TRACK ASSEMBLY FOR AN ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE

CHENILLES POUR VEHICULE TOUT TERRAIN

English Abstract

The present invention is concerned with track assemblies for an all-terrain
vehicle, which make it maneuverable and effective upon a variety of unstable,
uneven, stable and even surfaces, while designed to maintain tension upon the
endless track belts to keep them in their due course and prevent accidental
loosening while having a punctually localized surface contact with a ground
surface, and at the same time reducing the damages inflicted on the terrain.

French Abstract

L'invention concerne des chenilles pour véhicule tout terrain qui rendent le véhicule manuvrable et efficace sur une variété de surfaces, stables ou instables, planes ou accidentées. Les chenilles sont conçues pour rester tendues de façon à les maintenir en place et à éviter qu'elles se desserrent accidentellement lors d'un contact ponctuel localisé de la surface de roulement avec le sol, tout en réduisant les dommages infligés au terrain.

Claims

17
CLAIMS:
1. An endless track for a track assembly to provide traction to an all-terrain
vehicle
(ATV), the track assembly being mountable to the ATV in place of a ground-
engaging wheel, the track assembly comprising a plurality of track-contacting
wheels for contacting the endless track, the plurality of track-contacting
wheels
including a driving wheel to impart motion to the endless track, the endless
track
comprising:
i) an inner side for facing the plurality of track-contacting wheels; and
ii) a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the ground;
the endless track being free of stiffening rods extending in a transversal
direction of the endless track.
2. The endless track claimed in claim 1, wherein a flexibility of the
endless track in
the transversal direction of the endless track allows the endless track to
conform
to a profile of the ground.
3. The endless track claimed in claim 2, wherein the profile of the ground
includes
a depression, the flexibility of the endless track in the transversal
direction of the
endless track allowing the endless track to conform to the depression.
4. The endless track claimed in claim 3, wherein the endless track includes a
central portion aligned with the driving wheel in the transversal direction of
the
endless track when the driving wheel imparts motion to the endless track, the
flexibility of the endless track in the transversal direction of the endless
track
allowing the central portion of the endless track to contact the depression.
5. The endless track claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a profile of
the
endless track in the transversal direction of the endless track is generally
convex.

18
6. The endless track claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the ground-
engaging outer side comprises a plurality of traction projections spaced apart
in
a longitudinal direction of the endless track.
7. The endless track claimed in claim 6, wherein each traction projection of
the
plurality of traction projections comprises a plurality of traction lugs
spaced apart
in the transversal direction of the endless track.
8. The endless track claimed in claim 7, wherein the plurality of traction
lugs of the
traction projection comprises at least three traction lugs spaced apart in the
transversal direction of the endless track.
9. The endless track claimed in claim 6, wherein each traction projection of
the
plurality of traction projections comprises a lug extending substantially from
a
first lateral edge of the endless track to a second lateral edge of the
endless
track.
10. The endless track claimed in claim 9, wherein the lug is generally
rectangular.
11. The endless track claimed in claim 6, wherein each traction projection of
the
plurality of traction projections extends from a first lateral edge of the
endless
track to a second lateral edge of the endless track.
12. The endless track claimed in claim 6, wherein each traction projection of
the
plurality of traction projections has a height varying in the transversal
direction of
the endless track.
13. The endless track claimed in claim 12, wherein the height of the traction
projection is greatest at a point closer to a center of the endless track than
to a

19
first lateral edge of the endless track and than to a second lateral edge of
the
endless track.
14. The endless track claimed in any one of claims 6 to 13, wherein the inner
side
comprises a plurality of inner lugs distributed in the longitudinal direction
of the
endless track.
15. The endless track claimed in claim 14, wherein the plurality of inner lugs
is
arranged into a plurality of rows of lugs spaced apart in the transversal
direction
of the endless track, the lugs of each row of lugs of the plurality of rows of
lugs
being spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the endless track.
16. The endless track claimed in claim 15, wherein a first one of the rows of
lugs is a
row of drive lugs positioned to engage the driving wheel.
17. The endless track claimed in claim 16, wherein the row of drive lugs is a
first row
of drive lugs, a second one of the rows of lugs is a second row of drive lugs
positioned to engage the driving wheel.
18. The endless track claimed in any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the
plurality of
track-contacting wheels includes an idler wheel, a first given one of the rows
of
lugs being a row of guide lugs to be positioned adjacent to the idler wheel.
19. The endless track claimed in claim 18, wherein the row of guide lugs is a
first
row of guide lugs, a second given one of the rows of lugs being a second row
of
guide lugs to be positioned adjacent to the idler wheel such that the idler
wheel
passes between the first row of guide lugs and the second row of guide lugs.
20. The endless track claimed in claim 19, wherein the idler wheel is a first
idler
wheel, the plurality of track-contacting wheels including a second idler wheel
spaced apart from the first idler wheel in the transversal direction of the
endless

20
track, a third given one of the rows of lugs and a fourth given one of the
rows of
lugs respectively being a third row of guide lugs and a fourth row of guide
lugs to
be positioned adjacent to the second idler wheel such that the second idler
wheel passes between the third row of guide lugs and the fourth row of guide
lugs.
21. The endless track claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the
plurality of
track-contacting wheels includes a first idler wheel and a second idler wheel
spaced apart from the first idler wheel in a longitudinal direction of the
track
assembly, an axis of rotation of the driving wheel being located in the
longitudinal direction of the track assembly between an axis of rotation of
the
first idler wheel and an axis of rotation of the second idler wheel.
22. The endless track claimed in claim 21, wherein the axis of rotation of the
driving
wheel is located closer to the axis of rotation of the second idler wheel than
to
the axis of rotation of the first idler wheel in the longitudinal direction of
the track
assembly.
23. The endless track claimed in claim 22, wherein the first idler wheel is
located in
a front of the track assembly and the second idler wheel is located in a rear
of
the track assembly.
24. The endless track claimed in any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein the track
assembly comprises a frame interconnecting the first idler wheel and the
second
idler wheel.
25. The endless track claimed in claim 24, wherein the frame is pivotable
about a
pivot axis generally parallel to the axis of rotation of the driving wheel.
26. The endless track claimed in claim 25, wherein the pivot axis of the frame
is
coaxial with the axis of rotation of the driving wheel.

21
27. An ATV comprising the endless track claimed in any one of claims 1 to 26.
28. A set of endless tracks for a set of track assemblies to provide traction
to an all-
terrain vehicle (ATV), the set of track assemblies being mountable to the ATV
in
place of ground-engaging wheels, each endless track of the set of endless
tracks comprising:
i) an inner side for facing a plurality of track-contacting wheels of a
track
assembly of the set of track assemblies, the plurality of track-contacting
wheels including a driving wheel to impart motion to the endless track; and
ii) a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the ground;
the endless track being free of stiffening rods extending in a transversal
direction of the endless track.
29. The set of endless tracks claimed in claim 28, wherein a flexibility of
the endless
track in the transversal direction of the endless track allows the endless
track to
conform to a profile of the ground.
30. The set of endless tracks claimed in claim 29, wherein the profile of the
ground
includes a depression, the flexibility of the endless track in the transversal
direction of the endless track allowing the endless track to conform to the
depression.
31. The set of endless tracks claimed in claim 30, wherein the endless track
includes a central portion aligned with the driving wheel in the transversal
direction of the endless track when the driving wheel imparts motion to the
endless track, the flexibility of the endless track in the transversal
direction of the
endless track allowing the central portion of the endless track to contact the
depression.

22
32. The set of endless of tracks claimed in any one of claims 28 to 31,
wherein a
profile of the endless track in the transversal direction of the endless track
is
generally convex.
33. The set of endless tracks claimed in any one of claims 28 to 32, wherein
the
ground-engaging outer side comprises a plurality of traction projections
spaced
apart in a longitudinal direction of the endless track.
34. The set of endless tracks claimed in claim 33, wherein each traction
projection of
the plurality of traction projections comprises a plurality of traction lugs
spaced
apart in the transversal direction of the endless track.
35. The set of endless tracks claimed in claim 34, wherein the plurality of
traction
lugs of the traction projection comprises at least three traction lugs spaced
apart
in the transversal direction of the endless track.
36. The set of endless tracks claimed in claim 33, wherein each traction
projection of
the plurality of traction projections comprises a lug extending substantially
from a
first lateral edge of the endless track to a second lateral edge of the
endless
track.
37. The set of endless tracks claimed in claim 36, wherein the lug is
generally
rectangular.
38. The set of endless tracks claimed in claim 33, wherein each traction
projection of
the plurality of traction projections extends from a first lateral edge of the
endless
track to a second lateral edge of the endless track.
39. The set of endless tracks claimed in claim 33, wherein each traction
projection of
the plurality of traction projections has a height varying in the transversal
direction of the endless track.

23
40. The set of endless tracks claimed in claim 39, wherein the height of the
traction
projection is greatest at a point closer to a center of the endless track than
to a
first lateral edge of the endless track and than to a second lateral edge of
the
endless track.
41. The set of endless tracks claimed in any one of claims 33 to 40, wherein
the
inner side comprises a plurality of inner lugs distributed in a longitudinal
direction
of the endless track.
42. The set of endless tracks claimed in claim 41, wherein the plurality of
inner lugs
is arranged into a plurality of rows of lugs spaced apart in the transversal
direction of the endless track, the lugs of each row of lugs of the plurality
of rows
of lugs being spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the endless track.
43. The set of endless tracks claimed in claim 42, wherein a first one of the
rows of
lugs is a row of drive lugs positioned to engage the driving wheel.
44. The set of endless tracks claimed in claim 43, wherein the row of drive
lugs is a
first row of drive lugs, a second one of the rows of lugs is a second row of
drive
lugs positioned to engage the driving wheel.
45. The set of endless tracks claimed in any one of claims 42 to 44, wherein
the
plurality of track-contacting wheels comprises an idler wheel, a first given
one of
the rows of lugs being a row of guide lugs to be positioned adjacent to the
idler
wheel.
46. The set of endless tracks claimed in claim 45, wherein the row of guide
lugs is a
first row of guide lugs, a second given one of the rows of lugs being a second
row of guide lugs to be positioned adjacent to the idler wheel such that the
idler

24
wheel passes between the first row of guide lugs and the second row of guide
lugs.
47. The set of endless tracks claimed in claim 45, wherein the idler wheel is
a first
idler wheel, the plurality of track-contacting wheels including a second idler
wheel spaced apart from the first idler wheel in the transversal direction of
the
endless track, a third given one of the rows of lugs and a fourth given one of
the
rows of lugs respectively being a third row of guide lugs and a fourth row of
guide lugs to be positioned adjacent to the second idler wheel such that the
second idler wheel passes between the third row of guide lugs and the fourth
row of guide lugs.
48. The set of endless tracks claimed in any one of claims 28 to 44, wherein
the
plurality of track-contacting wheels includes a first idler wheel and a second
idler
wheel spaced apart from the first idler wheel in a longitudinal direction of
the
track assembly, an axis of rotation of the driving wheel being located in the
longitudinal direction of the track assembly between an axis of rotation of
the
first idler wheel and an axis of rotation of the second idler wheel.
49. The set of endless tracks claimed in claim 48, wherein the axis of
rotation of the
driving wheel is located closer to the axis of rotation of the second idler
wheel
than to the axis of rotation of the first idler wheel in the longitudinal
direction of
the track assembly.
50. The set of endless tracks claimed in claim 49, wherein the first idler
wheel is
located in a front of the track assembly and the second idler wheel is located
in a
rear of the track assembly.
51. The set of endless tracks claimed in any one of claims 48 to 50, wherein
the
track assembly comprises a frame interconnecting the first idler wheel and the
second idler wheel.

25
52. The set of endless tracks claimed in claim 51, wherein the frame is
pivotable
about a pivot axis generally parallel to the axis of rotation of the driving
wheel.
53. The set of endless tracks claimed in claim 52, wherein the pivot axis of
the frame
is coaxial with the axis of rotation of the driving wheel.
54. The set of endless tracks claimed in any one of claims 28 to 53, wherein
the set
of endless tracks includes four endless tracks.
55. An ATV comprising the set of endless tracks claimed in any one of claims
28 to
54.
56. A track assembly for providing traction to an all-terrain vehicle (ATV),
the track
assembly being mountable to the ATV in place of a ground-engaging wheel, the
track assembly comprising:
a) a plurality of track-contacting wheels which includes:
i) a driving wheel; and
ii) an idler wheel;
and
b) an endless track disposed around the plurality of track-contacting wheels
and comprising:
i) an inner side for facing the plurality of track-contacting wheels,
the driving wheel being rotatable to impart motion to the endless track;
and
ii) a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the ground;
the endless track being free of stiffening rods extending in a
transversal direction of the endless track.
57. The track assembly claimed in claim 56, wherein the idler wheel is a first
idler
wheel, the plurality of track-contacting wheels including a second idler wheel

26
spaced apart from the first idler wheel in a longitudinal direction of the
track
assembly, an axis of rotation of the driving wheel being located in the
longitudinal direction of the track assembly between an axis of rotation of
the
first idler wheel and an axis of rotation of the second idler wheel.
58. The track assembly claimed in claim 57, wherein the axis of rotation of
the
driving wheel is located closer to the axis of rotation of the second idler
wheel
than to the axis of rotation of the first idler wheel in the longitudinal
direction of
the track assembly.
59. The track assembly claimed in claim 58, wherein the first idler wheel is
located in
a front of the track assembly and the second idler wheel is located in a rear
of
the track assembly.
60. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 57 to 59, comprising a
frame
interconnecting the first idler wheel and the second idler wheel.
61. The track assembly claimed in claim 60, wherein the frame is pivotable
about a
pivot axis generally parallel to the axis of rotation of the driving wheel.
62. The track assembly claimed in claim 61, wherein the pivot axis of the
frame is
coaxial with the axis of rotation of the driving wheel.
63. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 60 to 62, wherein the
frame
comprises a first arm and a second arm shorter than the first arm.
64. The track assembly claimed in claim 63, wherein the first arm and the
second
arm define an obtuse angle therebetween.

