Hinged snowplow, conversion kit, and method therefor

A hinged snowplow for vehicles comprising a support frame having an outwardly extending projection;

• means for securing said support frame to a vehicle;
• a pair of generally elongated plow blades;
• a central hinge having a generally vertical axis;
• means for securing said plow blades to said hinge one on either lateral side thereof for pivotal movement about said generally vertical axis independent of one another;
• said hinge including a single, generally vertical, hinge support member extending toward and secured to said outwardly extending projection of said support frame generally intermediate the top and bottom of said hinge, and forming a central support for said hinge and blades, said hinge support member tapering toward said outwardly extending projection from above and below said projection;
• a pair of blade positioning arm means for positioning said blades and holding said blades as positioned, each of said arm means extending between said support frame and one of said plow blades;
• means for pivotally securing each of said arm means to both its respective plow blade and said support frame;
• said blades being movable between positions forming a forwardly extending V with said central hinge forwardmost to a forwardly open V position having the lateral plow blade edges extending forwardly of said central hinge as well as positions therebetween;
• said hinge support member extending generally the entire vertical height of said hinge and including a rearwardly opening slot receiving said support frame projection;
• fixed brace means extending between said projection and either side of said hinge support member for holding said member in a fixed vertical position.

A hinged snowplow for vehicles comprising a support frame having an outwardly extending projection;

• means for securing said support frame to a vehicle;
• a pair of generally elongated plow blades;
• a central hinge having a generally vertical axis;
• means for securing said plow blades to said hinge one on either lateral side thereof for pivotal movement about said generally vertical axis independent of one another;
• said hinge including a single, generally vertical, hinge support member extending toward and secured to said outwardly extending projection of said support frame generally intermediate the top and bottom of said hinge, and forming a central support for said hinge and blades, said hinge support member tapering toward said outwardly extending projection from above and below said projection;
• a pair of blade positioning arm means for positioning said blades and holding said blades as positioned, each of said arm means extending between said support frame and one of said plow blades;
• means for pivotally securing each of said arm means to both its respective plow blade and said support frame;
• said blades being movable between positions forming a forwardly extending V with said central hinge forwardmost to a forwardly open V position having the lateral plow blade edges extending forwardly of said central hinge as well as positions therebetween;
• said means for securing said plow blades to said hinge including a blade support plate for each of said blades, said blade support plates extending laterally to either side of said hinge, pivotally secured to said hinge, and rigidly secured to the inner hinge ends of said blades;
• and a brace member rigidly secured between each of said support plates and the rear surface of the respective plow blade.

A hinged snowplow for vehicles comprising a support frame having an outwardly extending projection;

• means for securing said support frame to a vehicle;
• a pair of generally elongated plow blades;
• a central hinge having a generally vertical axis;
• means for securing said plow blades to said hinge one on either lateral side thereof for pivotal movement about said generally vertical axis independent of one another;
• said hinge including a single, generally vertical, hinge support member extending toward and secured to said outwardly extending projection of said support frame generally intermediate the top and bottom of said hinge, and forming a central support for said hinge and blades, said hinge support member tapering toward said outwardly extending projection from above and below said projection;
• a pair of blade positioning arm means for positioning said blades and holding said blades as positioned, each of said arm means extending between said support frame and one of said plow blades;
• means for pivotally securing each of said arm means to both its respective plow blade and said support frame;
• said blades being movable between positions forming a forwardly extending V with said central hinge forwardmost to a forwardly open V position having the lateral plow blade edges extending forwardly of said central hinge as well as positions therebetween;
• plow blade extension means for increasing the length of said plow blades including a second pair of plow blades, means for securing each of said second blades in overlying relationship to one of said first plow blades;
• each of said second plow blades having a contour matching that of the front surface of one of said first plow blades and adapted to be positioned such that a portion extends beyond the free end edge of one of said first plow blades;
• said means for securing said second plow blades to said first plow blades including a flange extending along the length of the top edge of each of said second plow blades, said flanges supporting said second plow blades on the top edges of said first plow blades.

