Removable protective cover for a snowmobile

A removable protective cover for a snowmobile including a sheet sized for enclosing a cowling of a snowmobile, the sheet having a top panel with a front panel, a rear panel, and a pair of side panels extended therefrom to define a hollow interior and a common bottom edge, the top panel having a opening formed thereon and an elastic band secured thereto about the periphery of the opening for holding the sheet about a windshield of a snowmobile, the rear panel having a large lower cut out formed thereon to create a pair of opposed lower corners and a small upper cut out extended upwards from the lower cut out to create a pair of upper corners, an upper rear edge extended between the upper corners, and a pair of opposed lower rear edges, the sheet further having a cable with an end located near an upper corner, another end located near the other upper corner, and an intermediate portion therebetween coupled to the lower rear edges and the bottom edge, and a cable securement mechanism for securing the ends of the cable in a closed loop configuration.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a removable protective cover for a 
snowmobile and more particularly pertains to preventing snow from 
accumulating in an engine compartment of a snowmobile with a removable 
protective cover for a snowmobile. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The use of covers is known in the prior art. More specifically, covers 
heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of protecting a vehicle 
are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious 
structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs 
encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the 
fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,721,467 to Kerr discloses a molded 
plastic cover to enclose a snowmobile on a trailer. U.S. Pat. No. 
4,789,574 to Selbay discloses a removable protective liner for vehicles. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,817 to Fuller discloses a temperature-rise limiting 
automobile bra. U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,460 to Kraus discloses a motor vehicle 
protective cover. U.S. Pat. No. 5,280,989 to Castillo discloses a static 
cling vinyl halter-type cover for vehicle front protection. 
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objective and 
requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a removable 
protective cover for a snowmobile that protects snow from accumulating in 
an engine compartment of a snowmobile. 
In this respect, the removable protective cover for a snowmobile according 
to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional 
concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an 
apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of preventing snow from 
accumulating in an engine compartment of a snowmobile. 
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for 
new and improved removable protective cover for a snowmobile which can be 
used for preventing snow from accumulating in an engine compartment of a 
snowmobile. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills 
this need. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In the view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of 
covers now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an 
improved removable protective cover for a snowmobile. As such, the general 
purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in 
greater detail, is to provide a new and improved removable protective 
cover for a snowmobile and method which has all the advantages of the 
prior art and none of the disadvantages. 
To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises, in 
combination, a waterproof durable sheet of fabric sized to protectively 
enclose a cowling of a snowmobile. The sheet has a generally horizontal 
top panel with a front panel, a rear panel, and a pair of opposed side 
panels extended peripherally downwards therefrom to define a hollow 
interior and with the front panel, rear panel, and side panels terminated 
at a common bottom edge to thereby create an opening for allowing access 
to the interior. 
The top panel has a generally trapezoidal-shaped central top opening formed 
thereon and an elastic band secured thereto about the periphery of the top 
opening for holding the sheet in a stationary position about a windshield 
of a snowmobile. The front panel has a downwardly angled top section and 
an upwardly angled bottom section. The top section of the front panel 
includes a generally rectangular front vent hole formed thereon having a 
top edge, a bottom edge, and side edges extended therebetween. The top 
section further includes a central flap having a exterior surface, a 
interior surface, and a periphery interconnecting the exterior surface to 
the interior surface formed of a top edge sewn to the top section at a 
location adjacent to the top edge of the front vent hole, a bottom edge, 
and a pair of opposed side edges extended therebetween and with the flap 
further having strips of complimentary pile-type fastener sewn to the 
interior surface near the front and side edges. The top section 
additionally includes strips of complimentary pile-type fastener sewn 
thereto adjacent to the front edge and side edges of the front vent hole 
and with the strips of the flap and top section securable with each other 
to prevent access to the interior. 
The rear panel has a generally rectangular lower cut out formed centrally 
thereon to create a pair of opposed lower corners and a generally arcuate 
central upper cut out formed thereon and extended upwards from the lower 
cut out to create a pair of upper corners, an upper rear edge extended 
between the upper corners, and a pair of opposed lower rear edges. Each 
rear edge is extended between an upper corner and a corresponding lower 
corner therebelow and with the upper cut out adapted for receiving a yoke 
of a set of handle bars of a snowmobile therein. The rear panel further 
has a U-shaped slit thereon with a zipper sewn thereover. The zipper is 
openable for allowing access to the interior and closeable for preventing 
such access. 
Each side panel has a generally rectangular side vent hole thereon. Each 
side vent hole has a long top edge, a long bottom edge, and a pair of 
opposed side edges extended therebetween. Each side panel further has a 
rectangular flap with an exterior surface, an interior surface, a long top 
edge sewn to the side panel at a location above the top edge of a side 
vent hole, a bottom long edge, and a pair of side edges extended 
therebetween. Each flap has strips of pile-type fastener sewn to the 
interior surface along the side edges and bottom edges thereof. Each side 
panel further has strips of complimentary pile-type fastener sewn thereto 
about the bottom edge and side edges of each vent hole. The strips on a 
side panel and associated flap are securable with each other to prevent 
access to the interior. 
