Rotatable support wheels for a snowplow
First Claim
1. For use with a vehicle having a frame, a snowplow, comprising:
- a blade assembly and a support frame having a forward end and a rearward ends,the blade assembly including a blade and at least one wheel support assembly,the blade mounted on the forward end of the support frame and the rearward end of the support frame adapted for connection to the vehicle frame,the wheel support assembly rotatably mounted to the snowplow at a position behind the blade,the wheel support assembly being rotatable about a horizontal axis extending in a direction parallel to the direction of travel of vehicle between an upward inoperative position and a downward load supporting position whereby the wheel support assembly is in the upward position when the blade is in a plowing position and the load supporting position when the snowplow is detached from the vehicle.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A snowplow (20) adapted for being attached to or detached from a vehicle (22) having a frame (24). The snowplow includes a mount frame (26) for connection to the vehicle frame, a support frame (32), a lift assembly (38) and a blade assembly. The blade assembly of the invention includes a blade (30), a blade cutting edge (31) and a wheel support assembly (56). The support frame includes a forward end (33) for supporting the blade and a rearward end (36) for connection to the vehicle. When detached from the vehicle as a single unit, the resultant weight on the rearward end of the support frame may be supported on a ground surface (46) by a jack stand (48). The wheel support assembly includes a yoke assembly (60) having a pair of sides (62) for supporting a wheel (57), a biased spring 80 mounted onto a stud (76) for allowing the yoke assembly to rotate from an upward inoperative position to a downward load support position, a handle (64), a support plate (65) and a bracket assembly (90) for mounting the wheel assembly to the snowplow. The wheel assembly is rotatable between the inoperative position and the load supporting position and is in the load supporting position when the snowplow is detached from the vehicle. An advantage of this invention is that nearly all of the weight of the snowplow is supported by the wheel support assembly when the snowplow is detached from the vehicle.
38 Citations
20 Claims
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1. For use with a vehicle having a frame, a snowplow, comprising:
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a blade assembly and a support frame having a forward end and a rearward ends, the blade assembly including a blade and at least one wheel support assembly, the blade mounted on the forward end of the support frame and the rearward end of the support frame adapted for connection to the vehicle frame, the wheel support assembly rotatably mounted to the snowplow at a position behind the blade, the wheel support assembly being rotatable about a horizontal axis extending in a direction parallel to the direction of travel of vehicle between an upward inoperative position and a downward load supporting position whereby the wheel support assembly is in the upward position when the blade is in a plowing position and the load supporting position when the snowplow is detached from the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. For use with a vehicle having a frame, a snowplow, comprising:
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a blade assembly and a support frame having a forward end and a rearward end, the blade assembly including a blade and at least one wheel support assembly, the blade mounted on the forward end of the support frame and the rearward end of the support frame adapted for connection to the vehicle frame, the wheel support assembly including a yoke assembly and a bracket assembly, the yoke assembly mounted to the bracket assembly for rotation of the wheel support assembly, each yoke assembly being rotatable about a horizontal axis extending in a direction parallel to the direction of travel of the vehicle between an upward inoperative position and a downward load supporting position whereby the wheel support assembly is in the load supporting position when the snowplow is detached from the vehicle.
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19. For use with a vehicle having a frame, a snowplow, comprising:
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a blade assembly and a support frame having a forward end and a rearward end, the blade assembly including a blade and a pair of wheel support assemblies, the blade mounted on the forward end of the support frame and the rearward end of the support frame including a support means connected thereto with the support frame adapted for connection to the vehicle frame, and the wheel support assemblies mounted to the snowplow at a position behind a cutting edge of the blade, each wheel support assembly including a yoke assembly and a bracket assembly, the bracket assembly including means for rotationally supporting the yoke assembly each yoke assembly being rotatable about a horizontal axis extending in a direction parallel to the direction of travel of the vehicle between an upward inoperative position and a downward load supporting position whereby the wheel support assemblies are in the load supporting position when the snowplow is detached from the vehicle.
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20. For use with a vehicle having a frame, a snowplow, comprising:
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a support frame and a blade assembly, the support frame having a forward end and a rearward end, the blade assembly including a blade and a pair of wheel support assemblies, the blade mounted on the forward end of the support frame and the rearward end of the support frame including a support means connected thereto and the support frame adapted for connection to the vehicle frame, and the wheel support assemblies mounted to the snowplow at a position behind a cutting edge of the blade, each wheel support assembly including a yoke assembly and a bracket assembly, the yoke assembly including a pair of juxtaposed sides and a wheel supported between the sides, the bracket assembly including means for rotationally supporting the yoke assembly, the yoke assembly being rotatable about horizontal axis extending in a parallel to the direction of travel of the vehicle between an upward inoperative position and a downward load supporting position, the rotational support means including a spring biased stud for urging the yoke assembly into intimate contact with the bracket assembly whereby the wheel support assemblies are in the load supporting position when the snowplow is detached from the vehicle.
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Specification