27
65. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 63 and 64, wherein the
first
idler wheel is mounted to the first arm and the second idler wheel is mounted
to
the second arm.
66. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 60 to 65, comprising a
tension
adjusting mechanism mounted to the frame for adjusting a tension of the
endless track.
67. The track assembly claimed in claim 66, wherein the tension adjusting
mechanism is configured to adjust a position of a given one of the first idler
wheel and the second idler wheel for adjusting the tension of the endless
track.
68. The track assembly claimed in claim 67, wherein the given one of the first
idler
wheel and the second idler wheel is the first idler wheel.
69. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 66 to 68, wherein the
tension
adjusting mechanism is configured to adjust the position of the given one of
the
first idler wheel and the second idler wheel to any one of a plurality of
predetermined positions.
70. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 66 to 69, wherein the
tension
adjusting mechanism comprises a cam.
71. The track assembly claimed in claim 70, wherein the cam comprises a
periphery
defining a plurality of notches.
72. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 70 and 71, wherein the cam
comprises a handle for facilitating rotation of the cam by a user.

28
73. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 56 to 72, wherein a
flexibility of
the endless track in the transversal direction of the endless track allows the
endless track to conform to a profile of the ground.
74. The track assembly claimed in claim 73, wherein the profile of the ground
includes a depression, the flexibility of the endless track in the transversal
direction of the endless track allowing the endless track to conform to the
depression.
75. The track assembly claimed in claim 72, wherein the endless track includes
a
central portion aligned with the driving wheel in the transversal direction of
the
endless track, the flexibility of the endless track in the transversal
direction of the
endless track allowing the central portion of the endless track to contact the
depression.
76. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 56 to 75, wherein a
profile of
the endless track in the transversal direction of the endless track is
generally
convex.
77. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 56 to 76, wherein the
ground-
engaging outer side comprises a plurality of traction projections spaced apart
in
a longitudinal direction of the endless track.
78. The track assembly claimed in claim 77, wherein each traction projection
of the
plurality of traction projections comprises a plurality of traction lugs
spaced apart
in the transversal direction of the endless track.
79. The track assembly claimed in claim 78, wherein the plurality of traction
lugs of
the traction projection comprises at least three traction lugs spaced apart in
the
transversal direction of the endless track.

29
80. The track assembly claimed in claim 77, wherein each traction projection
of the
plurality of traction projections comprises a lug extending substantially from
a
first lateral edge of the endless track to a second lateral edge of the
endless
track.
81. The track assembly claimed in claim 80, wherein the lug is generally
rectangular.
82. The track assembly claimed in claim 77, wherein each traction projection
of the
plurality of traction projections extends from a first lateral edge of the
endless
track to a second lateral edge of the endless track.
83. The track assembly claimed in claim 77, wherein each traction projection
of the
plurality of traction projections has a height varying in the transversal
direction of
the endless track.
84. The track assembly claimed in claim 83, wherein the height of the traction
projection is greatest at a point closer to a center of the endless track than
to a
first lateral edge of the endless track and than to a second lateral edge of
the
endless track.
85. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 77 to 84, wherein the
inner
side comprises a plurality of inner lugs distributed in the longitudinal
direction of
the endless track.
86. The track assembly claimed in claim 85, wherein the plurality of inner
lugs is
arranged into a plurality of rows of lugs spaced apart in the transversal
direction
of the endless track, the lugs of each row of lugs of the plurality of rows of
lugs
being spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the endless track.
87. The track assembly claimed in claim 86, wherein a first one of the rows of
lugs is
a row of drive lugs positioned to engage the driving wheel.

30
88. The track assembly claimed in claim 87, wherein the row of drive lugs is a
first
row of drive lugs, a second one of the rows of lugs is a second row of drive
lugs
positioned to engage the driving wheel.
89. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 86 to 88, wherein a first
given
one of the rows of lugs is a row of guide lugs to be positioned adjacent to
the
idler wheel.
90. The track assembly claimed in claim 89, wherein the row of guide lugs is a
first
row of guide lugs, a second given one of the rows of lugs being a second row
of
guide lugs to be positioned adjacent to the idler wheel such that the idler
wheel
passes between the first row of guide lugs and the second row of guide lugs.
91. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 57 to 90, wherein the
endless
track has an upper run extending over the driving wheel and from the first
idler
wheel to the second idler wheel and a lower run extending under the driving
wheel and from the first idler wheel to the second idler wheel, the lower run
of
the endless track being curved in the longitudinal direction of the track
assembly
between the axis of rotation of the first idler wheel and the axis of rotation
of the
second idler wheel.
92. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 57 to 90, wherein the
endless
track has an upper run extending over the driving wheel and from the first
idler
wheel to the second idler wheel and a lower run extending under the driving
wheel and from the first idler wheel to the second idler wheel, the track
assembly
being configured such that, in the longitudinal direction of the track
assembly, a
lowest segment of the lower run of the endless track is located where the
driving
wheel is located.

31
93. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 91 and 92, wherein the
driving
wheel engages the upper run of the endless track and the lower run of the
endless track.
94. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 91 to 93, wherein the
track
assembly is configured to press onto the ground a limited portion of the lower
run of the endless track that is located where the ground-engaging wheel would
contact the ground if the ground-engaging wheel was mounted to the ATV in
place of the track assembly.
95. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 56 to 94, wherein the
track
assembly is steerable to steer the ATV on the ground.
96. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 56 to 94, wherein the
track
assembly is connected to a body of the ATV via a rod used for direction.
97. An ATV comprising the track assembly claimed in any one of claims 56 to
96.
98. A set of track assemblies for providing traction to an all-terrain vehicle
(ATV), the
set of track assemblies being mountable to the ATV in place of ground-engaging
wheels, each track assembly of the set of track assemblies comprising:
a) a plurality of track-contacting wheels which includes:
i) a driving wheel; and
ii) an idler wheel;
and
b) an endless track disposed around the plurality of track-contacting wheels
and comprising:
i) an inner side for facing the plurality of track-contacting wheels,
the driving wheel being rotatable to impart motion to the endless track;
and
ii) a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the ground;

32
the endless track being free of stiffening rods extending in a
transversal direction of the endless track.
99. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 98, wherein the idler wheel
is a first
idler wheel, the plurality of track-contacting wheels including a second idler
wheel spaced apart from the first idler wheel in a longitudinal direction of
the
track assembly, an axis of rotation of the driving wheel being located in the
longitudinal direction of the track assembly between an axis of rotation of
the
first idler wheel and an axis of rotation of the second idler wheel.
100. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 99, wherein the axis of
rotation
of the driving wheel is located closer to the axis of rotation of the second
idler
wheel than to the axis of rotation of the first idler wheel in the
longitudinal
direction of the track assembly.
101. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 100, wherein the first idler
wheel
is located in a front of the track assembly and the second idler wheel is
located
in a rear of the track assembly.
102. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 99 to 101,
comprising a frame interconnecting the first idler wheel and the second idler
wheel.
103. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 102, wherein the frame is
pivotable about a pivot axis generally parallel to the axis of rotation of the
driving
wheel.
104. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 103, wherein the pivot axis
of the
frame is coaxial with the axis of rotation of the driving wheel.

33
105. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 102 to 104,
wherein
the frame comprises a first arm and a second arm shorter than the first arm.
106. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 105, wherein the first arm
and
the second arm define an obtuse angle therebetween.
107. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 105 and 106,
wherein the first idler wheel is mounted to the first arm and the second idler
wheel is mounted to the second arm.
108. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 102 to 107,
comprising a tension adjusting mechanism mounted to the frame for adjusting a
tension of the endless track.
109. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 108, wherein the tension
adjusting mechanism is configured to adjust a position of a given one of the
first
idler wheel and the second idler wheel for adjusting the tension of the
endless
track.
110. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 109, wherein the given one
of
the first idler wheel and the second idler wheel is the first idler wheel.
111. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 109 and 110,
wherein the tension adjusting mechanism is configured to adjust the position
of
the given one of the first idler wheel and the second idler wheel to any one
of a
plurality of predetermined positions.
112. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 108 to 111,
wherein
the tension adjusting mechanism comprises a cam.

34
113. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 112, wherein the cam
comprises
a periphery defining a plurality of notches.
114. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 112 and 113,
wherein the cam comprises a handle for facilitating rotation of the cam by a
user.
115. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 98 to 104,
wherein a
flexibility of the endless track in the transversal direction of the endless
track
allows the endless track to conform to a profile of the ground.
116. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 115, wherein the profile of
the
ground includes a depression, the flexibility of the endless track in the
transversal direction of the endless track allowing the endless track to
conform
to the depression.
117. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 116, wherein the endless
track
includes a central portion aligned with the driving wheel in the transversal
direction of the endless track, the flexibility of the endless track in the
transversal
direction of the endless track allowing the central portion of the endless
track to
contact the depression.
118. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 98 to 117,
wherein a
profile of the endless track in the transversal direction of the endless track
is
generally convex.
119. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 98 to 118,
wherein
the ground-engaging outer side comprises a plurality of traction projections
spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the endless track.

35
120. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 119, wherein each traction
projection of the plurality of traction projections comprises a plurality of
traction
lugs spaced apart in the transversal direction of the endless track.
121. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 120, wherein the plurality
of
traction lugs of the traction projection comprises at least three traction
lugs
spaced apart in the transversal direction of the endless track.
122. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 119, wherein each traction
projection of the plurality of traction projections comprises a lug extending
substantially from a first lateral edge of the endless track to a second
lateral
edge of the endless track.
123. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 122, wherein the lug is
generally
rectangular.
124. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 119, wherein each traction
projection of the plurality of traction projections extends from a first
lateral edge
of the endless track to a second lateral edge of the endless track.
125. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 119, wherein each traction
projection of the plurality of traction projections has a height varying in
the
transversal direction of the endless track.
126. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 125, wherein the height of
the
traction projection is greatest at a point closer to a center of the endless
track
than to a first lateral edge of the endless track and than to a second lateral
edge
of the endless track.

36
127. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 119 to 126,
wherein
the inner side comprises a plurality of inner lugs distributed in the
longitudinal
direction of the endless track.
128. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 127, wherein the plurality
of
inner lugs is arranged into a plurality of rows of lugs spaced apart in the
transversal direction of the endless track, the lugs of each row of lugs of
the
plurality of rows of lugs being spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of
the
endless track.
129. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 128, wherein a first one of
the
rows of lugs is a row of drive lugs positioned to engage the driving wheel.
130. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 129, wherein the row of
drive
lugs is a first row of drive lugs, a second one of the rows of lugs is a
second row
of drive lugs positioned to engage the driving wheel.
131. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 128 to 130,
wherein
a first given one of the rows of lugs is a row of guide lugs to be positioned
adjacent to the idler wheel.
132. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 131, wherein the row of
guide
lugs is a first row of guide lugs, a second given one of the rows of lugs
being a
second row of guide lugs to be positioned adjacent to the idler wheel such
that
the idler wheel passes between the first row of guide lugs and the second row
of
guide lugs.
133. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 99 to 132,
wherein
the endless track has an upper run extending over the driving wheel and from
the first idler wheel to the second idler wheel and a lower run extending
under
the driving wheel and from the first idler wheel to the second idler wheel,
the

37
lower run of the endless track being curved in the longitudinal direction of
the
track assembly between the axis of rotation of the first idler wheel and the
axis of
rotation of the second idler wheel.
134. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 99 to 132,
wherein
the endless track has an upper run extending over the driving wheel and from
the first idler wheel to the second idler wheel and a lower run extending
under
the driving wheel and from the first idler wheel to the second idler wheel,
the
track assembly being configured such that, in the longitudinal direction of
the
track assembly, a lowest segment of the lower run of the endless track is
located
where the driving wheel is located.
135. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 133 and 134,
wherein the driving wheel engages the upper run of the endless track and the
lower run of the endless track.
136. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 133 to 135,
wherein
the track assembly is configured to press onto the ground a limited portion of
the
lower run of the endless track that is located where the ground-engaging wheel
would contact the ground if the ground-engaging wheel was mounted to the ATV
in place of the track assembly.
137. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 98 to 136,
wherein a
first track assembly and a second track assembly of the set of track
assemblies
are steerable to steer the ATV on the ground.
138. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 98 to 136,
wherein
the track assembly is connected to a body of the ATV via a rod used for
direction.

38
139. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 98 to 138,
wherein
the set of track assemblies includes four track assemblies.
140. An ATV comprising the set of track assemblies claimed in any one of
claims
98 to 139.
141. An endless track for a track assembly of a set of track assemblies to
provide
traction to an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), the ATV comprising a straddle seat
and
handlebars, the track assembly comprising a plurality of track-contacting
wheels
for contacting the endless track, the plurality of track-contacting wheels
including
a driving wheel to impart motion to the endless track, the endless track
comprising:
i) an inner side for facing the plurality of track-contacting wheels; and
ii) a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the ground;
the endless track being free of stiffening rods extending in a transversal
direction of the endless track.
142. The endless track claimed in claim 141, wherein a flexibility of the
endless
track in the transversal direction of the endless track allows the endless
track to
conform to a profile of the ground.
143. The endless track claimed in claim 142, wherein the profile of the ground
includes a depression, the flexibility of the endless track in the transversal
direction of the endless track allowing the endless track to conform to the
depression.
144. The endless track claimed in claim 143, wherein the endless track
includes a
central portion aligned with the driving wheel in the transversal direction of
the
endless track when the driving wheel imparts motion to the endless track, the
flexibility of the endless track in the transversal direction of the endless
track
allowing the central portion of the endless track to contact the depression.

39
145. The endless track claimed in any one of claims 141 to 144, wherein a
profile
of the endless track in the transversal direction of the endless track is
generally
convex.
146. The endless track claimed in any one of claims 141 to 145, wherein the
ground-engaging outer side comprises a plurality of traction projections
projecting outwardly.
147. The endless track claimed in claim 146, wherein each traction projection
of
the plurality of traction projections comprises a plurality of traction lugs
spaced
apart in the transversal direction of the endless track.
148. The endless track claimed in claim 147, wherein the plurality of traction
lugs
of the traction projection comprises at least three traction lugs spaced apart
in
the transversal direction of the endless track.
149. The endless track claimed in claim 146, wherein each traction projection
of
the plurality of traction projections comprises a lug extending substantially
from a
first lateral edge of the endless track to a second lateral edge of the
endless
track.
150. The endless track claimed in claim 149, wherein the lug is generally
rectangular.
151. The endless track claimed in claim 146, wherein each traction projection
of
the plurality of traction projections extends from a first lateral edge of the
endless
track to a second lateral edge of the endless track.

