Snowmobile footrest having foot gripping elements

A snowmobile footrest has a top surface, a first foot gripping element extending upwardly and forwardly from the top surface, and a second foot gripping element extending upwardly and rearwardly from the top surface. A snowmobile frame and a snowmobile having the footrest are also disclosed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to foot gripping elements for snowmobile footrests.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When riding a snowmobile, a rider will generally be seated on a straddle seat with his hands on a handlebar and his feet resting on footrests disposed on either side of the seat.

Snowmobiles are frequently operated on uneven terrain. When a snowmobile encounters a bump as it travels over the ground, the rider may wish to raise himself off the seat and support himself on the footrests in a partially standing position to minimize the impact of the bump. When he does this, his weight is supported entirely by the footrests.

When the snowmobile is being operated, and in particular when the rider is supported entirely by the footrests, it is important for the rider's feet to have good traction on the footrests, so as to maintain the rider's feet in position and prevent them from slipping.

One way to provide improved grip on a snowmobile footrest is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,604,594 (Wubbolts) issued on Aug. 12, 2003 and assigned to the owner of the present application, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Wubbolts describes a snowmobile footrest having foot gripping elements extending upwardly and forwardly from the top surface thereof. While this footrest provides adequate grip for the foot of a rider and prevents slippage in the rearward direction, it is believed that further improvements in snowmobile footrests are possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the description that follows, the terms “forward” and “rearward” are defined relative to the normal forward direction of travel of a snowmobile.

It was noticed that when a rider is in a seated position, his feet are typically positioned near the front of the footrest, and need to be secured primarily against slippage in the forward direction. When the rider is in a standing position, his feet are typically positioned farther rearward on the footrest, and need to be secured primarily against slippage in the rearward direction. Taking these observations into account, it was found that improvements in snowmobile footrests can be provided, to better stabilize a rider's foot against slippage in the forward direction when the rider is seated and he tends to exert a force on his feet in a forward direction on the footrests, and also to stabilize the rider's foot against slippage in the rearward direction when the rider is standing and he tends to exert a force on his feet in a rearward direction on the footrests. Thus, an improved footrest in accordance with the present invention can better ensure that the rider's feet remain in a desired position while riding the snowmobile in different riding positions.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a snowmobile having an improved footrest, at least with respect to some aspects of the prior art.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a snowmobile having an improved footrest. The footrest has a rear portion with upwardly and forwardly extending foot gripping elements to resist slipping of a rider's foot in a rearward direction. The footrest further has a front portion with upwardly and rearwardly extending foot gripping elements to resist slipping of the rider's foot in a forward direction.

One aspect of the present invention provides a snowmobile comprising a frame including a tunnel. The tunnel has sides, and footrests extending outwardly from the sides thereof for receiving feet of a rider. Each footrest has a top surface, a first foot gripping element extending upwardly from the top surface and angled upwardly and forwardly with respect thereto, and a second foot gripping element extending upwardly from the top surface and angled upwardly and rearwardly with respect thereto. An engine is disposed on the frame at a forward end thereof. A seat is disposed on the tunnel rearward of the engine. A front suspension system is connected to the frame. At least one ski is operatively connected to the frame by the front suspension system. A steering device is disposed on the frame forward of the seat and is operatively connected to the at least one ski for steering the snowmobile. An endless drive track is disposed below the tunnel and operatively connected to the engine for propulsion of the snowmobile.

In a further aspect, the first foot gripping element is one of a first plurality of foot gripping elements extending upwardly from the top surface and angled upwardly and forwardly with respect thereto. The second foot gripping element is one of a second plurality of foot gripping elements extending upwardly from the top surface and angled upwardly and rearwardly with respect thereto.

In a further aspect, each foot gripping element in the first and second pluralities of foot gripping elements comprises a jagged portion at a top thereof.

In a further aspect, the jagged portions define teeth.

In a further aspect, the forward-most first foot gripping element is disposed rearward of the rearward-most second foot gripping element.

In a further aspect, each footrest further comprises a bottom surface, a plurality of holes therethrough, and a plurality of deflector elements associated with the holes and extending downwardly from the bottom surface for discouraging particles from passing through the holes.

In a further aspect, each foot gripping element in the first and second pluralities of foot gripping elements is disposed along a contour of at least one of the plurality of holes.

In a further aspect, each foot gripping element in the first plurality of foot gripping elements is disposed along a rearward portion of the contour of at least one of the plurality of holes. Each foot gripping element in the second plurality of foot gripping elements is disposed along a forward portion of the contour of at least one of the plurality of holes.

