Abstract:
A suspension well covering device for use with a snowmobile, the snowmobile including a cowling defining a belly pan and a suspension well, the suspension well defining an opening through which a suspension system extends outwardly. The suspension well covering device includes a skirt adapted to be attached to the cowling to substantially cover the opening in the suspension well.

Description:
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/518,556, filed Mar. 3, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,382,337 which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/979,753, filed Nov. 26, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,136. U.S. application Ser. No. 09/518,556, filed Mar. 3, 2000, is also a nonprovisional application of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/122,898, filed Mar. 5, 1999. U.S. application Nos. &#39;556, &#39;753, and &#39;898 are hereby incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of suspension systems for snow vehicles. More particularly, the present invention relates to a snow exclusion component of the suspension system that provides improved performance of the suspension system by reducing or eliminating snow from packing into the suspension wells. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Snowmobiles are typically used for travel over snow. Generally, a snowmobile includes a tread on the lower rear of the snowmobile that is driven by an engine, and two skis attached to the lower front of the snowmobile that provide steering and support for the snowmobile. The tread rotates around a series of suspension wheels thereby gripping the snow and moving the snowmobile. The skis are linked to a suspension system that absorbs the impact when a ski hits a hard surface. The suspension system also provides the necessary linkage to couple the skis to a handlebar and therefore allow a snowmobiler to steer the snowmobile. This type of snowmobile is generally shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,941. 
     Oftentimes snowmobiling is done in deep snow, which presents problems for existing snowmobiles when snow becomes packed into the suspension wells. In deep snow, especially powdery snow, the front of the snowmobile can bog down when the front skis are unable to suspend the front of the snowmobile on the snow. This happens, in part, when snow becomes packed into the wheel wells increasing the weight of the front of the snowmobile and increasing the resistance of the front of the snowmobile. 
     Having snow packed into the suspension wells also significantly interferes with the snowmobiles suspension system. The suspension wells allow the snowmobile&#39;s suspension components to move as needed through their normal range of motion without interference. The movement of the suspension components is significantly hampered when a large quantity of snow becomes packed into the suspension well. This problem is exacerbated when the snow packed in the suspension wells turns to ice as a result of the heat from the engine. 
     The inside of the suspension well is typically the outer wall of the snowmobile&#39;s engine housing. Accordingly, the suspension well is heated-up during use from emitted engine heat causing the snow adjacent the wall to melt and subsequently freeze into ice away from the wall. Oftentimes the icing occurs on or about the suspension system components. A significant build-up of ice also occurs when the snowmobile is parked allowing the engine to cool and the wet snow to freeze. This combination of packed snow and ice formation can lead to significant interference with the movement of the suspension system. 
     Accordingly, there exists a need for a snowmobile that reduces or eliminates snow from entering the snowmobile&#39;s suspension wells. It is against the backdrop of problems associated with snow entering the suspension wells, as discussed above, that the present invention was developed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention solves the problems described above. In general, the instant invention is for a suspension well covering device for use with a snowmobile, the snowmobile including a cowling defining a belly pan and a suspension well, the suspension well defining an opening through which a suspension system extends outwardly. The suspension well covering device including a skirt adapted to be attached to said cowling and to substantially cover said opening in said suspension well. 
     The skirt structure extends from the housing and extends over the suspension extending from the suspension well, and attaches to the auxiliary ski. The skirt has apertures to allow the suspension structure to extend therethrough, so as to not interfere with the operation of the suspension. The skirt structure keeps most, if not all, of the snow out of the suspension well. The skirt can be removable, and can be made of a variety of fabrics and materials for its intended purpose. 
     The foregoing and other features, utilities and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front view of a snowmobile utilizing an embodiment of the suspension well skirt of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a close up of the left suspension well and left suspension system with auxiliary ski; 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the right suspension well of a snowmobile utilizing an embodiment of the suspension well skirt of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the right suspension well of a snowmobile utilizing an embodiment of the suspension well skirt of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of the right suspension well of a snowmobile utilizing an embodiment of the suspension well skirt of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a section view taken along line  6 — 6  of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is a front view of the right suspension well of a snowmobile utilizing an auxiliary ski with a skirt; 
     FIG. 8 is a section view taken along line  8 — 8  of FIG. 7; and 
     FIG. 9 is a side view of the right suspension well of a snowmobile utilizing an embodiment of the suspension well skirt of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A snowmobile  10 , viewed from the front end, is generally shown in FIG.  1 . The snowmobile  10  has a front cowling  12  which provides a variety of functions including acting as a hood to cover the engine, and protecting a snowmobiler riding the snowmobile  10  from the wind. The cowling  12  is typically made of a stiff, durable polymeric or composite material. 