A hinged snowplow for vehicles comprising a support frame having an outwardly extending projection;

• means for securing said support frame to a vehicle;
• a pair of generally elongated plow blades;
• a central hinge having a generally vertical axis;
• means for securing said plow blades to said hinge one on either lateral side thereof for pivotal movement about said generally vertical axis independent of one another;
• said hinge including a single, generally vertical, hinge support member extending toward and secured to said outwardly extending projection of said support frame generally intermediate the top and bottom of said hinge, and forming a central support for said hinge and blades, said hinge support member tapering toward said outwardly extending projection from above and below said projection;
• a pair of blade positioning arm means for positioning said blades and holding said blades as positioned, each of said arm means extending between said support frame and one of said plow blades;
• means for pivotally securing each of said arm means to both its respective plow blade and said support frame;
• said blades being movable between positions forming a forwardly extending V with said central hinge forwardmost to a forwardly open V position having the lateral plow blade edges extending forwardly of said central hinge as well as positions therebetween;
• plow blade extension means for increasing the length of said plow blades including a second pair of plow blades, means for securing each of said second blades in overlying relationship to one of said first plow blades;
• each of said second plow blades having a contour matching that of the front surface of one of said first plow blades and adapted to be positioned such that a portion extends beyond the free end edge of one of said first plow blades;
• said means for securing said second plow blades to said first plow blades including means for slidably mounting said second blades on said first blades and motive power means for sliding each of said second plow blades outwardly of the free end of one of said first plow blades and away from said hinge;
• said means for slidably mounting said second blades on said first blades including a flange extending along the top of each of said second plow blades for slidingly supporting said second blades along the top edges of said first plow blades;
• guide means on the front surface of said first plow blades for guiding the sliding movement of said second plow blades along said first blades and for limiting outward movement of said second plow blades away from said first blades;
• and an end flange on each of said second plow blades forming a stop limiting inward movement of said second plow blades toward said hinge.

A hinged snowplow for vehicles comprising a support frame having an outwardly extending projection;

• means for securing said support frame to a vehicle;
• a pair of generally elongated plow blades;
• a central hinge having a generally vertical axis;
• means for securing said plow blades to said hinge one on either lateral side thereof for pivotal movement about said generally vertical axis independent of one another;
• said hinge including a single, generally vertical, hinge support member extending toward and secured to said outwardly extending projection of said support frame generally intermediate the top and bottom of said hinge, and forming a central support for said hinge and blades, said hinge support member tapering toward said outwardly extending projection from above and below said projection;
• a pair of blade positioning arm means for positioning said blades and holding said blades as positioned, each of said arm means extending between said support frame and one of said plow blades;
• means for pivotally securing each of said arm means to both its respective plow blade and said support frame;
• said blades being movable between positions forming a forwardly extending V with said central hinge forwardmost to a forwardly open V position having the lateral plow blade edges extending forwardly of said central hinge as well as positions therebetween;
• plow blade extension means for increasing the length of said plow blades including a second pair of plow blades, means for securing each of said second blades in overlying relationship to one of said first plow blades;
• each of said second plow blades having a contour matching that of the front surface of one of said first plow blades and adapted to be positioned such that a portion extends beyond the free end edge of one of said first plow blades;
• a generally horizontal hinge means secured in a rearwardly opening slot in said hinge support member for pivotal movement of said central hinge and plow blades about a generally horizontal axis with respect to said support frame, and biasing means for biasing said central hinge and plow blades toward a generally vertically upright position whereby said central hinge and plow blades can pivot up and over obstacles encountered during plowing.

A hinged snowplow for vehicles comprising a support frame having an outwardly extending projection;

• means for securing said support frame to a vehicle;
• a pair of generally elongated plow blades;
• a central hinge having a generally vertical axis;
• means for securing said plow blades to said hinge one on either lateral side thereof for pivotal movement about said generally vertical axis independent of one another;
• a pair of blade positioning arm means for positioning said blades and holding said blades as positioned, each of said arm means extending between said support frame and one of said plow blades;
• rigid contact means extending outwardly from the rear of each of said plow blades for contacting said support frame to limit pivotal movement of said respective blades toward the vehicle, said contact means including means for pivotally securing one end of each of said arm means to its respective plow blade;
• said support frame including means for pivotally securing the other ends of said arm means to said support frame;
• said rigid contact means including rigid portions extending rearwardly and inwardly of the positions at which said one ends of said arm means are pivotally secured to said respective plow blades from said rear of each plow blade;
• said blades being movable between positions forming a forwardly extending V with said central hinge forwardmost to a forwardly open V position having the lateral plow blade edges extending forwardly of said central hinge as well as positions therebetween.