In a further aspect, the tunnel is made at least in part from sheet metal.

In a further aspect, the first and second foot gripping elements are integrally formed with the footrests.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a snowmobile footrest, comprising a top surface, a first foot gripping element extending upwardly and forwardly from the top surface, and a second foot gripping element extending upwardly and rearwardly from the top surface.

In a further aspect, the first foot gripping element is one of a first plurality of foot gripping elements extending upwardly from the top surface and angled upwardly and forwardly with respect thereto. The second foot gripping element is one of a second plurality of foot gripping elements extending upwardly from the top surface and angled upwardly and rearwardly with respect thereto.

In a further aspect, each foot gripping element in the first and second pluralities of foot gripping elements comprises a jagged portion at a top thereof.

In a further aspect, the jagged portion defines teeth.

In a further aspect, the forward-most first foot gripping element is disposed rearward of the rearward-most second foot gripping element.

In a further aspect, the footrest further comprises a bottom surface, a plurality of holes therethrough, and a plurality of deflector elements associated with the holes and extending downwardly from the bottom surface for discouraging particles from passing through the holes.

In a further aspect, each foot gripping element in the first and second pluralities of foot gripping elements is disposed along a contour of at least one of the plurality of holes.

In a further aspect, each foot gripping element in the first plurality of foot gripping elements is disposed along a rearward portion of the contour of at least one of the plurality of holes. Each foot gripping element in the second plurality of foot gripping elements is disposed along a forward portion of the contour of at least one of the plurality of holes.

In a further aspect, the footrest is made at least in part from sheet metal.

In a further aspect, the first and second foot gripping elements are integrally formed with the footrest.

Other objects, aspects and features of the present invention will be made apparent by the following description, claims and accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1illustrates a snowmobile30in accordance with one specific embodiment of the invention. The snowmobile30includes a forward end32and a rearward end34which are defined consistently with a travel direction of the vehicle. The snowmobile30includes a frame36comprising an engine cradle portion40and a tunnel96. Tunnel96generally consists of one or more pieces of a suitable sheet metal such as steel, stamped into an inverted U-shape. It is understood that tunnel96may be made with materials other than steel, and that it can be formed into the desired shape by methods other than stamping, without departing from the spirit of the invention. Tunnel96is connected to the engine cradle portion40and extends rearwardly along the longitudinal axis of the snowmobile30. While hidden behind a front fairing54, an engine38, schematically illustrated, provides motive force for the snowmobile30and is carried by the engine cradle portion40of the frame36.

Two front skis42are attached to the front portion of the frame36through a front suspension system100in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The front suspension system100generally comprises a double A-arm type suspension, having upper A-arms108and lower A-arms106on either side of the vehicle linking spindles110to the frame36. The spindles110are attached to the skis42at their lower ends and rotate left and right therewith. The spindles110are also connected to a steering column50via steering rods130. The steering column50is attached at its upper end to a steering device such as a handlebar52which is positioned forward of a rider and slightly behind the engine38to rotate the skis42, thereby providing directional control of the snowmobile30. As illustrated in dotted lines, the steering column50passes in front of the engine38. The steering column50is designed with a bend53(best shown inFIG. 5) such that the steering column50passes in front and above the engine38and clears the engine38throughout the range of rotation of the steering column50when the steering device, which in this embodiment is a handlebar52, is turned to the right or to the left. Thus, by turning the handlebar52, the steering column50rotates, the spindles110are pivoted, and the skis42are turned to steer the snowmobile30in a desired direction.

An endless drive track60, which provides propulsion to the snowmobile30, is disposed under the tunnel96of the frame36with the upper portion of the drive track60accommodated within the tunnel96. The endless drive track60is operatively connected to the engine38through a belt transmission system62which is schematically illustrated by broken lines. The drive train of the snowmobile30includes all the components of the snowmobile30whose function is to transmit power from the engine to the ground. The endless drive track60is mounted to the tunnel96via a rear suspension assembly64. The rear suspension assembly64includes rear suspension arms72and74, a pair of slide rails66which generally position and guide the endless drive track60and idler wheels68engaged therewith. Rear suspension arms72and74connect the slide rails66and idler wheels68to the tunnel96of the frame36. The slide rails66typically include a sliding lower surface made of polyethylene to reduce contact friction between the slide rails66and the drive track60. The rear suspension assembly64also includes one or more shock absorbers70which may further include a coil spring (not shown) surrounding the individual shock absorbers70.

