System for attaching accessories to a snowmobile

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12447904-B2
Application number	US-202318326547-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 31, 2023
Priority date	Dec 20, 2019
Publication date	Oct 21, 2025
Grant date	Oct 21, 2025

Abstract

A snowmobile including: a frame including a tunnel configured to accommodate a drive track; a connector mounted to the frame over the tunnel; and a seat configured to be removably connected to the snowmobile by way of the connector.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A snowmobile comprising:
a frame including a tunnel configured to accommodate a drive track, the frame having frame length extending along a longitudinal axis of the snowmobile, and a frame width extending along a lateral axis of the snowmobile;
a driver's seat supported by the frame;
an accessory mounting surface defined by the frame over the tunnel at a location rearward of the driver's seat, the accessory mounting surface defining a first accessory mounting slot and a second accessory mounting slot, the first and second accessory mounting slots being parallel and having slot lengths that extend along the longitudinal axis, the first and second accessory mounting slots being separated from one another along the lateral axis;
a first accessory mounting post secured to the frame at the first accessory mounting slot and a second accessory mounting post secured to the frame at the second accessory mounting slot, the first and second accessory mounting posts projecting upwardly from the accessory mounting surface;
first and second tab receiving slots positioned forwardly with respect to the first and second accessory mounting slots, the first and second tab receiving slots being separated from one another along the lateral axis; and
an accessory configured to be removably connected to the snowmobile behind the driver's seat, the accessory including forwardly projecting first and second mounting tabs at a front side of the accessory, the accessory also including first and second lock assemblies respectively at the left and right sides of the accessory, the first and second lock assemblies each defining a receptacle at a bottom side of the accessory, wherein when the accessory is mounted to the accessory mounting surface the first and second mounting tabs are respectively received within the first and second tab-receiving slots and the first and second accessory mounting posts are locked within the receptacles of the first and second lock assemblies.

2. The snowmobile of claim 1 , wherein the accessory is a passenger's seat comprising handles and a backrest.

3. The snowmobile of claim 1 , wherein the accessory overlaps a fuel tank of the snowmobile when the accessory is connected to the snowmobile.

4. The snowmobile of claim 1 , wherein the accessory overlaps a battery of the snowmobile when the accessory is connected to the snowmobile.

5. The snowmobile of claim 1 , further comprising a third accessory mounting post that mounts at the first accessory mounting slot and a fourth accessory mounting post that mounts at the second accessory mounting slot, the third and fourth accessory mounting posts being configured for mounting a second accessory.

6. The snowmobile of claim 1 , wherein the accessory overlaps the driver's seat when the accessory is connected to the snowmobile.

7. A snowmobile comprising:
a frame;
a driver's seat supported by the frame;
an accessory mounting surface mounted to the frame behind the driver's seat, the accessory mounting surface defining a first accessory mounting slot and a second accessory mounting slot, the first and second accessory mounting slots being parallel and having slot lengths that extend along the longitudinal axis, the first and second accessory mounting slots being separated from one another along the lateral axis;
a first accessory mounting post secured to the frame at the first accessory mounting slot and a second accessory mounting post secured to the frame at the second accessory mounting slot, the first and second accessory mounting posts projecting upwardly from the accessory mounting surface;
first and second tab receiving slots positioned forwardly with respect to the first and second accessory mounting slots, the first and second tab receiving slots being separated from one another along the lateral axis; and
an accessory configured to be removably connected to the snowmobile behind the driver's seat the accessory including forwardly projecting first and second mounting tabs at a front side of the accessory, the accessory also including first and second lock assemblies respectively at the left and right sides of the accessory, the first and second lock assemblies each defining a receptacle at a bottom side of the accessory, wherein when the accessory is mounted to the accessory mounting surface the first and second mounting tabs are respectively received within the first and second tab-receiving slots and the first and second accessory mounting posts are locked within the receptacles of the first and second lock assemblies.

8. The snowmobile of claim 7 , wherein the snowmobile includes skis connected to the frame.

9. The snowmobile of claim 7 , wherein:
the frame includes a tunnel; and
the accessory mounting surface is configured to be mounted to the tunnel.

10. The snowmobile of claim 7 , wherein an uppermost portion of the accessory mounting surface is vertically lower than the driver's seat.

11. The snowmobile of claim 7 , wherein the accessory overlaps the driver's seat when the accessory is connected to the snowmobile.

12. The snowmobile of claim 7 , wherein the accessory overlaps a fuel tank of the snowmobile when the accessory is connected to the snowmobile.

13. The snowmobile of claim 7 , wherein the accessory overlaps a battery of the snowmobile when the accessory is connected to the snowmobile.

14. The snowmobile of claim 7 , wherein the accessory is a passenger's seat comprising handles and a backrest.

15. The snowmobile of claim 7 , further comprising a third accessory mounting post that mounts at the first accessory mounting slot and a fourth accessory mounting post that mounts at the second accessory mounting slot, the third and fourth accessory mounting posts being configured for mounting a second accessory.

16. The snowmobile of claim 1 , wherein the accessory is at least one of a fuel tank, an oil tank, a chainsaw mount, a snowboard rack, an ice auger mount, a ski mount, a gun scabbard, or a storage container.

17. The snowmobile of claim 7 , wherein the accessory is at least one of a fuel tank, an oil tank, a chainsaw mount, a snowboard rack, an ice auger mount, a ski mount, a gun scabbard, or a storage container.

Assignees

• Polaris Inc

Inventors

• Hedlund Michael A
• Rosemore Evan M
• Eaton Michel E
• Johnson Barry A

Classifications

• B60R9/12

  for skis · CPC title

• B62M2027/028

  Snow mobiles characterised by chassis or bodywork · CPC title

• B62M27/02

  power driven · CPC title

• B60R9/065 Primary

  Enclosure-type carriers, e.g. trunks · CPC title

• B62J7/00 Primary

  Luggage carriers · CPC title