IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,269,559
Granted Patent B2
US 12,269,559 · App. 17/396,111 · Granted Apr 8, 2025

Snowmobile

Inventors: Michael A. Hedlund (Roseau, MN); Corey D. Omdahl (Roseau, MN); Jeffrey A. Eaton (Roseau, MN); Ronald W. Bachleitner (Roseau, MN); Joel R. Schildgen (Chisago City, MN)
Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
B62M27/02B62M2027/027B62M2027/028
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,269,559
App. No.
17/396,111
Filed
Aug 6, 2021
Granted
Apr 8, 2025
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3611
USPC
180/190
Abstract

A snowmobile comprises a chassis with a front portion and a tunnel, and a power train unit supported by the chassis. The snowmobile further includes a plurality of ground-engaging members cooperating with the power train unit to operate the snowmobile. The plurality of ground-engaging members includes a pair of front skis and an endless track assembly. The track includes a wide track belt and the snowmobile body portions and chassis are adapted to fit the wide track belt. A rear rack assembly is positioned on a rear of the snowmobile frame and can support a passenger seat.

Claims (34)

1. A vehicle comprising:

a frame;

ground engaging members supporting the frame;

a driver's seat supported by the frame; and

a rear rack assembly coupled to a rear portion of the frame and positioned rearwardly of the driver's seat, comprising a platform coupled to the rear portion of the frame, the platform comprising a first support surface disposed at a first height relative to the ground engaging members, and the platform being configured to support an accessory above the first support surface; and

a rear seat support positioned at a forward portion of the rear rack assembly and rearward of the driver's seat, the rear seat support comprising a second support surface disposed at a second height relative to the ground engaging members, the second height being greater than the first height, and the rear seat support being configured to support a passenger seat above the second support surface;

wherein the rear rack assembly further comprises struts coupling the platform to the rear seat support.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising the passenger seat.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein a space beneath the rear seat support is available for storage.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is a snowmobile, the frame comprises a tunnel, and the rear rack assembly is coupled to the tunnel.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising the accessory, the accessory being a container.

6. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the passenger seat is detachably coupled to the rear seat support.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the passenger seat comprises catches that detachably couple the passenger seat to the rear seat support.

8. The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the passenger seat further comprises a latch pin, and the rear seat support further comprises an opening that receives the latch pin.

9. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the platform is horizontally aligned with a lowest portion of the driver's seat.

10. A vehicle comprising:

a frame;

ground engaging members supporting the frame;

a driver's seat supported by the frame;

a support assembly positioned rearward of the driver's seat, the support assembly comprising:

a platform configured to support a first accessory;

a support configured to support the first accessory and a second accessory different from the first accessory, the support positioned at a height relative to the ground engaging members different from the platform; and

struts extending between the platform and the support.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 , further comprising the first accessory, the first accessory being a container.

12. The vehicle of claim 10 , further comprising the second accessory, the second accessory being a passenger seat.

13. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the struts comprise a first strut and a second strut, the first strut being positioned laterally outward of at least one of the platform and the support, and the second strut being positioned laterally outward of at least one of the platform and the support.

14. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the platform is horizontally aligned with a lowest portion of the driver's seat.

15. A vehicle comprising:

a frame;

ground engaging members supporting the frame;

a driver's seat supported by the frame; and

a rear rack assembly coupled to a rear portion of the frame and positioned rearwardly of the driver's seat, comprising a platform coupled to the rear portion of the frame, the platform comprising a first support surface disposed at a first height relative to the ground engaging members, and the platform being configured to support an accessory above the first support surface;

a rear seat support positioned at a forward portion of the rear rack assembly and rearward of the driver's seat, the rear seat support comprising a second support surface disposed at a second height relative to the ground engaging members, the second height being greater than the first height;

a passenger seat detachably coupled to the rear seat support and supported by the rear seat support above the second support surface, the passenger seat comprising catches that detachably couple the passenger seat to the rear seat support, and the passenger seat further comprising a latch pin, and the rear seat support further comprising an opening that receives the latch pin.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 6, 2021
From: HEDLUND, MICHAEL A.; OMDAHL, COREY D.; EATON, JEFFREY A.; BACHLEITNER, RONALD W.; SCHILDGEN, JOEL R.
To: POLARIS INDUSTRIES INC.
Reel/Frame 057106/0416 →
Continuity (3)
Division 15899406 · Feb 20, 2018
Provisional Application 62461083 · Feb 20, 2017
Related Publication 20210362807A1 · Nov 25, 2021
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