# US 4,396,233 A · Track for rope vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,396,233 A - Document ID: US4396233A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/206,660 - Filed: 1980-11-13 - Granted: 1983-08-02 - Earliest claimed: 1980-01-29 - Assignees: Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of National Defence - Inventors: William F. Slaght - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4396233A ## CPC - B62D 55/075: Tracked vehicles for ascending or descending stairs, {steep slopes or vertical surfaces}(magnetic or pneumatic ground-engaging parts B62D55/265; chairs or multi-track cycles specially adapted for invalids A61G5/00) - B62D 55/26: Ground engaging parts or elements {(tracks specially adapted for amphibious vehicles B60F3/0015)} - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) ## Abstract An endless track particularly useful in conjunction with a light-weight track vehicle. The novel track includes endless belt and a plurality of cleats fastened to and spaced about the endless belt. The cleats include rollers to provide the vehicle with agility, ease of operation and reduced turning power. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An endless track for a track vehicle, comprising: endless belt means; and a plurality of cleat means fastened to and spaced about said endless belt means, each of said cleat means including roller means oriented for rotation about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said endless belt and traction increasing elastomeric pad means mounted transversely and forwardly of said roller means, said endless belt means comprising an inner layer of hook-loop-type fasteners and an outer layer bonded thereto, said outer layer including a length of a suitable strong flexible material and a short length of complementary hook-loop-type fasteners, said inner and outer layers being the same length, wherein the opposing free ends of said bonded layers are overlapped to connect said hook-loop-type portions to form said endless belt means. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An endless track according to claim 1, wherein said cleat means is in the form of an E-shaped body including a base and three upstanding flanges integral with said base and defining leading and trailing compartments, wherein said pad is attached to the free end of the leading flange and wherein said roller means is located in said trailing compartment. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) An endless track according to claim 2, wherein said roller means comprises a pair of horizontally aligned rubber surfaced rollers extending somewhat proud of the free ends of said flanges such that the roller surface and the pad surface are in substantially the same plane. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) An endless track according to claim 3, wherein said upstanding flanges are trapezium shaped. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An endless track according to claim 1, wherein said outer layer includes a plurality of substantially equally spaced upstanding loop means and wherein the base of said cleat means includes a central transverse opening, such that said loop means extends through said opening and further comprising wedge means for retaining said loop means in said opening to fasten said cleat means to said endless belt means. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1, 5) An endless track according to claim 1 or 5, wherein said strong flexible material is nylon. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1, 2, 5) An endless track according to claim 1, 2 or 5, wherein said cleat means are constructed of a suitable hard plastics material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1, 2, 5) An endless track according to claim 1, 2 or 5, wherein said cleat means are constructed of polycarbonate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An endless track according to claim 1 in which the pads are mounted stationary in relation to the rollers.