Plastic moldboards for snowplows and the like

The method of constructing a moldboard of a desired curvature comprising the steps of:

• providing a frame having top and bottom longitudinally extending mounting members, end mounting members disposed at opposite ends and extending transversely between the top and bottom mounting members and intermediate mounting members extending transversely between the top and bottom mounting members;
• providing a mold having a mold cavity corresponding in shape to the desired curvature of the moldboard;
• placing said frame in said mold cavity;
• filling said cavity with molten, high density polyethylene plastic;
• solidifying said polyethylene plastic;
• and
• removing the moldboard from the mold.

A plow comprising:

• a frame having top and bottom longitudinally extending mounting members and end mounting members extending between and attached at opposite ends thereof;
• a curved, flexible, plastic moldboard with a forward facing, inwardly curved surface at one side and a rearward facing, a similarly curved surface on its opposite side;
• and
• wherein said plastic moldboard includes means for securing said curved moldboard to said frame, the means for securing including a unitary, flexible attachment collar about an upper end and extending along two sides of the moldboard from the upper end to a lower end for securely gripping the frame therein, and means for fastening the lower end of the moldboard to the bottom mounting member of the frame.

A moldboard adapted for attachment to a frame comprising:

• an inwardly curved, polyethylene plastic sheet having a forward facing, inwardly curved surface at one side and a rearward facing, similarly inwardly curved surface at its opposite side;
• said plastic sheet having a unitary, flexible attachment collar extending about an upper end and extending along two sides of the sheet from an upper end to a lower end, said attachment collar being adapted to securely grip a frame therein;
• and
• attachment means in the lower end of the sheet adapted for securing the moldboard to a frame.

The method of assembling a plow, comprising the steps of:

• providing a moldboard constructed of an inwardly curved, plastic sheet having a forward facing, inwardly curved surface at one side and a rearward facing, similarly inwardly curved surface at its opposite side, said sheet having a unitary, flexible attachment collar extending about an upper end and further along two sides of the sheet from an upper end to a lower end thereof;
• providing a frame having top and bottom longitudinally extending mounting members, at least one intermediate mounting member transversely extending between the top and bottom mounting members and end mounting members extending between the top and bottom mounting members and at opposite ends thereof;
• pulling back the attachment collar of the sheet away from the rearward facing surface of the sheet and inserting the end mounting members of the frame therein;
• sliding the moldboard over the frame until the top mounting member of the frame is disposed within the attachment collar extending across the upper end of the moldboard;
• releasing the attachment collar whereby it grips and secures the frame therein and the lower end of the moldboard is supported against the bottom mounting member of the frame;
• placing a scrapper blade across the length of the bottom mounting member with the lower end of the sheet therebetween;
• and
• securing the scrapper blade, the lower end of the sheet and the bottom mounting member together.

A plow comprising:

• a frame having top and bottom longitudinally extending mounting members and end mounting members extending between and attached at opposite ends thereof;
• a curved, flexible, plastic moldboard with a forward facing, inwardly curved surface at one side and a rearward facing, similarly curved surface on its opposite side, said moldboard being a high density polyethylene plastic and having a top attachment collar which includes an upper end portion extending outward from the rearward facing curved surface and overlying the moldboard for securely gripping the top mounting member of the frame;
• and
• wherein said moldboard includes means for securing said curved moldboard to said frame, the means including unitary, flexible side attachment collars for securing and extending along two sides of the moldboard from the upper end to a lower end for securely gripping the frame therein, and means for fastening the lower end of the moldboard to the bottom mounting member of the frame, said means for fastening includes a longitudinally extending scrapper blade fastened to the bottom mounting member with the lower end of the moldboard therebetween, said scrapper blade extending the length of the moldboard;
• and
• said top mounting member comprising a structural channel being L-shaped in cross-sectional configuration, one leg of said channel extending downward and providing a support surface for the rear surface of the moldboard, the other leg of said channel extending outward and being secured in gripping relationship by said upper end portion of the attachment collar.

A plow comprising:

• a frame having top and bottom longitudinally extending mounting members and end mounting members extending between and attached at opposite ends thereof;
• a curved, flexible plastic moldboard with a forward facing, inwardly curved surface at one side and a rearward facing, similarly curved surface on its opposite side, said moldboard being a high density polyethylene plastic and having a top attachment collar which includes an upper end portion extending outward from the rearward facing curved surface and overlying the moldboard for securely gripping the top mounting member of the frame;
• and
• wherein said moldboard includes means for securing said curved moldboard to said frame, the means including unitary, flexible side attachment collars for securing and extending along two sides of the moldboard from the upper end to a lower end for securely gripping the frame therein, and means for fastening the lower end of the moldboard to the bottom mounting member of the frame, said means for fastening includes a longitudinally extending scrapper blade fastened to the bottom mounting member with the lower end of the moldboard therebetween, said scrapper blade extending the length of the moldboard;
• and
• said side attachment collars including oppositely disposed side portions transversely extending the width of said moldboard and intersecting and being integrally connected to the upper end portion, said side portions overlying the rear surface of the moldboard.

A moldboard adapted for attachment to a frame comprising:

• an inwardly curved, polyethylene plastic sheet having a forward facing, inwardly curved surface at one side and a rearward facing, similarly inwardly curved surface at its opposite side, said sheet being a high density polyethylene plastic and having a top attachment collar including a flexible upper end portion extending outwardly from the rearward facing curved surface and overlying the moldboard whereby the collar can securely grip the frame when assembled therewith;
• wherein said plastic sheet includes unitary, flexible side attachment collars extending along two sides of the sheet from an upper end to a lower end, said side attachment collars being adapted to securely grip a frame therein;
• and
• attachment means in the lower end of the sheet adapted for securing the moldboard to a frame;
• and the upper end portion including an upper surface element extending substantially the length of the sheet, said upper surface element disposed at an angle of less than about 90.degree. to the rearward facing surface of the sheet;
• and
• an upper free edge surface element integrally attached to the upper surface element, the upper free edge surface element including a first section extending substantially the length of the sheet and being attached to the upper surface element and extending substantially perpendicular thereto, and a second section extending substantially the length of said first section and being disposed at an angle of about 135.degree. to the first section whereby the upper end portion is adapted to extend over and securely grip the frame when the moldboard and frame are assembled.