A hinged snowplow for vehicles comprising a support frame having an outwardly extending projection;

• means for securing said support frame to a vehicle;
• a pair of generally elongated plow blades;
• a central hinge having a generally vertical axis;
• means for securing said plow blades to said hinge one on either lateral side thereof for pivotal movement about said generally vertical axis independent of one another;
• said hinge including a generally vertical, hinge support member extending rearwardly therefrom and forming a central support for said hinge and blades;
• a pair of blade positioning arm means for positioning said blades and holding said blades as positioned, each of said arm means extending between said support frame and one of said plow blades;
• means for pivotally securing each of said arm means to both its respective plow blade and said support frame;
• said blades being movable between positions forming a forwardly extending V with said central hinge forwardmost to a forwardly open V position having the lateral plow blade edges extending forwardly of said central hinge as well as positions therebetween;
• central horizontal hinge means secured between said central hinge support member and said outwardly extending projection for pivotal movement of said central hinge and plow blades about a generally horizontal axis with respect to said support frame, said central hinge support member extending inwardly of said projection to an end position for support and stability, said central horizontal hinge means having a horizontal pivot axis positioned intermediate said end position of said support member and said vertical axis of said central hinge;
• and biasing means for biasing said central hinge and plow blades toward a generally vertically upright position yet allowing said central hinge and plow blades to pivot up and over obstacles encountered during plowing.

A hinged snowplow for vehicles comprising a support frame having an outwardly extending projection;

• means for securing said support frame to a vehicle;
• a pair of generally elongated plow blades;
• a central hinge having a generally vertical axis;
• means for securing said plow blades to said hinge one on either lateral side thereof for pivotal movement about said generally vertical axis independent of one another;
• said hinge including a generally vertical, hinge support member extending rearwardly therefrom and forming a central support for said hinge and blades;
• a pair of blade positioning arm means for positioning said blades and holding said blades as positioned, each of said arm means extending between said support frame and one of said plow blades;
• means for pivotally securing each of said arm means to both its respective plow blade and said support frame;
• said blades being movable between positions forming a forwardly extending V with said central hinge forwardmost to a forwardly open V position having the lateral plow blade edges extending forwardly of said central hinge as well as positions therebetween;
• horizontal hinge means secured between said hinge support member and said outwardly extending projection for pivotal movement of said central hinge and plow blades about a generally horizontal axis with respect to said support frame, and biasing means for biasing said central hinge and plow blades toward a generally vertically upright position yet allowing said central hinge and plow blades to pivot up and over obstacles encountered during plowing;
• said hinge means including a pair of hinge plates pivotable about said generally horizontal axis, one of said hinge plates secured to said outwardly extending projection of said support frame, the other hinge plate secured to said hinge support member, said generally horizontal hinge axis being spaced outwardly of the end of said projection, said hinge support member being cut away below said one hinge plate to provide clearance space allowing pivotal movement of said central hinge and plow blades.

A plow for vehicles comprising a support frame;

• means for securing said support frame to a vehicle;
• an elongated plow blade;
• means for attaching said plow blade to said support frame;
• and plow blade extension means for increasing the length of said plow blade;
• said extension means including a second plow blade, said second plow blade having a contour matching that of the front surface of said first plow blade;
• means for securing said first and second blades in overlying relationship to one another;
• said second plow blade being adapted to extend beyond the free end edge of said first plow blade or be withdrawn such that it is generally coterminous with said first plow blade and being secured such that it overlies the front surface of said first blade;
• said securing means for said second plow blade including flange means adjacent the upper and lower edges of said blades for limiting and restraining movement of said second plow blade outwardly away from the front surface of said first plow blade, said flange means adjacent said lower edges of said blades including a guide channel projecting outwardly from said front surface of said first blade at a position spaced above the bottom edge of said first blade, and extending along the bottom of said second blade, upwardly a short distance above the lower edge of said second blade and in front of said second blade, said second blade being shorter than said first blade and terminating above the lower edge of said first blade within said guide channel, said guide channel providing sufficient space to allow movement of said second blade parallel to said first blade for extension but restraining movement of the lower edge of said second blade outwardly away from said front surface of said first blade.

A plow for vehicles comprising a support frame;

• means for securing said support frame to a vehicle;
• an elongated plow blade;
• means for attaching said plow blade to said support frame;
• and plow blade extension means for increasing the length of said plow blade;
• said extension means including a second plow blade, said second plow blade having a contour matching that of the front surface of said first plow blade;
• means for securing said first and second blades in overlying relationship to one another;
• said second plow blade being adapted to extend beyond the free end edge of said first plow blade or withdrawn such that it is generally coterminous with said first plow blade and being secured such that it overlies the front surface of said first blade;
• said securing means for said second plow blade including means limiting movement of said second plow blade outwardly away from the front surface of said first plow blade;
• a plurality of projections on the front surfaces of said first plow blade, each projection having an enlarged head spaced from the front surface of the first plow blade;
• said second plow blade including a plurality of apertures therethrough in locations corresponding to the positions of said headed projections on said first plow blade, each of said apertures having an enlarged area slightly larger than the size of said projection heads and a slot area extending upwardly from said enlarged area and having a width less than that of said projection heads, each of said projections being received through one of said enlarged aperture areas and into a slot area for retention of said second blades on said first blades;
• said heads on said projections preventing outward movement of said second blades away from said first blades.

