Snowmobile
AssigneePolaris Industries Inc.
InventorsAnthony J. Ripley, Luc C. Wilson, Martin E. Sampson, Jeffrey A. Eaton, Lyle J. Dahlgren, Matthew M. Sweere
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A snowmobile includes a plurality of ground engaging members, a frame supported by the ground engaging members, and a powertrain assembly supported by the frame. Additionally, the snowmobile includes a front suspension assembly supported by the frame. The front suspension assembly includes an upper control arm operably coupled to the frame and a lower control arm operably coupled to the frame. The lower control arm is forged. At least a portion of the lower control arm includes an artificially-induced area of localized stress, and the lower control arm is configured to absorb energy at the area of localized stress.
Claims26
A snowmobile, comprising:
- a plurality of ground engaging members;
- a frame supported by the ground engaging members;
- a powertrain assembly supported by the frame;
- and
- a front suspension assembly supported by the frame and including:
- an upper control arm operably coupled to the frame;
- and
- a lower control arm operably coupled to the frame and being comprised of a material which is forged, at least a portion of the lower control arm includes an artificially-induced area of localized stress comprised of and integrally formed with the material of the lower control arm, and the lower control arm is configured to yield at the area of localized stress.
A snowmobile, comprising:
- a plurality of ground engaging members;
- a frame supported by the ground engaging members;
- a powertrain assembly supported by the frame;
- and
- a front suspension assembly supported by the frame and including:
- an upper control arm operably coupled to the frame and comprised of forged aluminum;
- and
- a lower control arm operably coupled to the frame and comprised of forged aluminum, wherein the lower control arm includes a front member and a rear member, and an area of localized stress is comprised of and integrally formed with the forged aluminum of the lower control arm, and the area of localized stress is artificially induced within the rear member.
A snowmobile, comprising:
- a plurality of ground engaging members;
- a steering assembly operably coupled to the ground engaging members and including a steering post, steering arms, and handlebars;
- and
- a frame supported by the ground engaging members and including a plurality of frame members, and a coupling member having an upper member and a lower member, the lower member is separate and spaced apart from the upper member, and the upper and lower members are configured to couple with the plurality of frame members and the steering post, the upper member including a first web for supporting an upper end of the steering post and the lower member includes a second web for supporting a lower end of the steering post.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.