CA2436616A1

CA2436616A1 - Snow plow with swivelling wheels

Info

Publication number: CA2436616A1
Application number: CA 2436616
Authority: CA
Inventors: Schenker Hastings
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-08-05
Filing date: 2003-08-05
Publication date: 2005-02-05

Abstract

A snow plow blade for mounting to a motor vehicle comprises a curved blade, mounting means for securing the blade to the motor vehicle, and a pair of wheel assemblies mounted near opposite ends of the blade. Each wheel assembly comprises a mounting bracket attached to the rear surface of the blade and has a wheel mounting arm pivotably attached between the mounting bracket and the wheel.
The wheel is connected to the mounting arm through a swivel mechanism, wherein movement of the plow in a forward direction causes the mounting arm to pivot and lower the blade into contact with the ground. Movement of the plow in a rearward direction causes pivoting of the mounting arm in the opposite direction, resulting in raising of the blade relative to the ground. The invention also provides mounting means for mounting the snow plow blade to the front or rear of the motor vehicle.

Description

SNOW PLOW WITH SWIVELLING WHEELS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to snow plow blades for mounting to motor vehicles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] It is well known to mount snow plow blades to motor vehicles such as pick-up trucks and four-wheel drive vehicles for use during the winter months.
However, snow plow blades tend to be expensive, heavy and difficult to remove and install, making them generally unsuitable for occasional or light-duty use.

[0003) There is a need for lightweight snow plow blades which can easily be mounted on a car or light truck and which are easy to use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In one aspect, the present invention provides a snow plow for mounting to a motor vehicle, comprising: (a) a curved blade defining a horizontal axis, the blade having horizontally spaced ends, a front surface, an opposed rear surface and a horizontally extending lower edge; (b) mounting means for securing the blade to the motor vehicle; (c) a pair of wheel assemblies mounted near the opposite ends of the blade, each wheel assembly comprising a mounting bracket attached to the rear surface of the blade; a wheel mounting arm having a first end pivotably attached to the mounting bracket and a second end connected to a ground-contacting wheel;
wherein the first end of the mounting arm is pivotable about a pivot axis which is generally parallel to the horizontal axis, and pivoting of the mounting arm lowers and raises the lower edge of the blade relative to the ground; wherein the wheel is connected to the mounting arm through a swivel mechanism and is able to swivel about a generally vertical swivel axis, the swivel axis being offset horizontally relative to a centre of the wheel such that swiveling of the wheel alters a distance between the pivot axis and the centre of the wheel; wherein movement of the plow in a forward direction causes the wheel to swivel to a first position in which the centre of the wheel is horizontally spaced from the pivot axis by a relatively greater distance, and causes the mounting arm to pivot to a first position in which the lower edge of the blade is lowered; and wherein movement of the plow in a rearward direction causes the wheel to swivel to a second position in which the centre of the wheel is horizontally spaced from the pivot axis by a relatively lesser distance, and causes the mounting arm to pivot to a second position in which the lower edge of the blade is raised.

[0005] In another aspect, the present invention provides a mounting mechanism for attaching a snow plow to a motor vehicle, the snow plow comprising a curved blade and mounting means for securing the blade to the motor vehicle, the mounting mechanism comprising: (a) a mounting bracket for attachment to the vehicle, the bracket having a connecting portion which, when the bracket is mounted to the vehicle, is directed generally parallel to an axis defined by a direction of movement of the vehicle; and (b) a mounting bar having a first end for attachment to the connecting portion of the mounting bracket and a second end for attachment to the snow plow blade, the first and second ends being obtusely relative to one another, the bar being mountable to the connecting portion in at least four orientations in which the connecting portion and the first end of the mounting bar are generally directed along the axis and in which the second end of the mounting bar is obtusely angled relative to the axis.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0007] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred snow plow according to the invention, taken from the rear of the snow plow blade;

[0008] Figure 2 is a side view showing in isolation a wheel assembly of the snow plow of Figure 1;

[0009] Figure 3 is a side view showing the plow of Figure 1 being moved forwardly;

[00010] Figure 4 shows the plow of Figure 1 being moved rearwardly;

[00011] Figure 5 shows a motor vehicle with a front mounting bracket for mounting to the plow shown in Figure 1;

