Traction device for wheels and process for making

A traction device for wheels comprising:

• a plurality of traction device segments;
• the traction device segments being arranged sequentially;
• adjoining traction device segments being interconnected by hinge means;
• a first traction device segment of the sequence being interconnected by hinge means to a last traction device segment of the sequence to form a continuous chain of interconnected traction device segments:
• the interconnected traction device segments encompassing a tire/wheel unit, having a circumferential perimeter and a hub the tire of the tire/wheel unit having a patterned tread;
• the tire/wheel unit engaging, by means, one or a plurality of adjoining traction device segments causing the interconnected traction device segments to rotate with the tire/wheel unit, when the tire/wheel unit is caused to rotate:
• each traction device segment having a pad which comes in contact with the ground as the tire/wheel unit and traction device rotate;
• the pad being intermediate skirts which retain the traction device on the tire/wheel unit while the tire/wheel unit and traction device rotate;
• the skirts being oriented generally orthogonal to the pad and extending generally from the pad at the circumferential perimeter of the tire/wheel unit toward the hub of the tire/wheel unit;
• the hinge means interconnecting adjoining traction devices being lug means connected by bolt and nut means, the lug means comprising first and second lugs extending from each traction device segment such that alignment will occur between first lugs of one traction device segment and the second lugs of an adjoining traction device segment, the first and second lugs each having aperture means to receive joining means and bearing means the joining means between first and second lugs to effect a hinge connection between adjoining traction device segments being provided by a bolt with thread means received into the first lug aperture and further into a first bushing with the first bushing received into and through the second lug aperture, the bolt being secured by a washer and nut at the thread means.