Abstract: A floor tile has arcuate slots formed on its upper surface and defined about a common center of curvature. A positioning cavity is formed on the upper surface and located radially outward from a common radius of curvature of the arcuate slots. An accessory comprises a base having a bottom section. An attachment member is pivotally mounted to the base and has two arcuate hooks extending under the bottom section of the base. A locating projection extends under the bottom section of the base, being located radially outward from a pivot axis of the attachment member. To mount the accessory on the floor tile, the arcuate hooks are received in the arcuate slots and the locating projection is received in the positioning cavity. Pivoting the attachment member causes locking or unlocking of the arcuate hooks in the arcuate slots for attaching or detaching the accessory on the floor tile.

Abstract: A straddle seat assembly having a backrest and a straddle seat is disclosed. The straddle seat has a base structure that has an upper surface to which a resiliently deformable top portion is connected. The resiliently deformable top portion covers at least partially the upper surface. The backrest is selectively connected to the resiliently deformable top portion at either one of at least two positions along a length of the straddle seat such that deformation of the top portions permits movement of the backrest. A personal watercraft having the straddle seat assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A vehicle has a frame, a straddle seat, front right and left wheels, a rear wheel, a steering assembly, a motor, front right and left brakes, a rear brake, and an electronic brake control unit. The electronic brake control unit has a pump, a valve box and an electronic controller. The electronic controller is electronically connected to the pump, and valves of the valve box for controlling their operation. A hand brake lever actuates a first master cylinder and thereby actuates the front brakes through the valve box. A foot brake lever actuates a second master cylinder and thereby actuates the rear brake through the valve box.

Abstract: A vehicle has an engine; a drive pulley connected to and driven by a crankshaft of the engine; a driven pulley; an output shaft connected to and driven by the driven pulley; a belt looped around the pulleys; and a cover connected to the engine. The cover and the engine define a volume therebetween. A baffle disposed in the volume separates the volume in first and second chambers. The first chamber is disposed between the baffle and the engine. The second chamber is disposed between the baffle and the cover. The pulleys are disposed in the second chamber. The baffle defines first and second apertures fluidly communicating the first chamber with the second chamber. An air inlet is fluidly connected to the first chamber. An air outlet is fluidly connected to the second chamber.

Abstract: A method for accelerating a vehicle from rest. The method includes receiving a mode indication indicating a launch control mode selected; receiving a brake-on indication; controlling the engine according to a launch control strategy; determining an accelerator position; for an accelerator position greater than zero, controlling the engine to: increase open a throttle valve and control the engine to limit engine torque output; receiving a brake-off indication; controlling the engine according to the standard control strategy, controlling the engine according to the standard control strategy with the braking system having been released causing the vehicle to accelerate from rest, a first rate of acceleration from rest of the vehicle being greater than a second rate of acceleration from rest of the vehicle for corresponding changes in accelerator position, the first rate corresponding to accelerating from rest after controlling the engine according to the standard and launch control strategies.

Abstract: An air intake system for a vehicle has a conduit having an internal wall forming an air passage. A deflector is disposed within the air passage. A restricting structure is disposed within the air passage between the deflector and a conduit outlet. The restricting structure defines at least in part an opening substantially laterally aligned with the deflector. The restricting structure has a lateral wall disposed downstream of the deflector and extending within the air passage. The lateral wall has a front surface generally facing a conduit inlet, and a plurality of surface-increasing features provided on the front surface. Each of the surface-increasing features has a length of at least 1 mm measured from the front surface in a direction normal thereto. An air intake system having a collector connected to the deflector and positioned to collect at least some moisture from air flowing past the deflector is also described.

Abstract: A loading system for a vehicle includes a buggy for transporting cargo and a mounting assembly for loading the buggy onto the vehicle. A buggy frame has an elongated member. The mounting assembly is configured to be connected to the vehicle and has a sliding rail configured to slidingly receive the elongated member of the buggy frame to allow the buggy to slide along the sliding rail. The sliding rail has a first portion and a second portion extending at an angle relative to the first portion such that, when the mounting assembly is connected to the vehicle, the first portion extends generally horizontally and the second portion extends downwardly from the first portion. The second portion is configured to slide the buggy upwards onto the vehicle. The first portion being configured to slide the buggy generally horizontally into a loaded position on the vehicle.

Abstract: A removable chin curtain assembly selectively attachable to a helmet is disclosed. The helmet has a helmet shell, a chin strap, and a pair of fasteners connecting the chin strap portion to the helmet shell. The fasteners are made at least in part of ferromagnetic material. The removable chin curtain assembly has a chin curtain and at least one permanent magnet connected to the chin curtain. The at least one permanent magnet is adapted for selectively magnetically connecting the chin curtain to at least one of the fasteners. Alternative embodiments of a removable chin curtain assembly are also disclosed.

