US3845577A

US3845577A - Lightweight snowplow for quick attachment to small vehicle

Info

Publication number: US3845577A
Application number: US00418445A
Authority: US
Inventors: M Naymik
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-11-23
Filing date: 1973-11-23
Publication date: 1974-11-05
Anticipated expiration: 1991-11-05

Abstract

The plow support frame comprises a rectangular angle iron frame adapted to be secured upright adjacent the vehicle bumper and an integral, horizontally and rearwardly extending arm at each side having quick attachment means at its trailing end for attachment to the vehicle frame. The frame upright at each side has a rearwardly extending bracket connected by a pin to an eyebolt secured to the bumper. A slide channel at each side has aligned upper and lower slots therealong, a bolt through the upper slot and the frame upright pivotally secures the slide channel at the side of the upright. A pusher bar at each side has its trailing end pivotally secured to the frame arm and a bolt through the slide channel lower slot and the pusher bar secures the bar to the frame for up and down oscillation thereto. A lightweight sheet steel plow blade has a vertical reinforcing rib bolted thereto. A coil spring extends from each reinforcing rib in the upper third of the blade to a hinged bracket on the aligned pusher bar for providing trip means when the blade meets an obstruction. A flexible member extends from the hinged bracket to a point in the vehicle adjacent the driver''s seat for tilting the blade top back so as to be carried elevated on the pusher bar skis.

Description

Nayrnik Nov. 5, 1974 LIGHTWEIGHT SNOWPLOW FOR QUICK ATTACHMENT TO SMALL VEHICLE [76] Inventor: Michael M. Naymik, 300 Beattie St.,

Syracuse, NY. 13224 [22] Filed: Nov. 23, 1973 [21] Appl. N0.: 418,445

[52] US. Cl. 37/42VL, 172/806, 172/273 [51] Int. Cl Elh /04 [58] Field of Search .f. 37/41, 42 R, 42 VL, 172/801804,806809, 272, 273, 274, 805 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,957,103 5/1934 Friwk 37/42 R 2,057,326 10/1936 Coates 37/42 R 2,350,437 6/1944 Wiedman.. '37/42 R 2,365,597 12/1944 Roth 37/42 R 2,710,464 6/1955 Husting 157/42 R 3,098,309 7/1963 Koch 37/42 R 3,201,878 8/1965 Markwardt.... 37/42 R 3,588,147 6/1971 Enters 172/272 X 3,640,005 2/1972 Chiarolanza et a1. 37/42 VL X 3,749,180 7/1973 Coontz l7 2/801 X 3,793,752 2/1974 Snyder 172/805 X Primary Examiner--Robert Pulfrey Assistant Examiner-E. H. Eickholt Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Bruns & Jenney 29 I was Q G |e 5g 26 62 4| I Q,

92 27 N I lo 4 7e "o 79|o2/, )9;

e "4 1 F9 A 69 el K E30 9B [57] ABSTRACT The plow support frame comprises a rectangular angle iron frame adapted to be secured upright adjacent the vehicle bumper and an integral, horizontally and rearwardly extending arm at each side having quick attachment means at its trailing end for attachment to the vehicle frame. The frame upright at each side has a rearwardly extending bracket connected by a pin to an eyebolt secured to the bumper. A slide channel at each side has aligned upper and lower slots therealong, a bolt through the upper slot and the frame upright pivotally secures the slide channel at the side of the upright. A pusher bar at each side has its trailing end pivotally secured to the frame arm and a bolt through the slide channel lower slot and the pusher bar secures the bar to the frame for up and down oscillation thereto. A lightweight sheet steel plow blade has a vertical reinforcing rib bolted thereto. A coil spring extends from each reinforcing rib in the upper third of the blade to a hinged bracket on the aligned pusher bar for providing trip means when the blade meets an obstruction. A flexible member extends from the hinged bracket to a point in the vehicle adjacent the drivers seat for tilting the blade top back so as to be carried elevated on the pusher bar skis.

14 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures mtmtnm sum 3. 45.517 slm 10F a v '-A'I"IACHMENT TO SMALL. VEHICLE I BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTI ON This invention relates to improvements in snowplows and relates more particularly to a lightweight snowplow and means for quickly and easily coupling the same to a small pusher vehicle such as a passenger car or small truck.