[00012] Figure 6 is a plan view showing left and right tilting of the plow of Figure 1 mounted to the vehicle of Figure 5;

[00013] Figure 7 is an enlarged, isolated perspective view of the front mounting bracket shown in Figures 5 and 6;

[00014] Figure 8 shows a motor vehicle with a rear mounting bracket assembly for mounting to the plow shown in Figure 1;

[00015] Figure 9 is an enlarged view of the rear mounting bracket assembly of Figure 8; and [00016] Figures 10 to 13 are side views of the rear mounting bracket assembly of Figure 8 in a variety of orientations.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[00017] Figure 1 generally illustrates the components of a preferred snow plow according to the present invention. Snow plow 10 comprises a blade 12 having a front curved surface 14, a rear surface 16 generally parallel to the front surface 14, horizontally spaced ends 18, 20 and a horizontally extending lower edge 22 which is preferably provided with a metal scraper 24.

[00018] Preferably, the snow plow blade 12 is made of a plastic material, and has a plurality of metal reinforcing ribs 26 extending between the lower edge 22 and an upper edge 28 of blade 12. The upper edge 28 may also preferably be reinforced by a metal angle iron 30 or the like, and is preferably provided with a centrally located handle 32 for lifting the plow 10.

(00019] The blade 12 is preferably provided with a mounting assembly 34 through which the blade 12 is mounted to a motor vehicle. The mounting assembly 34 comprises a pivotable mounting bracket 36 comprising a plate 38 mounted to the rear surface 16 of blade 12 by a hinge 40, such that the mounting bracket 36 is pivotable along a horizontally extending axis which is parallel to the blade 12. The plate 38 is mounted close to the lower edge 22 of blade 12, and is connected to the upper edge 28 of the blade 12 by a pair of tension springs 42. When the lower edge 22 of the blade 12 strikes an obstruction, the blade will tilt forwardly, thereby avoiding damage to the plow.

[00020] Secured to plate 38 by welding or the like is a square bar 44 extending substantially perpendicular to the rear surface 16 of blade 12, and extending past the rear edge of plate 38, for connection to the vehicle through an angled mounting bar 46, as more fully described below. Projecting from the rear surface 16 of blade 12 above plate 38, and preferably mounted to the reinforcing ribs 26, is a stop plate 48 having a lower surface which may preferably be provided with a rubber layer 49 which would buffer the return of stop plate 48 to its original operating position after the blade 12 returns from being tilted forward.

[00021] The snow plow further comprises a pair of wheel assemblies 50 which are mounted between bracket 36 and the opposite ends 18, 20 of the blade 12.
Each wheel assembly 50 comprises a mounting bracket 52 rigidly secured to the rear surface 16 of blade 12, a wheel mounting arm 54 (more clearly shown in Figure 2) having a first end 56 pivotably attached to the mounting bracket 52 and a second end 58 connected to a ground-contacting wheel 60. As shown in Figure 2, the mounting arm 54 is generally L-shaped, comprising a first leg 74 and a second leg 76 extending at a substantially right angle to one another.

(00022] As shown in Figure 2, the wheel mounting bracket comprises a plate 62 secured to the rear surface 16 of blade 12, and a U-shaped housing 64 connected by welding or the like to plate 62, and comprising a pair of side walls 66 and a connecting top wall 68. The first end 56 of arm 54 is received inside housing 64, with a pivot pin 70 extending through the side walls 66 of housing 64 and through the first end 56 of mounting arm 54. The pivot pin 70 defines a pivot axis P (Fig. 1 ) which is generally horizontal and parallel to the blade 12.

[00023] Upward pivoting of mounting arm 54 is limited by the top wall 68, and downward pivoting is limited by stop pin 72. Preferably, when the mounting arm contacts stop pin 72, the first leg 74 extends substantially horizontally from the mounting bracket 52, and the second leg 76 is generally vertical.

[00024] As shown in Figure 2, the wheel 60 is connected to the second leg 76 of mounting arm 54 through a swivel mechanism 78 comprising a rotating connection 80 attached to mounting arm 54, and a frame 82 which connects the center 84 of wheel 60 to the rotating connection 80.

[00025] The rotating connection 80 defines a swivel axis S which extends through, and generally parallel to, the second leg 76 of mounting arm 54. The swivel axis S is horizontally spaced relative to the center 84 of wheel 60 by the frame 82. It will be appreciated that swiveling of the wheel about swivel axis S alters the horizontal distance between the pivot axis P (defined by pivot pin 70) and the center 84 of wheel 60.

