Excavating – Snow or ice removing or grooming by portable device – With specific means to facilitate connection to – or...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-20
2001-06-05
Will, Thomas B. (Department: 3671)
Excavating
Snow or ice removing or grooming by portable device
With specific means to facilitate connection to, or...
C037S272000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06240658
ABSTRACT:
This inventions relates to snowplow assemblies and particularly to lightweight snowplow assemblies constructed and arranged for attachment to the front of a vehicle, such as an automobile or like small vehicle.
Although prior art snowplow assemblies have been proposed and manufactured for use with vehicles, these assemblies have typically had various shortcomings that limit the use and function of the snowplow. Although snowplow assemblies have included those used for automobiles, for example, most prior art assemblies are either complex and heavy for small vehicle use or are constructed in such a manner that they are difficult and inefficient to use. Other prior art devices have been found difficult to assemble, difficult to install on a vehicle and difficult to remove after use.
The lightweight snowplow assembly of the present invention overcomes the shortcomings and difficulties of the prior art snowplow assemblies. The snowplow assembly of the present invention is lightweight and economical in construction. The assembly is constructed and arranged so that it is easily assembled, adjusted and installed on the front of a vehicle. The snowplow assembly is adapted for a wide range of use on the front of a variety of vehicle designs. The lightweight nature of the snowplow -assembly of this invention provides an efficient and economical plow assembly for automobiles, mini-vans, light trucks, medium size sport utility vehicles and the like. Although the lightweight snowplow assemblies are well suited for smaller vehicles, it is within the purview of the invention to enable the utilization of the snowplow assemblies with larger vehicles, for example, 4×4 trucks. In the latter case, the assemblies would be in larger scale for adaptation to the larger front dimensions (width and height) of the vehicle.
The snowplow assembly of the invention has a flexible V-shaped blade structure suited for use with smaller vehicles. The snowplow assembly further is constructed and arranged to be free floating to, thereby, be usable for plowing on various surfaces.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The lightweight snowplow assembly of this invention is mounted to a vehicle and used for snow removal. The snowplow assembly is easily assembled and can be readily mounted onto and removed from the front of an automobile or similar small vehicle. The assembly is constructed and arranged for easy adjustable attachment to the front of the vehicle, and the assembly is adapted to be adjusted to fit a variety of automobile and small vehicle sizes and configurations.
The lightweight snowplow assembly is comprised of a V-shaped snowplow blade portion and a cooperating harness or mounting structure. The snowplow portion is comprised of a plurality of blade members to form the V-shaped blade portion and is mounted to a support frame structure for attachment to the harness or mounting frame structure. The blade elements of the snowplow portion have wear pads mounted on the bottom thereof and the blade elements of the snowplow are positioned to form an obtuse angle to push and remove snow. Further chute structures are mounted on the top of the side blade members of the snowplow blade portion to guide snow away from the plow for snow removal purposes.
The harness or mounting structure of the snowplow assembly is comprised of a mounting frame and means to attach the harness portion to the snowplow portion. The mounting structure of the snowplow assembly is constructed and arranged to connect the assembly to the front of a vehicle. The harness or mounting portion has bumper pad elements to mount the snowplow assembly with respect to the bumper of the vehicle. The pads are provided to protect the car bumper from damage and to direct forces to the plow assembly from the vehicle bumper during plowing.
The harness portion further has adjustable strap members which are adapted to be easily adjusted during assembly and to provide for the attachment of the snowplow assembly to different sizes and front end configurations of a range of vehicles. The strap members include a pair of upper and lower straps that attach to predetermined positions above and below the bumper of the vehicle. A biasing structure operative between the snowplow portion and the harness assembly is also provided to maintain the snowplow in a downward position during operation.
These and other benefits of this invention will become clear from the following description by reference to the drawings.
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Product Brochure: Soltec Corporation. The Affordable Car Snow Plow Assembly; USA; 2 Pages (1997).
Knutson Gregory A.
Wilkerson William W.
Markovich Kristine M.
Will Thomas B.
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