' Prior art-snowplows adapted for mounting on such v small vehiclesusually require largeand unsightly coupling means to be assembled to and permanently car- LIGHTWEIGHT SNOWPLOWFOR QUICK ried by the vehicle and usually include pneumatically operated plow lifting meansf Such large coupling means are usually difficult'and expensive to install and even after the coupling means are installed it is difficult for a single'operator to attach the plow to the coupling means; I a

SUMMARY or THEJTNVENTION. The invention contemplates a lightweight blade fashport frame fashioned of small angle irons which can be quickly and easily assembled to and disassembled from the vehicle, the frame and bladebein'g connected by a ,side of a rectangular framework adapted to be supported upright in frontof the bumper' and cooperating fittings at the trailing end of an arm integral with the rectangular. framework oneach side and adapted to extend'underneath the vehicle frame members. These cooperating'tittingsa're coupled with the vehicle-carried fittings by *simply'inser'ting'pi'n means therethrough.

and its support frame in position so that the pushing vehicle maybe driven into position over it. The hinged arrangementof the pusher bar allows the coupling means at the trailing end of each trailing arm to be easily lifted without lifting the support frame to couple the armwith the under-vehicle fitting first on one side, then on the other. The comparatively light support frame then may be lifted and the frame connected vto'the bumper fittings. Y

The upright portion of the support frames have transverse-pin-receiving holes at its top at each side and the blade may be manually lifted, first on one side and then on the other and pins in the holes at the top of the support may be inserted through the slide channel upper slots to secure the blade in elevated position when not in use.

Each pusher bar terminates forwardlyin a bracket having a pair of forwardly projecting and transversely ioned principally of sheetmetal and a lightweight supspaced ears having aligned holes ther'ethrough. A tubular fitting between the ears is secured thereto by'a' bolt through the fitting and through the ear holes and has a spherical ball formed thereon for connection to the blade. f I t Theblade has a'curved mold board of sheetmetal suitably reinforced and a cutting edge member extending along its bottom. Two vertically extending and rearwardly projecting ribs are removably secured to the blade, alternative bolt holes being supplied in the blade sothat the ribs may be aligned with the pusherbar regardless of the pusher bar transverse spacing. In the lower one third of the blade heighth a plate is bolted to each side of each rib. Therearward portion of each plate is cup-shaped forming a partially spherical recess so that the ball onthe tubular fitting at the ends of the pusherbars act as a ball and socket joint. This connection between pusher bar and blade is pivotal about a horizontal transverse axis and also, has a limited pivotal Vehicles manufactured by o ne large car manufacturer are already provided with a hole through the front portion of the two parallel front to rear vehicle frame membersused fo'r sei: uring the ,vehicle frame on conveyingmeans during assembly. Hook means for coopcrating with these holes may be supplied for these vehicles at the ends of the support frame trailing arms.

The upstanding rectangular framework is provided with transverse crossbeams which can be adjusted in length telescopically to fit any of the well known vehicles regardless of the vehicle frame member spacing.

Tubular pusher bars are provided at each side to connect the support frame with the plow blade in advance of the vehicle. Eachpusher bar-is hingedly secured to a support frame trailing arm for movement of the bar up and down and a slotted slide-channel member at each side extends substantially vertically alongside theupright portion of the support frame. Bolt means through anupper slot in the slide channel connect the slide channel to'the upright portionof the support frame and bolt means through a lower slot in the chanside and in the rearward location on the other side the nel connect the channel to the push bar for guiding the push bar without interfering with the up-and-down movement of the pusher bars.

Each pusher bar hasa skid or shoe at its forward end and the blade has a skid adjacent each end for supporting it. This double skid arrangement supports the plow motion about a vertical axis. 1.

A coil spring extends from a bracket secured .to the bladefin its upper one third of heighth downward and rearward'to a bracket secured to each pusher bar for providing trip means about the pushba'r to blade connec'tion. I f

The pushbar mounted spring bracket is rotatable rearwardly for raising the blade about the horizontal pivot axis of the pusherxbar-blade connection so as to be supported on the pusher bar skids. To this end a flexible member is provided in the pusher vehicle with one end in reach of the operator and having its other end connectable to the spring bracket for rotating it.

