Gate assembly and method for a snow plow blade
First Claim
1. A gate assembly for a snow plow blade having first and second opposite ends, the gate assembly comprising:
- a gate pivotably coupled to the first end of the snow plow blade, the gate pivotable from a deployed position in which the gate is adjacent the first end of the snow plow blade and has a surface positioned in a first substantially laterally-facing direction to block snow from exiting the first end of the snow plow blade;
through an intermediate position in which the surface faces in a direction substantially opposite the first laterally-facing direction; and
to a stowed position in which at least part of the gate is moved to a location behind the snow plow blade and between the first and second ends of the snow plow blade.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a snow plow blade gate apparatus and method in which the gate is pivotably attached to an end of a snow plow blade. The gate can be pivotable between a deployed position in which the gate blocks snow from exiting the snow plow blade to a stowed position in which at least part of the gate is moved to a location behind the snow plow blade. In some embodiments, the gate pivots about an axis skewed with respect to a substantially vertical plane. Also, some embodiments of the present invention have an actuator that can be actuated to secure the gate in a deployed position.
69 Citations
48 Claims
-
1. A gate assembly for a snow plow blade having first and second opposite ends, the gate assembly comprising:
a gate pivotably coupled to the first end of the snow plow blade, the gate pivotable from a deployed position in which the gate is adjacent the first end of the snow plow blade and has a surface positioned in a first substantially laterally-facing direction to block snow from exiting the first end of the snow plow blade;
through an intermediate position in which the surface faces in a direction substantially opposite the first laterally-facing direction; and
to a stowed position in which at least part of the gate is moved to a location behind the snow plow blade and between the first and second ends of the snow plow blade.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
18. A gate assembly for a snow plow blade, the gate assembly comprising:
-
a gate located proximate an end of the snow plow blade, the gate pivotable with respect to the snow plow blade from a deployed position in which the gate blocks snow from exiting the snow plow blade to a stowed position in which at least part of the gate is moved to a location behind the snow plow blade; and
a hinge coupled to the gate and the snow plow blade, the gate pivotable between the deployed and stowed positions about an axis of the hinge, the axis of the hinge skewed in a generally upward and forward direction with respect to a direction of travel of the snow plow blade, wherein the gate is pivotable about the axis toward the deployed position in a generally forward and downward direction with respect to the direction of travel of the snow plow blade, and is pivotable about the axis toward the stowed position in a generally rearward and upward direction with respect to the direction of travel of the snow plow blade. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
-
-
36. A method of deploying a snow plow blade gate with respect to a snow plow blade having first and second opposite ends, the method comprising:
-
pivoting the gate away from a stowed position at least partially behind the snow plow blade and between the first and second ends of the snow plow blade;
pivoting the gate toward a deployed position;
lowering a lower edge of the gate by pivoting the gate from the stowed position toward the deployed position; and
pivoting the gate to the deployed position adjacent the first end of the snow plow blade in which the gate blocks snow from exiting the first end of the snow plow blade. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
-
Specification