     Situated at the top of the cowling  12  is a windshield  14  that also protects the snowmobiler from the wind and provides safety to the snowmobiler. The windshield  14  is typically a transparent shatterproof type of acrylic material. The windshield  14  is positioned in front of the handlebars (not pictured), which provide the steering control for the snowmobile  10 . 
     The bottom or “belly pan”  16  of the cowling  12  is a primary contact point where the snowmobile  10  might become bogged down in deep snow. Additionally, snow may also be compacted in the suspension wells  18 ,  20  when the snowmobile is operated in deep snow. 
     A pair of skis  22 ,  24 , as shown in FIG. 1, are typical for current snowmobiles. The skis  22  and  24  are linked to the handlebars and thereby provide steerability for the snowmobile  10 , as well as support for the front end of the snowmobile  10  on the snow. The primary skis  22  and  24  are usually ribbed along their length to increase the handling characteristics of the snowmobile  10 . Oftentimes the skis  22  and  24  include carbide runners  26  along their length to protect the bottoms of the skis  22 ,  24  from hard surfaces, such as rocks, pavement or the like. The skis  22  and  24  are secured to linkage brackets  28  and  30  respectively. The linkage brackets  28  and  30  are secured to the shock-absorbing features  34 ,  36  (only partially shown). The struts  38  and  40  secure the skis  22  and  24  and associated linkage brackets  28  and  30  to the main chassis of the snowmobile  10 . In addition, the struts  38 ,  40 , linkage brackets  28 ,  30 , and shock absorbing features generally make up the suspension system  35 . 
     The suspension system  35  shown in the attached drawings is just one example of a suspension system that could be used for the present invention. The type of suspension system  35  used for the skis  22 ,  24  of the present invention is not a limiting factor, and any type of suspension system which provides some type of flex, absorption, and steering for the skis  22 ,  24  is envisioned for the present invention. The shock-absorbing suspension system may include coiled springs, hydraulic pistons and cylinders, leaf springs, or any other type of system which provides flex and/or impact absorption to a ski. 
     Skis  42  and  44 , also referred to as “auxiliary skis” herein, are floatation skis, as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/979,753, filed Nov. 26, 1997 to the instant inventor, hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The auxiliary skis  42  and  44  improve the snowmobile&#39;s performance by reducing the amount of snow packing into the suspension wells  18 ,  20  and by providing additional lift to the front of the snow mobile in deep snow. The suspension well skirt  100  of the present invention also works to reduce or eliminate snow from entering the suspension wells  18 ,  20 . The suspension well skirts  100  can act alone or in conjunction with the auxiliary skis as described in more detail below. 
     The auxiliary skis  42 ,  44  help to prevent or reduce the amount of snow packing into the suspension wells  18  and  20 . As the snowmobile  10  travels across deep snow, snow tends to get packed in the suspension wells  18  and  20  of the snowmobile. As the snow fills the wells  18  and  20 , and as the snowmobile  10  continues to travel through the snow, the packed wells  18  and  20  provide increased resistance to the movement of the snowmobile  10  through the snow. This increased resistance slows down the snowmobile  10  in the deep snow. Additionally, the responsiveness of the steering of the snowmobile  10  diminishes due to increased drag of the snowmobile  10  through the deep snow. The increased drag reduces performance and can cause the snowmobile to bog down or become completely stuck. 
     As can be seen by the location and size of the auxiliary skis  42  and  44 , the skis  42  and  44  are positioned to reduce the amount of snow that enters the suspension wells  18  and  20  of the snowmobile  10 . When the snow hits the front upraised portions  46  of skis auxiliary  42  and  44 , the snow is either deflected, or compressed downward, thus allowing the snowmobile  10  to pass on top of the snow. Accordingly, the amount of snow packing into the suspension wells  18 ,  20  of the snowmobile  10  is significantly reduced. 
     The auxiliary skis  42 ,  44  also create additional lift to help the snowmobile stay on top of the deep snow, thus minimizing slow-down of the snowmobile. The auxiliary skis  42  and  44  effectively increase the surface area of the front end of the snowmobile in contact with deep snow, and thus support the front end above the surface of the snow. The surface engaging portions  48  and  50  of the auxiliary skis  42  and  44  are in a plane above the primary skis  22  and  24 , and thus do not contact the snow surface except when in deep snow. 