The hinged connection between the trailing arm of the support frame and the rearward end of the pusher bar is made alternatively in at least two locations. One location is at the rearward end of the trailing arm. The other location is well forward in the trailing arm. When this connection is made in theforward location on one plow blade is angled to one side. r BRIEF DESCRIPTION'OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a sideelevational view of a snowplow ac cording to the invention, the coupling means to a vehicle front bumper and to the vehicle frame member FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the coupling means between vehicle front bumper and support frame;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a fitting employed in the pusher bar to blade pivotal connection;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the plow blade partly in section on the line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the spring bracket carried on the left-hand pusher bar and FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of the spring bracket carried on the right-hand pusher bar;

FIG. 8 is a somewhat diagrammatic perspective view of the upright portion of the support frame, the connecting bolts being omitted for clarity;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of one of the slide channels;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the snowplow with the blade adjusted angularly; and

FIG. 11, on sheet 2 of the drawings, is a perspective view of one of the support frame trailing members and showing a modified coupling fitting for connection to the vehicle frame.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1 a snowplow comprises a support frame 16, pusher assemblies 17 at each side and a transversely extending blade assembly 18.

The support frame 16 comprises a rectangularly shaped upright portion 19 and a frame trailing arm 20 at each side. A front bumper 21 of a pusher vehicle is indicated in broken lines in FIG. I, floor boards of the drivers section are indicated fragmentarily at 22, and a longitudinally extending vehicle frame member is indicated in broken lines at 23.

Referring to FIG. 8, the upright support frame portion 19 is mainly fashioned from 2 inches X 2 inches angle irons welded and bolted together. At each side an upright 24 is partially boxed at 25 by welding thereto another shorter angle iron substantially halfway between top and bottom. A transversely projecting pad 26 is welded to each column 24 adjacent the boxed-in portion 25 and a forwardly projecting pad 27 is welded at the bottom of each column.

An upper transverse beam 28 is bolted to each column 24 at its top by a bolt 29 seen in FIG. 1. A lower transverse beam 30 is welded to each column at its ends and included in this welded joint at each side are plates 31 in which holes 32 are provided for bolting through holes 33 in trailing arms 20 as best seen in FIG. 11. It will be noted that beams 28 and 30 are each made in three parts. the parts being provided with a plurality of bolt holes 34 for bolting the parts together so that each beam is selectively telescopically adjustable so that the support frame is adjustable in width to conform to the transverse spacing of the vehicle frame members of different makes of vehicles.

Beam 28 has a pendant plate 35 welded thereto at each end spaced from a respective column 24. Each plate 35 provides a hole 36 transversely aligned with a hole 37 in column 24 through which a bent-headed pin 38 may be inserted. A coil spring 39 around each pin biases the pin outward by bearing against a cotterpin 40 through a hole in the pin and seen at the right in FIG. 8

Referring to FIG. 3, a bracket 41 is provided for the boxed-in portions 25 of each column 24, the bracket having a central hole 42 for a bolt connection with one or an other of holes 43 in the sections 25. An eyebolt 44 having a tubular head is provided for securement to the pusher vehicle bumper 21, the head being adapted to fit between the ears 45 of the bracket. A bent-end pin 46, and cooperating cotterpin 47 for locking, may be passed through the aligned holes in the bracket ears 45 and through tubular head of eyebolt 44 for quickly connecting support frame 16 to the pushing vehicle bumper.

Referring to FIG. 1, a plate 48 having bolt means 49 for attaching the plate to a vehicle frame member 23 is shown. The plate 48 has a pendant ear 50 at each side which provide a quick attachment fixture carried by the vehicle for attachment to the trailing arms 20 of the support frame. Each arm 20 has bolted thereto another plate 51 which terminates rearwardly of the arm in a tubular portion 52. A bent-headed pin 53, and a cotter pin 54 for locking, passed through aligned holes in ears 50 and through the tubular portion 52 of the plate 51 provides quick attachment means for securing arms 20 to the vehicle frame, as seen in FIG. 2.