The sheet includes an elastic strap. The strap has a hook at one end 
located near an upper corner, a loop at the other end located near the 
other upper corner, and an intermediate portion therebetween sewn to the 
lower rear edges and the bottom edge. The hook is removably securable to 
the loop for securing the strap in a closed loop configuration to a 
cowling of a snowmobile. 
Lastly, a pair of cables are included. Each cable has a base end coupled to 
an upper corner of the rear panel and a hook end extended therefrom. Each 
hook is used for coupling with a frame of a snowmobile for holding the 
sheet in a stationary position. 
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features 
of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that 
follows may be better understood, and in order that the present 
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, 
additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter 
and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention 
in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its 
application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the 
components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the 
drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being 
practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood 
that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose 
of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon 
which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the 
designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the 
several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, 
that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions 
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present 
invention. 
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent 
and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the 
scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar 
with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a 
cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of 
the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention 
of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to 
be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved removable protective cover for a snowmobile which has all the 
advantages of the prior art covers and none of the disadvantages. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved 
removable protective cover for a snowmobile which may be easily and 
efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved removable protective cover for a snowmobile which is of durable 
and reliable construction. 
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved removable protective cover for a snowmobile which is susceptible 
of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and 
which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the 
consuming public, thereby making such a removable protective cover for a 
snowmobile economically available to the buying public. 
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved removable protective cover for a snowmobile which provides in the 
apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, 
while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally 
associated therewith. 
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved removable protective cover for a snowmobile for preventing snow 
from accumulating in an engine compartment of a snowmobile. 
Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved removable protective cover for a snowmobile comprising a sheet 
sized to enclose a cowling of a snowmobile, the sheet having a top panel 
with a front panel, a rear panel, and a pair of side panels extended 
downwards therefrom to define a hollow interior and a common bottom edge, 
the top panel having a opening formed thereon and an elastic band secured 
thereto about the periphery of the opening for holding the sheet in a 
stationary position about a windshield of a snowmobile, the rear panel 
having a large lower cut out formed thereon to create a pair of opposed 
lower corners and a small upper cut out extended upwards from the lower 
cut out to create a pair of upper corners, an upper rear edge extended 
between the upper corners, and a pair of opposed lower rear edges, the 
sheet further having a cable with an end located near an upper corner, 
another end located near the other upper corner, and an intermediate 
portion therebetween coupled to the lower rear edges and the bottom edge, 
and cable securement means for securing the ends of the cable in a closed 
loop configuration. 
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various 
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with 
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this 
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating 
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should 
be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there 
is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular, to FIG. 1 thereof, 
the preferred embodiment of the new and improved removable protective 
cover for a snowmobile embodying the principles and concepts of the 
present invention and generally designated by the reference number 10 will 
be described. 
The present invention is comprised of a plurality of components. In their 
broadest context, such components include a sheet with vent holes and 
flaps, a strap, and a pair of cables. Such components are individually 
configured and correlated with respect to each other to provide the 
intended function of preventing snow from accumulating in an engine 
compartment of a snowmobile. 
Specifically, the present invention includes a water-proof durable sheet of 
fabric or elastomeric material sized to protectively enclose and snugly 
fit a cowling 14 of a snowmobile. The sheet includes a generally 
horizontal and rectangular top panel 16. Also included is a front panel 
18, a rear panel 20 and a pair of opposed side panels 22. The front panel, 
rear panel, and opposed side panels are extended peripherally downwards 
from the top panel to thereby define a hollow interior. The front panel, 
rear panel, and side panels are terminated at a common bottom edge 24. 
Their termination creates an opening for allowing access to the interior. 
The top panel 16 has a generally trapezoidal-shaped central top opening 26 
formed thereon. Furthermore, as elastic band 28 is secured around the 
periphery of the top opening. The band is formed of a plurality of elastic 
strands bound together as shown in FIG. 8. This band is used for snugly 
holding the sheet in a stationary position about a windshield 30 of a 
snowmobile as shown in FIG. 1. The strap thus precludes the sheet from 
moving or becoming dislodged when the snowmobile is in motion. 
The front panel 18 has a downwardly angled top section 40 and an upwardly 
angled bottom section 42. When secured to the cowling of a snowmobile, a 
rounded intermediate section is formed between the top section and the 
bottom section as shown in FIG. 6. The front panel also includes a 
generally rectangular front vent hole 44 formed thereon. The front vent 
hole has a top edge, a bottom edge, and side edges extended therebetween. 
