Snowmobile track

Claim 2

A vehicle track, comprising: an endless, flexible belt having an inner surface, a ground engaging outer surface and a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings therethrough for reception of the teeth of a power driven sprocket wheel; a reinforcing and wear element for each of said openings, the elements each comprising a flange portion overlying the margins of the associated opening on the inner and outer surfaces of the flexible belt, the flange portions being connected by a sleeve extending through the opening and the flange portions being curved in a direction longitudinally of the belt and having a radius of curvature generally conforming to that of the drive sprocket wheel.

Claim 3

A vehicle track comprising; an endless flexible rubberlike belt having an inner surface, a ground-engaging outer surface, a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings therethrough for reception of the teeth of a power driven sprocket wheel, and a plurality of reinforcing and wear elements each disposed in a different one of said openings; each of said reinforcing and wear elements comprising a tubular sleeve portion coaxial with its respective one of said openings and snugly fitted therein, and flange means projecting generally radially outwardly from each of said tubular sleeve portions and anchored to said belt, said flange means including flange portions projecting transversely from opposite sides of each of said sleeve portions toward the adjacent longitudinal edges of the belt, said flange portions being curved in a direction longitudinally of the belt and having a radius of curvature generally conforming to that of a sprocket wheel of predetermined diameter.

Claim 4

A vehicle track comprising; an endless flexible rubberlike belt having an inner surface, a ground-engaging outer surface, a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings therethrough for reception of the teeth of a power driven sprocket wheel, and a plurality of reinforcing and wear elements each disposed in a different one of said openings; each of said reinforcing and wear elements comprising a tubular sleeve portion coaxial with its respective one of said openings and snugly fitted therein, and flange means projecting generally radially outwardly from each of said tubular sleeve portions and anchored to said belt, said flange means including flange portions projecting transversely from opposite sides of each of said sleeve portions toward the adjacent longitudinal edges of the belt, said flange portions being curved in a direction longitudinally of the belt and having a radius of curvature generally conforming to that of a sprocket wheel of predetermined diameter.

Claim 5

The vehicle drive track defined in claim 2 in which said sleeve portions are each cross-sectionally generally rectangular to define a generally rectangular sprocket tooth-receiving opening, said flange means including other flange portions projecting from opposite sides of each of said sleeve portions in directions longitudinally of the belt, said other flange portions being substantially flat in a direction transversely of the belt.

Claim 6

The vehicle drive track defined in claim 3 in which the flange means of each of said reinforcing and wear elements projects generally outwardly from one end of its respective tubular sleeve portion, each of said flange means extending continuously around its respective tubular sleeve portion.

Claim 7

A vehicle drive track comprising; an endless flexible rubberlike belt having an inner surface, a ground-engaging outer surface, a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings therethrough for reception of the teeth of a power operated sprocket wheel, and reinforcing and wear elements for each of said openings; said reinforcing and wear elements including tubular sleeve portions each coaxial with a different one of said openings and snugly fitted therein, said reinforcing and wear elements having generally radially outwardly projecting axially inner and outer marginal flanges at inner and outer ends respectively of said sleeve portions, said inner and outer marginal flanges operatively engaging said inner and outer surfaces respectively of said belt around each of said openings and tightly gripping the belt therebetween around said openings, said marginal flanges having longitudinally flat portions extending transversely of the belt and longitudinally curved portions extending longitudinally of the belt, said longitudinally curved flange portions having a radius substantially conforming to that of a drive sprocket wheel of predetermined diameter.

Claim 8

A vehicle drive track comprising; an endless flexible rubberlike belt having an inner surface, a ground-engaging outer surface, a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings therethrough for reception of the teeth of a power operated sprocket wheel, and reinforcing and wear elements for each of said openings; said reinforcing and wear elements including tubular sleeve portions each coaxial with a different one of said openings and snugly fitted therein, said reinforcing and wear elements having generally radially outwardly projecting axially inner and outer marginal flanges at inner and outer ends respectively of said sleeve portions, said inner and outer marginal flanges operatively engaging said inner and outer surfaces respectively of said belt around each of said openings and tightly gripping the belt therebetween around said openings, said marginal flanges having longitudinally flat portions extending transversely of the belt and longitudinally curved portions extending longitudinally of the belt, said longitudinally curved flange portions having a radius substantially conforming to that of a drive sprocket wheel of predetermined diameter.

Claim 9

The vehicle drive track defined in claim 5 characterized by washer elements encompassing said sleeve portions and each interposed between one of said marginal flanges and the adjacent surface of said belt, said washer elements being longitudinally substantially flat in a direction transversely of the belt and longitudinally curved in a direction longitudinally of the belt whereby to follow the curvature of said curved flanged portions.

