Operator mounting step for track-laying vehicles

In a vehicle mounting step structure formed in part by an inverted V-shaped track tensioner cover plate having an apex extending longitudinally within an area circumscribed by an endless track of a track-laying vehicle and further including a longitudinally extending foot-engageable strap joined to the cover plate and disposed within a step housing having vertical, longitudinally spaced end walls joined to the cover plate at opposite ends of the strap and having a top inclined downwardly and inwardly from a location vertically above the strap to the cover and joined to the end wall and the cover, the improvement comprising:

• said top having an upturned outward lip located vertically above the strap so as to form a secondary foot-engageable support, said strap being elevated above the cover plate and joined to the end walls, which serve to join the strap to the cover plate, whereby material carried to the top of the step housing slides inwardly down the top and material which happens to find its way into the housing slides outwardly on the cover plate beneath the strap.