SNOWMOBILE FLOTATION SYSTEMS

Abstract

A snowmobile accessory that includes two buoyant front skis and two buoyant rear floats to mount under foot boards or running boards. A user with a snowmobile may simply mount the kit to a snowmobile for use when crossing bodies of water dry land, snow & ice. The present invention may be mounted in less than 30 minutes.

Claims

1. A snowmobile flotation system comprising: a pair of snowmobile flotation assemblies comprising a right-snowmobile-assembly and a left-snowmobile-assembly, each of said right-snowmobile-assembly and said left-snowmobile-assembly comprising; a stern; a bow; a chine; a gunwale; at least one cross-wise-thwart; and at least one length-wise-thwart, wherein each of said right-snowmobile-assembly and said left-snowmobile-assemblies are removeably attached to a respective ski mount of a snowmobile; wherein each of said at least one cross-wise-thwart and said at least one length-wise-thwart are configured to form at least a portion of a box structure defining a respective inner volume that accommodates said respective ski mount of said snowmobile that is removably attached therein.

2. The snowmobile flotation system of claim 1, wherein said pair of snowmobile flotation assemblies comprises wood.

3. The snowmobile flotation system of claim 1, wherein said pair of snowmobile flotation assemblies comprises plastic.

4. The snowmobile flotation system of claim 1, wherein each of said right-snowmobile-assembly and said left-snowmobile-assembly comprises exactly three of said cross-wise-thwarts.

5. The snowmobile flotation system of claim 1, wherein each of said right-snowmobile-assembly and said left-snowmobile-assembly comprises exactly two of said length-wise-thwarts.

6. The snowmobile flotation system of claim 1, wherein two of said cross-wise-thwarts are located perpendicularly to two of said length-wise-thwarts.

7. The snowmobile flotation system of claim 1, wherein said stern is oriented behind said bow when used, such that said bow traverses over a surface of a body of water and also transverses over dry land, snow, and ice.

8. The snowmobile flotation system of claim 7, wherein said stern is located underneath respective handlebars on said snowmobile.

9. The snowmobile flotation system of claim 5, wherein said cross-wise-thwart comprising a front position comprises a triangular shape with an apex.

10. The snowmobile flotation system of claim 9, wherein said apex is located adjacent an intersection of said chine and said gunwale.

11. The snowmobile flotation system of claim 1, wherein a second and a third said cross-wise-thwart each have a pentagon shape.

12. The snowmobile flotation system of claim 1, wherein said stern has a pentagon shape.

13. The snowmobile flotation system of claim 1, wherein a density of said right-snowmobile-assembly and said left-snowmobile-assembly is less than 1 g/cm.sup.3.

14. The snowmobile flotation system of claim 13, wherein said density of 1 g/cm.sup.3 provides that said right-snowmobile-assembly and said left-snowmobile-assembly is able to effectively float.

15-16. (canceled)

17. A snowmobile flotation system comprising: a pair of snowmobile flotation assemblies comprising a right-snowmobile-assembly and a left-snowmobile-assembly, each of said right-snowmobile-assembly and said left-snowmobile-assembly comprising: a stern; a bow; a gunwale; at least one cross-wise-thwart; at least one length-wise-thwart; and two buoyant rear floats; wherein said cross-wise-thwart comprising a front position comprises a triangular shape with an apex; wherein said apex is located adjacent to said chine and said gunwale; wherein each of said right-snowmobile-assembly and said left-snowmobile-assembly are removably attached to a respective ski mount of a snowmobile; wherein said stern is located underneath respective running boards on said snowmobile; wherein each of said at least one cross-wise-thwart and said at least one length-wise-thwart are configured to form a portion of a box structure defining a respective inner volume accommodating said respective ski mount of said snowmobile that is removably attached therein; and wherein said two buoyant rear floats support a rear portion of said snowmobile from underneath footboards.

18. A kit including: a right-snowmobile-assembly; a left-snowmobile-assembly; bouyant rear floats; and a set of user instructions.

19-20. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, snowmobile flotation systems, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view illustrating a snowmobile flotation system during an ‘in-use’ condition showing a front and rear right-snowmobile-assembly and left-snowmobile-assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the snowmobile flotation system comprising the right-snowmobile-assembly and left-snowmobile-assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating components of the snowmobile flotation system according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIGS. 1-2.

[0023] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the snowmobile flotation system according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIGS. 1-3.

[0024] FIG. 5 is a method of use for the snowmobile flotation system according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIGS. 1-4.

[0025] The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a snowmobile accessory and more particularly to a bolt on (removably couplable) floatation kit for use with a snowmobile; two buoyant front skis and two buoyant rear floats to mount under (or otherwise adjacent) foot boards/running boards for total of four floats.