     FIG. 2 is an isolated view of the front left side of the snowmobile  10  shown in FIG.  1 . Ski  24  is shown with a handle  52  projecting therefrom. The handle  52  allows the snowmobiler to maneuver the snowmobile when it is off or idling. Linkage  30  is shown secured to ski  24  by bolt  54 . This linkage  30  is secured to the ski  24  by brackets  56  and  58 . These brackets are typically found on primary skis of snowmobiles and function as an extension from ski  24 . The specifics of how primary ski  24  is secured to snowmobile  10  is not critical to the present invention. The term “primary ski” is meant to denote the skis ( 22  and  24 ) mounted on the front of the snowmobile which act to steer and support the snowmobile  10 . There can be numerous mechanisms whereby the ski  24  is secured to the snowmobile  10 . 
     Strut  40  is also shown in a preferred position for a strut. However, as discussed above, the suspension system  35  for the skis  22  and  24  disclosed herein are merely one example of virtually hundreds of different types suspension systems that could be used with the present invention. Additional struts  60  and  62  are part of the suspension system  35  for attaching and supporting the ski  24  on the snowmobile, as well as being part of the steering linkage between the handlebars and the primary ski  24 . These struts can be in any of a variety of configurations, and the auxiliary ski  44  of the present invention is mountable on these various configurations. 
     The struts  38 ,  40 ,  60  and  62  extend out of the suspension wells  18 ,  20  of the snowmobile  10 . The suspension wells  18 ,  20  typically extend vertically from the side of the cowling  12  to the underlying belly pan  16 . The suspension wells  18 ,  20  typically extend longitudinally along the snowmobile from the front of the snowmobile rearwardly as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The suspension wells  18 ,  20  may, however, extend discretely starting from just behind the front of the snowmobile as shown in FIG.  3 . Typically, the inside walls of the suspension wells  18 ,  20  are also the outer walls of the engine housing. Thus, the inside walls of the suspension wells  18 ,  20  become warm when the snowmobile  10  is running. 
     The suspension well  18 ,  20  allow the suspension system  35 , including the struts  38 ,  40 ,  60  and  62 , and the shock absorbing features  35 ,  36 , to move upwardly and downwardly as needed through their normal range of motion without interference. The suspension wells  18 ,  20 , however, as discussed above, often become packed with snow during use. The packed snow and ice significantly interferes with the movement of the suspension  35 . 
     The suspension well skirt structure  100  of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1,  3 - 6 , and  9 - 10 , works to reduce or eliminate snow from entering the suspension well. The skirt  100  can act alone or in conjunction with the auxiliary skis  42 ,  44  as mentioned above. 
     In general, the skirt  100  attaches to the cowling  102  along the perimeter  104  of the suspension well  106  and extends over the suspension well opening  108 . Note, the primary skis  22 ,  24  are not shown in FIGS. 3-6 and  8 - 10  to more clearly show the skirt  100 . The skirt  100  includes an aperture  110  to allow the suspension components  35  to extend therethrough, which allows the suspension  35  to move up and down without interference from the skirt  100 . The bottom edge  112  of the skirt  100  can be attached to the outer edge  116  of any of the before discussed embodiments of the floatation ski  42 ,  44 , and  150 , discussed hereinafter, regardless of the ski&#39;s attachment location to the snowmobile, i.e., ski attached to the suspension system components  35  or to the belly pan. The skirt  100  is also useful in the absence of a floatation ski where the bottom edge  112  of the skirt  100  would simply hang freely as shown in FIG.  4 . When the skirt  100  hangs freely, it is preferable for the skirt  100  to define slots  114  at its bottom edge  112 , thereby allowing for the free movement of the snowmobile&#39;s suspension system  35  without interference from the skirt  100 . 
     The skirt is preferably made of any material that remains flexible at relatively low temperatures, such as certain vinyls, plastics, leather, cloth, canvas or other suitable material. The skirt  100  is attached along the perimeter  104  of the suspension well  106  either permanently, such as by rivets  107 , or releasably, such as by snaps or by a hook-and-loop type fastener, such as VELCRO®. The attachment of the skirt  100  to the perimeter  104  of the suspension well  106  should be relatively strong, even when a releasable attachment is contemplated, to withstand the force of impact with the snow and other objects. The skirt  100  is positioned so as to cover the suspension well  106 , and particularly the suspension well opening  108 , to allow the suspension  35  to extend therethrough, and to keep snow from entering the suspension well  106 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, one example of the skirt  100  is attached along part of the top outer perimeter  104  of the suspension well  106  and extending downwardly to the outer edge  115  of the floatation ski  116 . In this example the skirt  100  attaches to the outer edge  115  of the floatation ski  116  by snaps  118 . As discussed previously, the floatation ski can move freely with the suspension system  35 , thus, the skirt  100  must be sized to allow the floatation ski  116  to move up and down without causing the release of the snaps  118  either along the top perimeter  104  of the suspension well  106  or along the floatation ski  116  due to such movement. As discussed above, the skirt  100  may be attached by snaps  118 , by rivets or by a hook and loop type fastener, such as VELCRO®. 