40
152. The endless track claimed in claim 146, wherein each traction projection
of
the plurality of traction projections has a height varying in the transversal
direction of the endless track.
153. The endless track claimed in claim 152, wherein the height of the
traction
projection is greatest at a point closer to a center of the endless track than
to a
first lateral edge of the endless track and than to a second lateral edge of
the
endless track.
154. The endless track claimed in any one of claims 141 to 153, wherein the
inner
side comprises a plurality of inner lugs projecting inwardly.
155. The endless track claimed in claim 154, wherein the plurality of inner
lugs is
arranged into a plurality of rows of lugs spaced apart in the transversal
direction
of the endless track, the lugs of each row of lugs of the plurality of rows of
lugs
being spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the endless track.
156. The endless track claimed in claim 155, wherein a first one of the rows
of lugs
is a row of drive lugs positioned to engage the driving wheel.
157. The endless track claimed in claim 156, wherein the row of drive lugs is
a first
row of drive lugs, a second one of the rows of lugs is a second row of drive
lugs
positioned to engage the driving wheel.
158. The endless track claimed in any one of claims 155 to 157, wherein the
plurality of track-contacting wheels includes an idler wheel, a first given
one of
the rows of lugs being a row of guide lugs to be positioned adjacent to the
idler
wheel.
159. The endless track claimed in claim 158, wherein the row of guide lugs is
a
first row of guide lugs, a second given one of the rows of lugs being a second

41
row of guide lugs to be positioned adjacent to the idler wheel such that the
idler
wheel passes between the first row of guide lugs and the second row of guide
lugs.
160. The endless track claimed in claim 159, wherein the idler wheel is a
first idler
wheel, the plurality of track-contacting wheels including a second idler wheel
spaced apart from the first idler wheel in the transversal direction of the
endless
track, a third given one of the rows of lugs and a fourth given one of the
rows of
lugs respectively being a third row of guide lugs and a fourth row of guide
lugs to
be positioned adjacent to the second idler wheel such that the second idler
wheel passes between the third row of guide lugs and the fourth row of guide
lugs.
161. The endless track claimed in any one of claims 141 to 160, wherein the
plurality of track-contacting wheels includes a first idler wheel and a second
idler
wheel spaced apart from the first idler wheel in a longitudinal direction of
the
track assembly, an axis of rotation of the driving wheel being located in the
longitudinal direction of the track assembly between an axis of rotation of
the
first idler wheel and an axis of rotation of the second idler wheel.
162. The endless track claimed in claim 161, wherein the axis of rotation of
the
driving wheel is located closer to the axis of rotation of the second idler
wheel
than to the axis of rotation of the first idler wheel in the longitudinal
direction of
the track assembly.
163. The endless track claimed in claim 162, wherein the first idler wheel is
located
in a front of the track assembly and the second idler wheel is located in a
rear of
the track assembly.

42
164. The endless track claimed in any one of claims 161 to 163, wherein the
track
assembly comprises a frame interconnecting the first idler wheel and the
second
idler wheel.
165. The endless track claimed in claim 164, wherein the frame is pivotable
about
a pivot axis generally parallel to the axis of rotation of the driving wheel.
166. The endless track claimed in claim 165, wherein the pivot axis of the
frame is
coaxial with the axis of rotation of the driving wheel.
167. An ATV comprising the endless track claimed in any one of claims 141 to
166.
168. A track assembly for a set of track assemblies to provide traction to an
all-
terrain vehicle (ATV), the ATV comprising a straddle seat and handlebars, the
track assembly comprising:
a) a plurality of track-contacting wheels which includes:
i) a driving wheel; and
ii) an idler wheel;
and
b) an endless track disposed around the plurality of track-contacting wheels
and comprising:
i) an inner side for facing the plurality of track-contacting wheels,
the driving wheel being rotatable to impart motion to the endless track;
and
ii) a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the ground;
the endless track being free of stiffening rods extending in a
transversal direction of the endless track.
169. The track assembly claimed in claim 168, wherein the idler wheel is a
first
idler wheel, the plurality of track-contacting wheels including a second idler

43
wheel spaced apart from the first idler wheel in a longitudinal direction of
the
track assembly, an axis of rotation of the driving wheel being located in the
longitudinal direction of the track assembly between an axis of rotation of
the
first idler wheel and an axis of rotation of the second idler wheel.
170. The track assembly claimed in claim 169, wherein the axis of rotation of
the
driving wheel is located closer to the axis of rotation of the second idler
wheel
than to the axis of rotation of the first idler wheel in the longitudinal
direction of
the track assembly.
171. The track assembly claimed in claim 170, wherein the first idler wheel is
located in a front of the track assembly and the second idler wheel is located
in a
rear of the track assembly.
172. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 169 to 171, comprising a
frame interconnecting the first idler wheel and the second idler wheel.
173. The track assembly claimed in claim 172, wherein the frame is pivotable
about a pivot axis generally parallel to the axis of rotation of the driving
wheel.
174. The track assembly claimed in claim 173, wherein the pivot axis of the
frame
is coaxial with the axis of rotation of the driving wheel.
175. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 172 to 174, wherein the
frame comprises a first arm and a second arm shorter than the first arm.
176. The track assembly claimed in claim 175, wherein the first arm and the
second arm define an obtuse angle therebetween.

44
177. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 175 and 176, wherein the
first idler wheel is mounted to the first arm and the second idler wheel is
mounted to the second arm.
178. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 172 to 177, comprising a
tension adjusting mechanism mounted to the frame for adjusting a tension of
the
endless track.
179. The track assembly claimed in claim 178, wherein the tension adjusting
mechanism is configured to adjust a position of a given one of the first idler
wheel and the second idler wheel for adjusting the tension of the endless
track.
180. The track assembly claimed in claim 179, wherein the given one of the
first
idler wheel and the second idler wheel is the first idler wheel.
181. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 179 and 180, wherein the
tension adjusting mechanism is configured to adjust the position of the given
one
of the first idler wheel and the second idler wheel to any one of a plurality
of
predetermined positions.
182. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 178 to 181, wherein the
tension adjusting mechanism comprises a cam.
183. The track assembly claimed in claim 182, wherein the cam comprises a
periphery defining a plurality of notches.
184. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 182 and 183, wherein the
cam comprises a handle for facilitating rotation of the cam by a user.

45
185. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 168 to 184, wherein a
flexibility of the endless track in the transversal direction of the endless
track
allows the endless track to conform to a profile of the ground.
186. The track assembly claimed in claim 185, wherein the profile of the
ground
includes a depression, the flexibility of the endless track in the transversal
direction of the endless track allowing the endless track to conform to the
depression.
187. The track assembly claimed in claim 186, wherein the endless track
includes
a central portion aligned with the driving wheel in the transversal direction
of the
endless track, the flexibility of the endless track in the transversal
direction of the
endless track allowing the central portion of the endless track to contact the
depression.
188. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 168 to 187, wherein a
profile
of the endless track in the transversal direction of the endless track is
generally
convex.
189. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 168 to 188, wherein the
ground-engaging outer side comprises a plurality of traction projections
projecting outwardly.
190. The track assembly claimed in claim 189, wherein each traction projection
of
the plurality of traction projections comprises a plurality of traction lugs
spaced
apart in the transversal direction of the endless track.
191. The track assembly claimed in claim 190, wherein the plurality of
traction lugs
of the traction projection comprises at least three traction lugs spaced apart
in
the transversal direction of the endless track.

46
192. The track assembly claimed in claim 189, wherein each traction projection
of
the plurality of traction projections comprises a lug extending substantially
from a
first lateral edge of the endless track to a second lateral edge of the
endless
track.
193. The track assembly claimed in claim 192, wherein the lug is generally
rectangular.
194. The track assembly claimed in claim 189, wherein each traction projection
of
the plurality of traction projections extends from a first lateral edge of the
endless
track to a second lateral edge of the endless track.
195. The track assembly claimed in claim 189, wherein each traction projection
of
the plurality of traction projections has a height varying in the transversal
direction of the endless track.
196. The track assembly claimed in claim 195, wherein the height of the
traction
projection is greatest at a point closer to a center of the endless track than
to a
first lateral edge of the endless track and than to a second lateral edge of
the
endless track.
197. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 168 to 196, wherein the
inner side comprises a plurality of inner lugs projecting inwardly.
198. The track assembly claimed in claim 197, wherein the plurality of inner
lugs is
arranged into a plurality of rows of lugs spaced apart in the transversal
direction
of the endless track, the lugs of each row of lugs of the plurality of rows of
lugs
being spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the endless track.
199. The track assembly claimed in claim 198, wherein a first one of the rows
of
lugs is a row of drive lugs positioned to engage the driving wheel.

47
200. The track assembly claimed in claim 199, wherein the row of drive lugs is
a
first row of drive lugs, a second one of the rows of lugs is a second row of
drive
lugs positioned to engage the driving wheel.
201. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 198 to 200, wherein a
first
given one of the rows of lugs is a row of guide lugs to be positioned adjacent
to
the idler wheel.
202. The track assembly claimed in claim 201, wherein the row of guide lugs is
a
first row of guide lugs, a second given one of the rows of lugs being a second
row of guide lugs to be positioned adjacent to the idler wheel such that the
idler
wheel passes between the first row of guide lugs and the second row of guide
lugs.
203. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 169 to 202, wherein the
endless track has an upper run extending over the driving wheel and from the
first idler wheel to the second idler wheel and a lower run extending under
the
driving wheel and from the first idler wheel to the second idler wheel, the
lower
run of the endless track being curved in the longitudinal direction of the
track
assembly between the axis of rotation of the first idler wheel and the axis of
rotation of the second idler wheel.
204. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 169 to 202, wherein the
endless track has an upper run extending over the driving wheel and from the
first idler wheel to the second idler wheel and a lower run extending under
the
driving wheel and from the first idler wheel to the second idler wheel, the
track
assembly being configured such that, in the longitudinal direction of the
track
assembly, a lowest segment of the lower run of the endless track is located
where the driving wheel is located.

48
205. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 203 and 204, wherein the
driving wheel engages the upper run of the endless track and the lower run of
the endless track.
206. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 203 to 205, wherein the
track assembly is mountable to the ATV in place of a ground-engaging wheel,
the track assembly being configured to press onto the ground a limited portion
of
the lower run of the endless track that is located where the ground-engaging
wheel would contact the ground if the ground-engaging wheel was mounted to
the ATV in place of the track assembly.
207. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 168 to 206, wherein the
track assembly is steerable to steer the ATV on the ground.
208. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 168 to 206, wherein the
track assembly is connected to a body of the ATV via a rod used for direction.
209. An ATV comprising the track assembly claimed in any one of claims 168 to
208.
210. A set of track assemblies for providing traction to an all-terrain
vehicle (ATV),
the ATV comprising a straddle seat and handlebars, each track assembly of the
set of track assemblies comprising:
a) a plurality of track-contacting wheels which includes:
i) a driving wheel; and
ii) an idler wheel;
and
b) an endless track disposed around the plurality of track-contacting wheels
and comprising:

49
i) an inner side for facing the plurality of track-contacting
wheels, the driving wheel being rotatable to impart motion to the
endless track; and
ii) a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the ground;
the endless track being free of stiffening rods extending in a
transversal direction of the endless track.
211. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 210, wherein the idler wheel
is a
first idler wheel, the plurality of track-contacting wheels including a second
idler
wheel spaced apart from the first idler wheel in a longitudinal direction of
the
track assembly, an axis of rotation of the driving wheel being located in the
longitudinal direction of the track assembly between an axis of rotation of
the
first idler wheel and an axis of rotation of the second idler wheel.
212. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 211, wherein the axis of
rotation
of the driving wheel is located closer to the axis of rotation of the second
idler
wheel than to the axis of rotation of the first idler wheel in the
longitudinal
direction of the track assembly.
213. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 212, wherein the first idler
wheel
is located in a front of the track assembly and the second idler wheel is
located
in a rear of the track assembly.
214. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 211 to 213,
comprising a frame interconnecting the first idler wheel and the second idler
wheel.
215. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 214, wherein the frame is
pivotable about a pivot axis generally parallel to the axis of rotation of the
driving
wheel.

50
216. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 215, wherein the pivot axis
of the
frame is coaxial with the axis of rotation of the driving wheel.
217. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 214 to 216,
wherein
the frame comprises a first arm and a second arm shorter than the first arm.
218. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 217, wherein the first arm
and
the second arm define an obtuse angle therebetween.
219. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 217 and 218,
wherein the first idler wheel is mounted to the first arm and the second idler
wheel is mounted to the second arm.
220. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 214 to 219,
comprising a tension adjusting mechanism mounted to the frame for adjusting a
tension of the endless track.
221. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 220, wherein the tension
adjusting mechanism is configured to adjust a position of a given one of the
first
idler wheel and the second idler wheel for adjusting the tension of the
endless
track.
222. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 221, wherein the given one
of
the first idler wheel and the second idler wheel is the first idler wheel.
223. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 221 and 222,
wherein the tension adjusting mechanism is configured to adjust the position
of
the given one of the first idler wheel and the second idler wheel to any one
of a
plurality of predetermined positions.

51
224. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 220 to 223,
wherein
the tension adjusting mechanism comprises a cam.
225. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 224, wherein the cam
comprises
a periphery defining a plurality of notches.
226. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 224 and 225,
wherein the cam comprises a handle for facilitating rotation of the cam by a
user.
227. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 210 to 226,
wherein
a flexibility of the endless track in the transversal direction of the endless
track
allows the endless track to conform to a profile of the ground.
228. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 227, wherein the profile of
the
ground includes a depression, the flexibility of the endless track in the
transversal direction of the endless track allowing the endless track to
conform
to the depression.
229. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 228, wherein the endless
track
includes a central portion aligned with the driving wheel in the transversal
direction of the endless track, the flexibility of the endless track in the
transversal
direction of the endless track allowing the central portion of the endless
track to
contact the depression.
230. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 210 to 229,
wherein
a profile of the endless track in the transversal direction of the endless
track is
generally convex.
231. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 210 to 230,
wherein
the ground-engaging outer side comprises a plurality of traction projections
projecting outwardly.

