Snowcat with versatile cab

Abstract

A snowcat (1), comprising a pair of tracks (2, 3) mounted in a position below a flatbed (4), a driver's cab (5) arranged in a front position, and at least one additional cab (6) arranged to the rear of the driver's cab (5); the additional cab (6) comprises a fixed central portion (7) and at least one lateral portion (8, 9) which is telescopically extendable from the central portion (7), in order to increase the interior space of the additional cab (6).

Description

[0001] SNOWCAT WITH VERSATILE CAB

[0002] The present invention relates to a snowcat with a versatile cab. More specifically, the invention relates to a snowcat with a cab whose interior space is variable.

[0003] As is known, snowcats are vehicles designed to travel on ski slopes, making downhill skiing possible.

[0004] Snowcats normally are a structure with a pair of tracks screwed onto a flatbed that supports a cab that normally allows to accommodate the driver and little else.

[0005] In essence, therefore, the cab is of limited dimensions.

[0006] Snowcats are also known in which the cab has been designed to act as a refreshment point, i.e., a place to prepare hot meals and beverages to offer to the public when the snowcat is parked at the side of a piste.

[0007] The solutions of the known type, however, all provide cabs with configurations that are substantially fixed, and therefore not very versatile, failing to meet the most disparate needs of users.

[0008] The aim of the present invention is to provide a snowcat with a cab that is highly versatile and easy to configure.

[0009] Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a snowcat whose cab can be transformed quickly and easily as desired.

[0010] Not least object of the present invention is to provide a snowcat that is highly reliable, relatively simple to provide and has competitive costs.

[0011] This aim, as well as these and other objects which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a snowcat, comprising a pair of tracks mounted in a position below a flatbed, a driver's cab arranged in a front position, and at least one additional cab arranged to the rear of said driver's cab, characterized in that said additional cab comprises a fixed central portion and at least one lateral portion which is telescopically extendable from said central portion, in order to increase the interior space of said additional cab. Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the snowcat according to the present invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0012] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cab of a snowcat according to the present invention, in the minimum footprint configuration;

[0013] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the cab of Figure 1 in an extended configuration;

[0014] Figure 3 is a perspective cutout view of the cab of Figure 2;

[0015] Figure 4 is a sectional view of the cab of Figure 2;

[0016] Figure 5 is a front elevation view of the snowcat with the cab according to the invention mounted on it and in an extended condition;

[0017] Figure 6 is a front elevation view of the snowcat with the cab mounted in an extended condition;

[0018] Figure 7 is a further front view of the snowcat according to the present invention with the cab in an extended condition and with the access ladder deployed;

[0019] Figure 8 is a side view of the snowcat according to the present invention with the cab mounted;

[0020] Figure 9 is a top plan view of the snowcat according to the present invention with the cab in an extended condition;

[0021] Figure 10 is a partial exploded perspective view of the snowcat according to the present invention.

[0022] With reference to the figures, the snowcat according to the present invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises a pair of tracks 2 and 3 mounted in a position below a flatbed 4, on which a driver's cab 5 is mounted in addition to which an additional cab 6 is mounted, making the snowcat versatile.

[0023] The cab 6 is conveniently provided as a box-like body comprising a central portion 7 from which at least one lateral portion 8, and preferably two lateral portions 8, 9, can telescopically extend laterally, so as to widen the cab and substantially double its useful internal volume.

[0024] As can be seen from the figures, for example Figures 2, 3 and 4, the at least one lateral portion 8 can slide by means of guides 11 so that it can be extracted telescopically from the central portion 7 of the cab 6.

[0025] The widening of the cab 6 by means of the at least one lateral portion

[0026] 8 and preferably by means of the two lateral portions 8 and 9 causes the cab as a whole to protrude out of the footprint of the tracks. To this end, in order to be able to support the at least one lateral portion 8, 9 of the cab 6 there are hydraulic jacks 10 that allow to support the at least one lateral portion 8,

[0027] 9 of the cab once the central portion 7 thereof has been extracted, externally to the tracks 2, 3.

[0028] In this way, the central portion 7 of the cab 6 is supported by the flatbed 4 of the snowcat, while its lateral portions 8 and 9 are supported by the hydraulic jacks 10 that rest on the ground, protruding from the footprint of the tracks 2, 3.

[0029] Conveniently, an access ladder 12 is provided to access the at least one lateral portion 8, 9 of the cab 6.

[0030] Conveniently, the central portion of the cab 6 can be provided, for example, by means of a load-bearing steel tub, from which a Plexiglas structure extends, in order to reduce the weight and increase its volume.

