Lightweight snowplow for quick attachment to small vehicle

Claim 2

A lightweight snowplow for small vehicles having a front bumper and parallel longitudinally extending frame members, comprising: a plow support frame, the frame hving an upright generally rectangular portion secured to the vehicle bumper and an integral horizontal trailing arm at each side secured to a vehicle frame member, a like forwardly extending pusher bar at each side pivotally secured for up and down movement to the frame arm, a substantially vertical slide member at each side having an upper slot and an aligned lower slot pivotally secured by bolt means extending transversely from the frame rectangular portion through the upper slot for slidingly securing the slide member to the support frame, the pusher bar at each side having bolt means extending transversely therethrough and through the slide member lower slot for slidingly securing the pusher bar to the slide member, each pusher bar having a depending skid attached thereto adjacent its forward end, a substantially transversely extending lightweight plow blade in advance of the pusher bars, a depending skid secured to the blade adjacent each end, the blade having a substantially vertically extending and rearwardly projecting reinforcing rib secured thereto at each side of its center and aligned with a respective pusher bar, the pusher bar and rib having a pivotal connection arranged for pivotal movement of the blade about a horizontal axis, a coil spring having one end connected to the blade adjacent each rib, an upstanding spring bracket secured to each pusher bar, the spring other end being secured to the bracket, the pivotal connection between blade and pusher bar being in the lower third of the heighth of the blade and the connection betwen blade and spring being in the upper third of the heighth of the blade, whereby the springs are elongated under tension when the blade is tripped by meeting an obstruction in the roadway and the blade is movable vertically with respect to the support frame by movement of the bolt means in the slots of the slide member.

Claim 3

The snowplow defined in claim 1 wherein each spring bracket is rotatable rearwardly and the vehicle has an elongated flexible member having one end adapted to be secured to one spring bracket and having its other end graspable by the vehicle operator for rotating the one spring bracket rearwardly, whereby the operator by pulling on the flexible member rotates the top of the blade rearwardly and raises the blade with respect to the roadway and the blade is supported in raised position by the pusher bar skids.

Claim 4

The snowplow defined in claim 1 wherein the upright portion of the support frame has transversely extending pin-receiving holes at each side at its top, whereby the blade and pusher bars may be raised and a pin inserted through the upper slot of the slide member for maintaining the plow in elevated position for traveling.

Claim 5

The snowplow defined in claim 1 wherein the pivotal conneCtion between pusher bar and rib is also arranged for limited pivotal movement of the blade about a vertical axis, and the pivotal securement of a pusher bar to its frame arm on one side is adjacent the trailing end of the frame arm and the pivotal securement of the other pusher bar to its frame arm on the other side is adjacent the leading end of the frame arm, whereby the plow blade is in angled position.

Claim 6

A lightweight snowplow for quick attachment to small vehicles having a front bumper and a pair of longitudinally extending frame members, comprising: a generally rectangular upright support frame having upper and lower transverse beam members, and left and right upright beam members, the support frame also having an integral horizontal trailing arm at each side, the front bumper and vehicle frame members having quick fastening means permanently secured thereto at each vehicle side, the upright beam members of the support frame having quick fastening means adapted to cooperate with the bumper-carried fastening means and the trailing arms having quick fastening means at their trailing ends adapted to cooperate with the vehicle frame member-carried fastening means, a forwardly extending pusher bar of substantially the same length at each side pivotally secured to the frame arms for up and down movement with respect to the support frame, a substantially vertically extending slide channel at each side having aligned upper and lower slots therein, bolt means through the upper slot of each channel slidingly connecting the channel to an upright beam member, bolt means through the lower slot of each channel and through a pusher bar for slidingly connecting the pusher bar to the channel, each pusher bar having a depending skid attached thereto adjacent its forward end, a substantially transversely extending lightweight plow blade in advance of the pusher bars, a depending skid attached to the blade adjacent each end, the blade having a substantially vertically extending and rearwardly projecting reinforcing rib secured thereto at each side of its center and aligned with a respective pusher bar, the pusher bar and rib having a pivotal connection arranged for pivotal movement of the blade about a horizontal axis and for limited pivotal movement about a vertical axis, a coil spring having its upper end adjustably connected to the blade adjacent each rib, an upstanding spring bracket secured to each pusher bar and connected to the spring lower end, the pivotal connection between blade and pusher bar being in the lower third of the heighth of the blade and the connection between blade and spring being in the upper third of the heighth of the blade, whereby the springs are elongated under tension when the blade is tripped by meeting an obstruction, the blade is movable vertically with respect to the support frame by movement of the bolt means in the slots of the slide channels, and the two pairs of skids provide stable supports for the blade and support frame while attaching the support frame to the vehicle.