52
232. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 231, wherein each traction
projection of the plurality of traction projections comprises a plurality of
traction
lugs spaced apart in the transversal direction of the endless track.
233. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 232, wherein the plurality
of
traction lugs of the traction projection comprises at least three traction
lugs
spaced apart in the transversal direction of the endless track.
234. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 231, wherein each traction
projection of the plurality of traction projections comprises a lug extending
substantially from a first lateral edge of the endless track to a second
lateral
edge of the endless track.
235. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 234, wherein the lug is
generally
rectangular.
236. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 231, wherein each traction
projection of the plurality of traction projections extends from a first
lateral edge
of the endless track to a second lateral edge of the endless track.
237. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 231, wherein each traction
projection of the plurality of traction projections has a height varying in
the
transversal direction of the endless track.
238. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 237, wherein the height of
the
traction projection is greatest at a point closer to a center of the endless
track
than to a first lateral edge of the endless track and than to a second lateral
edge
of the endless track.

53
239. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 210 to 238,
wherein
the inner side comprises a plurality of inner lugs projecting inwardly.
240. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 239, wherein the plurality
of
inner lugs is arranged into a plurality of rows of lugs spaced apart in the
transversal direction of the endless track, the lugs of each row of lugs of
the
plurality of rows of lugs being spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of
the
endless track.
241. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 240, wherein a first one of
the
rows of lugs is a row of drive lugs positioned to engage the driving wheel.
242. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 241, wherein the row of
drive
lugs is a first row of drive lugs, a second one of the rows of lugs is a
second row
of drive lugs positioned to engage the driving wheel.
243. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 240 to 242,
wherein
a first given one of the rows of lugs is a row of guide lugs to be positioned
adjacent to the idler wheel.
244. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 243, wherein the row of
guide
lugs is a first row of guide lugs, a second given one of the rows of lugs
being a
second row of guide lugs to be positioned adjacent to the idler wheel such
that
the idler wheel passes between the first row of guide lugs and the second row
of
guide lugs.
245. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 211 to 244,
wherein
the endless track has an upper run extending over the driving wheel and from
the first idler wheel to the second idler wheel and a lower run extending
under
the driving wheel and from the first idler wheel to the second idler wheel,
the
lower run of the endless track being curved in the longitudinal direction of
the

54
track assembly between the axis of rotation of the first idler wheel and the
axis of
rotation of the second idler wheel.
246. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 211 to 244,
wherein
the endless track has an upper run extending over the driving wheel and from
the first idler wheel to the second idler wheel and a lower run extending
under
the driving wheel and from the first idler wheel to the second idler wheel,
the
track assembly being configured such that, in the longitudinal direction of
the
track assembly, a lowest segment of the lower run of the endless track is
located
where the driving wheel is located.
247. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 245 and 246,
wherein the driving wheel engages the upper run of the endless track and the
lower run of the endless track.
248. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 245 to 247,
wherein
the track assembly is mountable to the ATV in place of a ground-engaging
wheel, the track assembly being configured to press onto the ground a limited
portion of the lower run of the endless track that is located where the ground-
engaging wheel would contact the ground if the ground-engaging wheel was
mounted to the ATV in place of the track assembly.
249. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 210 to 248,
wherein
a first track assembly and a second track assembly of the set of track
assemblies are steerable to steer the ATV on the ground.
250. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 210 to 248,
wherein
the track assembly is connected to a body of the ATV via a rod used for
direction.

55
251. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 210 to 250,
wherein
the set of track assemblies includes four track assemblies.
252. An ATV comprising the set of track assemblies claimed in any one of
claims
210 to 251.
253. An endless track for a track assembly to provide traction to an all-
terrain
vehicle (ATV), the track assembly comprising a plurality of track-contacting
wheels for contacting the endless track, the plurality of track-contacting
wheels
including a driving wheel to impart motion to the endless track, the endless
track
comprising:
i) an inner side for facing the plurality of track-contacting wheels, the
inner side comprising a plurality of drive lugs to engage the driving wheel;
and
ii) a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the ground;
the endless track being free of stiffening rods extending in a transversal
direction of the endless track.
254. The endless track claimed in claim 253, wherein a flexibility of the
endless
track in the transversal direction of the endless track allows the endless
track to
conform to a profile of the ground.
255. The endless track claimed in claim 254, wherein the profile of the ground
includes a depression, the flexibility of the endless track in the transversal
direction of the endless track allowing the endless track to conform to the
depression.
256. The endless track claimed in claim 255, wherein the endless track
includes a
central portion aligned with the driving wheel in the transversal direction of
the
endless track when the driving wheel imparts motion to the endless track, the

56
flexibility of the endless track in the transversal direction of the endless
track
allowing the central portion of the endless track to contact the depression.
257. The endless track claimed in any one of claims 253 to 256, wherein a
profile
of the endless track in the transversal direction of the endless track is
generally
convex.
258. The endless track claimed in any one of claims 253 to 257, wherein the
ground-engaging outer side comprises a plurality of traction projections.
259. The endless track claimed in claim 258, wherein each traction projection
of
the plurality of traction projections comprises a plurality of traction lugs
spaced
apart in the transversal direction of the endless track.
260. The endless track claimed in claim 259, wherein the plurality of traction
lugs
of the traction projection comprises at least three traction lugs spaced apart
in
the transversal direction of the endless track.
261. The endless track claimed in claim 258, wherein each traction projection
of
the plurality of traction projections comprises a lug extending substantially
from a
first lateral edge of the endless track to a second lateral edge of the
endless
track.
262. The endless track claimed in claim 261, wherein the lug is generally
rectangular.
263. The endless track claimed in claim 258, wherein each traction projection
of
the plurality of traction projections extends from a first lateral edge of the
endless
track to a second lateral edge of the endless track.

57
264. The endless track claimed in claim 258, wherein each traction projection
of
the plurality of traction projections has a height varying in the transversal
direction of the endless track.
265. The endless track claimed in claim 264, wherein the height of the
traction
projection is greatest at a point closer to a center of the endless track than
to a
first lateral edge of the endless track and than to a second lateral edge of
the
endless track.
266. The endless track claimed in any one of claims 253 to 265, wherein the
plurality of drive lugs is arranged into a plurality of rows of drive lugs
spaced
apart in the transversal direction of the endless track.
267. The endless track claimed in any one of claims 253 to 266, wherein the
plurality of track-contacting wheels includes an idler wheel, the inner side
comprising a plurality of guide lugs to be positioned adjacent to the idler
wheel.
268. The endless track claimed in claim 267, wherein the plurality of guide
lugs is
arranged into a plurality of rows of guide lugs spaced apart in the
transversal
direction of the endless track, a first one of the rows of guide lugs and a
second
one of the rows of guide lugs being arranged to be positioned adjacent to the
idler wheel such that the idler wheel passes between the first one of the rows
of
guide lugs and the second one of the rows of guide lugs.
269. The endless track claimed in claim 268, wherein the idler wheel is a
first idler
wheel, the plurality of track-contacting wheels including a second idler wheel
spaced apart from the first idler wheel in the transversal direction of the
endless
track, a third one of the rows of guide lugs and a fourth one of the rows of
guide
lugs being arranged to be positioned adjacent to the second idler wheel such
that the second idler wheel passes between the third one of the rows of guide
lugs and the fourth one of the rows of guide lugs.

58
270. The endless track claimed in any one of claims 253 to 266, wherein the
plurality of track-contacting wheels includes a first idler wheel and a second
idler
wheel spaced apart from the first idler wheel in a longitudinal direction of
the
track assembly, an axis of rotation of the driving wheel being located in the
longitudinal direction of the track assembly between an axis of rotation of
the
first idler wheel and an axis of rotation of the second idler wheel.
271. The endless track claimed in claim 270, wherein the axis of rotation of
the
driving wheel is located closer to the axis of rotation of the second idler
wheel
than to the axis of rotation of the first idler wheel in the longitudinal
direction of
the track assembly.
272. The endless track claimed in claim 270, wherein the first idler wheel is
located
in a front of the track assembly and the second idler wheel is located in a
rear of
the track assembly.
273. The endless track claimed in any one of claims 270 to 272, wherein the
track
assembly comprises a frame interconnecting the first idler wheel and the
second
idler wheel.
274. The endless track claimed in claim 273, wherein the frame is pivotable
about
a pivot axis generally parallel to the axis of rotation of the driving wheel.
275. The endless track claimed in claim 274, wherein the pivot axis of the
frame is
coaxial with the axis of rotation of the driving wheel.
276. An ATV comprising the endless track claimed in any one of claims 253 to
275.

59
277. A track assembly for providing traction to an all-terrain vehicle (ATV),
the
track assembly comprising:
a) a plurality of track-contacting wheels which includes:
i) a driving wheel; and
ii) an idler wheel;
and
b) an endless track disposed around the plurality of track-contacting wheels
and comprising:
i) an inner side for facing the plurality of track-contacting
wheels, the driving wheel being rotatable to impart motion to the
endless track, the inner side comprising a plurality of drive lugs
to engage the driving wheel; and
ii) a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the ground;
the endless track being free of stiffening rods extending in a
transversal direction of the endless track.
278. The track assembly claimed in claim 277, wherein the idler wheel is a
first
idler wheel, the plurality of track-contacting wheels including a second idler
wheel spaced apart from the first idler wheel in a longitudinal direction of
the
track assembly, an axis of rotation of the driving wheel being located in the
longitudinal direction of the track assembly between an axis of rotation of
the
first idler wheel and an axis of rotation of the second idler wheel.
279. The track assembly claimed in claim 278, wherein the axis of rotation of
the
driving wheel is located closer to the axis of rotation of the second idler
wheel
than to the axis of rotation of the first idler wheel in the longitudinal
direction of
the track assembly.
280. The track assembly claimed in claim 279, wherein the first idler wheel is
located in a front of the track assembly and the second idler wheel is located
in a
rear of the track assembly.

60
281. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 278 to 280, comprising a
frame interconnecting the first idler wheel and the second idler wheel.
282. The track assembly claimed in claim 281, wherein the frame is pivotable
about a pivot axis generally parallel to the axis of rotation of the driving
wheel.
283. The track assembly claimed in claim 282, wherein the pivot axis of the
frame
is coaxial with the axis of rotation of the driving wheel.
284. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 281 to 284, wherein the
frame comprises a first arm and a second arm shorter than the first arm.
285. The track assembly claimed in claim 284, wherein the first arm and the
second arm define an obtuse angle therebetween.
286. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 284 and 285, wherein the
first idler wheel is mounted to the first arm and the second idler wheel is
mounted to the second arm.
287. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 281 to 286, comprising a
tension adjusting mechanism mounted to the frame for adjusting a tension of
the
endless track.
288. The track assembly claimed in claim 287, wherein the tension adjusting
mechanism is configured to adjust a position of a given one of the first idler
wheel and the second idler wheel for adjusting the tension of the endless
track.
289. The track assembly claimed in claim 288, wherein the given one of the
first
idler wheel and the second idler wheel is the first idler wheel.

61
290. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 288 and 289, wherein the
tension adjusting mechanism is configured to adjust the position of the given
one
of the first idler wheel and the second idler wheel to any one of a plurality
of
predetermined positions.
291. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 287 to 290, wherein the
tension adjusting mechanism comprises a cam.
292. The track assembly claimed in claim 291, wherein the cam comprises a
periphery defining a plurality of notches.
293. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 291 and 292, wherein the
cam comprises a handle for facilitating rotation of the cam by a user.
294. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 277 to 293, wherein a
flexibility of the endless track in the transversal direction of the endless
track
allows the endless track to conform to a profile of the ground.
295. The track assembly claimed in claim 294, wherein the profile of the
ground
includes a depression, the flexibility of the endless track in the transversal
direction of the endless track allowing the endless track to conform to the
depression.
296. The track assembly claimed in claim 295, wherein the endless track
includes
a central portion aligned with the driving wheel in the transversal direction
of the
endless track, the flexibility of the endless track in the transversal
direction of the
endless track allowing the central portion of the endless track to contact the
depression.

62
297. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 277 to 296, wherein a
profile
of the endless track in the transversal direction of the endless track is
generally
convex.
298. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 277 to 297, wherein the
ground-engaging outer side comprises a plurality of traction projections.
299. The track assembly claimed in claim 298, wherein each traction projection
of
the plurality of traction projections comprises a plurality of traction lugs
spaced
apart in the transversal direction of the endless track.
300. The track assembly claimed in claim 299, wherein the plurality of
traction lugs
of the traction projection comprises at least three traction lugs spaced apart
in
the transversal direction of the endless track.
301. The track assembly claimed in claim 298, wherein each traction projection
of
the plurality of traction projections comprises a lug extending substantially
from a
first lateral edge of the endless track to a second lateral edge of the
endless
track.
302. The track assembly claimed in claim 301, wherein the lug is generally
rectangular.
303. The track assembly claimed in claim 298, wherein each traction projection
of
the plurality of traction projections extends from a first lateral edge of the
endless
track to a second lateral edge of the endless track.
304. The track assembly claimed in claim 298, wherein each traction projection
of
the plurality of traction projections has a height varying in the transversal
direction of the endless track.

