Suspension architecture for a snowmobile

Abstract

A rear suspension architecture is provided for coupled rear suspension systems.

1 . A snowmobile having a coupled suspension, the snowmobile comprising:
 a chassis having a front and rear end;   a lower rail;   a front control arm positioned adjacent to the chassis front end, the front control arm pivotally interconnecting the chassis and the lower rail;   a rear inverted control link interconnected to the lower rail;   a rear control arm positioned adjacent to the chassis rear end and pivotally interconnected to the chassis and the rear inverted control link, the rear control arm interconnected to the rear inverted control link at a position below the interconnection between the rear inverted control arm and the lower rail; and   a coupling member providing a controlled degree of freedom of movement between the coupling member and the rear control arm, until coupling between the rear control arm and the lower rail occurs.   
     
     
         2 . The snowmobile of  claim 1 , wherein the snowmobile includes a pair of spaced-apart lower rails. 
     
     
         3 . The snowmobile of  claim 2 , wherein the snowmobile includes another front and rear control arm and another rear inverted control link to define a pair of front and rear control arms and a pair of rear inverted control links. 
     
     
         4 . The snowmobile of  claim 3 , wherein the coupling member is positioned between the spaced-apart lower rails. 
     
     
         5 . The snowmobile of  claim 1  wherein the coupling member includes a housing including an opening extending between a front and rear bump stop, the bump stops configured to limit the degree of freedom of movement of the rear control arm and the lower rail. 
     
     
         6 . The snowmobile of  claim 5 , further comprising a cross shaft supported by the rear control arm, the cross shaft adapted to be positioned and move within the opening in the housing of the coupling member.