Snowmobile

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to snowmobiles. More particularly, the present invention relates to the components of a snowmobile such as the frame, running boards and various other assemblies.

1 .- 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A snowmobile, comprising:
 a frame having a front end and a rear end;   a bumper assembly supported by the rear end of the frame; wherein the bumper assembly includes a bumper mounted to the rear end of the frame and at least one side bracket coupled to the frame and the bumper; and   a snow flap hingedly mounted to the rear end of the frame and including a stop member for engagement with the bumper.   
     
     
         18 . The snowmobile of  claim 17 , wherein the snow flap includes a plurality of apertures to reduce the weight thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The snowmobile of  claim 17 , wherein the snow flat includes a body portion and the stop member is integrally molded with the body portion. 
     
     
         20 . The snowmobile of  claim 17 , wherein the stop member further includes an upper stop surface configured to abut the bumper. 
     
     
         21 . The snowmobile of  claim 17 , further comprising an endless belt, and the snow flap is support by the frame at a position rearward of the endless belt. 
     
     
         22 . A snowmobile, comprising:
 a frame having a front end and a rear end; and   a snow flap supported by the rear end of the frame, the snow flap including a plurality of apertures to reduce the weight of the snowmobile.   
     
     
         23 . The snowmobile of  claim 22 , wherein the frame further includes a tunnel, the snow flap being hingedly mounted to the tunnel along a rear edge. 
     
     
         24 . The snowmobile of  claim 22 , further comprising an endless belt assembly, the snow flap being supported by the frame rearward of the endless belt. 
     
     
         25 . The snowmobile of  claim 22 , further comprising a bumper assembly, and the snow flap further comprising a stop member configured to abut the bumper assembly. 
     
     
         26 . The snowmobile of  claim 25 , wherein the stop member is integrally molded with a body portion of the snow flap. 
     
     
         27 . The snowmobile of  claim 25 , wherein an upper stop surface of the stop member is configured to abut the bumper assembly. 
     
     
         28 . A snowmobile, comprising:
 a frame having a front end and a rear end;   a bumper assembly supported by the rear end of the frame; wherein the bumper assembly includes a bumper mounted to the rear end of the frame; and   a snow flap hingedly mounted to the rear end of the frame and having predetermined range of motion, where an upper limit of the predetermined range of motion is set by the bumper.   
     
     
         29 . The snowmobile of  claim 28 , wherein the frame includes a tunnel, and the bumper assembly further includes, a first side bracket and a second side bracket, the first side bracket being coupled to a first side surface of the tunnel and the second side bracket being coupled to second side surface of the tunnel, and the snow flap is positioned between the first and second side brackets. 
     
     
         30 . The snowmobile of  claim 29 , wherein the first side bracket, the second side bracket, the bumper, and the tunnel define an opening, the snow flap extends through the opening. 
     
     
         31 . The snowmobile of  claim 28 , wherein the bumper is positioned rearward of an upper extent of the snow flap and forward of a lower extent of the snow flap. 
     
     
         32 . The snowmobile of  claim 28 , wherein the snow flap includes a stop member configured to abut the bumper when the snow flap is at the upper limit of the predetermined range of motion. 
     
     
         33 . The snowmobile of  claim 32 , wherein the stop member extends from a body portion of the snow flap.