63
305. The track assembly claimed in claim 304, wherein the height of the
traction
projection is greatest at a point closer to a center of the endless track than
to a
first lateral edge of the endless track and than to a second lateral edge of
the
endless track.
306. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 277 to 305, wherein the
plurality of drive lugs is arranged into a plurality of rows of drive lugs
spaced
apart in the transversal direction of the endless track.
307. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 277 to 306, wherein the
inner side comprises a plurality of guide lugs to be positioned adjacent to
the
idler wheel.
308. The track assembly claimed in claim 307, wherein the plurality of guide
lugs is
arranged into a plurality of rows of guide lugs spaced apart in the
transversal
direction of the endless track, a first one of the rows of guide lugs and a
second
one of the rows of guide lugs being arranged to be positioned adjacent to the
idler wheel such that the idler wheel passes between the first one of the rows
of
guide lugs and the second one of the rows of guide lugs.
309. The track assembly claimed in claim 307, wherein the idler wheel is a
first
idler wheel, the plurality of track-contacting wheels including a second idler
wheel spaced apart from the first idler wheel in the transversal direction of
the
endless track, a third one of the rows of guide lugs and a fourth one of the
rows
of guide lugs being arranged to be positioned adjacent to the second idler
wheel
such that the second idler wheel passes between the third one of the rows of
guide lugs and the fourth one of the rows of guide lugs.
310. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 278 to 309, wherein the
endless track has an upper run extending over the driving wheel and from the
first idler wheel to the second idler wheel and a lower run extending under
the

64
driving wheel and from the first idler wheel to the second idler wheel, the
lower
run of the endless track being curved in the longitudinal direction of the
track
assembly between the axis of rotation of the first idler wheel and the axis of
rotation of the second idler wheel.
311. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 278 to 310, wherein the
endless track has an upper run extending over the driving wheel and from the
first idler wheel to the second idler wheel and a lower run extending under
the
driving wheel and from the first idler wheel to the second idler wheel, the
track
assembly being configured such that, in the longitudinal direction of the
track
assembly, a lowest segment of the lower run of the endless track is located
where the driving wheel is located.
312. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 310 and 311, wherein the
driving wheel engages the upper run of the endless track and the lower run of
the endless track.
313. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 310 to 312, wherein the
track assembly is mountable to the ATV in place of a ground-engaging wheel,
the track assembly being configured to press onto the ground a limited portion
of
the lower run of the endless track that is located where the ground-engaging
wheel would contact the ground if the ground-engaging wheel was mounted to
the ATV in place of the track assembly.
314. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 277 to 313, wherein the
track assembly is steerable to steer the ATV on the ground.
315. The track assembly claimed in any one of claims 277 to 314, wherein the
track assembly is connected to a body of the ATV via a rod used for direction.

65
316. An ATV comprising the track assembly claimed in any one of claims 277 to
315.
317. A set of track assemblies for providing traction to an all-terrain
vehicle (ATV),
each track assembly of the set of track assemblies comprising:
a) a plurality of track-contacting wheels which includes:
i) a driving wheel; and
ii) an idler wheel;
and
b) an endless track disposed around the plurality of track-contacting wheels
and comprising:
i) an inner side for facing the plurality of track-contacting
wheels, the driving wheel being rotatable to impart motion to the
endless track, the inner side comprising a plurality of drive lugs
to engage the driving wheel; and
ii) a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the ground;
the endless track being free of stiffening rods extending in a
transversal direction of the endless track.
318. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 317, wherein the idler wheel
is a
first idler wheel, the plurality of track-contacting wheels including a second
idler
wheel spaced apart from the first idler wheel in a longitudinal direction of
the
track assembly, an axis of rotation of the driving wheel being located in the
longitudinal direction of the track assembly between an axis of rotation of
the
first idler wheel and an axis of rotation of the second idler wheel.
319. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 318, wherein the axis of
rotation
of the driving wheel is located closer to the axis of rotation of the second
idler
wheel than to the axis of rotation of the first idler wheel in the
longitudinal
direction of the track assembly.

66
320. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 319, wherein the first idler
wheel
is located in a front of the track assembly and the second idler wheel is
located
in a rear of the track assembly.
321. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 318 to 320,
comprising a frame interconnecting the first idler wheel and the second idler
wheel.
322. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 321, wherein the frame is
pivotable about a pivot axis generally parallel to the axis of rotation of the
driving
wheel.
323. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 322, wherein the pivot axis
of the
frame is coaxial with the axis of rotation of the driving wheel.
324. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 321 to 323,
wherein
the frame comprises a first arm and a second arm shorter than the first arm.
325. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 324, wherein the first arm
and
the second arm define an obtuse angle therebetween.
326. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 324 and 325,
wherein the first idler wheel is mounted to the first arm and the second idler
wheel is mounted to the second arm.
327. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 321 to 326,
comprising a tension adjusting mechanism mounted to the frame for adjusting a
tension of the endless track.
328. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 327, wherein the tension
adjusting mechanism is configured to adjust a position of a given one of the
first

67
idler wheel and the second idler wheel for adjusting the tension of the
endless
track.
329. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 328, wherein the given one
of
the first idler wheel and the second idler wheel is the first idler wheel.
330. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 328 and 329,
wherein the tension adjusting mechanism is configured to adjust the position
of
the given one of the first idler wheel and the second idler wheel to any one
of a
plurality of predetermined positions.
331. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 327 to 330,
wherein
the tension adjusting mechanism comprises a cam.
332. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 331, wherein the cam
comprises
a periphery defining a plurality of notches.
333. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 331 and 332,
wherein the cam comprises a handle for facilitating rotation of the cam by a
user.
334. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 317 to 333,
wherein
a flexibility of the endless track in the transversal direction of the endless
track
allows the endless track to conform to a profile of the ground.
335. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 334, wherein the profile of
the
ground includes a depression, the flexibility of the endless track in the
transversal direction of the endless track allowing the endless track to
conform
to the depression.
336. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 335, wherein the endless
track
includes a central portion aligned with the driving wheel in the transversal

68
direction of the endless track, the flexibility of the endless track in the
transversal
direction of the endless track allowing the central portion of the endless
track to
contact the depression.
337. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 317 to 336,
wherein
a profile of the endless track in the transversal direction of the endless
track is
generally convex.
338. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 317 to 337,
wherein
the ground-engaging outer side comprises a plurality of traction projections.
339. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 338, wherein each traction
projection of the plurality of traction projections comprises a plurality of
traction
lugs spaced apart in the transversal direction of the endless track.
340. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 339, wherein the plurality
of
traction lugs of the traction projection comprises at least three traction
lugs
spaced apart in the transversal direction of the endless track.
341. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 338, wherein each traction
projection of the plurality of traction projections comprises a lug extending
substantially from a first lateral edge of the endless track to a second
lateral
edge of the endless track.
342. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 341, wherein the lug is
generally
rectangular.
343. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 338, wherein each traction
projection of the plurality of traction projections extends from a first
lateral edge
of the endless track to a second lateral edge of the endless track.

69
344. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 338, wherein each traction
projection of the plurality of traction projections has a height varying in
the
transversal direction of the endless track.
345. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 344, wherein the height of
the
traction projection is greatest at a point closer to a center of the endless
track
than to a first lateral edge of the endless track and than to a second lateral
edge
of the endless track.
346. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 317 to 345,
wherein
the plurality of drive lugs is arranged into a plurality of rows of drive lugs
spaced
apart in the transversal direction of the endless track.
347. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 317 to 346,
wherein
the inner side comprises a plurality of guide lugs to be positioned adjacent
to the
idler wheel.
348. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 347, wherein the plurality
of
guide lugs is arranged into a plurality of rows of guide lugs spaced apart in
the
transversal direction of the endless track, a first one of the rows of guide
lugs
and a second one of the rows of guide lugs being arranged to be positioned
adjacent to the idler wheel such that the idler wheel passes between the first
one
of the rows of guide lugs and the second one of the rows of guide lugs.
349. The set of track assemblies claimed in claim 348, wherein the idler wheel
is a
first idler wheel, the plurality of track-contacting wheels including a second
idler
wheel spaced apart from the first idler wheel in the transversal direction of
the
endless track, a third one of the rows of guide lugs and a fourth one of the
rows
of guide lugs being arranged to be positioned adjacent to the second idler
wheel
such that the second idler wheel passes between the third one of the rows of
guide lugs and the fourth one of the rows of guide lugs.

70
350. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 318 to 349,
wherein
the endless track has an upper run extending over the driving wheel and from
the first idler wheel to the second idler wheel and a lower run extending
under
the driving wheel and from the first idler wheel to the second idler wheel,
the
lower run of the endless track being curved in the longitudinal direction of
the
track assembly between the axis of rotation of the first idler wheel and the
axis of
rotation of the second idler wheel.
351. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 318 to 349,
wherein
the endless track has an upper run extending over the driving wheel and from
the first idler wheel to the second idler wheel and a lower run extending
under
the driving wheel and from the first idler wheel to the second idler wheel,
the
track assembly being configured such that, in the longitudinal direction of
the
track assembly, a lowest segment of the lower run of the endless track is
located
where the driving wheel is located.
352. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 350 and 351,
wherein the driving wheel engages the upper run of the endless track and the
lower run of the endless track.
353. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 350 to 352,
wherein
the track assembly is mountable to the ATV in place of a ground-engaging
wheel, the track assembly being configured to press onto the ground a limited
portion of the lower run of the endless track that is located where the ground-
engaging wheel would contact the ground if the ground-engaging wheel was
mounted to the ATV in place of the track assembly.
354. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 317 to 353,
wherein
a first track assembly and a second track assembly of the set of track
assemblies are steerable to steer the ATV on the ground.

71
355. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 317 to 354,
wherein
the track assembly is connected to a body of the ATV via a rod used for
direction.
356. The set of track assemblies claimed in any one of claims 317 to 355,
wherein
the set of track assemblies includes four track assemblies.
357. An ATV comprising the set of track assemblies claimed in any one of
claims
317 to 356.

Description

CA 02388294 2002-05-30
1
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Track assembly for an all-terrain vehicle
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to all-terrain vehicles. More
specifically, the present invention is concerned with track assemblies for an
all-
terrain vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Traditionally, two types of all-terrain vehicles are proposed
either the wheel type or the tracked type.
[0003] Generally, a wheeled vehicle is more maneuverable than a
tracked vehicle, but is not as efficient on uneven or soft terrain such as,
for
example snow.
[0004] Tracked all-terrain vehicles have been proposed, which
require complicated track assemblies comprising a track frame to maintain the
tension of the endless track belt and prevent it from loosening. Furthermore,
such vehicles have generally a large contact area with the ground, which
results in a decreased maneuverability and an increased impact on the often
soft terrain.
[0005] Therefore, there is still room for improvements toward an all-
terrain vehicle provided with track assemblies, which is maneuverable and
effective upon a variety of unstable or uneven surfaces, while designed to
maintain tension upon the endless track belts to keep them in their due course

CA 02388294 2012-03-23
2A
and prevent accidental loosening, and at the same time reducing the damages
inflicted to the terrain.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0006] An object of the present invention is therefore to provide
improved track assemblies for an all-terrain vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[006A] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there
is provided an endless track for a track assembly to provide traction to an
all-
terrain vehicle (ATV). The track assembly is mountable to the ATV in place of
a
ground-engaging wheel. The track assembly comprises a plurality of track-
contacting wheels for contacting the endless track. The plurality of track-
contacting wheels includes a driving wheel to impart motion to the endless
track.
The endless track comprises an inner side for facing the plurality of track-
contacting wheels. The endless track also comprises a ground-engaging outer
side for engaging the ground. The endless track is free of stiffening rods
extending in a transversal direction of the endless track.
[006B] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a set of endless tracks for a set of track assemblies to
provide
traction to an all-terrain vehicle (AN). The track assemblies are mountable to
the
AN in place of ground-engaging wheels. Each endless track of the set of
endless tracks comprises an inner side for facing a plurality of track-
contacting
wheels of a track assembly of the set of track assemblies. The plurality of
track-
contacting wheels includes a driving wheel to impart motion to the endless
track.
The endless track also comprises a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the
ground. The endless track is free of stiffening rods extending in a
transversal
direction of the endless track.

CA 02388294 2012-03-23
2B
[006C] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a track assembly for providing traction to an all-terrain
vehicle
(ATV). The track assembly is mountable to the ATV in place of a ground-
engaging wheel. The track assembly comprises a plurality of track-contacting
wheels which includes (i) a driving wheel and (ii) an idler wheel. The track
assembly also comprises an endless track disposed around the plurality of
track-
contacting wheels. The endless track comprises an inner side for facing the
plurality of track-contacting wheels. The driving wheel is rotatable to impart
motion to the endless track. The endless track also comprises a ground-
engaging outer side for engaging the ground. The endless track is free of
stiffening rods extending in a transversal direction of the endless track.
[006D] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a set of track assemblies for providing traction to an all-
terrain
vehicle (ATV). The track assemblies are mountable to the ATV in place of
ground-engaging wheels. Each track assembly of the set of track assemblies
comprises a plurality of track-contacting wheels which includes (i) a driving
wheel
and (ii) an idler wheel. The track assembly also comprises an endless track
disposed around the plurality of track-contacting wheels. The endless track
comprises an inner side for facing the plurality of track-contacting wheels.
The
driving wheel is rotatable to impart motion to the endless track. The endless
track
also comprises a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the ground. The
endless track is free of stiffening rods extending in a transversal direction
of the
endless track.
[006E] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided an endless track for a track assembly of a set of track
assemblies to provide traction to an all-terrain vehicle (AN). The AN
comprises
a straddle seat and handlebars. The track assembly comprises a plurality of
track-contacting wheels for contacting the endless track. The plurality of
track-

CA 02388294 2012-03-23
2C
contacting wheels includes a driving wheel to impart motion to the endless
track.
The endless track comprises an inner side for facing the plurality of track-
contacting wheels. The endless track also comprises a ground-engaging outer
side for engaging the ground. The endless track is free of stiffening rods
extending in a transversal direction of the endless track.
[006F] In
accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a track assembly for a set of track assemblies to provide
traction to an all-terrain vehicle (ATV). The ATV comprises a straddle seat
and
handlebars. The track assembly comprises a plurality of track-contacting
wheels
which includes (i) a driving wheel and (ii) an idler wheel. The track assembly
also
comprises an endless track disposed around the plurality of track-contacting
wheels. The endless track comprises an inner side for facing the plurality of
track-contacting wheels. The driving wheel is rotatable to impart motion to
the
endless track. The endless track also comprises a ground-engaging outer side
for engaging the ground. The endless track is free of stiffening rods
extending in
a transversal direction of the endless track.
[006G] In
accordance with another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a set of track assemblies for providing traction
to an
all-terrain vehicle (ATV). The ATV comprises a straddle seat and handlebars.
Each track assembly of the set of track assemblies comprises a plurality of
track-
contacting wheels which includes (i) a driving wheel and (ii) an idler wheel.
The
track assembly also comprises an endless track disposed around the plurality
of
track-contacting wheels. The endless track comprises an inner side for facing
the
plurality of track-contacting wheels. The driving wheel is rotatable to impart
motion to the endless track. The endless track also comprises a ground-
engaging outer side for engaging the ground. The endless track is free of
stiffening rods extending in a transversal direction of the endless track.

