Snowmobile

Abstract

A snowmobile comprises a chassis with a front portion and a tunnel, and a power train unit supported by the chassis. The snowmobile further includes a plurality of ground-engaging members cooperating with the power train unit to operate the snowmobile. The plurality of ground-engaging members includes a pair of front skis and an endless track assembly. The snowmobile also includes a front suspension operably coupled to the pair of front skis. The snowmobile also includes a rear suspension operably coupled to the track. The rear suspension includes slide rails and track sliders for engaging the track. The track sliders are comprised of a first and second retention members for coupling with the slide rail. The retention members are comprised of a plurality of recesses where material is removed for light weighting.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A track slider for engaging an endless track on a snowmobile, comprising:
 a slide surface having a slide surface width,   a first retention member coupled to the slide surface, and   a second retention member coupled to the slide surface, the second retention member located opposite a longitudinal centerline of the track slider from the first retention member, a third retention member coupled to the slide surface,   wherein the first retention member is spaced apart longitudinally by at least one fourth of the slide surface width from the third retention member.   
     
     
         2 . The track slider of  claim 1 , wherein the third retention member is located on the same side of the longitudinal centerline as the first retention member. 
     
     
         3 . The track slider of  claim 2 , further comprising a fourth retention member coupled to the slide surface and the fourth retention member is spaced apart longitudinally from the second retention member. 
     
     
         4 . The track slider of  claim 3 , wherein the fourth retention member is located on the same side of the longitudinal centerline as the second retention member. 
     
     
         5 . The track slider of  claim 4 , wherein the first retention member has a portion that is longitudinally offset from the second retention member when viewed from the side. 
     
     
         6 . The track slider of  claim 4 , wherein the first retention member substantially overlaps the second retention member when viewed from the side. 
     
     
         7 . A track slider for engaging an endless track on a snowmobile, comprising:
 a slide surface having a slide surface length and a slide surface width,   a first retention side being coupled to the slide surface and having a first cumulative retention length, and   a second retention side being coupled to the slide surface and having a second cumulative retention length, wherein the first cumulative retention length is shorter than the slide surface by at least the slide surface width.   
     
     
         8 . The track slider of  claim 7 , wherein the first cumulative retention length is within the range of 5-95% of the slide surface length. 
     
     
         9 . The track slider of  claim 8 , wherein the first cumulative retention length is within the range of 25-75% of the slide surface length. 
     
     
         10 . The track slider of  claim 9 , wherein the first cumulative retention length is within the range of 45-65% of the slide surface length. 
     
     
         11 . The track slider of  claim 7 , wherein second cumulative retention length is shorter than the slide surface length. 
     
     
         12 . The track slider of  claim 11 , wherein the second cumulative retention length is within the range of 5-95% of the slide surface length. 
     
     
         13 . The track slider of  claim 12 , wherein the second cumulative retention length is within the range of 25-75% of the slide surface length. 
     
     
         14 . The track slider of  claim 13 , wherein the second cumulative retention length is within the range of 45-65% of the slide surface length. 
     
     
         15 . The track slider of  claim 11 , wherein the first cumulative retention length is substantially equal to the second cumulative retention length. 
     
     
         16 . The track slider of  claim 11 , wherein the first cumulative retention length is different than the second cumulative retention length. 
     
     
         17 . A track slider for engaging an endless track on a snowmobile, comprising:
 a slide surface having a slide surface length and a slide surface width configured to engage a track,   a longitudinal centerline of the track slider, and   a plurality of retention members coupled to the slide surface and configured to couple the track slider to a snowmobile rail,   wherein the slide surface length is longer than a cumulative length of the retention members by at least the slide surface width.   
     
     
         18 . The track slider of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of retention members are longitudinally spaced apart. 
     
     
         19 . The track slider of  claim 18 , wherein a first plurality of the retention members are on a first side of the longitudinal centerline of the track slider and a second plurality of the retention members are on a second side of the longitudinal centerline. 
     
     
         20 . The track slider of  claim 19 , wherein the first plurality of retention members substantially overlaps the second plurality of retention members when viewed from the side. 
     