Abstract: A vehicle including a frame; a motor; at least one ground engaging member; at least one suspension member pivotally connecting the ground engaging member to the frame; at least one double bonded bushing being disposed in an end portion of the at least one suspension member; at least one wear plate disposed between a first end of the at least one double bonded bushing and the frame, the at least one wear plate being rotationally fixed relative to the frame, the first end of the at least one double bonded bushing abutting the at least one wear plate, the at least one wear plate being selectively removable from the vehicle; and at least one shaft extending through a portion of the frame, the at least one double bonded bushing, and the at least one wear plate.

Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly has a top par and a bottom part joined to the top part. At least one of the top and bottom parts defines a recess. The top and bottom parts define therebetween a passage formed in part by the recess. The passage has a first portion of the passage extending along a first side of the heat exchanger assembly; a second portion of the passage extending along a second side of the heat exchanger assembly; an inlet fluidly communicating with the first portion of the passage near a first end of the passage; and an outlet fluidly communicating with the second portion of the passage near a second end of the passage. Fluid enters the passage via the inlet, then flows in the first portion of the passage, then flows in the second portion of the passage, and then exits the passage via the outlet.

Abstract: A snowmobile has a rear suspension assembly including at least one slide rail, a plurality of idler wheels, a front suspension arm having first upper and lower ends, and a rear suspension arm having second upper and lower ends. The first upper end is connected to a tunnel of the snowmobile. The first lower end is selectively connected to the at least one slide rail. The first lower end is connectable to the at least one slide rail at first and second positions. The first position of the first lower end is vertically higher from a bottom surface of the at least one slide rail than the second position of the first lower end. The second upper end is connected to the tunnel.

Abstract: A container, a stackable container assembly and a vehicle having a container. The container includes a container body having a top surface and a bottom surface; and a fixture assembly configured for receiving an accessory container, the fixture assembly being separately formed from and attached to the top surface, the bottom surface being configured for connecting the container to a vehicle, the bottom surface including: a tongue attached to the bottom surface, the tongue extending from the bottom surface, the tongue being configured for inserting into a first vehicle anchor fixture connected to the vehicle, and an anchor attached to the bottom surface, the anchor being configured for inserting into a second vehicle anchor fixture, the anchor including: at least one anchor lock extending parallel to the bottom surface.

Abstract: A snowmobile has a rear suspension assembly including front and rear suspension arms, first and second rear shock absorbers, a first sensor for sensing an angular position of the front suspension arm, a second sensor for sensing an angular position of the rear suspension arm, and a controller communicatively connected to the first and second sensors. A method of controlling the rear suspension assembly includes: sensing an angular position and/or an angular velocity of the front suspension arm; sensing an angular position and/or an angular velocity of a rear suspension arm; and determining a stroke and/or a piston velocity of the first rear shock absorber and/or the second rear shock absorber based on the angular position and the angular velocity of the front and rear suspension arms as sensed by the first and second sensors respectively.

Abstract: A cover for covering at least partially a vehicle. The vehicle includes a straddle seat and a footrest extending along a lateral side of the vehicle. The cover includes a cover body and a clip connected to the cover body. The clip is configured to be connected to the footrest of the vehicle. The clip includes: a clip body fastened to the cover body; an upper connector extending from an inner side of the clip body and configured to engage an upper side of the footrest so as to restrict forward movement of the clip relative to the footrest; and a lower connector extending from an inner side of the clip body and configured to engage a lower side of the footrest. The clip is configured such that, when the clip is connected to the footrest, an edge portion of the footrest is located between the upper and lower connectors.

Abstract: A method of assembling a watercraft of a family of watercraft includes, when assembling a first watercraft, attaching a front hull panel to a rear hull panel such that the front hull panel extends forwardly of the rear hull panel. The front hull panel and the rear hull panel form a hull of the first watercraft. The method also includes, when assembling the second watercraft: attaching a hull extension panel to the rear hull panel such that the hull extension panel extends forwardly of the rear hull panel; and attaching the front hull panel to the hull extension panel such that the front hull panel extends forwardly of the hull extension panel. The front hull panel, the hull extension panel and the rear hull panel form a hull of the second watercraft. The second watercraft has a second hull length greater than a first hull length of the first watercraft.

Abstract: A method for starting an internal combustion engine (ICE) having a crankshaft and an electric turning machine (ETM) operatively connected to the crankshaft comprises energizing an absolute position sensor adapted for providing an indication of an angular position of a rotor of the ETM and applying a current to the ETM to generate a sufficient torque to rotate the crankshaft.

Abstract: A personal watercraft hull has a bow, a keel, starboard and port upper edges, a starboard portion extending between the keel and the starboard upper edge, a port portion extending between the keel and the starboard upper edge, and a transom. The starboard portion has a starboard row of grooves. The port portion has a port row of grooves. The rows of grooves extend in a longitudinal direction and are laterally offset from the longitudinal centerline and from their corresponding upper edge. The grooves of the rows of grooves define recesses in an outer surface of the hull. A personal watercraft having the personal watercraft hull is also disclosed.