SNOWMOBILE ASSISTANT DEVICE

Abstract

A wheeled device for increasing the mobility of a snowmobile or ski-bound vehicle, wherein the wheeled device, having a cylindrical axle, is attached to the bolt on the interior of a sled ski underneath the snowmobile sled, which raises the skis off the ground and does not increase the snowmobile sled width. The wheeled device surrounds the interior sled ski bolts and nuts thereon and is tightened onto said bolts and nuts by way of a tightening wheel. The snowmobile is thus able to drive on the wheeled devices so that it can conveniently move from one location to another without damaging the bottom of the skis if on rough or unstable terrain.

Claims

1. A snowmobile assisting wheeled device adapted to attach to and move a snowmobile, said wheeled device comprising: a wheel having a front face and a rear face, wherein an opening is formed through the front face and the rear face; a cylindrical axle having a first distal end and a second distal end, wherein said cylindrical axle is inserted through the flat free wheel opening, such that the first distal end extends beyond the front face of the flat free wheel, and wherein the second distal end extends beyond the rear face of the flat free wheel; an interior recess portion contained within said axle at the second distal end and extending partially the length of the axle; a tightening wheel surrounding the first distal end of the cylindrical axle; and an attachment piece mechanically securing the tightening wheel to the first distal end of the cylindrical axle.

2. The snowmobile assisting wheeled device of claim 1, wherein the axle is constructed from stainless steel.

3. The snowmobile assisting wheeled device of claim 1, wherein the axle is constructed from carbon steel.

4. The snowmobile assisting wheeled device of claim 2, wherein the tightening wheel is constructed of aluminum.

5. The snowmobile assisting wheeled device of claim 4, wherein the wheel is a flat free wheel constructed of plastic.

6. The snowmobile assisting wheeled device of claim 4, wherein the wheel is a flat free wheel constructed of rubber.

7. The snowmobile assisting wheeled device of claim 6, wherein the flat free wheel is additionally filled with foam.

8. The snowmobile assisting wheel device of claim 7, wherein said tightening wheel is constructed of aluminum.

9. The snowmobile assisting wheel device of claim 8, wherein said tightening wheel additionally comprises a plurality of finger indents thereon.

10. The snowmobile assisting wheel device of claim 9, wherein said interior recess portion additionally comprises an interior recess axle lip.

11. The snowmobile assisting wheel device of claim 10, wherein said attachment piece is a bolt.

12. The snowmobile assisting wheel device of claim 10, wherein said attachment piece is a socket cap screw.

13. A flat free wheeled device for raising the ski of a snowmobile off a surface, the wheeled device comprising: a rubber flat free wheel having an opening therethrough, said flat free wheel having a front face and a rear face; a stainless-steel cylindrical axle having a first distal end and a second distal end, wherein said cylindrical axle is inserted through the flat free wheel opening, such that the first distal end extends beyond the front face of the flat free wheel, wherein the second distal end extends beyond the rear face of the flat free wheel, wherein the first distal end of the cylindrical axle is slimmed down lesser diameter than the second distal end of the cylindrical axle, forming an axle contact face, wherein the first distal end additionally comprises an opening thereon; an interior recess portion contained within said axle at the second distal end, extending partially the length of the axle, said interior recess portion additionally comprising an interior recess axle lip; an aluminum tightening wheel surrounding the first distal end of the cylindrical axle; and a bolt contained within the first distal end opening, said bolt mechanically securing the tightening wheel to the first distal end.

14. The wheeled device of claim 13, wherein a ball bearing is connected to the center of the flat free wheel.

15. The wheeled device of claim 14, wherein the tightening wheel additionally comprises a plurality of finger indents.

16. The wheeled device of claim 15, wherein the first distal end comprises a generally square shape thereon.

17. A method for transporting a snowmobile across an uneven surface comprising: (a) providing a flat free wheel with a ball bearing including in the center of the flat free wheel, and further including a cylindrical axis having a first end and a second end therethrough, additionally comprising an aluminum tightening wheel on the first end of the cylindrical axis and further providing an interior recessed portion at the second end of the cylindrical axis; (b) providing a snowmobile with a plurality of skis, each ski having a mounting ski bolt thereon; (c) manually raising one snowmobile ski into a vertical position away from a resting surface; (d) coupling the second distal end of the cylindrical axis on the mounting ski bolt of the snowmobile; and (e) manually actuating the tightening wheel in one of a clockwise motion and a counterclockwise motion.