The pusher assembly 17 at each side comprises a rectangular tubular pusher bar 55 and a slotted slide channel 56 (FIG. 1). As seen in FIG. 2, the rearward end of pusher bar 55 has an upwardly projecting ear 57 welded thereto at each side. The ears 57 are embraced by the pendant flanges of channel-shaped trailing arm 20 and a bolt 58 passing through aligned holes in the bar ears and arm flanges hingedly secures each pusher bar 55 to a trailing arm 20 leaving the forward end of the pusher bar free for oscillation up and down. Note that another alternate location at 59 is provided in arm 20 for pin 58.

The pusher assembly also includes the normally substantially vertically extending slide channel 56 having an upper slot 60 and an aligned lower slot 61. The channel 56 is slidingly secured against the outer side of upright 24 by bolt means at 62 passing through slot 60 and through aligned bolt holes 63 in upright 24 and its adjacent boxed-in portion 25 (FIG. 3). It will be noted that slot 60 is long enough so that slide channel 56 may be moved upwardly and pin 38 retracted and then released to pass through the upper end of slot 60 for holding the channel and the blade elevated.

The slide channel is slidingly secured against the outer side of pusher bar 55 by bolt means at 64 passing through lower slot 61 and aligned holes in the pusher bar. In the position shown in FIG. 1, the slide channel 56 is held elevated with respect to the pusher bar by a projecting pad or block 65 welded to the underside of the bar.

The forward end of pusher bar 55 is supported on a skid 66 welded thereto and which may have a replaceable shoe portion 67. The bar terminates in a bracket having transversely spaced forwardly projecting ears 68 as shown in FIG. 5. Through transversely aligned holes in the ears 68, bolt means at 69 secure a pivot fitting 70, shown in FIG. 4, for pivotally connecting pusher bar 55 to the blade 18. Fitting 70 comprises a tubular portion 71 on which has been formed, by welding or otherwise, a spherical portion 72.

The blade 18 comprises a curved sheet metal moldboard portion 73, reinforced by a horizontally extending steel strip 74, and a cutting edge or scraper blade along the bottom. Other reinforcing members 76 welded to the moldboard 73 and strip 74 are shown in lower one third of the heighth of the'blade and terminates rearwardly in an annular cup-shaped portion 80 formed thereon or welded thereto. The plates 79 on opposite side's'of a rib 78 are mirror image alike and the cup-shaped portions 80 are formed to make a ball and socket connection with the spherical portion 72 of the fitting 70. This connection is pivotal about a horizontally transverse axis of the bolt at 69 and also about a vertical pivot axis by virtue of the ball and socket connection.

Each rib 78, at its lower end, is welded to a plate 81 and, at its top to a spring bracket '82, the platebeing bolted at 83 to the strip 74 and the bracket 82 being bolted at 84 to the moldboard 73. A plurality of holes 85 for the bolts 83and 84 are provided so that ribs 78 can be aligned with pusher bars 55. Another plate 86 may be provided below strip 74 for attachment to the strip by bolts 83 and plate 86 may. have a reinforcing rib 87 which may be welded to plate 86 in prolongation ofrib78.

"A handle 88 may be provided at each side of the blade for manual lifting and a guide flag holder 89 at the right may be useful.

Each bracket 82 is located in the upper one third of the heighth of the blade and is'provided with a perforated rearwardly projecting portion 90. An eyebolt 9] through portion 90 is provided for adjustably securing the upper endof a tensioncoil spring 92, best seen in FIG. I. r

The other end of spring-92 is secured under tension H to the upwardly extending arm 93 of a

spring bracket

95 or 96, bracket 95 being secured to the left-hand pusher bar 55L and bracket 96 being secured to the right-hand pusher bar 55R as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, respectively. Each pusher 'bar SSL and R has a transversely extending tubular bushing 97 welded to its top and a bolt 98 extends through the bushing and through pendant ears from the

respective bracket

95 or 96 for rotatably securing the bracket to the pusher bar. Each bracket has a cross member 99 from which the ears extend and which prevents the bracket from being rotated counterclockwise from the position shown in full lines in FIG. 1.

