Track

Claim 2

A track section adapted for use in a track system comprising a plurality of such sections being pivotally mounted to one another for relative movement about a vertical axis, the said track section comprising: a lower member, including a pair of parallel tubular legs fixed together, each leg being curved inwardly at one end thereof about the vertical axis and each leg being beveled inwardly at its other end such that the beveled ends of the said legs and the inwardly curved tubular legs of the lower member of an adjacent section pivotally linked thereto form substantially continuous outer surfaces between the legs of the track sections; and a tubular upper member fixed to the tubular legs of the lower member and substantially parallel to and equidistant therefrom.

Claim 3

A track system comprising a plurality of track sections linked together end-to-end, each such track section comprising: a lower member including a pair of parallel tubular legs fixed together, each leg being curved inwardly about a vertical axis at one end and each leg being beveled inwardly at its other end such that the beveled ends of the said legs and the inwardly curved legs of the lower member of an adjacent track section form substantially continuous outer surfaces between the legs of adjacent track sections; and a tubular upper member fixed to the tubular legs of the lower member and substantially parallel to and equidistant therefrom; and linking means adapted to connect adjacent sections of the track for relative pivotal movement about the vertical pivot axis.

Claim 4

A track system comprising a plurality of track sections linked together end-to-end, each such track section comprising: a lower member including a pair of parallel tubular legs fixed together, each leg being curved inwardly about a vertical axis at one end and each leg being beveled inwardly at its other end such that the beveled ends of the said legs and the inwardly curved legs of the lower member of an adjacent track section form substantially continuous outer surfaces between the legs of adjacent track sections; and a tubular upper member fixed to the tubular legs of the lower member and substantially parallel to and equidistant therefrom; and linking means adapted to connect adjacent sections of the track for relative pivotal movement about the vertical pivot axis.

Claim 5

A track system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vertical pivot axis of each such track section passes through a plane passing through the legs of the lower member at a point that is substantially equidistant from at least those portions of the curved ends of the legs of the lower member capable of being positioned adjacent the beveled ends of the legs of the lower member of a track section positioned adjacent thereto.

Claim 6

A track system, as claimed in claim 3, wherein each section of the track further comprises: a first hollow sleeve of a given inside diameter disposed at one end of the section such that its axis is coaxial with the vertical axis; and a second hollow sleeve of said given inside diameter disposed at the other end of the section such that it is in alignment with and abuts the first hollow sleeve of an adjacent section; and wherein the linking means comprises a pin having a diameter smaller than the said given inside diameter of the hollow sleeves and that projects into both sleeves.

Claim 7

An improvement as claimed in claim 4, wherein the linking means is mounted on a base.

Claim 8

An improvement, as claimed in claim 5, wherein the base comprises a generally horizontal member provided with adjustable legs at each end thereof and having a vertical opening therein, and wherein the first sleeve is mounted on the horizontal member.

Claim 9

An improvement, as claimed in claim 6, wherein a third hollow sleeve of said given diameter is mounted above and in coaxial alignment with said first sleeve so that the first and third sleeves of one track section bracket the second sleeve of an adjacent section, and wherein the pin is removably insertable into the sleeves through the underside of the vertical opening in the horizontal member.

Claim 10

An improvement, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the legs of the lower member take the form of a U-shaped member having a pair of hollow tubular legs, with the legs of the U-shaped member being beveled inwardly at the open end thereof.

Claim 11

A combiNation track and carriage system comprising a plurality of track sections linked together end-to-end, each such track section comprising: a lower member including a pair of parallel tubular legs fixed together, each leg being curved inwardly about a vertical axis at one end and each leg being beveled inwardly at its other end such that the beveled ends of the said legs and the inwardly curved legs of the lower member of an adjacent track section form substantially continuous outer surfaces between the legs of adjacent track sections; a tubular upper member fixed to the tubular legs of the lower member and substantially parallel to and equidistant therefrom; linking means adapted to connect adjacent sections of the track for relative pivotal movement about the vertical pivot axis; and carriage means comprising: at least one inverted V-shaped member having a pair of legs; a load caster rotatably mounted on each inverted V-shaped member at its apex, said load caster means being adapted to ride on the upper members of the track sections; and a guide caster rotatably mounted on the ends of each of the legs of the V-shaped member and adapted to ride along the lower legs of the track sections.

Claim 12

A combiNation track and carriage system comprising a plurality of track sections linked together end-to-end, each such track section comprising: a lower member including a pair of parallel tubular legs fixed together, each leg being curved inwardly about a vertical axis at one end and each leg being beveled inwardly at its other end such that the beveled ends of the said legs and the inwardly curved legs of the lower member of an adjacent track section form substantially continuous outer surfaces between the legs of adjacent track sections; a tubular upper member fixed to the tubular legs of the lower member and substantially parallel to and equidistant therefrom; linking means adapted to connect adjacent sections of the track for relative pivotal movement about the vertical pivot axis; and carriage means comprising: at least one inverted V-shaped member having a pair of legs; a load caster rotatably mounted on each inverted V-shaped member at its apex, said load caster means being adapted to ride on the upper members of the track sections; and a guide caster rotatably mounted on the ends of each of the legs of the V-shaped member and adapted to ride along the lower legs of the track sections.

Claim 13

A combination, as claimed in claim 9, wherein the carriage means comprises a pair of inverted V-shaped members joined together by a frame.

Claim 14

A combination, as claimed in claim 10, wherein the carriage means further comprises stabilizing means.