CA 02388294 2012-03-23
2D
[006H] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided an endless track for a track assembly to provide traction to
an
all-terrain vehicle (ATV). The track assembly comprises a plurality of track-
contacting wheels for contacting the endless track. The plurality of track-
contacting wheels includes a driving wheel to impart motion to the endless
track.
The endless track comprises an inner side for facing the plurality of track-
contacting wheels. The inner side comprises a plurality of drive lugs to
engage
the driving wheel. The endless track comprises a ground-engaging outer side
for
engaging the ground. The endless track is free of stiffening rods extending in
a
transversal direction of the endless track.
[0061] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a track assembly for providing traction to an all-terrain
vehicle
(ATV). The track assembly comprising a plurality of track-contacting wheels
which includes (i) a driving wheel and (ii) an idler wheel. The track assembly
comprises an endless track disposed around the plurality of track-contacting
wheels. The endless track comprises an inner side for facing the plurality of
track-contacting wheels. The driving wheel is rotatable to impart motion to
the
endless track. The inner side comprises a plurality of drive lugs to engage
the
driving wheel. The endless track comprises a ground-engaging outer side for
engaging the ground. The endless track is free of stiffening rods extending in
a
transversal direction of the endless track.
[006J] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a set of track assemblies for providing traction to an all-
terrain
vehicle (ATV). Each track assembly of the set of track assemblies comprises a
plurality of track-contacting wheels which includes (i) a driving wheel and
(ii) an
idler wheel. The track assembly comprises an endless track disposed around the
plurality of track-contacting wheels. The endless track comprises an inner
side
for facing the plurality of track-contacting wheels. The driving wheel is
rotatable
to impart motion to the endless track. The inner side comprises a plurality of
drive

CA 02388294 2013-04-23
2E
lugs to engage the driving wheel. The endless track comprises a ground-
engaging
outer side for engaging the ground. The endless track is free of stiffening
rods
extending in a transversal direction of the endless track.
[006K] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there
is
provided an endless track for a track assembly that can be substituted to a
ground
engaging wheel of a reduced-size vehicle designed primarily for off-highway
usage,
over undeveloped roads or other unprepared surfaces, the track assembly
comprising a track driving wheel, the endless track comprising: an inner face
and an
opposite ground engaging outer face; a plurality of track drive wheel engaging
members longitudinally spaced apart along the track for sequentially engaging
the
track driving wheel such that rotation of the track driving wheel imparts
motion to the
endless track to propel the reduced-size vehicle; a longitudinal segment
spanning
two or more track driving wheel engaging members being free of stiffening rods
that
extend in a transverse direction of the endless track.
[006L] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there
is
provided an endless track for a track assembly that can be substituted to a
ground
engaging wheel of a reduced-size vehicle designed primarily for off-highway
usage,
over undeveloped roads or other unprepared surfaces that is steerable by
operating
a steering mechanism, the track assembly comprising a track driving wheel, the
endless track comprising: an inner face and an opposite ground engaging outer
face; a plurality of track drive wheel engaging members longitudinally spaced
apart
along the track for engaging the track driving wheel such that rotation of the
track
driving wheel imparts motion to the endless track to propel the reduced-size
vehicle;
a plurality of stiffening rods longitudinally spaced apart, the stiffening
rods having
longitudinal dimensions less than a transverse dimension of the endless track.
[006M] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there
is
provided an endless track for a track assembly that can be substituted to a
ground
engaging wheel of a reduced-size vehicle designed primarily for off-highway
usage,

CA 02388294 2013-04-23
2F
over undeveloped roads or other unprepared surfaces that is steerable by
operating
a steering mechanism of the reduced-size vehicle, the track assembly
comprising a
track driving wheel, the endless track comprising: an inner face and an
opposite
ground engaging outer face; a plurality of track drive wheel engaging members
longitudinally spaced apart along the track for engaging the track driving
wheel such
that rotation of the track driving wheel imparts motion to the endless track
to propel
the reduced-size vehicle; a central portion and a pair of opposite lateral end
portions
on either side of the central portion; a longitudinally extending segment
spanning two
or more track driving wheel engaging members having lateral end portions free
of
stiffening rods that extend in a transverse direction of the endless track.
[006N] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there
is
provided an endless track for a track assembly that can be substituted to a
ground
engaging wheel of a reduced-size vehicle designed primarily for off-highway
usage,
over undeveloped roads or other unprepared surfaces, the track assembly
comprising a track driving wheel, the endless track comprising: an inner face
and an
opposite ground engaging outer face; a plurality of traction lugs projecting
from the
ground engaging outer face and longitudinally spaced apart along the track; a
longitudinal segment spanning two or more traction lugs being free of
stiffening rods
that extend in a transverse direction of the endless track.
[0060] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there
is
provided an endless track for a track assembly that can be substituted to a
ground
engaging wheel a reduced-size vehicle designed primarily for off-highway
usage,
over undeveloped roads or other unprepared surfaces that is steerable by
operation
of a steering mechanism, the track assembly comprising a track driving wheel,
the
endless track: having an inner face and an opposite ground engaging outer
face;
having a plurality of drive projections longitudinally spaced apart along the
track for
sequentially engaging the track driving wheel such that rotation of the track
driving
wheel imparts motion of the endless track to propel the reduced-size vehicle;
having
a plurality of traction lugs projecting from the ground engaging outer face,
the

CA 02388294 2013-04-23
2G
traction lugs being longitudinally spaced apart and registering with
respective ones
of the drive projections; having a portion defined between one of the drive
projections and a registering traction lug being free of a stiffening rod.
[006P] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there
is
provided an endless track for a track assembly that can be substituted to a
ground
engaging wheel of a reduced-size vehicle designed primarily for off-highway
usage,
over undeveloped roads or other unprepared surfaces that is steerable by
operation
of a steering mechanism, the track assembly comprising a track driving wheel,
the
endless track: having an inner face and an opposite ground engaging outer
face;
having a plurality of track drive wheel engaging members longitudinally spaced
apart
along the track for engaging the track driving wheel such that rotation of the
track
driving wheel imparts motion to the endless track to propel the reduced-size
vehicle;
having a central portion and a pair of lateral end portions on either side of
the central
portion; having a variable transverse stiffness profile and manifesting a
higher
stiffness to effort to transversely bend the endless track at the central
portion than at
either one of the lateral end portions.
[006Q] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there
is
provided a track assembly for a reduced-size vehicle designed primarily for
off-
highway usage, over undeveloped roads or other unprepared surfaces steerable
by
changing an orientation of the track assembly by a steering mechanism, the
track
assembly comprising: a track driving wheel; an endless track, the track
driving wheel
being in a driving engagement with the endless track, the endless track
including: an
inner face and an opposite ground engaging outer face; a plurality of track
drive
wheel engaging members longitudinally spaced apart along the track for
sequentially
engaging the track driving wheel such that rotation of the track driving wheel
imparts
motion to the endless track; a longitudinal segment spanning two or more track
driving wheel engaging members being free of stiffening rods that extend in a
transverse direction of the endless track.

CA 02388294 2013-04-23
2H
[006R] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there
is
provided a track assembly for a reduced-size vehicle designed primarily for
off-
highway usage, over undeveloped roads or other unprepared surfaces steerable
by
changing an orientation of the track assembly by a steering mechanism operated
with handlebars, the track assembly comprising: a track driving wheel; an
endless
track, the track driving wheel being in a driving engagement with the endless
track,
the endless track including: an inner face and an opposite ground engaging
outer
face; a plurality of track drive wheel engaging members longitudinally spaced
apart
along the track for sequentially engaging the track driving wheel such that
rotation of
the track driving wheel imparts motion to the endless track; a plurality of
stiffening
rods longitudinally spaced apart, the stiffening rods having longitudinal
dimensions
less than a transverse dimension of the endless track.
[006S] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there
is
provided a track assembly for a reduced-size vehicle designed primarily for
off-
highway usage, over undeveloped roads or other unprepared surfaces steerable
by
changing an orientation of the track assembly by operation of a steering
mechanism,
the track assembly comprising: a track driving wheel; an endless track, the
track
driving wheel being in a driving engagement with the endless track, the
endless
track including: an inner face and an opposite ground engaging outer face; a
plurality
of track drive wheel engaging members longitudinally spaced apart along the
track
for sequentially engaging the track driving wheel such that rotation of the
track
driving wheel imparts motion to the endless track; a longitudinally extending
segment spanning two or more track driving wheel engaging members having
lateral
end portions free of stiffening rods that extend in a transverse direction of
the
endless track.
[006T] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there
is
provided a track assembly for a reduced-size vehicle designed primarily for
off-
highway usage, over undeveloped roads or other unprepared surfaces steerable
by
changing an orientation of the track assembly with a steering mechanism, the
track

CA 02388294 2013-04-23
21
assembly comprising: a track driving wheel; an endless track, the track
driving wheel
being in a driving engagement with the endless track, the endless track
including: an
inner face and an opposite ground engaging outer face; a plurality of track
drive
wheel engaging members longitudinally spaced apart along the track for
sequentially
engaging the track driving wheel such that rotation of the track driving wheel
imparts
motion to the endless track; a plurality of traction lugs projecting from the
ground
engaging outer face and longitudinally spaced along the track; a longitudinal
segment spanning two or more traction lugs being free of stiffening rods that
extend
in a transverse direction of the endless track.
[006U] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there
is
provided a track assembly for a reduced-size vehicle designed primarily for
off-
highway usage, over undeveloped roads or other unprepared surfaces steerable
by
changing an orientation of the track assembly by operation of a steering
mechanism,
the track assembly comprising: a track driving wheel; an endless track, the
track
driving wheel being in a driving engagement with the endless track, the
endless
track including: an inner face and an opposite ground engaging outer face; a
plurality
of drive projections longitudinally spaced apart along the track for
sequentially
engaging the track driving wheel such that rotation of the track driving wheel
imparts
motion to the endless track; a plurality of traction lugs projecting from the
ground
engaging outer face, the traction lugs being longitudinally spaced apart and
registering with respective ones of the drive projections; a portion defined
between
one of the drive projections and a registering traction lug being free of a
stiffening
rod.
[006V] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there
is
provided a track assembly for a reduced-size vehicle designed primarily for
off-
highway usage, over undeveloped roads or other unprepared surfaces that is
steerable by changing an orientation of the track assembly by a steering
mechanism, the track assembly comprising a track driving wheel and an the
endless
track, the endless track: having an inner face and an opposite ground engaging

CA 02388294 2013-04-23
2J
outer face; having a plurality of track drive wheel engaging members
longitudinally
spaced apart along the track for engaging the track driving wheel such that
rotation
of the track driving wheel imparts motion to the endless track to propel the
reduced-
size vehicle; having a central portion and a pair of lateral end portions on
either side
of the central portion; having a variable transverse stiffness profile and
manifesting a
higher stiffness to effort to transversely bend the endless track at the
central portion
than at either one of the lateral end portions.
[006W] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there
is
provided an endless track for a track assembly that can be substituted to a
ground
engaging wheel of a reduced-size vehicle designed primarily for off-highway
usage,
over undeveloped roads or other unprepared surfaces that is steerable by
operating
a steering mechanism, the track assembly comprising a track driving wheel, the
endless track: having an inner face and an opposite ground engaging outer
face;
having a plurality of track drive wheel engaging members longitudinally spaced
apart
along the track for engaging the track driving wheel such that rotation of the
track
driving wheel imparts motion to the endless track to propel the reduced-size
vehicle;
having a central portion and a pair of opposite lateral end portions; having a
traction
lug arrangement projecting from the outer face, the traction lug arrangement
having
a variable projecting height dimension that diminishes from the central
portion
toward the lateral end portions.
[006X] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there
is
provided a track assembly for a reduced-size vehicle designed primarily for
off-
highway usage, over undeveloped roads or other unprepared surfaces steerable
by
changing an orientation of the track assembly by a steering mechanism, the
track
assembly comprising: an endless track having an outer ground engaging face and
an opposite inner face; a plurality of wheels supporting and guiding the
endless
track, the plurality of wheels including: a front and rear idler wheels in a
spaced apart
relationship, a segment of the endless track extending between the front and
the
rear idler wheels defining a ground engaging run; wheel means located between
the

CA 02388294 2013-04-23
2K
front and rear idler wheels, the wheel means being in rolling contact with the
inner
face of the ground engaging run; the front and rear idler wheels and the wheel
means being spatially arranged such as to provide the ground engaging run of
the
endless track with a leading section, a load bearing section and a trailing
section; the
load bearing section being located underneath the wheel means and transferring
to
the ground surface a major portion of the load carried by the track assembly;
the
leading section extending between the front idler wheel and the load bearing
section,
the leading section being oriented such as to converge toward the ground
surface
when the endless track is in motion and propels the vehicle; the trailing
section
extending between the load bearing section and the rear idler wheel, the
trailing
section being oriented such as to diverge from the ground surface when the
endless
track is in motion and propels the vehicle; the endless track including: a
plurality of
track driving projections protruding from the inner face and longitudinally
spaced
apart along the track; a longitudinal segment spanning two or more track
driving
projections being free of stiffening rods that extend in a transverse
direction of the
endless track.
[006Y] In
accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a track assembly for a reduced-size vehicle designed primarily for
off-
highway usage, over undeveloped roads or other unprepared surfaces steerable
by
changing an orientation of the track assembly by a steering mechanism of the
vehicle, the track assembly comprising: an endless track having an outer
ground
engaging face and an opposite inner face; a plurality of wheels supporting and
guiding the endless track, the plurality of wheels including: a front and rear
idler
wheels in a spaced apart relationship, a segment of the endless track
extending
between the front and the rear idler wheels defining a ground engaging run;
wheel
means located between the front and rear idler wheels, the wheel means being
in
rolling contact with the inner face of the ground engaging run; the front and
rear idler
wheels and the wheel means being spatially arranged such as to provide the
ground
engaging run of the endless track with a leading section, a load bearing
section and
a trailing section; the load bearing section being located underneath the
wheel