[0031] Conveniently, the cab 6 can be powered by means of solar panels.

[0032] Advantageously, the flatbed 4 of the snowcat is provided with retention means adapted to allow to engage the cab and retain it on the flatbed. In particular, the flatbed 4 is provided with a plate 20 that has a plurality of pins 21 at the front edge and a plurality of retention means 22, for example of the arc-like type, at the rear edge.

[0033] The pins 21 and the retention means 22 constitute, as a whole, the retaining means of the plate 20.

[0034] The bottom of the cab 6 is provided with engagement means which are complementary to the retaining means of the plate 20.

[0035] In particular, the bottom of the cab 6 is provided with a plurality of small plates 23 adapted to engage the pins 21 of the plate 20 and a pair of cylindrical elements 24, which protrude from the bottom of the cab 6 and are adapted to engage with the retention means 22 of the plate 20 of the flatbed 4 of the snowcat.

[0036] The expandability of the cab 6 by means of the telescopic extraction of one or two lateral portions 8, 9, allows to provide a modular internal environment, which can be fitted as needed. For example, it will be possible to provide internally a kitchen, with independent modules, engaged with the cab by means of quick couplings, so that they can be easily replaced. Said modules can comprise a washing module composed, for example, of a cube with a built-in sink, underlying tanks fed by a battery-powered water pump, or a cooking module composed of a cube with two burners and the compartment below is the space for accommodating the gas cylinder.

[0037] In the case of people transport, the cab can be fitted with transverse benches. Moreover, the cab can be used as a first-aid station, in which case tables and beds are installed to carry out simple medical procedures; alternatively, the cab can be designed as a bedroom, installing a double bed module and with a bathroom, television and mini-bar.

[0038] Moreover, the cab can be designed as a workshop for the preparation of skis and the like, therefore with the installation of a table for waxing and adjusting skis according to preparation and equipment repair before competitions and the like.

[0039] Essentially, the cab can obviously be fitted with any type of furniture one wishes, the important concept being that the cab is expandable by means of a telescopic extraction of at least one portion thereof, starting from the central portion.

[0040] The cab can therefore also be used for simple passenger transport.

[0041] Conveniently, the hydraulic jacks 10 are of the retractable type, such as to allow to rest on the ground the lateral portion extracted from the central portion of the cab and so that they can be retracted when said lateral portion is reinserted, by sliding, within the central portion 7 of the cab 6.

[0042] In practice it has been found that the snowcat according to the present invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects, since it allows to have a cab that can be modulated, depending on the needs, and whose internal space can be increased, allowing various uses of said cab.

[0043] The snowcat thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the accompanying claims.

[0044] All the details may furthermore be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

[0045] In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent dimensions and shapes, may be any according to the requirements and the state of the art.

[0046] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. 102024000007426 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

[0047] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A snowcat (1), comprising a pair of tracks (2, 3) mounted in a position below a flatbed (4), a driver's cab (5) arranged in a front position, and at least one additional cab (6) arranged to the rear of said driver's cab (5), characterized in that said additional cab (6) comprises a fixed central portion (7) and at least one lateral portion (8, 9) which is telescopically extendable from said central portion (7), in order to increase the interior space of said additional cab (6).

2. The snowcat according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a pair of lateral portions (8, 9) which are telescopically extendable from opposite sides of said central portion of the additional cab.

3. The snowcat according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said at least one lateral portion (8, 9) is provided with a hydraulic jack (10) for resting on the ground in order to support said at least one lateral portion (8, 9).

4. The snowcat according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said central portion (7) and said at least one lateral portion (8, 9) are configured to be fitted internally with modules that can be attached to the walls.

5. The snowcat according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a ladder (12) adapted to provide access to said at least one lateral portion (8, 9) when said at least one lateral portion is extracted from said central portion (7).

6. The snowcat according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one lateral portion (8, 9) can be extracted telescopically from said central portion by means of sliding guides (11).

7. The snowcat according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said central portion (7) is provided by means of a loadbearing steel tub from which a Plexiglas structure extends.

8. The snowcat according to one or more of the preceding claims,characterized in that said at least one lateral portion (8, 9) that can be extracted telescopically from said central portion (7) extends so as to protrude from the footprint of said tracks (2, 3).

9. The snowcat according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said additional cab (6) is powered by solar panels.

10. The snowcat according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said flatbed (4) is provided with a plate (20) provided with retention means (21, 22) adapted to be engaged by engagement means (23, 24) provided at the bottom of said additional cab (6), to enable the engagement and retention of said additional cab (6) on said flatbed (4).

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