Snow track for a snowmobile
AssigneePolaris Industries Inc.
InventorsJoshua J. MICKELSON, Michael A. HEDLUND
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An endless track for propelling a snowmobile. The endless track includes an inner drive surface and an outer ground-engaging surface opposite to the inner drive surface. A first side surface is opposite to a second side surface. A plurality of first side lugs are adjacent to the first side surface. A plurality of second side lugs are adjacent to the second side surface. The plurality of first side lugs and the plurality of second side lugs provide traction when the snowmobile is operated off-axis and tilted on its side as well as provides traction surfaces on additional planes other than the outer carcass of the endless track when the track is submerged in the snow.
Claims20
(canceled)
An endless track for propelling a snowmobile, the endless track comprising:
- an inner drive surface;
- an outer ground-engaging surface opposite to the inner drive surface;
- a first side surface;
- a second side surface opposite to the first side surface;
- a plurality of reinforcing rods embedded within the endless track and extending transversely relative to a direction of rotation of the endless track;
- wherein the plurality of reinforcing rods are arranged in an alternating pattern comprising:
- first reinforcing rods extending from proximate the first side surface toward the second side surface and terminating prior to reaching the second side surface, and
- second reinforcing rods extending from proximate the second side surface toward the first side surface and terminating prior to reaching the first side surface,
- wherein each first reinforcing rod is positioned between adjacent second reinforcing rods;
- wherein the alternating pattern of the first and second reinforcing rods provides localized flexibility at the first side surface and the second side surface to facilitate engagement with snow when the snowmobile is operated off-axis.
A method of manufacturing an endless track for propelling a snowmobile, the method comprising:
- forming a track body comprising an inner drive surface, an outer ground-engaging surface opposite to the inner drive surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface opposite to the first side surface;
- embedding a plurality of reinforcing rods within the track body, the reinforcing rods extending transversely relative to a direction of rotation of the endless track;
- positioning the plurality of reinforcing rods in an alternating pattern comprising:
- embedding first reinforcing rods that extend from proximate the first side surface toward the second side surface while terminating prior to reaching the second side surface, and embedding second reinforcing rods that extend from proximate the second side surface toward the first side surface while terminating prior to reaching the first side surface, wherein each first reinforcing rod is positioned between adjacent second reinforcing rods;
- wherein the alternating pattern of the first and second reinforcing rods creates localized flexibility zones at the first side surface and the second side surface configured to facilitate engagement with snow when the snowmobile is operated off-axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.