Ergonomic snow plow control system

• US 7,586,050 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2004
• Issued: 09/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John A. Lashua
• Original Assignee: John A. Lashua
• Inventors: Lashua, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Enad; Elvin G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fishman; Marina
• Application Number:
  US10/956,539
• Publication Number:
  US 20050039968A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,803 Days
• Field of Search: 200/5.A, 200/5.R, 200/329.61, 200/54, 200/61.55, 200/61.56, 200/61.57, 200/61.27, 200/61.28, 372/31, 37234-236
• US Class Current: 200/5.00R
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 5/00 Removing snow or ice from roads or like surfaces; Grading or roughening snow or ice by applying de-icing agents E01H10/00; obstruction removers on vehicles B60R19/00; sand, gravel or salt spreaders E01C19/20
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/86 characterised by the casing, e.g. sealed casings or casings reducible in size
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/01 Mounting on appliance
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/026 Hook and loop
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/032 Remote control

Abstract

A housing can be mounted to a component in a cab of a vehicle; and a switch pad can have control keys, the pad mounted in the housing such that the keys are readily accessible to an operator of the vehicle during plowing operation such as shifting and/or steering. A securing member, which may be in a form of a strap system, may be attached to the housing away from the pad and keys for mounting the housing to the cab component. The housing may have a channel or a cannulation for mounting to the cab component. The housing may be resilient, making for increased comfort especially in long-term operation. The housing and pad assembly may be compact for storage in a glove box of the vehicle. Also, the control system can be wireless and remote.

Claims

1. An ergonomic plow control system comprising a housing capable of being mounted to a component in a cab of a vehicle;

a switch pad having control keys, said pad mounted in the housing such that said keys are readily accessible to an operator of the vehicle while shifting and/or steering during plowing; and

a securing member having an attached strap mounting system, wherein the housing, switch pad, and securing member are assembled to be compact such that the same can be stored in a glove box of the vehicle, and wherein the housing and said pad taken together as an assembly is thin in cross section such that when taken from a side view it is at least one of being about one half inch or less; and

/or the housing is flexible.

2. The ergonomic plow control system of claim 1, wherein the attached strap mounting system includes a strap system in which is included fastening contrivance(s) to assist in mounting.

3. The ergonomic plow control system of claim 2, wherein the attached strap mounting system has strap(s) with enough weight and flexibility to lie flat when the ergonomic plow control system is not mounted to a component in the cab of the vehicle.

4. The ergonomic plow control system of claim 2, wherein the attached strap mounting system has a two-strap strap arrangement.

5. The ergonomic plow control system of claim 2, wherein the attached strap mounting system has a one-strap strap arrangement.

6. The ergonomic plow control system of claim 1, wherein:

the housing is detachable; and

the switch pad includes an arrangement for control of a straight plow and/or a V-plow, which has, mounted in said face;

a central element divided into a plurality of independently actuatable switches for controlling orientation of the plow;

at least one laterally disposed switch set for controlling vertical adjustment of the plow; and

another switch set for controlling “

on-off”

of the plow.

7. The ergonomic plow control system of claim 1, wherein the housing is detachable, and includes mounted therein a switch pad having the control keys to make for an unobtrusive control system with the same including an arrangement for control of a straight plow and/or a V-plow, which has the following features:

a central element divided into a plurality of independently actuatable key pad switches for controlling orientation of the plow;

a first laterally disposed switch set having key pad switches for controlling vertical adjustment of the plow; and

a second laterally disposed switch set opposing the first laterally disposed switch set, and having key pad switches for controlling “

on-off”

of the plow,

said system having a minimum profile.

8. The ergonomic plow control system of claim 1, which is wireless and remote.

9. The ergonomic plow control system of claim 2, which is wireless and remote.

10. The ergonomic plow control system of claim 3, which is wireless and remote.

11. The ergonomic plow control system of claim 4, which is wireless and remote.

12. The ergonomic plow control system of claim 5, which is wireless and remote.

13. The ergonomic plow control system of claim 6, which is wireless and remote.

14. The ergonomic plow control system of claim 7, which is wireless and remote.

15. An ergonomic plow control system comprising a housing capable of being mounted to a component in a cab of a vehicle;

and a switch pad having control keys, said pad mounted in the housing such that said keys are readily accessible to an operator of the vehicle while shifting and/or steering during plowing, wherein said housing and pad are assembled to be compact and able to be stored in a glove box of the vehicle before being mounted to said component, and wherein the housing is resilient and detachable and includes an underside that has a suitably shaped mounting channel through which a steering wheel rim or gearshift lever can pass within confines of the housing for mounting, and a securing member includes a mounting strap.

16. An ergonomic plow control system comprising a housing capable of being mounted to a component in a cab of a vehicle;

and a switch pad having control keys, said pad mounted in the housing such that said keys are readily accessible to an operator of the vehicle while shifting and/or steering during plowing, wherein said housing and pad are assembled to be compact and able to be stored in a glove box of the vehicle before being mounted to said component, and wherein the housing is resilient and detachable and is made to be cannulated to form an interior mounting channel and the securing member so that a gear shift lever with a knob thereof removed can slip through the channel to provide for mounting.