18. The method for transporting a snowmobile of claim 17, further comprising: (a) providing a second flat free wheel with a ball bearing including in the center of the flat free wheel, and further including a cylindrical axis having a first end and a second end therethrough, additionally comprising an aluminum tightening wheel on the first end of the cylindrical axis, further providing an interior recessed portion at the second end of the cylindrical axis; and (c) manually raising a second snowmobile ski into a vertical position away from a resting surface; (d) coupling the second distal end of the second cylindrical axis on the second mounting ski bolt of the snowmobile; and (e) manually actuating the second tightening wheel in one of a clockwise motion and a counterclockwise motion.

19. The method for transporting a snowmobile of claim 18, further comprising: (a) starting the snowmobile engine; (b) driving the snowmobile to a desired location; and (c) turning off the snowmobile engine.

20. The method for transporting a snowmobile of claim 19, further comprising: (a) manually actuating the tightening wheel in one of a clockwise motion and a counterclockwise motion; (b) decoupling the second distal end of the cylindrical axis from the mounting ski bolt of the snowmobile; (c) manually raising one snowmobile ski into a vertical position away from a resting surface; (d) removing the first cylindrical axis and the flat free wheel from position; (e) removing the second cylindrical axis and the flat free wheel from position; and (f) releasing the snowmobile from the vertical position.

Description

DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION

[0025] One or more preferred exemplary embodiments of the disclosed invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout and in which:

[0026] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a snowmobile ski, showing the extra thread of the hex screw or bolt;

[0027] FIG. 2 is a view of components used to attach an extended bolt;

[0028] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the snowmobile assistant device shown attached or coupled to a ski extra threading on the hex screw or bolt;

[0029] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a snowmobile assistant device attached or coupled to a snowmobile in the interior portion of the sled;

[0030] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the snowmobile assistant device highlighting the second distal end of the axle;

[0031] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the snowmobile assistant device highlighting the first distal end of the axle, wherein a tightening wheel is attached, formed, configured, or affixed thereto;

[0032] FIG. 7 is a view of the axle, further highlighting the slimmed cylindrical component of said axle on a first distal end;

[0033] FIG. 8 is a closeup view of the ball bearing of the snowmobile assistant device located near the center of the wheel unit;

[0034] FIG. 9 is a view of a method of deployment of the snowmobile assistant device, wherein a human user is providing upward force on the ski to create clearance for attachment; and

[0035] FIG. 10 highlights the steps of installing the snowmobile assistant device to a snowmobile and moving said snowmobile to a desired location.

[0036] Before explaining one or more embodiments of the disclosed invention in detail, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited in its application to the details or modes of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or previously disclosed illustrations. This invention is capable of multiple embodiments and modes, which can be practiced or carried out in many various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description, and should not be regarded as limiting, or used as an absolute.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0037] Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1 illustrates a closeup view of a snowmobile ski 40, in which a ski hex screw or bolt 100 is shown, wherein an extended portion of said bolt 100 extends outwardly away from the snowmobile ski 40. A washer 70 is employed, which evenly distributes the load applied on the threaded bolt 100 by a supplied bolt nut 145. The bolt 100 has an extra portion of threading 140, which is defined herein as the amount of threading disposed away from the bolt nut 145 and extending generally towards the interior portion of the sled 130. As previously described, the interior portion of the sled 130 is the space located between the two skis 40 of a snowmobile.

[0038] Turning to FIG. 2, a series of components are shown. An extended bolt 60 is shown in this image, which can be used to replace the current ski bolt 100, if it is too short in length such that there is not sufficient extra thread 140. The extended bolt 60 will provide this additional extra thread of the bolt 140, which is essential to the mounting of the device as is shown later. Additionally, a washer 70 is depicted, and as earlier mentioned, will prevent excess surface pressure on the mounting surface, and to increase the stiffness, or rigidity, of the clamping surface, while located on the extra thread of the bolt 140. Further, a lock nut 80 is provided, so as to resist loosening while operating.

