Abstract:
A slide bar for the track system of a snowmobile or an all-terrain vehicle comprises colored, or otherwise visually distinctive, wear indicating marks extending longitudinally along at least one of the side walls thereof. The colored wear indicating marks generally provide an indication to the operator of the vehicle that the slide bar needs to be replaced.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present patent application claims the benefits of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/359,531, entitled “Slide Bar for a Track System” and filed at the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Jun. 29, 2010, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to the field of snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles (“ATV” or “ATVs”), and utility terrain vehicle (“UTV” or “UTVs”), and more particularly to the field of track systems for snowmobiles, ATVs and UTVs. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Snowmobiles are propelled using an endless track mounted about a track suspension system. To reduce friction between the travelling track and the suspension system, the latter is typically provided with one or more slide bars made from low friction materials such as polymeric materials (e.g. UHMW polyethylene). 
         [0004]    However, slide bars are subjected to substantial wear and tear and need to be replaced regularly. 
         [0005]    Still, it is difficult of the snowmobile operators to know exactly when the slide bars need to be replaced. 
         [0006]    Some slide bars are provided with grooves or ridges extending along the length of the side walls thereof and providing an indication of the wear thereof. However, due to the harsh environments in which snowmobiles are used and operated, these grooves or ridges often fade and become difficult to discern with the passage of time. Also, these grooves or ridges, being the same color, are difficult to discern from a standing position on the side of the snowmobile. These grooves or ridges thus fail to provide a clear and trustworthy indication of the need the replace the slide bars. Hence, slide bars with wear indicating grooves or ridges are not satisfactory. 
         [0007]    Slide bars are also used in track systems used to replace wheels on generally wheeled vehicles such as ATVs and UTVs. Still, these slide bars suffer the same problems as the slide bars used on snowmobiles. 
         [0008]    Hence, there is a need for a slide bar with improved wear indicating marks. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    In order to mitigate the problems and shortcomings of prior art slide bars, a slide bar in accordance with the principles of the present invention comprises one or more colored and/or visually distinctive marks extending longitudinally along one or both side walls of the slide bar. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a fragmentary perspective view of an exemplary slide bar mounted to a suspension rail in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the slide bar and suspension rail of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0013]    A novel slide bar for a track system will be described hereinafter. Although the invention is described in terms of specific illustrative embodiments, it is to be understood that the embodiments described herein are by way of example only and that the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited thereby. 
         [0014]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a portion of a typical suspension rail of a snowmobile rear suspension system is shown. Conventionally, a slide bar, or wear bar, is mounted to the suspension rail to decrease friction between the suspension rail and the traction band or the clips mounted thereto. Similar slide bars are sometimes mounted to the frames of track systems used to replace wheels on normally wheeled vehicles such as ATVs and UTVs. Hence, even though the present embodiment is described in the context of a suspension rail for a snowmobile, the present invention is not limited to slide bars for used on snowmobile track systems. 
         [0015]    Under normal conditions, the slide bar wears due to the repeated sliding contacts between the traction band and the underside of the slide bar. Hence, it is generally necessary to replace the slide bar since it is a wear item. 
         [0016]    In accordance with the principles of the present invention, at least one and preferably both side walls of the slide bar are provided with wear indicating marks or wear markers. Furthermore, these wear indicating marks are visually distinct from the rest of the slide bar such as to provide a visually clear indication of the necessity to replace the slide bar. 
         [0017]    In the present embodiment, the wear indicating marks are of a color distinct from the color of the material of the slide bar such that even if the side walls of the slide bar are worn or damaged, the wear indicating marks will remain visible. 
         [0018]    As best illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the wear indicating marks extend longitudinally along the length of the slide bar. Moreover, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the wear indicating marks are generally positioned on the side walls at substantially the same level or height as the bottom surface of the suspension rail. Hence, when the slide bar has worn up to the wear indicating marks, it is generally necessary to replace the slide bar to avoid damaging the suspension rail and/or the traction band. 
         [0019]    Though the wear indicating marks are shown as being continuous lines, in alternate embodiments, the wear indicating marks could possibly be discontinuous lines (e.g. dashed lines, dotted lines, etc.). 
         [0020]    In the present embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the wear indicating marks are colored polymeric inserts secured into grooves formed, etched and/or otherwise machined into the side walls of the slide bar. Understandably, as mentioned above, the inserts are of a color significantly different from the color of the slide bar material such as to provide an easier visual inspection. 
         [0021]    In alternate embodiments, the wear indicating marks could be directly fastened on the side walls of the slide bar with suitable fasteners (e.g. screws, glue, etc.). Understandably, the present invention is not limited to any particular manner of mounting the wear indicating marks to the side walls of the slide bar. 
         [0022]    In still alternate embodiments, one or both side walls could be provided with multiple parallel wear indicating marks each positioned at a different level or height. These multiple wear indicating marks would preferably all be of different colors (e.g. lower green-colored marks indicating low wear, middle yellow-colored marks indicating intermediate wear and higher red-colored marks indicating critical wear and the need for replacement) and/or of different line types (e.g. lower white dotted marks, middle or intermediate white dashed marks, and higher continuous marks) such as to provide an indication of the degree of wear of the slide bar. 
         [0023]    While illustrative and presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail hereinabove, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied and employed and that the appended claims are intended to be construed to include such variations except insofar as limited by the prior art.