Patent ID: 9162731
Filing Date: 2015-10-20
Classification: B62M

Abstract:
1. A snowmobile having a front and a rear comprising: a frame comprising a tunnel and an engine cradle connected to a front of the tunnel; an engine mounted in the engine cradle; a drive track operatively connected to the tunnel, the drive track being operatively connected to the engine to propel the snowmobile, the drive track comprising a bottom portion and a front portion, the bottom portion being horizontal, the front portion having a lower end and an upper end, a rounded connecting section extending from a front of the bottom portion to the lower end of the front portion, the front portion defining a plane at a track angle; a front drive axle operatively connected to the engine and operatively engaging the drive track, the front drive axle having an axis of rotation; a straddle seat disposed on the tunnel rearwardly of the engine; left and right telescopic suspension struts operatively connected to the engine cradle, each of the left and right telescopic suspension struts having a strut axis; left and right skis connected to the left and right telescopic suspension struts at left and right attachment points respectively; a steering column operatively connected to the left and right skis to steer the skis; a handlebar connected to the steering column; and a hull connected to the frame forward to the engine cradle, the hull having a bottom surface, at least a portion of the bottom surface of the hull extending forwardly and upwardly toward the front of the snowmobile, a line tangential to the portion of the bottom surface of the hull at an average hull angle intersects the plane at an intersection point below and forward of the bottom portion of the drive track, and the line intersects a plane defined by the strut axes at a point below the axis of rotation of the front drive axle.