Snowmobile ski

• US 6,955,236 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2002
• Issued: 10/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Starting Line Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Starting Line Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Hokanson, Joseph Brigham, Roberts, Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): LUM VANNUCCI, LEE SIN YEE
• Application Number:
  US10/176,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20030234129A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 280/28.15, 280/28.16, 280/601, 280/900, 280/28, 280/610, 280/845, 280/11.18, 280/16, 280/21.1, 280/22, 280/22.1, 280/608, 280/609, 180/184, 180/186, 180/190, 180/182
• 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 along an outer edge of a running surface of said ski and at least one elongated wing member projecting laterally outward and upward from a region proximate an upper, outboard portion of each outboard keel member and of a length substantially coextensive with said outboard keel member and wherein said at least one elongated wing member is essentially an elongated planar member having a relatively narrow lateral width compared to a lateral width of the ski running surface and wherein said at least one elongated wing member has a greater lateral width near a longitudinal midportion of the at least one elongated wing member than near fore or aft portions thereof with said lateral width gradually increasing from fore and aft directions towards the longitudinal midportion.

2. The ski of claim 1 wherein an outer most edge of said wing has a generally arcuate shape.

3. A snowmobile ski having at least a central keel forming part of a running surface, said running surface having opposed, outboard, elongated edges, and a pair of elongated wing members, each elongated wing member of the pair being attached to and projecting laterally outwardly from a one of said elongated edges and having an upward angle of projection from said elongated edges of said ski running surface wherein an upward angle of projection is less proximate fore and aft portions of each elongated wing member than proximate a longitudinal midportion of said elongated wing member and wherein the longitudinal midportion of said wing member is substantially proximate a longitudinal midportion of said ski and wherein a width of each wing member is greater proximate the longitudinal midportion of said elongated wing member than at fore or aft portions thereof.

4. The ski of claim 3, wherein an outer edge of at least a portion of each of said wing members has a generally arcuate shape.

5. The ski of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of each of said wing members near the longitudinal midportion of said ski has a partial surface area which is substantially vertically oriented.

6. The ski of claim 3, wherein at least an upper portion of each of said wing members near the longitudinal midportion of said ski has a partial surface area which is substantially horizontal and substantially elevated above the running surface of said ski.

7. The ski of claim 3, wherein each of said wing members is substantially symmetrical about a lateral line proximate the longitudinal midportion of each of said elongated wing members.

8. A snowmobile ski having at least a pair of outboard keel members forming part of a lower running surface of said ski and at least one elongated wing member projecting laterally outward and upward from a region proximate an upper, outboard portion of at least one outboard keel member, wherein said at leasont one elongate wing member projects upwardly at different angles along its length and has a nonplanar lower surface and wherein said at least one elongated wing member has a greater width near a longitudinal midportion of the at least one elongated wing member than near fore or aft portions thereof.