IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,722,743
Granted Patent B2
US 12,722,743 · App. 18/542,205 · Granted Sep 1, 2026

Bumper systems for snowmobiles

Inventor: Bradley Hoppe (Thief River Falls, MN)
Assignee: Arctic Cat Inc.
B62M27/02B62M2027/028
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,722,743
App. No.
18/542,205
Granted
Sep 1, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A snowmobile bumper system includes a lift bumper and a tow bumper. The lift bumper includes first and second side lift members with a lift handle extending therebetween. The first side lift member is coupled to a first side panel of a drive tunnel. The second side lift member is coupled to a second side panel of the drive tunnel. The lift handle is disposed aft of and above the drive tunnel. The tow bumper includes first and second side tow members with a cross member extending therebetween. The first side tow member is coupled to the first side panel of the drive tunnel. The second side tow member is coupled to the second side panel of the drive tunnel. The tow bumper is positioned below the lift bumper. A towing assembly is coupled to the cross member of the tow bumper.

Claims (32)

1 . A bumper system for a snowmobile having a drive tunnel with first and second side panels, the bumper system comprising:

a lift bumper having first and second side lift members with a lift handle extending therebetween, the first side lift member coupled to the first side panel of the drive tunnel, the second side lift member coupled to the second side panel of the drive tunnel, the lift handle disposed aft of and above the drive tunnel;

a tow bumper having first and second side tow members with a cross member extending therebetween, the first side tow member coupled to the first side panel of the drive tunnel, the second side tow member coupled to the second side panel of the drive tunnel, the tow bumper positioned below the lift bumper; and

a towing assembly coupled to the cross member of the tow bumper.

2 . The bumper system as recited in claim 1 wherein, the lift bumper further comprises one or more round tubular members that form the first and second side lift members and the lift handle.

3 . The bumper system as recited in claim 1 wherein, each of the first and second side lift members includes two substantially straight tubular members having a bend therebetween.

4 . The bumper system as recited in claim 1 wherein, the first and second side lift members are respectively positioned outboard of the first and second side panels of the drive tunnel.

5 . The bumper system as recited in claim 1 wherein, the tow bumper further comprises one or more square tubular members that form the first and second side tow members and the cross member.

6 . The bumper system as recited in claim 1 wherein, the first and second side tow members are respectively positioned outboard of the first and second side panels of the drive tunnel.

7 . The bumper system as recited in claim 1 further comprising first and second support brackets respectively coupling the first and second side tow members to the first and second side panels of the drive tunnel.

8 . The bumper system as recited in claim 1 further comprising first and second forward support brackets respectively coupling the first and second side tow members to the first and second side panels of the drive tunnel; and

first and second aft support brackets respectively coupling the first and second side tow members to the first and second side panels of the drive tunnel.

9 . The bumper system as recited in claim 8 wherein, the first aft support bracket is selectively couplable to the first side tow member at a plurality of locations; and

wherein, the second aft support bracket is selectively couplable to the second side tow member at a plurality of locations.

10 . The bumper system as recited in claim 1 wherein, the towing assembly further comprises a rotatable receiver.

11 . The bumper system as recited in claim 1 wherein, the towing assembly further comprises a hook and latch receiver.

12 . A snowmobile comprising:

a chassis including a drive tunnel having first and second side panels;

a powertrain coupled to the chassis;

a drive track disposed at least partially below the drive tunnel, the drive track receiving rotational energy from the powertrain such that the drive track is configured to provide ground propulsion for the snowmobile;

a lift bumper having first and second side lift members with a lift handle extending therebetween, the first side lift member coupled to the first side panel of the drive tunnel, the second side lift member coupled to the second side panel of the drive tunnel, the lift handle disposed aft of and above the drive tunnel;

a tow bumper having first and second side tow members with a cross member extending therebetween, the first side tow member coupled to the first side panel of the drive tunnel, the second side tow member coupled to the second side panel of the drive tunnel, the tow bumper positioned below the lift bumper; and

a towing assembly coupled to the cross member of the tow bumper.

13 . The snowmobile as recited in claim 12 wherein, the lift bumper further comprises one or more round tubular members that form the first and second side lift members and the lift handle.

