Patent ID: 6926108

Claim:
A rear suspension system for a snowmobile, the snowmobile having a chassis enclosing a drive system and a rear tunnel, said rear suspension system comprising: a plurality of adjacent closed-loop tracks disposed in the rear tunnel, each of said plurality of adjacent closed-loop tracks rotatably driven by the drive system; a plurality of independent suspension assemblies rotatably supporting said closed-loop tracks and allowing independent vertical and horizontal travel of said closed-loop tracks, one of said plurality of independent suspension assemblies disposed in each closed-loop track; a front elongated cross shaft extending transversely through said plurality of adjacent closed-loop tracks and coupled to the chassis, said plurality of independent suspension assemblies coupled to said front cross shaft, wherein said front elongated cross shaft provides a centerline of rotation for said plurality of independent suspension assemblies; and a rear elongated cross shaft extending transversely through said plurality of closed-loop tracks and coupled to the chassis, said plurality of independent suspension assemblies coupled to said rear elongated cross shaft, wherein said rear elongated cross shaft remains stationary relative to said independent suspension assemblies during suspension system travel and provides a centerline of rotation for said plurality of independent suspension assemblies.