For further regulating this limited rotation of the bracket in this direction, cross member 99 has a nut I00 welded to it and a bent end bolt'l0l is threadedly engaged in the nut for regulating the limit.

As seen in FIG. 6, the right-hand ear of bracket is extended upward to form an operating lever I02 extending upward and forward asshown in FIG. I. A chain 103 is secured to lever 102 and extends rearwardly to a hook 104 at the end of a wire 105. The wire I05 extends through a flexible steel tube 106, through the floorboard 22 of the pusher vehicle to ahandle 107 in reach of the driver. Chain 103 has an end'at I08 pendant from hook 104 and the forward end of tube 106 is secured at 109 by a clamp to an appropriate portion of the vehicle. Handle 107 is supported in reach of the driver by a garden hose type tube 110 as shown.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the bolt means 58 at one selected side of the plow may be removed, blade 18 pushed forward at that side, the holes in the ears 57 on the pusher bar on that side aligned with the holes at 59 in the support frame trailing arm, and the pusher bar resecured in forward position to the trailing arm by bolt 58. Blade 18, by this means, is angled back and to the right as indicated. The slide channel 56 on the selected side is thus moved from its generally vertical position shown in FIG. 1 and angled forwardly and downward as shown in FIG. 10. The upper end of slide 56 abuts pad 26 on the support frame to limit up and down motion of the blade to movement of bolt 64 in the lower slot 61 and pad 27 on the support frame provides additional sideward support for the slide channel 56. It will be understood that hook 104 will be connected to the pendant end 1080f chain 103 when the blade is in angled position.

It will now be apparent that the connection between the forward ends of the pusher bars 55 and the plates 79 of the blade provide, not only for rotation of the blade forwardly and rearwardly, but for rotation of the joint about a vertical axis so that the blade can be angled s shown in FIG. 10.

Trip action of the blade against the tension of springs 92 is provided as the blade rotates counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. I and unrestrained rotation clockwise may be obtained by the operator pulling on'handle 107. It will be understoodby inspection of FIG. 1 that the blade 18 is shown in broken lines at 18 only partially rotated. Further rotation, further raising the blade, may be hade by pulling back the handle 107 to a greater extent.

Referring again to FIG. 11, a trailing arm 20 does not have the plate 51 secured thereto. A modified fitting 111, in the form of a hook projecting up from the trailing arm and then projecting rearwardly, is bolted to the rearward end of the arm. It will be seen that, when the plow and supporting frame are resting on

skids

66 and 77 the rearward endof the trailing arm 20 may be easily manually lifted and the rearward end of fitting lll introduced into a hole in the forward end of a vehicle frame member 23. One of the largest manufacturers of cars and trucks provide such a hole through frame members 23, which hole is used in securing the frame member on a dolly which moves down the assembly line.

I claim:

1. 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 si e pivotally secured for up and downmovement 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.

2. 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 r tating 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.

3. 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.

4. 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 ofthe frame arm and the pivotal securement of the other pusher bar to its frame arm on the other side is adjacent the leading end ofthe frame arm, whereby the plow blade is in angled position.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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,

9 the second plate terminating rearwardly in a transversely extending tubular portion adapted to extend be tween 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.

10. 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.

11. The snowplow defined in claim 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 to respect to the roadway and the blade is supported in raised position by the pusher bar skids.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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 apin 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 ve hicle.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE; CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 8 5, 7 v Dated November 5, 1974 Invehtofls) m h llvh Naymik It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent'are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the Abstract, the last word "skis" should be skids--.

In the Description of the Preferred Embodiments,

Col. 6, line 24, "s" should be as Claim 14, Col. 10, line '15, "arms" should be ears line 1 9, "removably" is spelled wrong.

'Signed and sealed this 7th day of Januar 1e75.

(SEAL) Attestx. hccoy M. GIBSON JR. c. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer 7 I Commissioner of Patents FORM Po-wso (10 69) 7 USCOMWDC 6057M," I I ".5. GOVI INIIINT PRINTING OFFICE "ll OlG-83l,

Claims

1. 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.

2. 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.

4. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

14. 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.