[00026] Figures 3 and 4 respectively illustrate movement of the blade 12 in the forward and rearward directions. When the plow 10 is moved forwardly as shown in Fig. 3, the wheel 60 swivels to a first position in which its center 84 is horizontally spaced from the pivot axis P by a first distance D~. When the plow is moved rearwardly as in Figure 4, the wheel swivels to a second position in which its center 84 is horizontally spaced from the pivot axis P by a distance D2. As can be seen from Figures 3 and 4, distance D~ is greater than distance D2. It can also be seen that the wheel 60 is aligned generally parallel to the direction of travel in both Figures 3 and 4, and swivels by about 180 degrees between the first and second positions shown in the drawings.

[00027] As shown in Figure 2, each of the wheel assemblies 50 further comprises biasing means for biasing the first leg 74 of mounting arm 54 into contact with the stop pin 72. In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, the biasing means comprises a tension spring 86 extending between the second end 58 of mounting arm 54 and the wheel mounting bracket 52. The tension spring 86 is preferably hooked at its ends, with one end engaging a retaining pin 88 extending between the side walls 66 of mounting bracket 52, and a retaining pin 90 extending between side walls of the mounting arm 54 at its second end 58.

[00028] It will be appreciated that other biasing means may be employed to bias the mounting arm 54 into contact with stop pin 72. For example, the mounting arm 54 and/or the bracket 52 could be modified such that a compression spring (not shown) could be provided between the bracket 52 and arm 54.

[00029] The tensioning force provided by spring 86 is sufficient such that, when the wheel 60 swivels to the position shown in Figure 4 (i.e, with the plow 10 moving rearwardly), the spring exerts sufficient tension to pull the mounting arm 54 into contact with the stop pin 72. In this orientation, the wheels 60 are in contact with the ground G, and the lower edge 22 of blade 12 is raised relative to the ground [00030] When the wheel pivots to the position shown in Figure 3 (i.e. with the plow moving forwardly), the distance between the center 84 of wheel 60 and the pivot axis P is at a maximum. The mounting arm 54 acts as a lever which causes upward pivoting of the mounting arm 54 toward the top wall 68 of housing 64. This results in lowering of the plow blade 12 such that the wheels 60 and the lower edge 22 of blade 12 are in contact with the ground G, as shown in Figure 4.

_7_ [00031] A preferred mechanism for mounting plow 10 to a motor vehicle 92 will now be described with reference to Figures 5 and 6.

[00032] Figure 5 illustrates a motor vehicle 92 provided with a mounting bracket 94 for attachment to the plow 10. Mounting bracket 94 comprises a pair of connecting members 96 which are secured to the frame (not shown) of the motor vehicle 92. Extending between connecting members 96 is a cylindrical bar 98.
Preferably, bar 98 is secured against rotation to the connecting members 96, for example by welding. The bar 98 extends substantially perpendicular to the forward and rearward directions of travel of the motor vehicle 92.

[00033] Attached to the bar 98 is a tubular mounting bracket 100, comprising a cylindrical sleeve 102 which receives bar 98 and a square tubular sleeve 104, the tubular sleeve 104 being welded to the cylindrical sleeve 102 at a right angle. The tubular mounting bracket 100 is able to rotate 360 degrees about the bar 98 and can be locked in the up position (Figure 7) with a lock pin 115 secured in an aperture 116 in the cylindrical sleeve 102 which aligns with a bore 117 in the bar 98.
Locking the bracket 100 in the up position as shown in Figure 7 elevates the mounting bar 46, thereby providing sufficient ground clearance for transporting the snow plow 10. In the down position shown in Figure 6, the mounting bar 46 is lowered for engagement of the plow 10 with the ground.

[00034] The square tubular sleeve 104 has an interior cross-sectional shape and size so that it can receive an end of the mounting bar 46. The mounting bar 46 has a first end 108 for insertion into the sleeve 104 and a second end 110 for attachment to the snow plow blade 12. The first and second ends 108, 110 are angled obtusely relative to one another, and the mounting bar 46 is preferably in the form of a hollow, square tube at both its ends.