     
         21 . The track slider of  claim 19 , wherein the first plurality of retention members partially overlap the second plurality of retention members when viewed from the side. 
     
     
         22 . The track slider of  claim 19 , wherein the first plurality of retention members are longitudinally offset from the second plurality of retention members when viewed from the side. 
     
     
         23 . A method of producing a track slider for a snowmobile, comprising:
 forming a slide surface and at least one retention member of the track slider;   forming a recess in a portion of a retention member; and   maintaining a configuration of the slide surface as formed during the forming step.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein forming a recess in a portion of the retention member includes removing a first portion and removing a second portion of the retention member in an overlapped arrangement when viewed from the side.  25 . 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein forming a recess in a portion of the retention member includes removing a first portion and removing a second portion of the retention member in a non-overlapped arrangement when viewed from the side. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein forming a recess in a portion of the retention member includes forming a recess having a length extending longitudinally, a height extending vertically, and a width extending laterally, and the length is greater than the height and the width. 
     
     
         27 . A track slider for engaging an endless track and a slide rail of a snowmobile, comprising:
 a first surface configured to engage the endless track having a width; and   a second surface configured to engage the slide rail and including a plurality of retention portions having a generally vertical orientation relative to the first surface and a plurality of recessed portions positioned intermediate adjacent retention portions, wherein the recessed portions are located on a middle portion of the track slider.   
     
     
         28 . The track slider of  claim 27 , wherein a vertical height of the recessed portion is less than that of the retention portion. 
     
     
         29 . The track slider of  claim 27 , wherein a cumulative longitudinal length of the plurality of retention portions plus a cumulative longitudinal length of the recessed portions is substantially equal to a length of the first surface. 
     
     
         30 . The track slider of  claim 27 , further comprising a third surface configured to engage the slide rail and positioned laterally opposite the second surface, and the third surface includes a second plurality of retention portions having a generally vertical orientation relative to the first surface and a second plurality of recessed portions positioned intermediate adjacent retention portions of the second plurality of retention portions. 
     
     
         31 . The track slider of  claim 30 , wherein the second plurality of retention portions are longitudinally offset from the first plurality of retention portions. 
     
     
         32 . A track slider for engaging an endless track and a slide rail of a snowmobile, comprising:
 a first surface configured to engage the endless track;   a second surface configured to engage the slide rail and extending between a lowermost surface and an upper most surface; and   a plurality of recesses defined in the second surface intermediate the lowermost and uppermost surfaces of the second surface, and each of the plurality of recesses includes a length extending longitudinally, a width extending laterally, and a height extending vertically, and the length is at least as great as the height and the width.   
     
     
         33 . The track slider of  claim 32 , wherein the recessed portion has an outermost edge closer to a longitudinal centerline than the second surface. 
     
     
         34 . The track slider of  claim 32 , wherein the recessed portion extends from the second surface to an inner surface of the retention portion. 
     
     
         35 . The track slider of  claim 34 , wherein the recessed portion extends the entire width of the track slider. 
     
     
         36 . The track slider of  claim 34 , wherein the recessed portion extends to the upper most surface of the track slider. 
     
     
         37 . A track slider for engaging an endless track and a slide rail of a snowmobile, comprising:
 a first surface configured to engage the endless track,   a second surface configured to engage the slide rail and including a retention portion having a generally vertical orientation relative to the first surface; and   a third surface generally parallel to the first surface and configured to engage the slide rail, the third surface including at least a first recessed portion positioned intermediate the third and first surface.   
     
     
         38 . The track slider of  claim 37 , wherein the recessed portion is positioned intermediate the third surface and a wear line indicator. 
     
     
         39 . The track slider of  claim 37 , wherein the recessed portion extends the entire length of the track slider. 
     
     
         40 . The track slider of  claim 37 , further comprising a second recessed portion positioned intermediate the third and first surface. 
     
     
         41 . The track slider of  claim 40 , further comprising a third recessed portion positioned intermediate the third and first surface.