Patent ID: 6913287

Claim:
An elevation mechanism for a snowmobile having a drive track at a rear end of the snowmobile for driving the snowmobile over a ground surface, the elevation mechanism having a transport position spaced above the ground surface and a use position supporting the rear end of the snowmobile with the drive track spaced above the ground surface, the elevation mechanism comprising: a stabilizer brace comprising a ground-engaging base member and two spaced apart arms secured to and projecting from the base member; a stabilizer brace mount for pivotally mounting the stabilizer brace arms on opposite sides of the snowmobile at a bracing mounting point spaced from the base member and spaced forwardly of the rear end of the snowmobile for pivotal movement of the brace between a transport condition extending rearwardly from the stabilizer brace mounting point and a use condition sloping downwardly to the rear of the snowmobile from the brace mounting point, the transport and use conditions corresponding to the transport and use positions respectively of the elevation mechanism; an extensible lift having upper and lower ends with the lower end of the lift connected to the stabilizer brace at a lower attachment position spaced from the brace mounting position, the lift being selectively actuable between extended use and retracted transport conditions corresponding to the transport and use positions respectively of the elevation mechanism; and a lift mount for mounting the upper end of the lift on the rear end of the snowmobile at an upper attachment position rearwardly from the brace mounting position and rearwardly of the drive track; whereby: the lift is positioned rearwardly from the drive track; in the use position of the elevation mechanism, the extensible lift is in the extended condition and the base member of the stabilizing brace engages the ground surface; and while in the transport position of the elevation mechanism, the extensible lift is in the retracted condition and the base member clears the ground surface; and wherein the extensible lift is a scissors jack.