[00035] Since the first end 108 of bar 46 and the square tubular sleeve 104 both have square cross-sections, it will be appreciated that the first end 108 of mounting bar 46 can be received inside connecting portion 106 in four orientations. In each of these orientations, the connecting portion 106 and the first end 108 of mounting bar 46 are generally directed along the direction of travel, with the second end 110 of mounting bar 46 preferably being obtusely angled relative to the direction of travel.

[00036] As shown in the drawings, the mounting bar 46 is provided with apertures 112 extending through its four sides near both the first end 108 and the second end 110. When the first end 108 of the mounting bar 46 is inserted into the square tubular sleeve 104 of mounting bracket 100, apertures 112 align with vertically aligned apertures 111 of the sleeve 104, and a pin is inserted through the aligned apertures 111 and 112 to connect the mounting bar 46 to the bracket 100.
To assist in aligning apertures 111 and 112, a stop collar 118 may preferably be provided near the first end 108 of the mounting bar 46. The stop collar 118 abuts the square tubular sleeve when the apertures 111 and 112 are vertically aligned to receive pin 114.

[00037] The portion of square bar 44 protruding from plate 38 is provided with a vertically extending bore 113. The bar 44 is inserted into the hollow mounting bar 46 until the second end 110 of mounting bar 46 abuts the edge of plate 38. At this point, the apertures 112 of mounting bar 46 are vertically aligned with the bore 113 of bar 44, and a pin 114 is inserted through the aligned apertures 112 and bore 113 to secure the mounting bar 46 to the plow 10.

[00038] Due to the fact that the mounting bar 46 is bent, the orientation of plow can be varied depending on how the first end 108 of mounting bar 46 is inserted into the square tubular sleeve 104 of bracket 100. For example, angling the second end 110 of mounting bar upwardly relative to the horizontal raises the blade relative to the ground, for example when the snow plow 10 is being transported with the mounting bracket 100 locked in the up position as shown in Figure 7.

_g_ [00039] Angling the second end 110 of mounting bar 46 downwardly relative to the horizontal, with the mounting bracket 100 in the down position shown in Figure 6, lowers the blade 12 and the wheels 60 to their ground-engaging positions.
Similarly, angling the second end 110 of mounting bar 46 to the left (dashed lines in Fig. 6) or right (solid lines in Fig. 6) results in angling the blade 12 horizontally relative to the direction of travel.

[00040] Although the plow 10 has been described as being mountable to the front of a vehicle, it will be appreciated that it may also be mounted to the rear of a vehicle. For rear mounting, the vehicle may be provided with a mounting bracket such as bracket 100 described above which can be attached to the vehicle frame.
However, many vehicles are already provided with a rear tow bar, and the invention also provides means for mounting plow 10 to an existing tow bar. This rear mounting arrangement is now described below with reference to Figures 8 to 13.

[00041] Figure 8 illustrates a vehicle 120 having a tow bar 122 protruding from below the rear bumper 124 of vehicle 120. The tow bar 122 has a rectangular opening 123. Secured to tow bar 122 is a mounting bracket 126 assembly which is connected to a mounting bar 46 in the manner described above. Bracket assembly 126 comprises a U-shaped housing 128 comprising a pair of parallel, vertically extending side walls 130 connected by a horizontally extending top wall 132.
The assembly 126 further comprises a connecting bar 125 and optionally includes one or more spacer bars 136. The U-shaped housing 126 is secured to the connecting bar 125 and optional spacer bar 136 through the top wall 132. A pair of longitudinally spaced apertures is provided in each of the connecting bar 125 (apertures 133), the spacer bar 136 (apertures 135) and the top wall 132 of U-shaped housing 128 (apertures 131 ). To secure the components of assembly 126 together, the apertures 131, 133 and 135 are aligned and the components are connected by fasteners 134 (heads visible in Fig. 8) such as bolts.

[00042] The assembly 126 is connected to tow bar 122 through the connecting bar 125, with the connecting bar 125 being provided with a third aperture 137 adjacent the end of bar 125. The connecting bar 125 has a rectangular cross section and is adapted to be received in the interior 123 of tow bar 122. After insertion of connecting bar 125 into tow bar 122, the aperture 137 of connecting bar 125 registers with aligned apertures 139 extending through the top wall and bottom wall (not shown) of tow bar 122, and is secured by a pin (not shown) extending through the tow bar 122 and the connecting bar 125.

