Penetrating stud for snowmobiles

Claim 2

A stud for attachment to the belt member of an endless-belt propelled vehicle to improve the traction thereof comprising: an elongated body member adapted for mounting transverse to the endless-belt member, said body member being generally rectangular in shape having a top wall, a back wall, and a pair of opposed end walls, said top wall having openings formed therein to accommodate fastening means to secure said body member to said endless-belt member, said back wall extending rearwardly and downwardly at an angle with respect to said top wall, the outermost end of said back wall having a pair of spaced-apart chisel-like spurs projecting from the bottom outer edge thereof to engage a surface therebelow, said spurs being offset rearwardly from the remainder of said back wall, said back wall extending downwardly substantially below the forward portion of said body member whereby said back wall initially supports the major portion of the vehicle weight imposed on said stud to increase its surface penetration capability.

Claim 3

The stud as defined in claim 1 wherein said spaced-apart spurs are generally V-shaped with the apex of the V forming said spurs.

Claim 4

The stud as defined in claim 1 wherein said end walls adjacent said back wall each have a downwardly projecting chisel-like spur, the broad face of said spurs being generally perpendicular to said back wall to prevent lateral shifting of the vehicle.

Claim 5

A stud as defined in claim 3 wherein said spurs on said end walls extend downwardly a distance greater than said spurs on said back wall.

Claim 6

The stud as defined in claim 4 wherein said spurs on said back wall, in cross-section, are generally arcuate in shape.

Claim 7

A traction device for an endless track-propelled vehicle comprising: a stud having an elongated, generally rectangular body, said body having a generally flat planar mounting surface and a depending rectangular peripheral wall having rear, side and front portions, the rear portion of said wall being downwardly and rearwardly inclined, and having a pair of spaced downwardly projecting, surface-penetrating spurs, said rear portion of said wall extending substantially below said forward portion thereof.

Claim 8

A traction device for an endless track-propelled vehicle comprising: a stud having an elongated, generally rectangular body, said body having a generally flat planar mounting surface and a depending rectangular peripheral wall having rear, side and front portions, the rear portion of said wall being downwardly and rearwardly inclined, and having a pair of spaced downwardly projecting, surface-penetrating spurs, said rear portion of said wall extending substantially below said forward portion thereof.

Claim 9

The stud as defined in claim 6 also having a second pair of downwardly projecting spurs at the intersection between said side and rear portions of said wall, said second spurs having their broader faces generally perpendicular to the faces of said spurs on said rear wall.

Claim 10

The stud as defined in claim 7 wherein said second spurs extend downwardly from said mounting surface a distance greater than said spurs on said rear wall portion to prevent side slip of the vehicle.

Claim 11

The stud as defined in claim 8 wherein said rear wall portion is generally wave-shape in configuration, said spurs being formed at the crest of the wave as a pair of adjacent V-shapes, the apex of said V-shapes forming said first mentioned spaced-apart spurs.

Claim 12

A stud as defined in claim 6 wherein said spurs on said rear wall portion are offset rearwardly from the remainder of said rear wall portion forwardly recessed pocket therebetween for entrapping surface material displaced by said spurs.

Claim 13

A stud as defined in claim 10 wherein the upper portion of said rear wall portion forms an elongated, uninterrupted surface extending the entire width of said stud and in cooperation with the rear faces of said spurs provides a bearing surface of substantial area for engaging and compressing surface material forced upwardly by said spurs.

Claim 14

A stud as defined in claim 11 wherein a pair of side spurs are provided one on each side of said stud, said side spurs extending downwardly and having a chisel-like point at their ends.

Claim 15

A stud as defined in claim 12 wherein said side spurs are longer than said spurs on said rear wall portion.

Claim 16

In combination, an endless surface engaging belt for vehicle propulsion, a plurality of cleats mounted cross-wise on said belt, said cleats being of generally inverted U-shape, a plurality of studs, each of said studs being mounted in one of said cleats, the back of said studs having an elongated, generally rectangular body, said body having a generally flat upper surface seated against the lower face of a cleat and a downwardly and rearwardly inclined rear wall; said wall having a pair of downwardly and rearwardly inclined surface penetrating spurs, said spurs being spaced lengthwise of said stud and offset rearwardly from the remainder of said wall and forming a forwardly recessed pocket therebetween for entrapping surface material displaced by said spurs; the upper portion of said wall forming an elongated uninterrupted surface extending the entire width of said stud and in cooperation with the rear faces of said spurs providing a bearing surface of substantial area for engaging and compressing surface material forced upwardly by said spurs; means for securing each of said studs to one of said cleats with the longer dimension of the stud generally parallel to the long axis of the cleat; said means holding said stud against rotation.

Claim 17

In combination, an endless surface engaging belt for vehicle propulsion, a plurality of cleats mounted cross-wise on said belt, said cleats being of generally inverted U-shape, a plurality of studs, each of said studs being mounted in one of said cleats, the back of said studs having an elongated, generally rectangular body, said body having a generally flat upper surface seated against the lower face of a cleat and a downwardly and rearwardly inclined rear wall; said wall having a pair of downwardly and rearwardly inclined surface penetrating spurs, said spurs being spaced lengthwise of said stud and offset rearwardly from the remainder of said wall and forming a forwardly recessed pocket therebetween for entrapping surface material displaced by said spurs; the upper portion of said wall forming an elongated uninterrupted surface extending the entire width of said stud and in cooperation with the rear faces of said spurs providing a bearing surface of substantial area for engaging and compressing surface material forced upwardly by said spurs; means for securing each of said studs to one of said cleats with the longer dimension of the stud generally parallel to the long axis of the cleat; said means holding said stud against rotation.