14 . The snowmobile as recited in claim 12 wherein, the first and second side lift members are respectively positioned outboard of the first and second side panels of the drive tunnel.

15 . The snowmobile as recited in claim 12 further comprising a snow flap coupled to and extending downwardly from the lift bumper; and

wherein, the towing assembly is positioned aft of the snow flap.

16 . The snowmobile as recited in claim 15 wherein, the towing assembly is positioned below at least a portion of the snow flap.

17 . The snowmobile as recited in claim 12 wherein, the towing assembly is positioned aft of the lift bumper.

18 . The snowmobile as recited in claim 12 wherein, the towing assembly is positioned below of the lift bumper.

19 . The snowmobile as recited in claim 12 wherein, the tow bumper further comprises one or more square tubular members that form the first and second side tow members and the cross member.

20 . The snowmobile as recited in claim 12 wherein, the first and second side tow members are respectively positioned outboard of the first and second side panels of the drive tunnel.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 15, 2023
From: HOPPE, BRADLEY
To: ARCTIC CAT INC.
Reel/Frame 066046/0140 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63448407 · Feb 27, 2023
Related Publication 20240286711A1 · Aug 29, 2024
References Cited (36)
US 3762736A · Johnson et al. · 1973 [cited by applicant]
US 3781038A · Bachel et al. · 1973 [cited by applicant]
US 5421611A · Peterson · 1995 [cited by examiner]
US 5599002A · Knutson · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5853187A · Maier · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 6904990B2 · Etou · 2005 [cited by examiner]
US 7040645B1 · Borneman et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 8695744B1 · Bedard · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 9828065B2 · Pard · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 10507777B1 · Fraker · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 11110994B2 · Hedlund et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11701936B1 · Dormoy · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 12162529B2 · Olin · 2024 [cited by examiner]
US D1057613S · Dong · 2025 [cited by examiner]
US 12434783B2 · Jorgenson · 2025 [cited by examiner]
US 12467426B2 · Vigen · 2025 [cited by examiner]
US 12589832B2 · Martel · 2026 [cited by examiner]
US 20040021295A1 · Westerdale · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20180237106A1 · Hedlund et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20190359159A1 · Fraker · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20210362807A1 · Hedlund et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20230257049A1 · Vigen · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20230312037A1 · Mercure · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20240124096A1 · Crosby · 2024 [cited by examiner]
US 20240400157A1 · Vezina · 2024 [cited by examiner]
US 20250065982A1 · Vezina · 2025 [cited by examiner]
US 20250074123A1 · Johnson · 2025 [cited by examiner]
US 20250115331A1 · Delor · 2025 [cited by examiner]
CA 3103012A1 · 2021 [cited by examiner]
Canadian Office Action; CA Application No. 3,225,518; Canadian Intellectual Property Office; Nov. 14, 2025. [cited by applicant]
Arctic Cat; 8-Pocket Rear Bumper Pintle Hitch Kit; https://www.countrycat.com/arctic-cat-6639-911-8-pocket-rear-bumper-pintle-hitch-kit-2013-2024-m-xf-zr-137-146-inch; Unknown Date. [cited by applicant]
Arctic Cat; Rear Receiver Bumper Kit; https://thomassnosports.com/arctic-cat-rear-reciever-bumper-kit-5639-339-2009-10-bearcat-xt.html; Unknown Date. [cited by applicant]
In Depth Outdoors; Snowmobile Tow Hitch; https://www.in-depthoutdoors.com/community/forums/topic/atv_1300816/; Unknown Date. [cited by applicant]
ITEK Industries; Sleigh Hitch; https://www.itekindustries.ca/us/bumper/2744-sleigh-hitch-black-used-part-new-part.html; Unknown Date. [cited by applicant]
Polaris; Snowmobile Receiver Hitch; https://www.polaris.com/en-us/shop/snowmobiles/accessories/towables-utility/2878344/; Unknown Date. [cited by applicant]
Totall Yamaha; https://ty4stroke.com/threads/tow-hitch.16629/; Sep. 2005. [cited by applicant]