Recreational vehicle bottom-out protector and assemblies thereof

Abstract

A bottom-out protector for a recreational vehicle that interconnects a plurality of vehicle components together. The bottom-out protector includes a bottom wall, an inboard outer wall extending upward from the bottom wall, an outboard outer wall extending upward from the bottom wall, an outward support member extending outboard from the outboard outer wall, and one or more mounting features for interconnecting the plurality of vehicle components.

1 . A bottom-out protector for a snow vehicle, comprising:
 a first chamber for receiving a first component, the first component comprising one or more of a tunnel side panel or a heat exchanger end cap; and   a second chamber for receiving a second component, the second component comprising a brake component or a CVT component,   wherein the second chamber is positioned outboard of the first chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The bottom-out protector of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a curved bottom wall;   an inboard outer wall;   an outboard outer wall; and   an inner wall positioned between the inboard outer wall and the outboard outer wall.   
     
     
         3 . The bottom-out protector of  claim 2 , wherein the inboard outer wall and the inner wall define the first chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The bottom-out protector of  claim 3 , wherein the outboard outer wall and the inner wall define the second chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The bottom-out protector of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a first mounting feature positioned along a forward end of the curved bottom wall,   wherein the first mounting feature is configured to couple the bottom-out protector to a chassis of a recreational vehicle.   
     
     
         6 . The bottom-out protector of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a second mounting feature positioned along a rearward end of the curved bottom wall,   wherein the second mounting feature is configured to couple the bottom-out protector to the chassis of the recreational vehicle.   
     
     
         7 . The bottom-out protector of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 an outward support member extending outboard from the outboard outer wall; and   one or more third mounting features positioned on the outward support member,   wherein the one or more third mounting features are configured to couple the bottom-out protector to the recreational vehicle.   
     
     
         8 . The bottom-out protector of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more third mounting features are configured to couple the bottom-out protector to a running board assembly or a toe stop. 
     
     
         9 . The bottom-out protector of  claim 8 , wherein the first mounting feature, the second mounting feature, and the one or more third mounting features are configured to receive a U-clip fastener capable of toolless coupling and toolless decoupling. 
     
     
         10 . A bottom-out protector for a snow vehicle comprising:
 a base extending from a front end to a rear end, wherein the front end includes a first chassis mount and the rear end includes a second chassis mount;   a first wall that extends upward from an inboard side of the base;   a second wall that extends upward from an outboard side of the base; and   a third wall that extends upward from the base between the first wall and the second wall,   wherein the third wall, the base, and the first wall define a slot for receiving a lower end of a tunnel side wall or a heat exchanger end cap of the snow vehicle therein with the first wall positioned, and wherein the third wall, the base, and the second wall define a chamber outboard of the slot shaped to receive a vehicle component operably connected to a track drive shaft of the snow vehicle therein.   
     
     
         11 . The bottom-out protector of  claim 10 , wherein the base curves downward between the front end and the rear end. 
     
     
         12 . The bottom-out protector of  claim 11 , wherein a flange extends outboard from an upper end of the second wall and includes a first mount positioned between the front end and the rear end of the base, and a second mount positioned at the rear end of the base, wherein the first mount is positioned outboard of the second mount, and wherein the first mount is securable to an underbody panel and the second mount is securable to a running board when the base is secured to a chassis of the snow vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . The bottom-out protector of  claim 12 , wherein a rear portion of the second wall is positioned inboard of forward portion of the second wall, and the second mount is positioned inboard of the forward portion of the second wall. 
     
     
         14 . The bottom-out protector of  claim 13 , wherein the base includes a rearward facing wall extending from a lower-most portion of the base to the rear end, and the base includes one or more drains extending from the rearward facing wall, wherein the one or more drains are positioned rearward of the flange extending from the second wall. 
     
     
         15 . The bottom-out protector of  claim 14 , wherein the base, the first wall, the second wall, and the third wall are comprised of a polymeric material. 
     
     
         16 . A bottom-out protector for a snow vehicle, comprising:
 a body including:
 a base extending from a front end to a rear end; 
 an inboard wall that extends upward from the base; 
 an outboard wall that extends upward from the base; 
 a chamber defined by the base, the inboard wall, and the outboard wall, wherein the body is securable to the snow vehicle with the inboard wall positioned along an inboard side of a lower end of a tunnel or a heat exchanger end cap and with a component that is operably connected to a track drive shaft of the snow vehicle positioned in the chamber; and 
 a flange extending outboard from the outboard wall and defining a first mounting feature that is securable to a running board of the snow vehicle, a second mounting feature positioned inboard of the first mounting feature that is securable to an underbody panel of the snow vehicle, and a third mounting feature positioned inboard of the second mounting feature that is securable to the running board. 
   
     
     
         17 . The bottom-out protector of  claim 16 , wherein a third wall is positioned in the chamber that extends upward from the base, wherein the inboard wall and the third wall define a slot that receives the lower end of the tunnel or the heat exchanger end cap therein. 
     
