Vehicle hitch mount assembly for a snow plow

• US 6,145,222 A
• Filed: 08/14/1998
• Issued: 11/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Curtis Industries, LLC (Curtis Industries Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Curtis International Limited
• Inventors: Curtis, Marc D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lillis, Eileen D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hartmann, Gary S.
• Application Number:
  US09/134,555
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 37/231, 37/235, 37/236, 37/266, 37/268, 37/232, 37/234
• US Class Current: 37/231
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 5/06 dislodging essentially by non-driven elements, e.g. scraper blades , snow-plough blades, scoop blades
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 5/066 Snow-plough blade accessories, e.g. deflector plates, skid shoes

Abstract

Hitch mount for hydraulically driven snow blades or other accessories that includes a receiver plate for mounting to the vehicle chassis and a one piece plow assembly and lift frame readily removably coupled to the receiver plate, the plow assembly preferably including a blade trip frame and a snow blade removably coupled to the trip frame. A optional power operated jack can be used to raise or lower the lift frame relative to the vehicle chassis.

Claims

1. A mounting hitch assembly for a vehicle having a vehicle rear and a chassis, comprising:

a hitch receiver fixed to said vehicle chassis, said hitch receiver having a transverse bar and a pair of spaced guide members, said spaced guide members defining therebetween a cavity, said spaced guide members being positioned beneath said bar such that the distance between said pair decreases in the direction towards said vehicle rear;

a lift assembly comprising a male extension adapted to be received by said spaced guide members; and

latch means for engaging said bar and locking said lift frame assembly thereto, said latch means comprising a pair of spaced hooks pivotally coupled to said lift frame assembly.

2. The mounting hitch of claim 1, wherein each of said hooks has an arcuate recess for engaging said bar.

3. The mounting hitch of claim 1 or 2, wherein said lift frame assembly further comprises an A-frame having a first end and a second end spaced from said first end, and wherein said A-frame second end comprises pivot means, and further comprising snow blade mounting means comprising a trip frame pivotally mounted to said second end pivot means for mounting a snow blade.

4. The mounting hitch of claim 3, wherein between said first end and said second end of said A-frame is an A-frame cavity, said hitch further comprising actuator drive means mounted in said A-frame cavity for lifting said snow blade.

5. The mounting hitch of claim 4, wherein said lift assembly further comprises at least one actuator driven by said actuator drive means for lifting said snow blade.