Bombardier Inc.

Bombardier Recreational Products Inc.

Mark B Thompson

Denis Morin

Chris Ruske

Serge A Bedard

A novel mountain snowmobile comprises a frame, an engine disposed on the frame, at least one ski disposed on the frame, a seat disposed on the frame, a steering device disposed on the frame forward of the seat that is operatively connected to the at least one ski for steering the snowmobile, and a novel long length drive track disposed below the frame and connected operatively to the engine for propulsion of the snowmobile. The novel drive track comprises an endless body having a ground-engaging outer surface with a central portion flanked by first and second lateral portions, a plurality of longitudinally spaced reinforcing rods disposed in the body along a transverse direction of the body. The rods define a plurality of pitches, and a plurality of profiles project from the outer surface of the body along the plurality of pitches. A plurality of non-profile regions is defined along the plurality of pitches, and the profiles and profile-free regions define a pattern for each pitch. The pitch pattern for the novel track has a six pitch tread pattern which repeats every successive sixsomes of pitches. A height profile that varies between the first and second lateral portions is defined by the profiles. Such height profile has each profile with a height of not less than about 1&#xbc; inches. The long length track has a length greater than about 141 inches.

Long track mountain snowmobile and a track therefor

A novel mountain snowmobile comprises a frame, an engine disposed on the frame, at least one ski disposed on the frame, a seat disposed on the frame, a steering device disposed on the frame forward of the seat that is operatively connected to the at least one ski for steering the snowmobile, and a novel long length drive track disposed below the frame and connected operatively to the engine for propulsion of the snowmobile. The novel drive track comprises an endless body having a ground-engaging outer surface with a central portion flanked by first and second lateral portions, a plurality of longitudinally spaced reinforcing rods disposed in the body along a transverse direction of the body. The rods define a plurality of pitches, and a plurality of profiles project from the outer surface of the body along the plurality of pitches. A plurality of non-profile regions is defined along the plurality of pitches, and the profiles and profile-free regions define a pattern for each pitch. The pitch pattern for the novel track has a six pitch tread pattern which repeats every successive sixsomes of pitches. A height profile that varies between the first and second lateral portions is defined by the profiles. Such height profile has each profile with a height of not less than about 1&frac14; inches. The long length track has a length greater than about 141 inches.

A snowmobile track comprises an endless belt of reinforced rubber composition and includes on its exterior surface an array of projecting ribs which form traction elements for engaging the snow surface. The ribs have a height of between 11/4 and 2 inches and are angled between 0.degree. and 45.degree. (preferably about 20.degree.) to the transverse direction of the track to provide maximum traction effect in powder snow.

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Providence, UT, United States of America

Mark B Thompson