[0039] Now looking at FIG. 3 a preferred embodiment of a snowmobile assistant device 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention is shown while in mounted position. This particular embodiment is shown installed upon a generic snowmobile ski 40, and more particularly mounted such that it makes contact on a snowmobile ski side wall 190. As generally referred to above, an axle 150 is provided with a first distal end 160 and a second distal end 170. The axle 150 is positioned through a wheel unit 20 and deployed at a position wherein the first distal end 160 extends from a front face of the wheel 200, and a tightening wheel 30 is deployed on said first distal end 160. The second distal end 170, is the portion extending through the wheel unit 20 at a position therefrom nearest the rear face of the wheel 210, and nearest the snowmobile ski side wall 190. The area between the snowmobile ski side wall 190 and the rear face of the wheel 210 is known as the offset 180. Should the offset 180 not be sufficient, the rear face of the wheel 210 will contact the snowmobile ski side wall 190, creating unintended friction and could prevent the wheel unit 20 from being able to rotate properly. The correction for this is to increase the length of the ski bolt 100 by way of an extended length extra thread bolt 140, as shown in FIG. 2, or by increasing the length of the axle 150 itself, so as to increase the distance between the snowmobile ski side wall 190 and the face of the wheel 210.

[0040] Turning back to FIG. 3, around the circumference, or the perimeter 280, of the wheel unit 20, are positions generally known as the uppermost portion of the wheel 240 and the lowermost portion of the wheel 250. As the wheel unit 20 rotates around an axis, wherein the axle 150 is positioned, the just referred to parts will not correlate to an exact portion of the wheel unit 20 itself, but rather be a generic position as depicted here.

[0041] On this generic snowmobile, a front suspension bar 230 is shown which is generally the lowermost point of the snowmobile frame. However, snowmobiles could have a different frame piece as the lowermost portion as to a surface area such as the ground. In such a circumstance, the front suspension bar 230 may be a different component while serving the same function as to the definition of the upper clearance 260.

[0042] The upper clearance 260 is defined herein as the area of space between that of the center of the wheel unit, which is the center of the attachment piece of the tightening wheel 35, and the front suspension bar 230. Should the space created be too short in length, the uppermost part of the wheel unit 240 will unintendedly contact with the front suspension bar 230, preventing full rotation, or creating excess friction. The correction for this would be to use a wheel unit 20 with a smaller diameter, thus creating more clearance.

[0043] As defined herein, the lower clearance 270 is the area between a contact surface, such as the ground or a floor, and the center of the wheel unit, which is the center of the attachment piece of the tightening wheel 35. If the lower clearance 270 is not sufficient, the contact point for the generic snowmobile will be the bottom of the snowmobile ski 40, instead of the lowermost portion of the wheel 250. In such a circumstance, the snowmobile assistant device 10 will not be sufficient to lift and maneuver the snowmobile itself.

[0044] FIG. 4 is a depiction of the front view of a generic snowmobile. In said view, the snowmobile assistant device 10 is present, wherein there are two devices 10. As described above, these devices are positioned generally near the snowmobile ski side wall 190, at a position within two snowmobile skis 40, known as the interior portion of the sled 130. As can be appreciated here, the lower clearance 270 should be sufficient enough such that the snowmobile skis 40 are raised in the air, defined as positioned above the contact surface of the floor or ground.

[0045] Looking now at FIG. 5 is a view of the snowmobile assistant device 10, highlighting the second distal end of the axle 170. As is shown, there is a contact point on the second distal end 170, such that the axle 150 is able to mate or connect with the extra thread on the bolt 140, shown in FIG. 1. Turning back to FIG. 5, the wheel unit 20 is shown, highlighting the rear face of the wheel 210. The wheel 20 is shown here as a flat free tire, which is known to be advantageous as it will not lose PSI, as pneumatically filled tires are known to do, particularly in colder climates and snowmobiles operate almost exclusively in colder climates. The axle 150 as extended upwards highlights the interior recess portion of the axle 330, which envelops the bolt 100. The interior recess portion of the axle 330 can also surround and tighten around the bolt nut 145 by way of an interior recess axle lip 340, which is known as a lowered portion, creating a slightly larger diameter within the inner diameter by way of reduced material thickness. The recessed portion is contained by an interior recess portion wall 335, which is the base wall of the recessed area.

[0046] FIG. 6 is the inverse view of FIG. 5, wherein FIG. 6 shows a flat free tire wheel 20 wherein the focus is on the front face of the wheel 200. A tightening wheel 30 is provided which is attached to the first distal end of the axle 160. The tightening wheel 30 surrounds the first distal end of the axle 160 and is attached thereon by an attachment piece 35. The attachment at present is thought to be any attachment device for securing, such as a bolt or a screw, such as a socket cap screw; the socket cap screw allows for mechanical machining resulting in precise dimensioning with a flush screw head and provides greater torque and resistance to accidental loosening.

