Snowmobile ski

• US 20030234129A1
• Filed: 06/21/2002
• Published: 12/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starting Line Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Starting Line Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Roberts, Allen, Hokanson, J.B.
• Granted Patent: US 6,955,236 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/182
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 5/03 Mono skis; Snowboards
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 17/02 Runners attachable to or replacing vehicle wheels B62B19/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 27/00 Propulsion devices for sledges or the like pushed or pulled by persons or animals B62B, B62C; wind propulsion B62B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49622 Vehicular structural member making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49863 with prestressing of part

Abstract

A snowmobile ski with a pair of outboard keels and laterally projecting, upwardly slanting, lateral wings attached proximate the outboard keels is disclosed. A ski of this structure has improved flotation and resistance to side slippage in turns.

Claims

1. A snowmobile ski having at least a pair of outboard keel members forming part of the lower normal running surface of said ski and at least one elongated wing member projecting laterally outward and upward from a region proximate the upper, outboard portion of an outboard keel member.

2. The ski of claim 1, wherein said wing is essentially an elongated planar member having a relatively narrow width compared to the width of the normal ski running surface.

3. The ski of claim 1, wherein said wing member projects upwardly at different angles along its length and has a nonplanar lower surface.

4. The ski of claim 1, wherein the outer most edge of said wing has a generally arcuate concave shape.

5. The ski of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said wing is laterally curved to provide a slightly concave lower lateral surface.

6. The ski of claim 1, wherein at least the midportion of said ski is laterally and longitudinally curved to provide a lower surface which is laterally and longitudinally concave.

7. The ski of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said wing member is outwardly and upwardly projected at an angle of at least about 30°

from the horizontal.

8. The ski of claim 1, wherein said wing member has a greater width near its midportion than near its fore or aft portions.

9. The ski of claim 1, wherein said wing member is essentially symmetrical longitudinally about a lateral line proximate the midportion of said wing member.

10. The ski of claim 1, wherein the normal running surface of said ski has a substantially convex rocker shape.

11. The ski of claim 1, wherein a pair of lateral wing members having substantially the same shape and length are incorporated into said ski.

12. A snowmobile ski having at least a central keel forming part of the lower normal running surface of said ski and at least one elongated wing member projecting laterally outwardly and upwardly from a lateral elongated edge of said ski wherein the upward angle of projection is less proximate the fore and aft portions of said wing member than proximate the midportion of said wing member.

13. The ski of claim 12, wherein the width of said wing member is greater proximate the midportion of said ski wing member than at its fore or aft portions.

14. The ski of claim 13, wherein the outboard edge of at least a portion of said wing member has a generally arcuate, concave shape.