Clip for and method of adjusting ski position

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11198486-B2
Application number	US-201916272092-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 11, 2019
Priority date	Feb 19, 2018
Publication date	Dec 14, 2021
Grant date	Dec 14, 2021

Abstract

A clip for selectively setting a position of a snowmobile ski and a method for adjusting the position. A snowmobile, snowmobile ski assembly, adjustment kit, and a method to adjust snowmobile ski stance also disclosed. The clip includes a connecting portion for selectively to the ski bolt, the connecting portion defining a space having an opening span less than a diameter of the ski bolt, and a central span greater than the opening span, at least one member of the connecting portion being deflected during connection to the ski bolt; and a gripping portion. The method includes removing the clip from the ski bolt on a first side of the ski leg, sliding the ski laterally relative to the ski leg along the ski bolt, and connecting the clip to the ski bolt on a second side of the ski leg.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A clip for selectively setting a position of a snowmobile ski with respect to a corresponding snowmobile ski leg, the ski leg being pivotably and slidably connected to the ski by a ski fastener, the clip comprising:
a connecting portion for selectively connecting the clip to the ski fastener, the connecting portion defining a space for receiving the ski fastener therein, the connection portion being configured to impede lateral movement of the ski relative to the ski leg when the clip is installed on the ski fastener, the space having:
an opening having an opening span, and
a central span greater than the opening span,
the connecting portion including at least one resilient member, the at least one resilient member being deflected during connection of the clip to the ski fastener.

2. The clip of claim 1 , further comprising a gripping portion extending from the connecting portion.

3. The clip of claim 1 , further comprising at least one flexible member connected at a first end to the clip, a second end of the at least one flexible member being adapted for connecting to the ski.

4. The clip of claim 1 , wherein the connecting portion is generally C-shaped.

5. The clip of claim 1 , wherein a bottom portion of the at least one resilient member is chamfered.

6. The clip of claim 1 , wherein a lower end of the at least one resilient member is flared outward away from the space.

7. A kit for adapting a snowmobile ski for adjustable positioning with respect to a corresponding snowmobile ski leg, the kit comprising:
at least one clip according to claim 1 ;
a template defining:
a bolt aperture, and
a fastener aperture; and
at least one fastener,
the fastener aperture indicating a location to connect the at least one fastener to the ski when the ski bolt is passed through the bolt aperture of the template,
the at least one clip being secured to the ski by the at least one fastener when the at least one fastener is connected to the ski.

8. The clip of claim 1 , further comprising:
a clip body extending from the connecting portion; and wherein:
the clip body defines an aperture for securing the clip to the ski.

9. The clip of claim 8 , wherein:
the aperture is an oblong aperture for receiving therethrough a clip fastener connected to the ski; and
the clip, when connected to the ski, is pivotable about the clip fastener.

10. The clip of claim 8 , further comprising:
a gripping portion extending from the connecting portion; and wherein:
the gripping portion and the aperture are disposed on opposite sides of the connecting portion.

11. The clip of claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one resilient member is a first resilient member;
the connecting portion further comprises a second resilient member; and
the opening span is defined by a minimum distance between a free end of the first resilient member and a free end of the second resilient member.

12. The clip of claim 11 , further comprising a rib extending between the first resilient member and the second resilient member, the rib being disposed on a side of the space opposite the opening of the space, the rib having a radius of curvature to match an exterior of the ski fastener.

13. The clip of claim 11 , further comprising a rib extending between the first resilient member and the second resilient member; and
wherein the first resilient member, the rib, and the second resilient member form a generally C-shaped connecting portion.

14. A clip for selectively setting a position of a snowmobile ski with respect to a corresponding snowmobile ski leg, the ski leg being pivotably and slidably connected to the ski by a ski bolt, the clip comprising:
a first leg having a first end, a second end and a first arcuate concave surface between the first and second ends;
a second leg having a first end, a second end and a second arcuate concave surface between the first and second ends, the second arcuate concave surface facing the first arcuate concave surface;
an intermediate portion connected to and extending between the second end of the first leg and the second end of the second leg, at least one of the first leg, the second leg, and the intermediate portion being resilient,
the intermediate portion, the first leg and the second leg defining a channel, the channel being opened between the first ends of the first and second legs, the intermediate portion being configured to impede lateral movement of the ski relative to the ski leg when the clip is installed on the ski fastener,
the first and second arcuate concave surfaces being shaped for receiving the ski bolt therebetween,
a distance between the first ends of the first and second legs being less than a central span between the first and second arcuate concave surfaces; and
a gripping portion connected to the intermediate portion.

15. The clip of claim 14 , further comprising:
a clip body extending from the intermediate portion; and wherein:
the clip body defines an aperture for securing the clip to the ski.

16. The clip of claim 15 , wherein the gripping portion and the aperture are disposed on opposite sides of the intermediate portion.

17. The clip of claim 14 , wherein the intermediate portion comprises:
a forward portion,
a rearward portion separate from the forward portion, and
a biasing member connected between the forward portion and the rearward portion, the biasing member biasing the first leg and the second leg toward each other.

18. The clip of claim 17 , wherein:
the biasing member biases the first end of the first leg and the first end of the second leg into contact with each other; and
the channel is opened between the first ends of the first and second legs when the first leg and the second leg are pulled apart against a biasing direction of the biasing member.

Assignees

• Bombardier Recreational Products Inc

Inventors

• Labbe Christian

Classifications

• B62M2027/026

  Snow mobiles characterised by the suspension means · CPC title

• B62M2027/025

  Snow mobiles characterised by the skis · CPC title

• B62M27/02 Primary

  power driven · CPC title