Ex Parte Fecteau et al - Page 2



                Appeal No. 2006-0178                                                                                                            
                Application No. 09/877,188                                                                                                      

                the feature wherein the steering shaft is disposed over the snowmobile engine at an angle ε of                                  
                less than 45° from vertical, the feature wherein the first seat position is disposed less than 590                              
                mm behind the forward-most drive track axle, and the feature wherein the steering position is                                   
                disposed forward of the forward-most drive track axle.  This appealed subject matter is                                         
                adequately represented by independent claims 1 and 118 which read as follows:                                                   
                         1.  A snowmobile, comprising:                                                                                          
                         a frame;                                                                                                               
                         a straddle-type seat disposed on the frame;                                                                            
                         first and second seat positions defined by the seat;                                                                   
                         an engine disposed on the frame in front of the seat;                                                                  
                         a drive track disposed below the frame and connected operatively to the engine for                                     
                propulsion of the snowmobile;                                                                                                   
                         a forward-most drive track axle disposed on the frame;                                                                 
                         two skis disposed on the frame;                                                                                        
                         a steering device having a steering position; and                                                                      
                         a steering shaft operatively connecting the two skis to the steering device for steering the                           
                snowmobile, wherein the steering shaft is disposed over the engine at an angle ε of less than 45°                               
                from vertical, the first seat position is disposed less than 590 mm behind the forward-most drive                               
                track axle, the second seat position is disposed behind the first seat position by between 265 mm                               
                and 365 mm, and the steering position is disposed forward of the forward-most drive track axle.                                 

                         118.  A snowmobile, comprising:                                                                                        
                         a frame;                                                                                                               
                         a straddle-type seat disposed on the frame;                                                                            
                         an engine disposed on the frame in front of the seat;                                                                  


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