Patent ID: 8657054

Claim:
A front suspension and ski assembly for a snowmobile having a frame, the front suspension and ski assembly having a right and a left side each comprising: an upper arm pivotally connected to the snowmobile frame; a lower arm pivotally connected to the snowmobile frame; a spindle having an upper portion rotatably connected to the upper arm at a first connection point, a mid-portion rotatably connected to the lower arm at a second connection point, and a lower portion; a ski pivotally connected to the lower portion of the spindle at a third connection point, the ski pivoting about a first pivot axis extending from the third connection point, the ski having a longitudinally extending centerline, an inner edge, an opposite outer edge, and a ground facing surface facing the ground when the front suspension and ski assembly is in use; the ground facing surface of the ski comprises an inner surface extending longitudinally from the centerline of the ski to the inner edge of the ski and an outer surface extending longitudinally from the centerline of the ski to the outer edge of the ski; a keel projecting from and extending longitudinally along the ground facing surface of the ski and disposed along the outer surface of the ground facing surface of the ski, the keel having an inner lateral side, an opposite outer lateral side, and a ground facing surface; a runner projecting from and extending longitudinally along the ground facing surface of the keel, the runner having a ground engaging portion; wherein a straight line extending through the first connection point and the second connection point extends to a point disposed within the ground engaging portion of the runner, the straight line defining an acute angle with the first pivot axis.