Removable track structure for wheeled vehicles

A track section adapted to be linked to a plurality of similar track sections to form a flexible track belt for wraparound mounting on a vehicle tire comprising:

• a rigid, ground engaging base pad of elongated shape;
• a pair of spaced apart sidewalls projecting upwardly from the opposite ends of said base pad in its ground engaging position, whereby said base pad serves as a crossbar connecting said sidewalls, each of said sidewalls having an inner, substantially vertical wall segment generally conforming to the vertical shape of the sidewalls of a tire to be positioned between said track section sidewalls;
• and
• a convex rib extending in an inwardly and downwardly inclined position from each of said sidewall vertical wall sections to a juncture line with said base pad, the side faces of said ribs flaring outwardly and downwardly from the convex top surfaces thereof, whereby said ribs provide good gripping action with the corners of tires on which said track section is mounted and readily shed dirt and foreign matter which would otherwise tend to accumulate between a tire peripheral surface and said track section.

A track belt for removable mounting as an endless belt arond the periphery of the tires of a wheeled vehicle, comprising:

• a plurality of track sections, each comprising a pair of laterally spaced sisdewalls and a ground engaging crossbar member extending therebetween, said sidewalls projecting generally upwardly when said crossbar member is resting on the ground and defining therebetween a tire receiving space;
• link means extending between the sidewalls of each track section and the adjacent sidewalls of the track sections on each side thereof to form a continuous track belt, said link means including at least one horizontal pivot pin connection to each sidewall defining a pivot axis extending generally transversely of said track belt about which said track sections may pivot relative to each other to assume a curved configuration conforming to the arcuate shape of a vehicle tire;
• and
• releasable and adjustable coupling means between the adjacent sidewalls at the opposite ends of at least one pair of said track sections, each of said coupling means comprising first and second, elongated coupling members secured at one end to adjacent sidewalls of said pair of track sections and extending longitudinally of said track belt, the opposite, coupling ends of each of said coupling members overlapping each other and having aperture means therein providing a continuous fastener opening in various positions of adjustment of said pair of track sections and the coupling members towards and away from each other along the length of said track belt, said aperture means comprising a through opening in the coupling end of one of said coupling members and an aligned, elongated slot in the mating, coupling end of the other coupling member, and a fastener removably secured through said opening and said slot in the space between the crossbar members of said pair of adjacent track sections at a desired position of spacing adjustment thereof relative to each other, whereby said pair of track sections may be adjusted through a range of positions towards and away from each other as limited by the length of said slot to achieve a desired tension in said track belt when it is coupled around a tire.