At the front end32, the snowmobile30includes an external shell consisting of fairings76that enclose and protect the engine38and transmission62and that can be decorated to render the snowmobile30more aesthetically pleasing. Typically, the fairings76include a hood78and one or more side panels80which can be opened to allow access to the engine38and the transmission62when this is required, for example, for inspection or maintenance. The side panels80can be opened away from the snowmobile30along a vertical axis, independently from the hood78, which pivots forward about a horizontally extending axis. A windshield82, which may be connected either to the fairings76or directly to the handlebar52, acts as wind deflector to lessen the force of the air on the rider when the snowmobile is moving.

A straddle-type seat88is positioned atop and mounted to the tunnel96. At the rear of the straddle seat88, a storage compartment90is provided. A passenger seat (not shown) can also be provided instead of the storage compartment90. Two footrests84, generally extending outwardly from the tunnel96, are also positioned on either side of the straddle seat88to accommodate the rider's feet and provide a rigid platform for the rider to stand on when maneuvering the snowmobile30.

FIG. 2illustrates tunnel96in greater detail. Tunnel96includes a top plate160with left and right downwardly extending side plates162. A left footrest84extends outwardly from the bottom of left side plate162. Similarly, a right footrest84extends outwardly from the bottom portion of right side plate162. Left and right footrests84provide a location along the tunnel96onto which a rider may place his feet while operating the snowmobile30. As the left and right footrests84have substantially the same structure, only the left footrest84will be described in detail below. The right footrest84is substantially a mirror image of the left footrest84.

Referring now toFIGS. 3 and 4, the left footrest84is provided with a number of foot gripping portions426and427. Foot gripping portions426may be constructed to be part of the contour of a hole429through the foot rest84. The hole429allows dirt and snow that may have accumulated on the top surface428of the footrest84to fall through the footrest84and away from the foot of the rider. Foot gripping elements426include a first plurality of jagged elements430with teeth432angled upwardly and rearwardly from footrest84. Foot gripping elements427include a second plurality of jagged elements434with teeth436angled upwardly and forwardly from footrest84. A deflector element437extending downwardly from the bottom surface431of the footrest is also provided, and will be described in greater detail below. The deflector element437discourages dirt or snow particles from passing upward through the holes429and accumulating on the top surface428of the footrest84while the snowmobile30is in use. The deflector portion437and the jagged portion430are arranged forward of hole429and the jagged portion434are arranged rearward of hole429. This minimizes the potential for particles439to pass through hole429and accumulate on the top surface428of footrests84. Other arrangements of the deflector portion437and of the jagged portions430and434are possible within the scope of the invention. In addition, the deflector portion437may be omitted without departing from the scope of the invention.

Foot gripping elements426and427provide traction for the feet of the riders because they extend upwardly from the top surface428of foot rest84. In particular, jagged portions430and434maintain the rider's feet in position by opposing slippage in both forward and rearward directions according to the direction at which they are angled. The foot gripping elements426are arranged farther forward than the foot gripping elements427. In this arrangement, the jagged elements430oppose slipping of the rider's foot in a forward direction and the jagged elements434oppose slipping of the rider's foot in a rearward direction. As a result, the foot gripping elements426,427will tend to maintain the foot of the rider in a central position on the foot rest84. In addition, if the rider's foot is positioned near the toe hold86toward the front of the foot rest84, the upwardly and rearwardly extending jagged elements430disposed on the front portion of the foot rest84will not impede the movement of the rider's foot in a rearward direction for removal from the toe hold86.

Referring now toFIG. 5, it can be seen that the deflector elements437extend downwardly and rearwardly from the holes429in which they are located, and deflect snow or dirt particles439that may be stirred up by the movement of the snowmobile30over the ground. If a snow or dirt particle439moves toward the bottom surface431of the foot rest84, in the direction shown by arrow438, the deflector element437will deflect the particle439so that it travels in the direction shown by arrow440is away from the hole429. As a result, particle439is discouraged from passing through hole429and therefore from accumulating on the top surface428of the foot rest84.

To construct foot gripping elements426,427, the jagged portions430and434and deflector portion437are simultaneously stamped from footrest84, which is preferably made of sheet metal. Jagged portions430and434are then bent upwardly and deflector portion437is bent downwardly so that the portions of foot gripping elements426,427are in their corresponding orientation.

Modifications and improvement to the above described embodiments of the present invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art. The foregoing description is intended to be exemplary rather than limiting. Furthermore, the dimensions of features of various components that may appear on the drawings are not meant to be limiting, and the size of the components therein can vary from the size that may be portrayed in the figures herein. The scope of the present invention is therefore intended to be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.