[00043] As best seen in Figure 9, adjacent the lower ends of side walls 130 are a pair of horizontally aligned apertures (not shown) through which a cylindrical bar or bolt 138 is secured. Located between side walls 130 and surrounding the bar 138 is a cylindrical sleeve 140 which is rotatable, preferably by 360 degrees, about the bar 138. Mounted to the side of the cylindrical sleeve 140, and at a right angle thereto, is a square tubular sleeve 142 having vertically aligned apertures 144 near its ends 146, 147 for attachment to the mounting bar 46 as described above with reference to tubular sleeve 104.

[00044] As will be appreciated, the height of the tow bar 122 above the ground depends on the type of vehicle to which it is attached. For effective operation, the plow according to the invention should be mounted to the bracket assembly 126 such that the mounting bar 46 is substantially horizontal or inclined slightly upwards from the bracket 126 to the plow. For this reason, the bracket assembly 126 is adjustable to permit vertical height adjustment of square sleeve 142, through which the bracket assembly 126 is connected to mounting bar 46. For relatively low tow bars, the height of the square sleeve 142 may need to be adjusted upwards and, for relatively high tow bars, the square sleeve 142 may need to be adjusted downwards.

[00045] The arrangement shown in Figure 9 is suited for attachment to a relatively high tow bar 122, where lowering of the square sleeve 142 is desired. In this orientation, the open end of U-shaped housing 128 is directed downwardly, the square sleeve 142 is rotated to its lowermost position, and the top wall 132 of housing 128 is secured below the connecting bar 125. The height of sleeve 142 could be further reduced by inserting one or more spacer bars 136 between the top wall 132 of housing 128 and the connecting bar 125.

[00046] Figure 10 illustrates an embodiment in which the bracket assembly 126 is configured for attachment to a tow bar (not shown) of intermediate height relative to the ground, and lower than the height of tow bar 122 shown in Figure 9. In this embodiment, some lowering of square sleeve 142 is desired. In this embodiment, the downward orientation 128 of housing is maintained, the top wall 132 of housing 128 is secured above the connecting bar 125 and spacer bar 136, and the tubular sleeve 142 is rotated to its upper position.

[00047] Figure 11 illustrates an embodiment in which the square sleeve 142 is locked in position to prevent the plow from contacting the ground while it is being transported. In this embodiment, the end 147 of sleeve 142 is tilted slightly upwards, and a pin 143 (shown in Fig. 9 only) is inserted through a pair of aligned apertures 145 in the side walls 130 of housing 128. In this orientation, the end 147 of sleeve 142 is prevented from dropping, thereby keeping the plow out of contact with the ground. The orientation shown in Figure 11 is applicable wherever the U-shaped housing 128 is in the downward orientation as shown in Figures 8 to 10.

[00048] Figure 12 illustrates an embodiment in which the tow bar (not shown) is lower than in Figures 8 to 11. In the embodiment of Figure 12, the height of square sleeve 142 is increased by a maximum amount by orienting the housing 128 with its open end facing upwardly, by securing the housing 128 with its top wall 132 above the connecting bar 125 and spacer bar 136, and by rotating the square sleeve 142 to its upper position. Of course, the height of square sleeve 142 could be reduced somewhat by rotating the sleeve 142 to its lower position, and/or by mounting the housing 128 with its top wall 132 positioned below one or both of the connecting bar 125 and the spacer bar 136.

[00049] Figure 13 illustrates the orientation of the square sleeve 142 during transportation of the plow with the housing 128 in its upward orientation. In this embodiment, the pin 143 (not shown) is inserted through the apertures 145 in the side walls 130 of housing 128, and the square sleeve 142 is rotated so that its end 146 contacts the pin 143.