Claim 10

A vehicle drive track comprising; an endless flexible rubberlike belt having an inner surface, a ground-engAging outer surface, a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings therethrough for reception of the teeth of a power operated sprocket wheel, and reinforcing and wear elements in each of said openings; said reinforcing and wear elements including tubular sleeve portions each coaxial with a different one of said openings and snugly fitted therein, said reinforcing and wear elements having generally radially outwardly projecting axially inner and outer marginal flanges at inner and outer ends respectively of said sleeve portions, said inner and outer marginal flanges operatively engaging said inner and outer surfaces respectively of said belt around each of said openings and tightly gripping the belt therebetween around said openings, said belt having a plurality of ground-engaging ridge elements each encompassing the outer marginal flange of a different one of said reinforcing and wear elements, said ridge elements projecting outwardly from the outer surface of the belt beyond said outer marginal flanges, whereby to maintain said outer marginal flanges in spaced relationship to the ground.

Claim 11

A vehicle drive track comprising; an endless flexible rubberlike belt having an inner surface, a ground-engAging outer surface, a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings therethrough for reception of the teeth of a power operated sprocket wheel, and reinforcing and wear elements in each of said openings; said reinforcing and wear elements including tubular sleeve portions each coaxial with a different one of said openings and snugly fitted therein, said reinforcing and wear elements having generally radially outwardly projecting axially inner and outer marginal flanges at inner and outer ends respectively of said sleeve portions, said inner and outer marginal flanges operatively engaging said inner and outer surfaces respectively of said belt around each of said openings and tightly gripping the belt therebetween around said openings, said belt having a plurality of ground-engaging ridge elements each encompassing the outer marginal flange of a different one of said reinforcing and wear elements, said ridge elements projecting outwardly from the outer surface of the belt beyond said outer marginal flanges, whereby to maintain said outer marginal flanges in spaced relationship to the ground.

Claim 12

The vehicle drive track defined in claim 7, in further combination with a plurality of washer elements each encompassing a different one of said sleeve portions, said washer elements being interposed between said outer marginal flanges and the adjacent outer surface of the belt and clamped to said belt by said outer marginal flanges.

Claim 13

A vehicle drive track comprising; an endless flexible rubberlike belt having an inner surface, a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings therethrough for reception of the teeth of a power operated sprocket wheel, and reinforcing and wear elements in each of said openings; said reinforcing and wear elements including tubular sleeve portions each coaxial with a different one of said openings and snugly fitted therein, said reinforcing and wear elements having generally radially outwardly projecting axially inner and outer marginal flanges at inner and outer ends respectively of said sleeve portions; and washer elements encompassing said sleeve portions adjacent said outer marginal flanges, said washer elements having cross-sectionally arcuate side and end portions providing convex surfaces facing said inner marginal flanges, said inner marginal flanges each having side and end flange portions underlying the side and end portions respectfully of their respective washers and defining rounded ribs facing the convex surface of said respective washers, said track being compressed about said openings between the convex washer surfaces and said ribs of each of said reinforcing and wear elements, said washer end portions and adjacent portions of said flanges being straight in a direction transversely of said belt, said washer side portions and portions of said flanges adjacent said washer side portions being curved in a direction longitudinally of said belt, said longitudinally curved washer and flange portions having a radius substantially conforming to that of a drive sprocket wheel of predetermined diameter.

Claim 14

A vehicle drive track comprising; an endless flexible rubberlike belt having an inner surface, a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings therethrough for reception of the teeth of a power operated sprocket wheel, and reinforcing and wear elements in each of said openings; said reinforcing and wear elements including tubular sleeve portions each coaxial with a different one of said openings and snugly fitted therein, said reinforcing and wear elements having generally radially outwardly projecting axially inner and outer marginal flanges at inner and outer ends respectively of said sleeve portions; and washer elements encompassing said sleeve portions adjacent said outer marginal flanges, said washer elements having cross-sectionally arcuate side and end portions providing convex surfaces facing said inner marginal flanges, said inner marginal flanges each having side and end flange portions underlying the side and end portions respectfully of their respective washers and defining rounded ribs facing the convex surface of said respective washers, said track being compressed about said openings between the convex washer surfaces and said ribs of each of said reinforcing and wear elements, said washer end portions and adjacent portions of said flanges being straight in a direction transversely of said belt, said washer side portions and portions of said flanges adjacent said washer side portions being curved in a direction longitudinally of said belt, said longitudinally curved washer and flange portions having a radius substantially conforming to that of a drive sprocket wheel of predetermined diameter.