Snow trail grooming accessory

• US 6,026,600 A
• Filed: 02/13/1998
• Issued: 02/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gary J. Lela
• Original Assignee: Gary J. Lela
• Inventors: Lela, Gary J.
• Primary Examiner(s): PEZZUTO, ROBERT ERIC
• Application Number:
  US09/023,429
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 37/219, 37/220, 37/221, 37/222, 172/188, 172/145, 172/197, 172/780, 172/787, 280/492, 280/762
• US Class Current: 37/219
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 4/02 for sporting purposes, e.g. preparation of ski trails; Construction of artificial surfacings for snow or ice sports construction of ice skating rinks E01C13/102; Trails specially adapted for on-the-snow vehicles, e.g. devices adapted for ski-trails production of snow or ice for winter sports or similar recreational purposes F25C3/00

Abstract

The invention comprises a snow trail grooming accessory and method for use with a snowmobile to groom a snow trail surface. The accessory includes at least one cutting member and a forcing member joined to the cutting member and attachable to the snowmobile. The cutting member is forced in a downward direction by the forcing member when the forcing member is attached to the snowmobile.

Claims

1. A snow trail grooming accessory for use with an operating snowmobile to groom a snow trail surface during operation of the snowmobile, comprising:

a plurality of cutting members, wherein each of the plurality of cutting members is spaced from at least one other of the plurality of cutting members and the plurality of cutting members is adapted to groom the snow trail surface when attached to the operating snowmobile and during operation of the snowmobile; and

a forcing member joined to the plurality of cutting members and attachable to the snowmobile, wherein the plurality of cutting members is forced in a downward direction when the forcing member is attached to the snowmobile.

2. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the plurality of cutting members is rigid along its length.

3. The accessory of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of cutting members is independently forced in the downward direction.

4. The accessory of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of cutting members has a separate forcing member joined to it and attachable to the snowmobile.

5. The accessory of claim 4, wherein a common member communicates with each separate forcing member and positions each separate forcing member along a horizontal axis.

6. The accessory of claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of cutting members has a common forcing member joined to it and attachable to the snowmobile.

7. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the plurality of cutting members includes a longitudinal channel located between flared side portions.

8. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the plurality of cutting members includes an angled end portion.

9. The accessory of claim 8, wherein the angled end portion is positioned in a range of 10 degrees to 90 degrees relative to a level portion of the snow trail surface.

10. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the plurality of cutting members is positioned at an angle in a range of 30 degrees to 60 degrees relative to a level portion of the snow trail surface.

11. The accessory of claim 10, wherein the plurality of cutting members is sized to extend substantially co-extensive with a horizontal plane defined by a bottom surface of a track of the snowmobile.

12. The accessory of claim 10, wherein the angle in the range of 30 to 60 degrees is uniform along an entire length of the plurality of cutting members.

13. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the force in the downward direction is provided by the forcing member connected at an end of the plurality of cutting members where the end is located proximate the operating snowmobile.

14. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the plurality of cutting members is configured to move in a reverse direction without having to manipulate the plurality of cutting members from the downward direction when connected to the operating snowmobile.

15. A method for grooming a snow trail during operation of a snowmobile, the snow trail having a level portion, a snow mound, a snow mogul, a snow displacement from the snowmobile or a hazardous snow trail disturbance, comprising:

moving a plurality of cutting members, the plurality of cutting members being rigid along its length in a forward direction with the snowmobile, the plurality of cutting members being attached to the snowmobile and adapted to groom the snow trail during operation of the snowmobile;

forcing the plurality of cutting members in a downward direction and maintaining the plurality of cutting members in a first forced position wherein an end portion of the plurality of cutting members is maintained proximate a common horizontal plane with a bottom surface of a track of the snowmobile and the end portion substantially skims over the level portion and impacts at least the portion of the snow mound, the snow mogul or the snow displacement in the snow trail; and

leveling at least a portion of the snow mound, snow mogul or snow displacement when the plurality of cutting members is moving.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of leveling includes deflecting at least a portion of the snow displacement downwardly.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising moving the plurality of cutting members in a reverse direction.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the first forced position is defined by an angle between the plurality of cutting members and the level portion of the snow trail surface and is in a range of 30 degrees to 60 degrees.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the plurality of cutting members is sized to extend substantially co-extensive with the common horizontal plane.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of maintaining comprises:

substantially continuously maintaining the plurality of cutting members in the first forced position to level at least the portion of the snow mound, the snow mogul or the snow displacement;

allowing the plurality of cutting members to deflect upwards in response to the hazardous snow trail disturbance; and

,

returning the plurality of cutting members to the first forced position after it passes over the hazardous snow trail disturbance.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of leveling includes displacing forward at least a portion of a member from a group consisting of the snow mound, the snow mogul and the snow displacement.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the snowmobile is operated in a reverse direction without having to manipulate the plurality of cutting members from the first forced position.