Claim 7

A lightweight snowplow for quick attachment to small vehicles having a front bumper and a pair of longitudinally extending frame members, comprising: a generally rectangular upright support frame having upper and lower transverse beam members, and left and right upright beam members, the support frame also having an integral horizontal trailing arm at each side, the front bumper and vehicle frame members having quick fastening means permanently secured thereto at each vehicle side, the upright beam members of the support frame having quick fastening means adapted to cooperate with the bumper-carried fastening means and the trailing arms having quick fastening means at their trailing ends adapted to cooperate with the vehicle frame member-carried fastening means, a forwardly extending pusher bar of substantially the same length at each side pivotally secured to the frame arms for up and down movement with respect to the support frame, a substantially vertically extending slide channel at each side having aligned upper and lower slots therein, bolt means through the upper slot of each channel slidingly connecting the channel to an upright beam member, bolt means through the lower slot of each channel and through a pusher bar for slidingly connecting the pusher bar to the channel, each pusher bar having a depending skid attached thereto adjacent its forward end, a substantially transversely extending lightweight plow blade in advance of the pusher bars, a depending skid attached to the blade adjacent each end, the blade having a substantially vertically extending and rearwardly projecting reinforcing rib secured thereto at each side of its center and aligned with a respective pusher bar, the pusher bar and rib having a pivotal connection arranged for pivotal movement of the blade about a horizontal axis and for limited pivotal movement about a vertical axis, a coil spring having its upper end adjustably connected to the blade adjacent each rib, an upstanding spring bracket secured to each pusher bar and connected to the spring lower end, the pivotal connection between blade and pusher bar being in the lower third of the heighth of the blade and the connection between blade and spring being in the upper third of the heighth of the blade, whereby the springs are elongated under tension when the blade is tripped by meeting an obstruction, the blade is movable vertically with respect to the support frame by movement of the bolt means in the slots of the slide channels, and the two pairs of skids provide stable supports for the blade and support frame while attaching the support frame to the vehicle.

Claim 8

The snowplow defined in claim 5 wherein the upright support frame is adjustable in width and the rearwardly projecting blade reinforcing ribs are adapted to be secured to the blade in a plurality of positions spaced laterally of the blade, whereby the snowplow may be secured to different vehicles having frame members differently spaced transversely.

Claim 9

The snowplow defined in claim 5 wherein the upright portion of the support frame has a pin at each side spring-biased to project transversely outwardly and adapted to be engaged in the upper end of the upper slot in the slide channel at that side when the spring biased pin is retracted and released to be engaged in the slot, the upper end of the upper slot being spaced from the lower end of the lower slot so that the blade is raised above the surface of the road when the pins are engaged in the slots.

Claim 10

The snowplow defined in claim 5 wherein the quick fastening means between frame and bumper each comprise a forwardlY projecting eyebolt secured to the bumper by a nut at the rearside of the bumper and a bracket secured to the upright frame portion at each side thereof, the bracket having transversely spaced rearwardly projecting ears with a hole therethrough, the eyebolt having a tubular head adapted to extend transversely from one ear of the bracket to the other, and a pin adapted to be quickly inserted through the aligned holes through the ears and the eyebolt head, the pin having associated means for securing it in position.

Claim 11

The snowplow defined in claim 5 wherein the quick fastening means between the support frame trailing arms and vehicle frame members each comprise a first plate bolted to the underside of the vehicle frame member and a second plate secured to and projecting rearwardly from the rearward end of the trailing arm, the first plate having a pendant ear at each side, the ears having transversely aligned holes therethrough, the second plate terminating rearwardly in a transversely extending tubular portion adapted to extend between the ears of the first plate, and a pin adapted to be quickly inserted through the aligned holes through the ears and the tubular portion, the pin having associated means for securing it in position.

Claim 12

The snowplow defined in claim 8 wherein the quick fastening means between the support frame trailing arms and the vehicle frame members each comprise the vehicle frame member having a vertically extending hole therethrough and the trailing arm having secured thereto adjacent its trailing end a curved element projecting first outward from the upper surface of the arm and then curved to terminate in a rearward projecting portion engageable in the vehicle frame member hole, whereby the snowplow is positioned resting on its two pairs of skids with the trailing arms slanting upwardly and rearwardly, the curved elements terminal ends then are inserted in the vehicle frame member holes, the support frame then being lifted and the quick fastening means between support frame and bumper being engaged by their associated pins.

Claim 13

The snowplow defined in claim 5 wherein each spring bracket is rotatable rearwardly and the vehicle has an elongated flexible member having one end adapted to be secured to one spring bracket and having its other end graspable by the vehicle operator for rotating the one spring bracket rearwardly, whereby the operator by pulling on the flexible member rotates the top of the blade rearwardly and raises the blade with respect to the roadway and the blade is supported in raised position by the pusher bar skids.

Claim 14

The snowplow defined in claim 11 wherein each spring bracket has adjustable means for limiting rotation of the bracket forwardly whereby digging in of the blade in soft ground is prevented.

Claim 15

The snowplow defined in claim 5 wherein the pivotal connection between each pusher bar to the frame arm on the same side is at transversely aligned points adjacent the trailing end of each arm, whereby the plow blade extends transversely in front of the vehicle.

Claim 16

The snowplow defined in claim 13 wherein the pivotal connection between the pusher bar on at least one side to the frame arm on the same side includes a pair of transversely spaced upwardly extending arms on the pusher bar and a transversely spaced pair of flanges projecting downward from the frame arm, the ears and flanges having transversely aligned holes therethrough, and a pin removalbly secured extending through the aligned holes, the frame arm flanges having a second pair of transversely aligned holes therethrough adjacent the forward end of the frame arms, whereby when the removably secured pin is removed from its position at the rear of the frame arms, the holes in the ears of the pusher bar aligned with the second pair of aligned holes and the pin replaced through the latter aligned holes and the holes in the pusher bar ears, the blade extends at an angle to a transverse line in front of the vehicle.