Skid plate, secondary skid plate, and track drive protector for a recreational vehicle

Abstract

A recreational vehicle may include a track drive protector attached to a bottom-out protector. The track drive protector is configured to mate with the bottom-out protector. A recreational vehicle may further or alternatively include a secondary skid plate attached to the skid plate. The secondary skid plate is configured to mate with the skid plate and/or the forward frame assembly. The track drive protector and the secondary skid plate may provide additional support to the vehicle, help deflect debris away from the underside of the vehicle, and/or absorb impact forces when the vehicle strikes an object.

1 . A snowmobile comprising:
 a forward frame assembly;   a nose panel attached to the forward frame assembly;   a skid plate attached to a first side of the forward frame assembly and a second side of the forward frame assembly; and   a secondary skid plate configured to cover at least a portion of the skid plate.   
     
     
         2 . The snowmobile of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary skid plate comprises:
 a nose section configured to cover the nose panel;   a body section extending rearward from the nose section, the body section configured to cover the forward frame assembly;   a first wing positioned outboard of the body section, the first wing configured to cover the skid plate at the first side of the forward frame assembly; and   a second wing positioned outboard of the body section, the second wing configured to cover the skid plate at the second side of the forward frame assembly.   
     
     
         3 . The snowmobile of  claim 2 , wherein the nose section extends upward from the body section to cover at least a portion of a front end of the snowmobile. 
     
     
         4 . The snowmobile of  claim 3 , wherein the first wing and the second wing extend upward in an outboard direction. 
     
     
         5 . The snowmobile of  claim 1 , wherein the skid plate includes an opening configured to access an interior component of the snowmobile, and wherein the secondary skid plate includes an opening configured to be aligned with the opening of the skid plate. 
     
     
         6 . The snowmobile of  claim 1 , wherein the nose panel is positioned forward of where the skid plate is attached to the first side of the forward frame assembly and the second side of the forward frame assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The snowmobile of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first bottom out protector attached to a rear edge of the skid plate and the forward frame assembly at the first side of the forward frame assembly; and   a second bottom out protector attached to a rear edge of the skid plate and the forward frame assembly at the second side of the forward frame assembly.   
     
     
         8 . The snowmobile of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a first track drive protector covering the first bottom out protector; and   a second track drive protector covering the second bottom out protector,   wherein the first track drive protector and the second track drive protector include a deflection rib.   
     
     
         9 . The snowmobile of  claim 8 , wherein the secondary skid plate includes one or more ribs configured to be aligned with the deflection rib of the first track drive protector and the deflection rib of the second track protector, wherein the one or more ribs and the deflection rib form a continuous surface. 
     
     
         10 . A skid plate assembly, comprising:
 a skid plate including:
 a body section configured to secure to an underbody of a snowmobile, 
 a first wing positioned outboard of the body section, 
 a second wing positioned outboard of the body section, and 
 a first rib projection; and 
   a track drive protector including a second rib projection,   wherein the first rib projection and the second rib projection define a continuous rib extending between the skid plate and the track drive protector.   
     
     
         11 . The skid plate assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the track drive protector is removably securable to the skid plate. 
     
     
         12 . The skid plate assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a bottom out protector positionable along the underbody of the snowmobile to house a snowmobile component therein,   wherein the bottom out protector is positioned between the snowmobile and the track drive protector.   
     
     
         13 . The skid plate assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the bottom out protector includes a bottom wall and the track drive protector include a bottom surface, wherein at least a portion of the bottom wall and the bottom surface are positioned apart from each other to define a gap therebetween. 
     
     
         14 . The skid plate assembly of  claim 13 , wherein a rear portion of the bottom wall of the bottom out protector abuts a rear portion of the bottom surface of the track drive protector. 
     
     
         15 . The skid plate assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the skid plate includes an opening configured to access an interior component of the snowmobile. 
     
     
         16 . The skid plate assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the skid plate includes:
 a nose section extending forward and upward from the body section to cover a front end of the snowmobile,   wherein the first wing and the second wing extend upward from the body section, and wherein the nose section extends upwards to a greater height than the first wing and the second wing.   
     
     
         17 . A method of assembling two different snowmobile models with a common skid plate, the method comprising:
 providing the common skid plate, the common skid plate including:
 a first set out mounting features configured to secure a first pair of bottom out protectors, and 
 a second set of mounting features configured to secure a second pair of bottom out protectors; and 
   securing the first pair of bottom out protectors or the second pair of bottom out protectors to the common skid plate.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising:
 providing a secondary skid plate including a body section configured to cover a forward frame assembly, the secondary skid plate configured to cover the common skid plate; and 
 securing the secondary skid plate over the common skid plate, 
 wherein the body section includes a plurality of mounting features configured to removably secure to the forward frame assembly. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising:
 providing a common set of track drive protectors, the common set of track drive protectors configured to cover the first pair of bottom out protectors and the second pair of bottom out protectors; and 
 securing the common set of track drive protectors over the first pair of bottom out protectors or the second pair of bottom out protectors. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein a gap is defined between the common set of track drive protectors and the first pair of bottom out protectors or the second pair of bottom out protectors. 
     
     
         21 . A snowmobile, comprising:
 a skid plate;   a bottom out protector;   a running board assembly, including a rear kick-up and a bracket;   a toe stop; and   a heat exchanger assembly, 
wherein one or more of the skid plate, the bottom out protector, the running board assembly, the toe stop, and/or the heat exchanger assembly includes a fiber reinforced polymer material.