position in a longitudinal direction of the snow vehicle.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A snow vehicle comprising:
a track belt unit having an endless track belt;
an engine arranged to drive the track belt unit and including a cylinder head;
a steering mechanism to which a pair of steerable skis positioned in a forward direction of the track belt unit and being steerable to the left and right are attached; and
a handlebar section coupled to the steerable skis via the steering mechanism and adapted to be gripped by a rider; wherein
the handlebar section and a rear end of the cylinder head are in generally the same position in a longitudinal direction of the snow vehicle.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The snow vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the cylinder head is inclined rearward of the snow vehicle.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The snow vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising a rod-shaped steering shaft between the steerable skis and the handlebar section, the steering shaft being positioned above the cylinder head.

### Claim 4

A snow vehicle comprising:
a track belt unit having an endless track belt;
an engine arranged to drive the track belt unit;
a steering mechanism to which a pair of steerable skis positioned in a forward direction of the track belt unit and being steerable to the left and right are attached; and
a handlebar section coupled to the steerable skis via the steering mechanism and adapted to be gripped by a rider; wherein
the track belt unit has a drive shaft driven by the engine; and
the handlebar section is positioned in a forward direction of the drive shaft.

### Claim 5

A snow vehicle comprising:
a track belt unit having an endless track belt;
an engine arranged to drive the track belt unit and including a cylinder head;
a fuel tank arranged to store therein fuel to be supplied to the engine; and
a steering mechanism to which a pair of steerable skis positioned in a forward direction of the track belt unit and being steerable to the left and right are attached; wherein
at least a portion of the fuel tank overlaps the cylinder head in a longitudinal direction of the snow vehicle.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The snow vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the at least a portion of the fuel tank overlaps the cylinder head in a longitudinal direction of the snow vehicle by more than half a longitudinal width of the cylinder head.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The snow vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the cylinder head is inclined rearward of the snow vehicle.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The snow vehicle according to claim 7, further comprising a handlebar section coupled to the steerable skis via the steering mechanism and adapted to be gripped by a rider, and a rod-shaped steering shaft between the steerable skis and the handlebar section, the steering shaft being positioned above the cylinder head.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

The snow vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the fuel tank and the cylinder head overlap each other as seen in a plan view of the snow vehicle.