[00050] Although the invention has been described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, it is not intended to be limited thereto. Rather, the invention includes all embodiments which may fall within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1.~A snow plow for mounting to a motor vehicle, comprising:
(a) a curved blade defining a horizontal axis, the blade having horizontally spaced ends, a front surface, an opposed rear surface and a horizontally extending lower edge;
(b) mounting means for securing the blade to the motor vehicle;
(c) a pair of wheel assemblies mounted near the opposite ends of the blade, each wheel assembly comprising a mounting bracket attached to the rear surface of the blade; a wheel mounting arm having a first end pivotably attached to the mounting bracket and a second end connected to a ground-contacting wheel;
wherein the first end of the mounting arm is pivotable about a pivot axis which is generally parallel to the horizontal axis, and pivoting of the mounting arm lowers and raises the lower edge of the blade relative to the ground;
wherein the wheel is connected to the mounting arm through a swivel mechanism and is able to swivel about a generally vertical swivel axis, the swivel axis being offset horizontally relative to a centre of the wheel such that swiveling of the wheel alters a distance between the pivot axis and the centre of the wheel;
wherein movement of the plow in a forward direction causes the wheel to swivel to a first position in which the centre of the wheel is horizontally spaced from the pivot axis by a relatively greater distance, and causes the mounting arm to pivot to a first position in which the lower edge of the blade is lowered; and wherein movement of the plow in a rearward direction causes the wheel to swivel to a second position in which the centre of the wheel is horizontally spaced from the pivot axis by a relatively lesser distance, and causes the mounting arm to pivot to a second position in which the lower edge of the blade is raised.

2. The snow plow according to claim 1, wherein each of the wheel assemblies further comprises biasing means for biasing the mounting arm toward the second position in which the lower edge of the blade is raised.

3. The snow plow according to claim 2, wherein the biasing means comprises a spring mounted between the mounting bracket and the mounting arm.

4. The snow plow according to claim 3, wherein the spring is selected from a tension spring and a compression spring.

5. The snow plow according to claim 4, wherein the spring is a tension spring.

6. The snow plow according to claim 1, wherein the mounting arm is generally L-shaped, comprising first and second legs extending at a substantially right angle to one another, the first leg extending generally horizontally from the pivot axis, and the second leg extending generally parallel to the swivel axis.

7. The snow plow according to claim 6, further comprising a tension spring mounted between the mounting bracket and the second leg of the mounting arm, the tension spring biasing the mounting arm toward the second position in which the lower edge of the blade is raised.

8. A mounting mechanism for attaching a snow plow to a motor vehicle, the snow plow comprising a curved blade and mounting means for securing the blade to the motor vehicle, the mounting mechanism comprising:
(a) a mounting bracket for attachment to the vehicle, the bracket having a connecting portion which, when the bracket is mounted to the vehicle, is directed generally parallel to an axis defined by a direction of movement of the vehicle; and (b) a mounting bar having a first end for attachment to the connecting portion of the mounting bracket and a second end for attachment to the snow plow blade, the first and second ends being obtusely relative to one another, the bar being mountable to the connecting portion in at least four orientations in which the connecting portion and the first end of the mounting bar are generally directed along the axis and in which the second end of the mounting bar is obtusely angled relative to the axis.

9. The mounting mechanism according to claim 8, wherein the first end of the mounting bar and the connecting portion of the mounting bracket have polygonal cross sectional shapes which mate with one another.

10. The mounting mechanism according to claim 9, wherein the mounting bar is reversible, with its first and second ends having the same cross-sectional shape and area.

11. The mounting mechanism according to claim 8, wherein the first end of the mounting bar has a square cross section and the connecting portion of the mounting bracket comprises a square tube having a hollow interior shaped to closely receive the first end of the mounting bar against rotation.

12. The mounting mechanism according to claim 8, wherein said orientations comprise:
(a) a first orientation in which the second end of the mounting bar is angled upwardly relative to the axis by a sufficient angle that, when the second end of the bar is connected to the snow plow blade, the blade is raised relative to the ground;
(b) a second orientation in which the second end of the mounting bar is angled downwardly relative to the axis by a sufficient angle that, when the second end of the bar is connected to the snow plow blade, the blade is lowered to the ground;
(c) a third orientation in which the second end of the mounting bar is angled horizontally to a first side of the axis by a sufficient angle that, when the second end of the bar is connected to the snow plow blade, the blade is angled horizontally relative to the direction of travel; and (d) a fourth orientation in which the second end of the mounting bar is angled horizontally to a second side of the axis by a sufficient angle that, when the second end of the bar is connected to the snow plow blade, the blade is angled horizontally relative to the direction of travel.

13. The mounting mechanism according to claim 8, wherein the connecting portion is connected to a frame of the motor vehicle through a bar extending at a substantially right angle to the direction of travel.