Snowplow system, snow deflector apparatus and kit

A snow deflector kit for combination with a snowplow having a blade comprising a left end, a right end, and a top edge, and a vehicle having at least one source of power, wherein said snow deflector kit comprises:

• a right snow deflector apparatus and a left snow deflector apparatus, wherein said right snow deflector apparatus is adapted for mounting to the right end of the blade of the snowplow and said left snow deflector apparatus are adapted for mounting to the left end of the blade of the snowplow, and wherein each of said right snow deflector apparatus and said left snow deflector apparatus comprises:
• a deflector plate comprising a bottom edge, a front edge, a rear edge, an inside surface and an outside surface, wherein said deflector plate is manufactured of a substantially rigid material, wherein a substantial portion of said inside surface and said outside surface is planar, and wherein said deflector plate is dimensioned to obstruct at least a substantial portion of the end of the blade of the snow plow such that an amount of snow that is sloughed off of the blade is minimized when said deflector plate is in a deployed position;
• a deflector plate rotator mechanism adapted to selectively rotate said deflector plate between said deployed position and an undeployed position;
• and
• at least one spring in communication with said deflector plate, wherein said at least one spring is disposed so as to allow at least a portion of said deflector plate to move upward when said bottom edge of said deflector plate contacts an obstruction and to force said bottom edge of said deflector plate downward when said bottom edge of said deflector plate is no longer in contact with the obstruction;
• attachment means for attaching said right snow deflector apparatus to a right end of the blade of the snowplow and said left snow deflector apparatus to a left end of the blade of the snowplow;
• and
• a control system for controlling each a deflector plate rotator mechanism.

A snowplow system for attachment to a vehicle having at least one source of power, said snowplow system comprising:

• a blade comprising a left end, a right end, and a top edge;
• and
• a right snow deflector apparatus and a left snow deflector apparatus, wherein said right snow deflector apparatus is mounted to the right end of the blade of the snowplow, said left snow deflector apparatus is mounted to the left end of the blade of the snowplow, and wherein each of said right snow deflector apparatus and said left snow deflector apparatus comprises:
• a substantially planar deflector plate comprising a bottom edge, a front edge, a rear edge, an inside surface and an outside surface, wherein said deflector plate is manufactured of a substantially rigid material and is dimensioned to cover the end of the blade of the snow plow such that an amount of snow that is sloughed off of the blade is minimized when said deflector plate is in a deployed position;
• a deflector plate rotator mechanism adapted to selectively rotate said deflector plate between said deployed position and an undeployed position;
• and
• at least one spring in communication with said deflector plate, wherein said at least one spring is disposed so as to allow said deflector plate to move upward when said bottom edge of said deflector plate contacts an obstruction and to force said deflector plate downward when said bottom edge of said deflector plate is no longer in contact with the obstruction;
• and
• control system for controlling each deflector plate rotator mechanism.