CA 02388294 2013-04-23
2L
means and transferring to the ground surface a major portion of the load
carried by
the track assembly; the leading section extending between the front idler
wheel and
the load bearing section, the leading section being oriented such as to
converge
toward the ground surface when the endless track is in motion and propels the
vehicle; the trailing section extending between the load bearing section and
the rear
idler wheel, the trailing section being oriented such as to diverge from the
ground
surface when the endless track is in motion and propels the vehicle; the
endless
track including: a plurality of track driving projections protruding from the
inner face
and longitudinally spaced apart along the track; a plurality of stiffening
rods
longitudinally spaced apart, the stiffening rods having longitudinal
dimensions less
than a transverse dimension of the endless track.
[006Z] In
accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a track assembly for a reduced-size vehicle designed primarily for
off-
highway usage, over undeveloped roads or other unprepared surfaces steerable
by
changing an orientation of the track assembly by operation of a steering
mechanism
of the vehicle, the track assembly comprising: an endless track having an
outer
ground engaging face and an opposite inner face; a plurality of wheels
supporting
and guiding the endless track, the plurality of wheels including: a front and
rear idler
wheels in a spaced apart relationship, a segment of the endless track
extending
between the front and the rear idler wheels defining a ground engaging run;
wheel
means located between the front and rear idler wheels, the wheel means being
in
rolling contact with the inner face of the ground engaging run; the front and
rear idler
wheels and the wheel means being spatially arranged such as to provide the
ground engaging run of the endless track with a leading section, a load
bearing
section and a trailing section; the load bearing section being located
underneath the
wheel means and transferring to the ground surface a major portion of the load
carried by the track assembly; the leading section extending between the front
idler
wheel and the load bearing section, the leading section being oriented such as
to
converge toward the ground surface when the endless track is in motion and
propels
the vehicle; the trailing section extending between the load bearing section
and the

CA 02388294 2013-04-23
2M
rear idler wheel, the trailing section being oriented such as to diverge from
the
ground surface when the endless track is in motion and propels the vehicle;
the
endless track including: a plurality of track driving projections protruding
from the
inner face and longitudinally spaced apart along the track; a longitudinally
extending
segment spanning two or more track driving projections having lateral end
portions
free of stiffening rods that extend in a transverse direction of the endless
track.
[06AA] In
accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a track assembly for an a reduced-size vehicle designed primarily for
off-
highway usage, over undeveloped roads or other unprepared surfaces steerable
by
changing an orientation of the track assembly with a steering mechanism, the
track
assembly comprising: an endless track having an outer ground engaging face and
an opposite inner face; a plurality of wheels supporting and guiding the
endless
track, the plurality of wheels including: a front and rear idler wheels in a
spaced apart
relationship, a segment of the endless track extending between the front and
the
rear idler wheels defining a ground engaging run; wheel means located between
the
front and rear idler wheels, the wheel means being in rolling contact with the
inner
face of the ground engaging run; the front and rear idler wheels and the wheel
means being spatially arranged such as to provide the ground engaging run of
the
endless track with a leading section, a load bearing section and a trailing
section; the
load bearing section being located underneath the wheel means and transferring
to
the ground surface a major portion of the load carried by the track assembly;
the
leading section extending between the front idler wheel and the load bearing
section,
the leading section being oriented such as to converge toward the ground
surface
when the endless track is in motion and propels the vehicle; the trailing
section
extending between the load bearing section and the rear idler wheel, the
trailing
section being oriented such as to diverge from the ground surface when the
endless
track is in motion and propels the vehicle; the endless track including: a
plurality of
track driving projections protruding from the inner face and longitudinally
spaced
apart along the track; a plurality of traction lugs projecting from the ground
engaging
outer face and longitudinally spaced along the track; a longitudinal segment

CA 02388294 2013-04-23
2N
spanning two or more traction lugs being free of stiffening rods that extend
in a
transverse direction of the endless track.
[06BB] In
accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a track assembly for a reduced-size vehicle designed primarily for
off-
highway usage, over undeveloped roads or other unprepared surfaces steerable
by
changing an orientation of the track assembly by operation of a steering
mechanism,
the track assembly comprising: an endless track having an outer ground
engaging
face and an opposite inner face; a plurality of wheels supporting and guiding
the
endless track, the plurality of wheels including: a front and rear idler
wheels in a
spaced apart relationship, a segment of the endless track extending between
the
front and the rear idler wheels defining a ground engaging run; wheel means
located
between the front and rear idler wheels, the wheel means being in rolling
contact
with the inner face of the ground engaging run; the front and rear idler
wheels and
the wheel means being spatially arranged such as to provide the ground
engaging
run of the endless track with a leading section, a load bearing section and a
trailing
section; the load bearing section being located underneath the wheel means and
transferring to the ground surface a major portion of the load carried by the
track
assembly; the leading section extending between the front idler wheel and the
load
bearing section, the leading section being oriented such as to converge toward
the
ground surface when the endless track is in motion and propels the vehicle;
vi) the
trailing section extending between the load bearing section and the rear idler
wheel,
the trailing section being oriented such as to diverge from the ground surface
when
the endless track is in motion and propels the vehicle; the endless track
including: a
plurality of track driving projections protruding from the inner face and
longitudinally
spaced apart along the track; a plurality of traction lugs projecting from the
ground
engaging outer face, the traction lugs being longitudinally spaced apart and
registering with respective ones of the track driving projections; a portion
defined
between one of the track driving projections and a registering traction lug
being free
of a stiffening rod.

CA 02388294 2013-04-23
[06CC] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there
is
provided a track assembly for a reduced-size vehicle designed primarily for
off-
highway usage, over undeveloped roads or other unprepared surfaces that is
steerable by changing an orientation of the track assembly by a steering
mechanism, the track assembly comprising: an endless track having an outer
ground engaging face and an opposite inner face; a plurality of wheels
supporting
and guiding the endless track, the plurality of wheels including: a front and
rear idler
wheels in a spaced apart relationship, a segment of the endless track
extending
between the front and the rear idler wheels defining a ground engaging run;
wheel
means located between the front and rear idler wheels, the wheel means being
in
rolling contact with the inner face of the ground engaging run; the front and
rear idler
wheels and the wheel means being spatially arranged such as to provide the
ground engaging run of the endless track with a leading section, a load
bearing
section and a trailing section; the load bearing section being located
underneath the
wheel means and transferring to the ground surface a major portion of the load
carried by the track assembly; the leading section extending between the front
idler
wheel and the load bearing section, the leading section being oriented such as
to
converge toward the ground surface when the endless track is in motion and
propels
the vehicle; the trailing section extending between the load bearing section
and the
rear idler wheel, the trailing section being oriented such as to diverge from
the
ground surface when the endless track is in motion and propels the vehicle;
the
endless track including: a plurality of track driving projections protruding
from the
inner face and longitudinally spaced apart along the track; a central portion
and a
pair of lateral end portions on either side of the central portion; a variable
transverse
stiffness profile and manifesting a higher stiffness to effort to transversely
bend the
endless track at the central portion than at either one of the lateral end
portions.
[06DD] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there
is
provided a track assembly for a reduced-size vehicle designed primarily for
off-
highway usage, over undeveloped roads or other unprepared surfaces steerable
by
changing an orientation of the track assembly by a steering mechanism of the

CA 02388294 2013-04-23
2P
vehicle, the track assembly having a leading end and a trailing end and
comprising:
an endless track having an outer ground engaging surface and an opposite inner
surface; a plurality of wheels for supporting and driving the endless track,
the
plurality of wheels including: a leading idler and a trailing idler, the
leading and
trailing idlers being in a spaced apart relationship, a segment of the endless
track
extending between the leading and the trailing idlers defining a ground
engaging run,
the leading and trailing idlers having first and second respective axes of
rotation; a
drive wheel having a third axis of rotation and being in driving engagement
with the
endless track for imparting movement to the endless track; the ground engaging
run,
having: a load bearing section located between the leading idler and the
trailing idler,
the load bearing section transferring to the ground surface a major portion of
the
load carried by the track assembly, the load bearing section having a
longitudinal
extent that does not exceed a diameter of the drive wheel; a leading section
extending between the leading idler and the load bearing section, the leading
section
being oriented such as to converge toward the ground surface when the endless
track is in motion and propels the vehicle; a trailing section extending
between the
load bearing section and the trailing idler, the trailing section being
oriented such as
to diverge from the ground surface when the endless track is in motion and
propels
the vehicle; a first horizontal distance defined between the first axis of
rotation and
the third axis of rotation being different from a second horizontal distance
defined
between the second axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation.
[06EE] In
accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a track assembly for a reduced-size vehicle designed primarily for
off-
highway usage, over undeveloped roads or other unprepared surfaces steerable
by
changing an orientation of the track assembly by operation of a steering
mechanism
of the vehicle, comprising: an endless track having an outer ground facing
surface
and an opposite inner surface; a plurality of wheels for supporting and
driving the
endless track, including: a drive wheel for rotation about a first rotation
axis in driving
engagement with the endless track; a leading idler for rotation about a second
rotation axis vertically spaced apart from the first rotation axis; a trailing
idler wheel

CA 02388294 2013-04-23
for rotation about a third rotation axis vertically spaced apart from the
first rotation
axis and horizontally spaced apart from the second rotation axis; the drive
wheel
being in an overlapping relationship with one of the leading and trailing
idlers.
[06FF] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there
is
provided an endless track for a track assembly mountable to an axle of an all-
terrain
vehicle (ATV) to provide traction to the AN on the ground, the track assembly
being
configured to replace a ground-engaging wheel mountable to the axle of the AN,
the track assembly comprising a plurality of track-contacting wheels for
contacting
the endless track, the plurality of track-contacting wheels including a drive
wheel for
driving the endless track when the axle of the ATV rotates, the endless track
comprising: an inner surface for facing the plurality of track-contacting
wheels;
ground-engaging outer surface for engaging the ground; and a plurality of
traction
projections projecting from the ground-engaging outer surface and spaced in a
longitudinal direction of the endless track; wherein at least a segment of the
endless
track including two or more of the traction projections is free of stiffening
rods which
(1) extend in a transversal direction of the endless track for at least a
majority of a
width of the endless track and (2) are made of a rigid material at least as
rigid as
glass fiber.
[0007] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there
is
provided an all-terrain vehicle comprising at least two track assemblies to
support
the all-terrain vehicle onto a ground surface, each one of said at least two
track
assemblies comprising: a longitudinal endless track belt provided with an
inner
surface provided with a plurality of inner lugs and an outer surface provided
with a
plurality of external lugs; a mounting structure to mount said longitudinal
endless
track belt to said vehicle, wherein, when mounted to said mounting structure,
said
longitudinal endless track belt has a punctually localized surface contact
with the
ground surface.

CA 02388294 2013-04-23
3
[0008] In
accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided an endless track belt assembly comprising: a track driving
wheel
provided with a plurality of teeth; an endless track belt provided with an
inner surface
having a plurality of inner lugs and an outer surface having a plurality of
external
lugs, said endless track belt being wounded around said track driving wheel;
wherein
a) said teeth are so spaced that a distance between two consecutive teeth
spans a
distance separating two consecutive inner lugs of said endless track belt and
b) said
endless track belt, when mounted to said track riving wheel, has a punctually
localized contact with a ground surface.
[0009] In
accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a method for mounting an endless track belt on a all-terrain
vehicle,
comprising the acts of: providing an endless track belt having inner lugs and
external
lugs; providing a track driving wheel having a plurality of teeth so spaced
that a
distance between two consecutive of the plurality of teeth spans a distance
separating two consecutive of a plurality of inner lugs of the endless track
belt;
interconnecting the track driving wheel to an inside idler wheel and to an
outside
idler wheel; and tensioning the endless track belt around the track driving
wheel, the
inside idler wheel and the outside idler wheel so that the endless track belt
has a
punctually localized surface contact with a ground surface.
[0010]
Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will
become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description
of
preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to
the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] In the appended drawings:

CA 02388294 2002-05-30
4
[0012] Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an all-terrain vehicle
provided with track assemblies according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0013] Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the front track assembly
of the vehicle of Figure 1, seen from of the outside of the all-terrain
vehicle;
[0014] Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the front track assembly
of the vehicle of Figure 1, seen form the inside of the all-terrain vehicle;
[0015] Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure
3;
[0016] Figure 5 is an enlarged side view of an outside idler wheel
attachment of the track assembly of Figure 2;
[0017] Figure 6 is a sectional view of a rigid member of the track
assembly of Figure 2;
[0018] Figure 7 is a top plan view of the attachment of the front
track
assembly of Figure 1 to the all-terrain vehicle;
[0019] Figure 8 is a side elevational view of a rear track assembly of
Figure 1, seen from the inside of the all-terrain vehicle;
[0020] Figure 9 is a top plan view of the attachment of the rear track
assembly of Figure 1 to the all-terrain vehicle;

CA 02388294 2012-03-23
[0021] Figure 10 is a sectional view similar to Figure 4 but
illustrating a second type of endless track; and
[0022] Figure 11 is a sectional view similar to Figure 4 but
illustrating a third type of endless track.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT
[0023] A track assembly for an all-terrain vehicle according to an
embodiment of the present invention will now be described in details with
reference to the appended drawings.
[0024] Figure 1 shows an all-terrain vehicle 10 comprising a body
12, a straddle seat 51, handlebars 53, and four track assemblies (only two
shown) according to the present invention arranged in a plane adjacent to each
side of the vehicle 10.
[0025] There are two identical track assemblies in the front of the
all-terrain vehicle 10, of which only one track assembly 14 is visible in
Figure 1, in
place of conventional front wheels. Similarly, there are two identical track
assemblies, of which only one track assembly 16 is visible in Figure 1, in
place of
the conventional rear wheels.
[0026] Only the track assemblies 14 and 16 visible in Figure 1 will
be described hereinbelow. Furthermore, as they are symmetrical about a
vertical
axis 22 when viewed from the outside of the vehicle 10 (see Figure 1), only
the
track assemblies 14 will be described hereinbelow. It is also to be noted that
the
elements as seen from the outside of the vehicle 10 will bear the same

