Snowmobile steering ski
AssigneePolaris Industries Inc.
InventorsNone recorded
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved snowmobile steering ski attachable to the steering spindles of a snowmobile and, generally, including a frame, which may be integrally molded as part of the ski, and having multiple protruding keels that emerge from the horizon running surface of the ski proximal the ski's front end and gradually increase in protrusion with respect to the bottom running surface to a point of maximum protrusion at a point on the ski runner near to the steering spindle of the snowmobile is disclosed. The keel then gradually decreases in protrusion from its maximum protrusion to merge back into the bottom surface proximal the rear end of the ski.
Claims17
A snowmobile steering ski assembly comprising:
- a frame for providing structural support to said ski and having attachment means for attachment of said frame to the steering mechanism of a snowmobile;
- and
- an elongated ski fixedly attached to said frame and having a curved bottom running surface having a first radius of curvature and structured for gliding over a surface of snow, an upturned front end having a relatively short radius of curvature, a rear end distal from said front end, and three curved protruding keels having a second effective radii of curvature smaller than said first radius of curvature of said bottom running surface, said protruding keels gradually emerging from said bottom running surface proximal said front end and extending along a portion of said length of said ski runner and gradually merging into said bottom running surface proximal said rear end and wherein said keels are molded as a part of said bottom running surface.
An improved snowmobile ski for attachment to the steering mechanism of a snowmobile comprising:
- An an elongated member having a turned-up front end and an aft end, wherein said member has:
- a bottom running surface extending from the turned up front end to the aft end;
- an upper surface having means for attachment directly or indirectly to the steering mechanism of a snowmobile;
- a central keel molded as a part of said member and protruding from the bottom running surface of said ski, said keel being substantially the same length as said running surface and having a generally curved shape along its lower edge with its maximum protrusion proximate that portion of the ski which is structured to be below the steering attachment of the snowmobile, said keel protrusion diminishing in both fore and aft directions from said keel's maximum protrusion;
- and
- said central keel is located substantially along the center longitudinal axis of said bottom running surface and a pair of shallow-outrigger keels located near the longitudinal edges of said ski.
A curved plastic snowmobile ski having a front-tip end and an aft with a bottom running surface therebetween, said bottom running surface being an elongated, rocker-shaped surface between said front tip end and said aft end and at least a pair of protruding keels molded into said rocker-shaped bottom surface, said keels having an elongated, rocker-shaped bottom surface curved to a radius of curvature significantly less than the radius of curvature for said bottom running surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.