Patent Application
20120210611
The invention has particular application to methods and apparatus for snow removal and remediation of snow covered streets, driveways, sidewalks and the like. Substantial snowfall accumulations accentuate the need for equipment to deal with those accumulations and in an economic, flexible and timely manner. Pickup trucks and flatbed trucks equipped with sanding and/or salt spreading apparatus and provided with a plow are commonly used for clearing streets and driveways.
Contractors providing snow plowing services routinely clear driveways and sidewalks with snow blowers and shovels. Maximum utilization of the truck requires the use of the largest possible spreading apparatus. Such large apparatus does not leave room for carrying additional apparatus. One such apparatus is the POLY-CASTER™ Hopper Spreader that has the ability to precisely match material delivery and spread pattern to surface conditions. The dual-motor FISHER® POLY-CASTER™ spreader hopper has independent control of the conveyor and the spinner in an electric-drive system with a rust-proof double-wall poly hopper. The manufacturer is Fisher Engineering of Rockland, Me.
Historically, snow removal services have often used sets of trucks to accomplish the required snow removal work. A first truck equipped with a plow and spreader often has no room left to carry snow blowers. Thus, a second truck is required to carry snow blowers. Attempts to strap snow blowers on the first truck may damage that truck, may obstruct tail, stop and/or turn indicator lights on the truck, may obstruct the license plate and/or may result in the loaded snow blower extending beyond the body of the truck in a manner that is illegal.
The present invention has the objectives of providing an apparatus that will not damage that truck, will not obstruct tail, stop and/or turn indicator lights on the truck, will not obstruct the license plate and will not result in any loaded snow blower extending beyond the body of the truck in a manner that is illegal.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a support for snow blowers that will ensure the snow blowers are securely mounted and will not limit the capacity of the truck carrying sand/salt or the size of the sand/salt spreading apparatus.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a support to work on a flatbed truck as well as a pickup truck.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a support that will enable mounting that does not interfere with the rotating distributor mechanism of the spreading apparatus.
Another object the present invention is to provide a support that will not interfere with the loading of the salt/sand into the spreader apparatus.
Yet another object the present invention is to provide apparatus that is inexpensive and easy to manufacture.
It has now been found that these and other objects of the present invention may be attained in a support for holding an associated snow blower on an associated vehicle equipped with a receiver of the type customarily used for mounting towing apparatus which includes an elongated stem dimensioned and configured for sliding engagement with the receiver; an elongated crossbar fixed to the stem in substantially perpendicular relationship; and at least a first column having a first end fixed to the crossbar and a second end having an arm for supporting an associated snow blower.
In some forms of the invention the support includes a second column having a first end fixed to the crossbar and a second end having an arm for supporting an associated snow blower. The first and second columns are disposed respectively at substantially the axial extremities of the crossbar. The arm for supporting an associated snow blower may be L-shaped and many have upstanding outboard extremities to retain the handle of an associated snow blower.
In some embodiments both the arm for supporting an associated snow blower on the first column and the arm for supporting an associated snow blower on the second column are L-shaped and each has an upstanding outboard extremity to retain the handle of an associated snow blower.
The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawing in which:
A Hitch Receiver is a platform that mounts to the chassis of a vehicle and is the load bearing portion of the tow hitch for pulling a trailer. Published US patent application 2006/0225264 A1 describes one form of a receiver. The present invention is particularly adapted for engagement with a trailer hitch receiver tube carried on the truck on which spreader and plow apparatus is mounted. Commonly, the receiver tube has a 2 inch square receiver that is welded or bolted to the frame of the truck. The receiver is often between 6-24 inches long and often has capacities of 500 pounds tongue weight and 5000 pounds gross towing weight.
The present invention includes a support 6 that is dimensioned and configured for engagement with the receiver commonly mounted to the frame of the vehicle used both to plow snow and spread sand and/or salt. More specifically, the support 6 has a stem 10 dimensioned and configured for sliding engagement within the receiver. The stem 12 may be provided with a hole dimensioned and configured for receiving a pin (not shown) to lock the receiver and stem 12 together.
The stem 10 is welded to a crossbar 12 that extends laterally with respect to the truck 2. The weld is reinforced by gussets 14. A crossbar 12 is dimensioned to extend, in the preferred embodiment, outboard of the sides of the salt/sand distribution apparatus as best seen in
In the preferred embodiment the outboard extremities of the crossbar 12 carry respective vertical columns 16. The columns 16 are welded to the crossbar 12 with oblique braces 18 stabilizing the geometric relationship.
Disposed at the top of each of the columns 16 are respective L-shaped brackets at each comprise first and second coplanar arms disposed at an included angle of 90° with upstanding stops at the outboard extremities are dimensioned and configured to limit horizontal movement of the handles of respective snow blowers 8. It will be that bungee cords (not shown) will typically encircle the handles of the respective snow blowers 8 and the columns 16 to prevent inadvertent disengagement.
While the present invention has been described with respect to utilization on a pickup truck or flatbed truck, those skilled in the art will recognize that some embodiments may be used on so-called SUV sport-utility vehicles as well as other types of vehicles. It will be understood that while the preferred embodiment of the present invention utilizes two vertical columns 16 and each column 16 supports a respective snow blower 8, that other embodiments may utilize a single column for a single snow blower 8. Similarly, the precise support utilized at the upper axial extremity of the columns may differ in various embodiments. For example, a single arc shaped member substantially within a horizontal plane may be supported by the columns 16 to permit mounting of one or more snow blowers 8 on the arc shaped member.
All publications and patent applications mentioned in this specification are indicative of the level of skill of those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains. All publications and patent applications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.
Although the description above contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Thus, the scope of this invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilled in the art, and that the scope of the present invention is accordingly to be limited by the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” All structural, chemical, and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described preferred embodiment that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the present claims. Moreover, it is not necessary for a device or method to address each and every problem sought to be solved by the present invention, for it to be encompassed by the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.”
