Snowplow apparatus for a motor vehicle
OwnerRobert Beairdinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Snowplow apparatus having a lift frame with a rearward mount attachable to a motor vehicle and a forward mount attachable to a snowplow V-blade. The lift frame includes a first horizontal hinge adjacent the rearward mount and a second horizontal hinge adjacent the forward mount, a pivot axis of the first and second hinges extending transverse to a central longitudinal axis of the vehicle. First and second powered mechanisms raise and lower the snowplow blade about the pivot axis of the first and second hinge, respectively, thereby adjusting the height and forward tilt of the snowplow blade with respect to the road. A third hinge allows adjustment of a side-to-side tilt of the snowplow blade, and a fourth hinge allows adjustment of the two halves of the V-blade, such as via a fourth powered mechanism.
Claims20
A snowplow apparatus comprising:
- a plow blade;
- an inner support frame attachable to a bumper of a vehicle;
- an outer support frame attachable to the plow blade;
- and
- a lift frame having a rearward mount configured for removable attachment to the inner support frame at two or more spaced-apart points and a forward mount configured for removeable attachment to the outer support frame at two or more spaced-apart points,
- wherein the lift frame includes a first hinge formed at the connection point with the rearward mount and a second hinge formed at the connection point with the forward mount, wherein a pivot axis of the first hinge and a pivot axis of the second hinge extend transverse to a central longitudinal axis of the apparatus and substantially horizontal with respect to a ground surface,
- wherein the plow blade is attached to the outer support frame via a third hinge allowing the plow blade to tilt side to side about a pivot axis that is substantially parallel to and in line with the central longitudinal axis of the apparatus, and
- wherein the plow blade comprises a left plow blade section and a right plow blade section, the two sections foldable about a fourth hinge with a pivot axis that extends transverse to the central longitudinal axis of the apparatus and substantially vertical with respect to the ground surface,
- wherein the longitudinal axis of the apparatus is in line with a longitudinal axis of the vehicle when the apparatus is attached thereto.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.