[0027] Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown in FIGS. 1-4, showing various views of snowmobile flotation system 100 comprising: pair of snowmobile flotation assemblies 110 comprising right-snowmobile-assembly 112 and left-snowmobile-assembly 114, each of right-snowmobile-assembly 112 and left-snowmobile-assembly 114 comprising, stern 120, bow 130, chine 160, gunwhale 170, at least one cross-wise-thwart 180, and at least one length-wise-thwart 190, as shown.

[0028] Snowmobile flotation system 100 comprises snowmobile flotation assemblies 110 comprising front and rear right-snowmobile-assembly 112 and front and rear left-snowmobile-assembly 114, stern 120, bow 130, chine 160, gunwhale 170, at least one cross-wise-thwart 180 and at least one length-wise-thwart 190 which define each of right-snowmobile-assembly 112 and left-snowmobile-assembly 114 in functional and structural combination. Stern 120, bow 130, chine 160, gunwhale 170, at least one cross-wise-thwart 180 and at least one length-wise-thwart 190 are structured and arranged in functional combination for removable attachment each to a respective (right and left) ski mount 196 of snowmobile 198.

[0029] At least one cross-wise-thwart 180 and at least one length-wise-thwart 190 is structured and arranged in respective boxed formations to provide respective defined inner volumes (right and left) wherein respective ski mounts 196 of snowmobile 198 are able to be removably attached therein. Snowmobile flotation system 100, when mounted, provides capability for snowmobile 198 to travel across bodies of water 194 in a floating condition. Pair of snowmobile flotation assemblies 110 may comprise wood in preferred embodiments or plastic in alternate embodiments. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as user preferences, design preference, structural requirements, marketing preferences, cost, available materials, technological advances, etc., other material arrangements such as, for example, composites, ferrous materials, non-ferrous materials, etc., may be sufficient.

[0030] In preferred embodiments each of right-snowmobile-assembly 112 and left-snowmobile-assembly 114 comprises exactly three of cross-wise-thwarts 180. Each of right-snowmobile-assembly 112 and the left-snowmobile-assembly 114 comprises exactly two length-wise-thwarts 190. Two cross-wise-thwarts 180 are located perpendicularly to two length-wise-thwarts 190. Stern 120 is oriented behind bow 130, when used, such that bow 130 is able to cut through the water when traversing over the bodies of water 194. Relationally speaking, stern 120 is located underneath or beside respective running boards 199 on snowmobile 198 when mounted.

[0031] Cross-wise-thwart 180 when comprising a front position comprises a triangular shape with an apex. The apex is located adjacent an intersection of chine 160 and gunwhale 170. A second and third the cross-wise-thwart 180 comprise a low profile pentagon shape, as shown. Stern comprises a low profile pentagon shape. A density of the right-snowmobile-assembly 112 and left-snowmobile-assembly 114 is less than 1 g/cm.sup.3. The density of 1 g/cm.sup.3 provides that right-snowmobile-assembly 112 the left-snowmobile-assembly 114 is able to effectively float. Other materials with other densities may be used; however it is preferable that the material be buoyant in water.

[0032] Right-snowmobile-assembly 112 and the left-snowmobile-assembly 114 comprise a low-profile such that snowmobile 198 is suitably stabilized during use on bodies of water 194. A center of gravity of snowmobile 198 is designed to be located (directed) directly below handlebars.

[0033] Snowmobile flotation system 100 may be sold as kit 440 comprising the following parts: at least one front and rear right-snowmobile-assembly 112; at least one front and rear left-snowmobile-assembly 114; and at least one set of user instructions. The kit 440 may further comprise any necessary mounting hardware. The kit has instructions such that functional relationships are detailed in relation to the structure of the invention (such that the invention can be used, maintained, or the like in a preferred manner). Snowmobile flotation system 100 may be manufactured and provided for sale in a wide variety of sizes and shapes for a wide assortment of applications. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other kit contents or arrangements such as, for example, including more or less components, customized parts, different mounting combinations, parts may be sold separately, etc., may be sufficient. The present kit can be universally mounted to any production snowmobile in production.

[0034] Referring now to FIG. 5 showing flowchart 550 illustrating method of use 500 for snowmobile flotation system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIGS. 1-4. As shown, method of use 500 may comprise the steps of: step one 501, mounting right-snowmobile-assembly 112 to a right ski mount, step two 502 mounting left-snowmobile-assembly 114 to a left ski mount, step three 503 driving snowmobile 198 on bodies of water in a floating condition, and step four 504 removing right-snowmobile-assembly 112 and left-snowmobile-assembly 114 from snowmobile 198. Rear mounted floatation means may comprise two buoyant rear floats to support a rear portion of snowmobile 198 mounted underneath running boards 199 or other portion of the rear of snowmobile 198.

[0035] It should be noted that step four 504 is an optional step and may not be implemented in all cases. Optional steps of method of use 500 are illustrated using dotted lines in FIG. 5 so as to distinguish them from the other steps of method of use 500.

[0036] It should be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶ 6. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods of use arrangements such as, for example, different orders within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps, including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc., may be sufficient.

[0037] The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.