Snowmobile ski with increased stability

Abstract

A snowmobile ski having improved turn stability. The ski includes a lower surface for sliding contact with snow, the lower surface being configured with at least one longitudinally extending, downwardly open groove having an internal cross-section dimension that diminishes rearwardly to thereby progressively constrict the groove. The groove is open forwardly to receive snow within it and is open rearwardly to enable snow to exit from the groove. Snow received within the groove becomes packed when such snow encounters the progressively constricted portions of the groove as the ski slides forwardly on a snowy surface.

1 . A snowmobile ski comprising a generally ski-shaped body with a longitudinal axis and forward and rearward ends and having a lower surface for sliding contact with snow, said lower surface being configured with at least one longitudinally extending, downwardly open groove having an internal cross-section dimension that diminishes rearwardly to thereby progressively constrict the groove, said groove being open forwardly to receive snow within it and open rearwardly to enable snow to exit from the groove, whereby snow received within said groove becomes packed when such snow encounters progressively constricted portions of that groove as the ski slides forwardly on a snowy surface.  
   
   
       2 . A snowmobile ski comprising a generally ski-shaped body with a longitudinal axis and forward and rearward ends and having a lower surface for sliding contact with snow, said lower surface having a downwardly protruding, longitudinally extending rib positioned intermediate longitudinal edges of the ski, said lower surface being recessed to define longitudinally extending grooves on each side of at least a portion of said rib, each groove having an internal cross-section dimension that diminishes rearwardly to thereby progressively constrict the groove, each groove being open forwardly to receive snow within it, whereby snow received within a groove becomes packed more tightly when such snow encounters progressively constricted portions of that groove as the ski slides forwardly on a snowy surface.  
   
   
       3 . A snowmobile ski comprising a generally ski-shaped body with a longitudinal axis and forward and rearward ends and having a lower surface for sliding contact with snow, said lower surface having at least one longitudinally extending groove that is open forward and downward to receive snow within it as the ski slides forwardly upon a snow surface, the groove having laterally spaced confronting side walls that converge rearwardly to cause snow within the groove to pack more tightly nearer the rearward end of the groove as the ski slides forwardly on a snowy surface.  
   
   
       4 . The snowmobile of  claim 3  wherein at least one of said side walls is undercut.  
   
   
       5 . The snowmobile ski of  claim 3  wherein said lower surface includes two of said longitudinally extending grooves, said grooves being generally parallel and laterally spaced from each other.  
   
   
       6 . The snowmobile ski of  claim 5  wherein said lower surface includes a downwardly protruding, longitudinally extending rib having walls defining inner side walls of said grooves with said grooves extending on each side of said rib.  
   
   
       7 . The snowmobile ski of  claim 6  wherein said rib is generally dove-tail shaped in cross section, the rib increasing in lateral width downwardly.  
   
   
       8 . The snowmobile ski of  claim 6  wherein one side wall of each groove is an outer side wall confronting a side wall provided by said rib.  
   
   
       9 . The snowmobile ski of  claim 8  wherein said outer side walls are convergent rearwardly toward respective confronting inner walls.  
   
   
       10 . The snowmobile ski of  claim 9  wherein said rib is substantially uniform in cross-section throughout the majority of its length.  
   
   
       11 . The snowmobile ski of  claim 10  wherein said rib is generally dove-tail shaped in cross section, the rib increasing in lateral width downwardly.  
   
   
       12 . The snowmobile ski of  claim 10  wherein said inner walls have a vertical height greater than said outer walls.  
   
   
       13 . The snowmobile ski of  claim 1  wherein said body is molded of a polyolefin.  
   
   
       14 . The snowmobile ski of  claim 13  wherein said polyolefin comprises an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.