     
         18 . The bottom-out protector of  claim 17 , wherein the inboard wall has a first length that extends from the front end of the base to the rear end of the base, and the third wall has a third length that is less than the first length of the inboard wall and is entirely positioned in the chamber. 
     
     
         19 . The bottom-out protector of  claim 18 , wherein the inboard wall extends a first height from the base and the outboard wall extends a second height from the base, and wherein the second height is greater than the first height. 
     
     
         20 . The bottom-out protector of  claim 19 , wherein the base curves downward between the front end and the rear end and defines a lower surface of the base defines a forward-facing side and a rearward-facing side, wherein the forward-facing side and the rearward-facing side intersect at a point rearward of the flange. 
     
     
         21 . A snow vehicle comprising:
 a forward frame;   a tunnel secured to the forward frame;   a track positioned in the tunnel;   optionally a heat exchanger end cap positioned along the snow vehicle between a   side wall of the tunnel and the forward frame;   a track drive shaft operably coupled to the track; and   bottom-out protector comprising a polymeric material, the bottom-out protector comprising:
 a slot defined by a first wall and a second wall, wherein a lower end of the tunnel or the heat exchanger end cap is received in the slot with the first wall positioned along an inboard side of the lower end and the second wall positioned along an outboard side of the lower end, and 
 a chamber defined by the second wall and a third wall positioned outboard of the second wall, wherein the chamber receives a component operably connected to the track drive shaft therein. 
   
     
     
         22 . The snow vehicle of  claim 21 , where the bottom-out protector includes a front end including a first mounting feature removably secured to the forward frame, and the bottom-out protector includes a rear end including a second mounting feature removably secured to the tunnel or the heat exchanger end cap, wherein the track drive shaft is positioned between along the snow vehicle between the front end and the rear end of the bottom-out protector. 
     
     
         23 . The snow vehicle of  claim 22 , wherein the bottom-out protector includes a third mounting feature removably secured to an underbody panel, wherein the third mounting feature is positioned rearward and outboard of the first mounting feature. 
     
     
         24 . The snow vehicle of  claim 23 , wherein the bottom-out protector includes a fourth mounting feature and a fifth mounting feature positioned rearward and inboard of the fourth mounting feature, wherein the fourth mounting feature and the fifth mounting feature are removably secured to a polymeric running board. 
     
     
         25 . The snow vehicle of  claim 24 , wherein a polymeric toe stop is positioned at a forward end of the polymeric running board, and the polymeric toe stop is removably secured to the fourth mounting feature and the fifth mounting feature, wherein the polymeric toe stop includes a toe pocket, and the polymeric running board and the bottom-out protector define a hole through a bottom wall of the toe pocket. 
     
     
         26 . The snow vehicle of  claim 25 , wherein the polymeric toe stop includes a flange extending outboard from the third wall, and the third mounting feature and the fourth mounting feature are positioned on the flange, and wherein a forward portion of the polymeric toe stop is positioned over the flange. 
     
     
         27 . The snow vehicle of  claim 25 , wherein the polymeric toe stop defines a chamber that receives a portion of the component housed in the bottom-out protector therein. 
     
     
         28 . The snow vehicle of  claim 25 , further comprising a sensor secured to the polymeric toe stop that detects rotation of the component housed in the bottom-out protector. 
     
     
         29 . A snow vehicle comprising:
 a forward frame;   a tunnel secured to the forward frame, wherein the tunnel includes a side wall;   a track positioned in the tunnel;   optionally a heat exchanger end cap positioned along the snow vehicle between the side wall of the tunnel and the forward frame, wherein one or both of the heat exchanger end cap and the side wall of the tunnel defines a lower end;   a track drive shaft operably coupled to the track;   a component positioned on an outboard side one or both of the side wall of the tunnel and the heat exchanger end cap, wherein the component is operably connected to the track drive shaft; and   a bottom-out protector comprising a polymeric material, the bottom-out protector comprising a chamber at least partially defined by a first wall and a second wall that is positioned outboard of the first wall, wherein the lower end is positioned in the chamber with the first wall positioned inboard thereof, and wherein the component is positioned in the chamber outboard of the lower end between the lower end and the second wall.   
     
     
         30 . The snow vehicle of  claim 29 , further comprising a running board positioned rearward of the bottom-out protector and secured thereto. 
     
     
         31 . The snow vehicle of  claim 30 , further comprising a toe stop secured to the running board and defining a toe pocket, wherein the bottom-out protector and the running board define an opening in a bottom wall of the toe pocket. 
     
     
         32 . The snow vehicle of  claim 31 , wherein the bottom-out protector includes a first mounting feature secured to the forward frame and a second mounting features positioned rearward of the first mounting feature that is secured to an outboard side of tunnel side wall or an outboard side of the heat exchanger end cap. 
     
     
         33 . The snow vehicle of  claim 32 , further comprising a sensor secured to the toe stop that detects rotation of the component housed in the bottom-out protector.