[0047] The tightening wheel 30 here is a wide grip having numerous finger indents 45 for ease of grip. Thus the human user will put their hand on the center of the wheel unit, which is the center of the attachment piece of the tightening wheel 35, fingers within the finger indents 45, and actuate the tightening wheel 30 clockwise or counterclockwise to tighten or loosen said tightening wheel 30. The presence of finger indents 45 allows for greater torque by a human user, without the necessity of tools. Thus, a human user can engage and subsequently disengage the snowmobile assistant device 10 without tools, in any environment, in a precise and quick manner.

[0048] The axle 150 of the present disclosure is shown in FIG. 7. This embodiment has a slimmed cylindrical component of the axle 110 near the first distal end of the axle 160. An axle contact face 115 is provided to contact with the exterior edge of the rear face of the wheel 210, such that the entire axle 150 will not pass therethrough. With the axle contact face 115, only the slimmed cylindrical component of the axle 110 extends beyond the wheel unit 20 and the front face of the wheel 200.

[0049] The interior recess portion of the axle 330 is shown in this partially cutaway view. As described herein, the interior recess portion 330 is located at the second distal end of the axle 170, and additionally contains a ball bearing 120 therein. The interior recess portion 330 extends a partial length of the axle 150 itself, such that only a portion of the axle 150 has the interior recess portion 330, which is closed and defined by the presence of a recess portion wall 335.

[0050] The first distal end of the axle 160 receives the tightening wheel 30 and allows for the tightening and loosening therefrom. The end of the first distal end of the axle 160 is shown to be a squared end 175, such that the edges of the square provide extra grip for the mating with the tightening wheel 30, as described earlier. Further, an opening of the first distal end 165 is shown, which may additionally be threaded, to allow for mating with an attachment piece of the wheel unit 35 as in a bolt or a screw such as a socket cap screw, such that the secure mating with a tightening wheel 30 is achieved.

[0051] Looking now to FIG. 8, as shown here, a ball bearing 120 is positioned within the wheel unit 20. This ball bearing 120 is also contemplated to be a dual ball bearing to provide for extra rotational ability. The presence of the ball bearing 120 allows for smooth, reduced friction rotation of the axle 150, which is positioned within a ball bearing opening 125, and said rotation thus creates great rotation of the wheel 20 and the axle 150 itself, such that the snowmobile assistant device 10 can be affixed to the snowmobile ski 40 at a position within the interior portion of the sled 130, which will prevent the snowmobile from becoming a wider device. As can be appreciated, the interior portion sled installation allows the snowmobile to maintain the same width, which allows snowmobiles to stay within trailers and other locations where the width of the sled is important.

[0052] FIGS. 9-10 depict some steps to install and use the snowmobile assistant devices 10 of the present disclosure. The first step as shown is to apply upward pressure on the snowmobile ski 40, known as the step of: lifting the ski of the snowmobile 290. Next, a human user will mate or couple the axle second distal end to the extra thread 300, as described in detail above. Once in position, a human user will hand tighten the tightening wheel 310. After these steps are completed, the human user will release their grip of the ski 40, such that the ski 40 is lowered to the ground. Provided the lower clearance 270 is sufficient, the ski 40 will not contact the ground at the frontmost point of said ski 40, but rather will rest upon the lowermost portion of the wheel 250.

[0053] A human user will then drive the snowmobile into desired position. After the snowmobile has come to a complete stop, the user will then turn off the snowmobile. Climbing off the snowmobile, the human user will go the front of the snowmobile, and once again apply upward pressure on the snowmobile ski, lifting the ski 40 in the air. The user will then hand loosen the tightening wheel, such that the snowmobile assistant device 10 is released from its mating or mounting position. The human user can then release the ski 40, lowering it down such that the snowmobile rests upon the skis 40 again. If desired, the user may then mate, attach, or couple the snowmobile assistant devices 10 to a storage bracket 50, and place them away for storage.

[0054] Understandably, the present invention has been described above in terms of one or more preferred embodiments and methods. It is recognized that various alternatives and modifications may be made to these embodiments and methods that are within the scope of the present invention. Various alternatives are contemplated as being within the scope of the present invention. It is also to be understood and appreciated that, although the foregoing description and drawings describe and illustrate in detail one or more preferred embodiments of the present invention, to those with skill in the art to which the present invention relates, the present disclosure will suggest many modifications and constructions, as well as widely differing embodiments and applications without thereby departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and method disclosed thereof.