US 9,435,090 B1Granted

Groomer for forming lanes in snow

OwnerMarcus Cory Bradburn, Dennis Cale Neffinventors

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Abstract

A tow-behind snow groomer for forming lanes with barrier mounds (in tubing parks or on ski slopes) includes first and second pans having bottom panels, with front panels and inner panels extending upwardly from the bottom panels, respectively. A central chamber between the first and second pans includes a chamber upper panel bridging the first and second pan inner panels. The groomer can be secured to a vehicle via a vehicle mounting plate. When the groomer is driven over snow, the groomer displaces snow such that the first and second pans form first and second lanes, respectively, with the central chamber forming a central mound between the first and second lanes. First and second wings facilitate formation of peripheral mounds. The central and peripheral mounds are at higher elevations than both the first and second lanes, helping tubers stay in one lane without crossing into other lanes.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A snow groomer for forming tubing lanes separated by snow mounds,

a) the groomer having:
i) a groomer width extending laterally from a groomer front to an opposing groomer rear;
ii) a groomer length extending longitudinally from a groomer first side to an opposing groomer second side;
iii) a first pan having:
1) a first pan bottom panel;
2) an at least substantially longitudinal first pan front panel extending upwardly from the first pan bottom panel;
and
3) an at least substantially lateral first pan inner panel extending upwardly from the first pan bottom panel;
iv) a second pan having:
1) a second pan bottom panel;
2) an at least substantially longitudinal second pan front panel extending upwardly from the second pan bottom panel;
and
3) an at least substantially lateral second pan inner panel extending upwardly from the second pan bottom panel;
v) a central chamber between the first pan and the second pan, the first and second pans being situated on opposing longitudinal sides of the central chamber, the chamber:
1) having a chamber upper panel bridging the first pan inner panel and the second pan inner panel;
2) being bordered by the first pan inner panel, the second pan inner panel, and the chamber upper panel, wherein the chamber upper panel rigidly bridges the first pan inner panel and the second pan inner panel;
and
3) extending from a chamber front opening to a chamber rear opening;
and
vi) a vehicle mounting plate for securing the groomer to a vehicle;
b) wherein when the groomer is driven over snow, the groomer displaces snow such that:
i) the first pan forms a first lane and the second pan forms a second lane;
and
ii) the central chamber forms a central mound between the first lane and the second lane, the central mound being at a higher elevation than both the first lane and the second lane.

21 more elements

A snow groomer for forming tubing lanes separated by snow mounds,

a) the groomer extending:
i) laterally from a groomer front to an opposing groomer rear;
and
ii) longitudinally from a groomer first side to an opposing groomer second side;
b) the groomer including:
i) a first pan having:
1) a first pan bottom panel;
2) a first pan front panel situated at the groomer front and extending upwardly from the first pan bottom panel;
and
3) a first pan inner panel and a first pan outer panel, the first pan inner and outer panels extending upwardly from the first pan bottom panel;
ii) a second pan having:
1) a second pan bottom panel;
2) a second pan front panel situated at the groomer front and extending upwardly from the second pan bottom panel;
3) a second pan inner panel and a second pan outer panel, the second pan inner and outer panels extending upwardly from the second pan bottom panel;
iii) a central chamber between the first pan and the second pan, the first and second pans being situated on opposing longitudinal sides of the central chamber, the chamber:
1) having a chamber upper panel bridging the first pan inner panel and the second pan inner panel;
2) being at least partly bounded by the first pan inner panel, the second pan inner panel, and the chamber upper panel;
3) extending from a chamber front opening to a chamber rear opening;
and
4) being tapered such that the chamber front opening is larger than the chamber rear opening;
iv) a first wing extending longitudinally from the first pan outer panel at the groomer first side, and a second wing extending longitudinally from the second pan outer panel at the groomer second side;
and
v) teeth extending forwardly or rearwardly from one or more of the following:
1) the first pan bottom panel;
2) the second pan bottom panel;
3) the first pan front panel;
4) the second pan front panel;
5) the first pan inner panel;
6) the first pan outer panel;
7) the second pan inner panel;
8) the second pan outer panel;
and
9) the chamber upper panel;
vi) a vehicle mounting plate for securing the groomer to a vehicle such that:
1) the groomer front faces the vehicle;
and
2) the vehicle pulls the groomer behind as the vehicle moves forward;
c) wherein when the groomer is pulled behind a vehicle and driven over snow, the groomer displaces snow such that:
i) a first lane is formed behind the first pan, and a second lane is formed behind the second pan;
ii) a central mound is formed behind the chamber,
1) the central mound:
(a) separating the first lane and the second lane;
and
(b) being at a higher elevation than both the first lane and the second lane;
and
2) the central mound having snow that is at least partially compacted by the tapered chamber;
and
iii) a first peripheral mound remains behind the first wing and a second peripheral mound remains behind the second wing such that:
1) the first lane is formed with the first peripheral mound and the central mound on opposing sides thereof;
2) the second lane is formed with the second peripheral mound and the central mound on opposing sides thereof;
and
3) the first and second peripheral mounds are at a higher elevation than both the first lane and the second lane.

49 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.