The top section also includes a central flap 46. The flap has an exterior 
surface 48, an interior surface 50, and a periphery interconnecting the 
surfaces. The periphery is formed of a top edge 52 sewn to the top section 
at a location adjacent to the top edge of the front vent hole 44, a bottom 
edge 54, and a pair of opposed side edges extended therebetween. The flap 
further has strips of pile-type fastener 56 sewn to the interior surface 
near the front and side edges to create a border. The top section 
additionally includes strips of complimentary pile-type fastener 58 sewn 
thereto adjacent to the front edge and side edge of the front vent hole to 
create another border. The borders are securable with each other to 
prevent access to the interior. Furthermore, the borders may be unsecured 
for allowing the interior to be ventilated. 
The rear panel 20 has a generally rectangular lower cut out 60 formed 
centrally thereon. This lower cut out 60 creates a pair of opposed lower 
corners 62. Furthermore, a generally arcuate central upper cut out 64 is 
formed on the rear panel and extended upwards from the lower cut out to 
create a pair of upper corners 66, an upper rear edge 68 extended between 
the upper corners, and a pair of opposed lower rear edges 70. Each rear 
edge is extended between an upper corner and a corresponding lower corner 
therebelow as shown in FIG. 4. The upper cut out is adapted for receiving 
a yoke 72 of a set of handle bars of a snowmobile therein. The rear panel 
further has a U-shaped slit thereon with a zipper 74 sewn thereover. The 
zipper is openable for allowing access to the interior for manipulating a 
key and choke of a snowmobile. The zipper is further closable for 
preventing access to the control mechanisms of a snowmobile. 
Each side panel has a generally rectangular side vent hole 80 formed 
thereon. The side vent holes are smaller than the from vent hole. The side 
vent holes are positioned in symmetric opposition on each side panel. Each 
side vent hole has a long top edge, a long bottom edge, and a pair of 
opposed side edges extended therebetween. 
Each side panel further includes a rectangular flap 82. The flap has an 
exterior surface, an interior surface 84, and a periphery therearound. The 
periphery consists of a long top edge 86 sewn to a side panel at a 
location above the top edge of a side vent hole, a bottom long edge 88, 
and a pair of side edges extended therebetween. Each flap on a side panel 
has strips of pile-type fastener 90 sewn to the interior surface thereof 
along the side edges and bottom edges to define a border. Each side panel 
further has strips of complimentary pile-type fastener 92 sewn thereto 
about the bottom edge and side edges of each vent hole to create another 
border. The borders on the side panel and associated flap are securable 
with each other to prevent access to the interior. Furthermore, the 
borders may be unsecured from each other for allowing the interior to be 
ventilated. 
Also included is an elastic strap 100. The elastic strap has a hook 102 at 
one end coupled to an upper corner, a loop at the other end coupled to the 
other upper corner, and an intermediate portion therebetween sewn to the 
lower rear edges 70 and the bottom edge 24. The hook is removably 
securable to the loop to place the strap in a closed loop configuration 
for securing the sheet tightly to a cowling of a snowmobile as shown in 
FIG. 1. 
Lastly, a pair of cables 110 is included. Each cable has a base end 112 
coupled to the upper corner of the rear panel of the sheet and a hook end 
114 extended therefrom. Each cable is coupleable to a frame of a 
snowmobile. The cable is formed of a plurality of elastic strands bound 
together and coated with a plastic sheath. 
A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. In 
this embodiment, the flaps and vent holes are not included. This 
configuration is especially adaptable for use on a snowmobile that does 
not have vent holes on its cowling. 
The present invention is a cover for a cowling of a snowmobile prevent snow 
from getting into the engine compartment. If snow happens to enter an 
engine compartment, it ultimately melts and then refreezes, causing the 
steering of a snowmobile to freeze, and thereby hindering its operability. 
The present invention is made from a type of fabric used to make similar 
covers for protecting motorized equipment from severe weather. Plastic 
sheeting, canvas sheeting, or the like can be utilized. The present 
invention is custom-shaped to fit the cowling of a snowmobile according to 
the model of snowmobile for which it is intended. Looking at the present 
invention from the top, the cover is wide in the back where it fits over 
the windshield and headlight of a snowmobile, then its sides run parallel 
to each other for a short length and taper inwardly slightly to the front. 
A large opening for the windshield, speedometer, tachometer and headlight 
is situated from its approximate middle to near its rear. Hooks positioned 
strategically on a center rear opening secure the cover to the machine. 
Rectangular air vents with covers are located on its two sides and its 
front. The unit is held in place with a hook and loop fastener. A zippered 
pocket for access to the ignition key and choke is located in its rear 
area. Elastic bands are sewn into all its edges and the edges of the 
windshield are cut out to secure it tightly to the cowling. The present 
invention is stretched over a cowling of a snowmobile whenever desired, 
especially during snow storms or when there is blowing snow. The air vents 
are covered or left open depending on the need. The present invention 
effectively prevents snow from getting into the engine compartment. 
As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same 
should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further 
discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the 
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to 
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and the 
manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and 
obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to 
those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are 
intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the 
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modification and 
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired 
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and 
described, and accordingly, all suitable modification and equivalents may 
be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.