A plow for vehicles comprising a support frame;

• means for securing said support frame to a vehicle;
• an elongated plow blade;
• means for attaching said plow blade to said support frame;
• and plow blade extension means for increasing the length of said plow blade;
• said extension means including a second plow blade, said second plow blade having a contour matching that of the front surface of said first plow blade;
• means for securing said first and second blades in overlying relationship to one another;
• said second plow blade being adapted to extend beyond the free end edge of said first plow blade or withdrawn such that it is generally coterminous with said first plow blade and being secured such that it overlies the front surface of said first blade;
• said securing means for said second plow blade including means limiting movement of said second plow blade outwardly away from the front surface of said first plow blade and means for slidably mounting said second plow blade on said first blade having a flange extending along the top of said second plow blade for slidingly supporting said second blade along the top edge of said first plow blade;
• guide means on the front surface of said first plow blade for guiding the sliding movement of said second plow blade along said first;
• and an end flange on said second plow blade forming a stop limiting inward movement of said second plow blade toward the center of said first blade.

A plow for vehicles comprising a support frame;

• means for securing said support frame to a vehicle;
• an elongated plow blade;
• means for attaching said plow blade to said support frame;
• and plow blade extension means for increasing the length of said plow blade;
• said extension means including a second plow blade, said second plow blade having a contour matching that of the front surface of said first plow blade;
• means for securing said first and second blades in overlying relationship to one another;
• said second plow blade being adapted to extend beyond the free end edge of said first plow blade or withdrawn such that it is generally coterminous with said first plow blade and being secured such that it overlies the front surface of said first blade;
• said securing means for said second plow blade including means for limiting movement of said second plow blade outwardly away from the front surface of said first plow blade;
• and means for slidably mounting said second plow blade on said first blade;
• and motive power means for sliding said second plow blade outwardly of the free end edge of said first plow blade including a single direction acting fluid cylinder mounted on the rear surface of said first plow blade adjacent the top edge thereof, said cylinder having a piston for moving an extendible shaft, said extendible shaft being connected to the outer end of said second plow blade, and means for directing fluid to and from one side of said piston within said cylinder;
• biasing means for biasing said second plow blade inwardly of the free end edge of said first plow blade.

A kit for coverting a vehicular snowplow having a rigid, elongated plow blade to one having a hinged plow blade, said rigid plow blade being of the type having an arcuate cross section with the snow engaging surface being concave, said vehicular snowplow being of the type including a support for supporting said plow blade generally centrally of the rear nonsnow-engaging surface thereof and a pair of blade positioning arms extending between the rear surface of said plow blade and said support, said kit comprising:

• a template having an arcuate edge for marking the surface of the rigid, elongated plow blade on either side of the blade center line in preparation for cutting the blade along such marks;
• generally vertically extending hinge means for securing between the portions of said plow blade after it is cut along said marks, said hinge means including generally vertically extending lateral plate means for attachment of the inner end edges of said cut blade portions on either lateral side of said vertical hinge means, a generally vertically and rearwardly extending hinge support means for centrally supporting said hinge means and plow blade portions on a support extending outwardly to a vehicle;
• and a pair of bracket means for attachment to the rear surface of said plow blade portions for pivotally securing the ends of said blade positioning arms and for forming a stop limiting pivotal movement of said plow blade portions toward said snowplow support when that support is attached to said generally vertical hinge means.

A method for converting a vehicular snowplow having a rigid, elongated plow blade to one having a hinged plow blade comprising the steps of:

• (1) providing a template for marking the rigid, elongated plow blade for cutting to receive a central, vertical hinge;
• (2) marking said blade on either side of the longitudinal center line thereof with said template and cutting said blade into two sections;
• (3) providing a hinge having lateral plate means for supporting said blade sections on either side of said hinge and hinge support means extending vertically along the height of said hinge for supporting the hinge and blade sections on a generally horizontal support adapted to be secured to a vehicle;
• and
• (4) securing the inner ends of said blade sections to said lateral plate means and said hinge support means to said support.