CA 02388294 2002-05-30
6
numbers in the rear track assembly 16 than the corresponding ones in the front
track assembly 14, with a prime.
[0027] However, since the attachment of rear and front track
assemblies differs as seen from the inside of the vehicles 10, they will be
described separately.
[0028] The front track assembly 14 is better seen in Figure 2. It
comprises a longitudinal endless track belt 23 and a mounting structure to
mount the endless track belt 23 to the vehicle 10. The mounting structure
includes a track driving wheel 24, a pair of inside idler wheels 26, a pair of
outside idler wheels 28 and supports to interconnect the wheels 24, 26 and 28
as will be described hereinbelow.
[0029] The endless track belt 23 is provided with inner lugs 30 on
its
inner surface 31 and with external lugs 32 on its outer surface 33. It is
wounded
around the track driving wheel 24 and the idler wheels 28 and 26.
[0030] As can be better seen from Figure 4, the track driving wheel
24 is mounted to a conventional hub 35 of the all-terrain vehicle 10. The
wheel
24 includes a first mounting plate 37 mounted to the hub 35 and a second
mounting plate 34 mounted to the first plate 37 via four bolt and spacer
assemblies 36. A circular disk 38 is mounted to the bolt and spacer assemblies
36 and includes equidistant wide teeth 40 contacting the inner surface 31 of
the
track 23.
[0031] As will be apparent to one skilled in the art, the equidistant
teeth 40 are so located as to cooperate with some of the inner lugs 30 of the
endless track belt 23. More precisely, as can be better seen from Figure 2,
the

CA 02388294 2002-05-30
7
teeth 40 are spaced so that the distance between two consecutive teeth 40
spans the distance separating consecutive inner lugs 30 of the endless track
belt 23, in a meshing engagement, in such a way as to drive the endless track
belt 23.
[0032] Each of the inside idler wheels 26 includes a peripheral
portion in contact with the internal surface 31 of the track 23. The wheels 26
are interconnected by a spacing element (not shown).
[0033] Similarly, each outer idler wheel 28 includes a peripheral
portion in contact with the internal surface 31 of the track 23. The wheels 28
are interconnected by a spacing element 42.
[0034] The wheels 24, 26 and 28 are interconnected, as seen from
the outside of the track assembly 14, by an angled connecting element 44. The
angled connecting element 44 has a center portion 46 provided with an
aperture 48 in which bearings 50 are mounted. A fastener 52 connects the
connecting element 44 to the second plate 34 while allowing the angled
connecting element 44 to pivot about the fastener.
[0035] The connecting element 44 has a short arm 54 having a free
end to which the inside idler wheels 26 are rotatably mounted. The connecting
element 44 also has a long arm 56 having a free end to which the inside idler
wheels 28 are rotatably mounted as will be further discussed hereinbelow. The
connecting element 44 is better seen from the top plan view of Figure 6.
[0036] Turning now briefly to Figure 3 of the appended drawings, as
can be seen from the inside of the all-terrain vehicle 10, the idler wheels 26
and
28 of the front track assembly 14 are also directly connected together by an

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elbowed connection element 58. The inside idler wheels 26 are rotatably
mounted to a first end of the elbowed connection element 58 while the outside
idler wheels 28 are rotatably mounted to a second end of the elbowed
connection element 58.
[0037] The rotatable connection of the outside idler wheels 28 to the
angle connection element 44 and to the elbowed connection element 58 will
now be described with reference to Figure 5.
[0038] As will easily be understood by one skilled in the art upon
inspection of Figure 5, the tension of the endless track belt 23 is adjusted
by
the connection of the outside idler wheels 28 to the elements 44 and 58. For
concision purpose, only the connection of the wheels 28 to the elbowed
connection element 58 will be described.
[0039] With reference to the enlarged side view of Figure 5, a
tension adjusting assembly according to another aspect of the present
invention will be described. As can be seen from this figure, a distal end of
the
connection element 58 includes a slotted aperture 60 receiving a fastener 62
used to rotatably mount the wheels 28 to the assembly. By sliding the fastener
62 in the aperture 60, it is possible to increase or decrease the tension on
the
track 23. To adjust and maintain this track tension, a cam element 64, having
an outer periphery provided with notches 66 located at different distances
from
the attachment point of the element 64, is mounted to the fastener 62. By
selecting which notch 66 is in contact with a fixed pin 68 of the element 58,
a
predetermined tension may be maintained. It is to be noted that the cam
element 64 is provided with a handle 70 to facilitate the manipulation by a
user.

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[0040] Returning to Figure 4 of the appended drawings the endless
track 23 will be described in greater detail.
[0041] As can be seen from Figure 4, the overall profile of the track
23, from one side to the other, i.e. transversely, is generally convex.
However,
the convex profile of the track 23 is created by a lug arrangement comprising
two successive transverse rows of lugs arranged in a staggered relationship.
[0042] A first transverse row of lugs contains three lugs 72, 74 and
76 and a second row of lugs contains four lugs 78, 80, 82 and 84. These lugs
are symmetrical about a longitudinal axis (not shown).
[0043] A first lateral lug 72 of the first row includes three ground-
contacting surfaces separated by two indentations. The shape of lateral lug 72
is such that the ground contacting surfaces are generally transversally
convex.
[0044] A central lug 74 is centered about longitudinal axis and
includes two ground-contacting surfaces separated by an indentation. The
ground contacting surfaces are symmetrical about the longitudinal axis and are
generally transversally convex.
[0045] A second lateral lug 76 is a mirror image of lug 72 about the
longitudinal axis.
[0046] The first and second lateral lugs 72 and 76 are laterally
spaced apart from the central lug 74.

CA 02388294 2002-05-30
[0047] In the second transverse row of lugs, a first intermediate lug
80 includes two ground-contacting surfaces separated by an indentation. The
ground engaging surfaces are slightly transversally convex.
[0048] A first external lug 78 includes two ground-contacting
surfaces that are separated by an indentation and are transversally convex.
[0049] Finally, the second intermediate lug 82 and the second
external lug 84 are respectively mirror images of lugs 80 and 78 with respect
to
the longitudinal axis. For concision purposes, these lugs will not be further
described herein.
[0050] Of course, the sequences described hereinabove of the lug
arrangement defined by the rows of lugs are repeated onto the entire external
surface of the endless track 23.
[0051] The endless track belt 23 further includes, for each row of
lugs, a stiffening rod 71, made of glass fibers for example. Each stiffening
rod
71 is embedded in the material forming the track belt 23 so as to be generally
parallel to the inner surface 31 thereof. The rods 71 provide enhanced
rigidity
to the endless track belt 23. The enhanced rigidity of the track belt 23 has
many
advantages. For example, it helps the track to provide adequate traction even
when the center portion of the track is not in direct contact with the ground,
as
illustrated in Figure 4. However, it has been found that this type of traction
may
be detrimental to the steering of the vehicle in some conditions.
[0052] As it is apparent from Figure 4 the ground contacting surfaces
of symmetrical lugs 78 and 84 are not aligned with the outer surfaces of the
other lugs to form a continuous profile. Indeed, the ground contacting
surfaces

CA 02388294 2002-05-30
11
of lugs 78 and 84 are more angled and exceed the convex profile defined by
the other lugs. This configuration of the outer lugs is advantageous since it
further prevents the vehicle from tipping over during sharp turns at high
speed
when the vehicle 10 is severely tilted.
[0053] As mentioned hereinabove, the way the front track assembly
14 is attached to the body 12 of the vehicle 10 differs from the way the rear
track assembly 16 is attached to the body 12 of the vehicle 10. These two
attachments will be described hereinbelow.
[0054] The front track assembly 14 is attached to the body 12 of
the
vehicle 10 in a fashion shown in Figures 4 and 7, while the rear track
assembly
16 is attached to the body 12 of the vehicle 10 in a fashion shown in Figure 8
and 9.
[0055] As seen in Figures 4 and 7, the front track assembly 14 is
mounted to a tubular wheel table 100 of the vehicle 10 by means of a generally
triangular plate 102 fastened thereto by a plurality of U-bolts 104, 106, 108
and
110. A rod 112 is connected between the elbowed connection element 58 and
a pivot 114 of the tubular wheel table 100. A first end of the rod 112 is
attached
to the elbowed connection element 58 by means of rubber damping elements
116, in such a way as to allow a vertical movement at this point of the rod
112
in relation to the elbowed connection element 58. A second end of the rod 112
is attached to the pivot 114 of the tubular wheel table 100 by means of an R-
clip 120, in such a way as to allow at this point a horizontal movement of the
plate 102 holding the tubular wheel table 100 relative to the elbowed
' connection element 58.

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12
[0056] The front track assembly 14 is further attached to the body 12
of the vehicle 10 through a conventional rod 150 of the suspension system of
the vehicle 10 and a conventional rod 157 used for direction (see Figure 4).
[0057] As seen in Figures 8 and 9, the rear track assembly 16 is
mounted to the body 12 of the vehicle 10 by a rod 212. The rod 212 is
connected on a first end to the elbowed connection element 58' by means of a
rubber damping attachment 216. It is attached, on a second end, to a tubular
chassis 130 of the body 12 of the vehicle 10 by means of a chipping joint 132
fastened thereto by an R-clip 134.
[0058] From the above description of the fashion in which the front
and rear track assemblies 14 and 16 are mounted to the body 12 of the vehicle
10, in relation to Figures 4 and 7, and 8 and 9 respectively, the present
invention provides for track assemblies that are easily removed or mounted to
the vehicle 10, through using R-clips (120 and 134), which enable
disconnecting the track assemblies from the vehicle in a simple manner.
[0059] As stated hereinabove, the interior surface 31 of the endless
track belt 23 is provided with a plurality of equally spaced lugs 30, which
ensure
a positive engagement with the teeth 40 provided on the outer circumference of
the wheel 24. In operation, the wheel 24 is coupled to a drive shaft, via the
hub
30, connected to an engine (not shown), in such a way that the engine drives
the wheel 24 in rotation. The wheel 24 thus drives the endless track belt 23
by
the meshing engagement of the teeth 40 with the internal lugs 30 of the
endless track belt 23.
[0060] It is further to be understood that the external lugs 32 on the
external circumference surface of the endless track belt 23 respectively exert
a

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positive mechanical connection with the underlying ground surface that
contributes to propel the vehicle 10.
[0061] Figure 10 and Figure 11 show sectional views similar to that
of Figure 4 but illustrating variants of an endless track that may be mounted
to
the track assembly of the present invention.
[0062] In Figure 10, the overall profile of the endless track belt
23a,
from one side to the other, i.e. transversely, is generally convex.
[0063] The convex profile of the endless track belt 23a is created by
the same lug arrangement as that described hereinabove in relation to Figure
4. In this specific embodiment however, the endless track belt 23a does not
include stiffening rods under each row of lugs. Consequently, the rigidity of
the
endless track belt 23a is less than the rigidity of the endless track belt 23
(Figure 4) and the profile of the endless track belt 23a conforms itself to
the
profile of the ground. Since the pressure is more localized in the center of
the
endless track belt 23a, a more punctually localized contact zone between the
endless track belt 23a and the ground 29 is created. In many cases, this
punctually localized contact zone makes the vehicle 10 more maneuverable.
[0064] Turning now to Figure 11, a third version of an endless track
belt 23b will be described. The endless track belt 23b is wounded around the
track driving wheel 24 and the idler wheels 28 and 26, is still provided with
inner lugs 30 on its inner surface 31. However, its outer surface is provided
with
rectangular lugs 86. Since there are no stiffening rods in the endless track
belt
23b, the endless track belt 23b is free to conform itself to the ground 29, as
seen in Figure 11. Furthermore, since the pressure is exerted only in the
middle

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of the endless track belt 23b by the wide teeth 40, a punctually localized
contact zone between the endless track belt 23b and the ground 29 is created.
[0065] As will be apparent to one skilled in the art, the endless
track
belts 23a has a particularly punctually localized contact surface with the
ground
29. Indeed, since it is transversally convex, it generally contacts the ground
29
with a limited surface at any given time when the ground 29 is hard.
[0066] Furthermore, since there are no guiding rails for the endless
track belts 23, 23a or 23b, the external lugs only exert a pressure on the
ground 29, when it is hard, in the vicinity of the wide teeth 40 if the wheel
24.
These two combined features improve the maneuverability of the vehicle since
it emulates the contact of a conventional tire onto hard ground, given that a
shortened length of contact of the endless track with the ground surface
reduces the resistance to a turning force.
[0067] Of course, one skilled in the art could designed another
convex profile of the external lugs of the endless track belts 23 and/or
another
arrangement of the mounting assembly of the endless track belts 23 to the
vehicle 10 to obtain this "one point contact" feature without departing from
the
spirit and nature of the present invention. For example, one could provide a
guiding rail having a convex profile and transversally convex lugs to achieve
similar results.
[0068] As people in the art will understand, the all-terrain vehicle
of
the present invention, provided with four endless track assemblies, can be
used
for a wide range of operations and terrain, while being highly mobile and
offering good running performance.

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[0069] The endless track structure maintains an adequate
configuration over a variety of surfaces.
[0070] It will be obvious to people skilled in the art that the
present
invention can be applied both in the case of a two-wheel drive vehicle wherein
the power is typically applied only to the rear track belt assemblies and the
front
track assemblies merely facilitate steering, and in the case of a four-wheel
vehicle, wherein power is independently provided to each one of the four track
assemblies.
[0071] As will be further understood by one skilled in the art, the
all-
terrain vehicle 10, equipped with track assemblies according to the present
invention, may be viewed as a snow vehicle since it may be used on snow as
efficiently as conventional snow vehicles such as snowmobiles, for example.
However, the one-point contact feature of the present invention allows the use
of the all-terrain vehicle on harder surface without the usual drawbacks of
tracked vehicles.
[0072] Interestingly, the present track assembly system can equip all
four wheels of an all-terrain vehicle or only the front or rear wheels
thereof,
since it only weakly reduces the speed of the vehicle relative to the
underground surface.
[0073] A further possibility would be to use track assemblies
according to the present invention in place of the rear wheels of a vehicle,
while
mounting skis in place of the front wheels thereof.
[0074] Although the present invention has been described
hereinabove by way of preferred embodiments thereof, it can be modified,

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without departing from the spirit and nature of the subject invention as
defined
in the appended claims.

Representative Drawing