     As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the aperture  110  formed in the skirt  100  allows the suspension system  35  to extend through the skirt  100 , and is sized to allow the suspension  35  to move and up and down without interference by the skirt  100 . It is envisioned that there can be a single aperture (not shown) to facilitate the rods extending through the skirt or there can be several apertures to accomplish this task, as shown in FIGS. 3-5 and  9 . One elongated aperture would allow more free movement of the suspension  35 , and several apertures (e.g., one for each strut) would allow more protection against the snow entering the suspension well. 
     To allow the skirt  100  to be attached and removed from its location on the snowmobile  10 , a slit  120  is formed in the skirt, such as from the aperture  110  to the top  122  or bottom edge  112  of the skirt  100 . The slit  120  can be opened to allow the suspension  35  to be placed through the aperture  110 . The slit  120  can be closed (by snaps or VELCRO®, etc.) to provide the desired coverage of the suspension well  106 , and to allow the skirt  100  to be removed. Each aperture  110  will require the slit  120  for proper placement of the skirt onto the well. 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the suspension well skirt  100  taken along lines  6 — 6  of FIG. 5 FIG. 6 illustrates several possible means of securing the skirt  100  along the top perimeter  104  of the suspension well  106  and to the auxiliary ski  116 . Specifically, the top perimeter  104  of the suspension well  106  has a snap receiving portion  124  embedded in the suspension well  106 . A corresponding snap portion  126  in the outside skirt  100  allows the skirt  100  to be snapped to the suspension well  106 . Additionally, the skirt  100  can also be snapped or riveted  128  to the outside edge  130  of the auxiliary ski  116 . Note that the skirt  100  has extra folded material  132  to allow the movement of the suspension system  35 . The skirt  100  keeps snow and debris from entering the suspension well  106  between the outer edge  130  of the auxiliary ski  116  and the top perimeter  104  of the suspension well  106 . 
     Under certain circumstances, it will also be useful to have an additional inside suspension well skirt  134  extending from the interior edge  136  of the floatation ski  116  to the exterior edge  140  of the belly pan  142  in the suspension well  106 . The inside suspension well skirt  134  is secured to the belly pan  142  by a series of snap receiving portions  144  embedded in the belly pan  142 . A corresponding snap portion  146  in the inside skirt  134  allows the skirt  134  to be snapped to the belly pan  142 . Additionally, the inside skirt  134  can also be snapped or riveted  148  to the inside edge  136  of the auxiliary ski  116 . As with the skirt  100  described above, the inside skirt  134  has extra folded material  147  to allow movement of the suspension system  35 . The inside skirt  134  keeps snow and other articles from entering the suspension well  106  through the gap between the floatation ski  116  and the inside perimeter  149  of the suspension well  106 . 
     Each skirt  100  and  134  is made of the same flexible material. The inside skirt  134 , like the corresponding outside skirt  100 , is long enough to allow the floatation ski  116  to move up and down as needed without hindrance. The attachment of the skirt  100  and  134  between the floatation ski  116  and the belly pan  142  can be continuous along the length of the floatation ski  116 , or can be along any part of the length of the floatation ski  116 , as is desired. As is shown in FIG. 6, the inside skirt  134  can be secured to the belly pan  142  and the floatation ski  116  in a similar manner as was described for the outside skirt  100 . 
     As shown in FIG. 9, the outside skirt  100  is also envisioned to attach between the perimeter  104  of the suspension well  106  and the embodiment of the auxiliary ski  150  as shown in FIGS. 7-8. FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the auxiliary ski  150  that forms a continuous attachment to the belly pan  152  and also attaches along the outside edge  154  of the suspension well  156 . As shown in FIGS. 7-9, the auxiliary ski  150  is continuously attached to the belly pan  152 , therefore the skirt  100  need only be attached from the outside edge  158  of the auxiliary ski  150  to the portion of the outside edge  154  of the suspension well  156  that is not covered by the auxiliary ski  150 . FIG. 8 is a section view taken along line  8 — 8  of FIG. 7, further showing the auxiliary ski  150 . In this case the skirt  100  could replace the need of having a folded-up side wall  158  on the auxiliary ski  150  or, alternatively, could be used to simply cover the groove  160  left in the turned-up ski side wall  158 . 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments discussed herein, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various other changes in the form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It should be understood that this description has been made by way of example, and that the suspension invention is defined by the scope of the following claims.