Mounting assembly for coupling snowplow or the like to a vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mounting assembly for coupling a snowplow or other like implement to a motor vehicle, such as an all terrain vehicle or the like. The vehicle has a front end, a rear end and a support frame extending longitudinally between the front and rear ends of the vehicle. The support frame is mounted to the undercarriage of the vehicle. The snowplow mounting assembly includes a hollow push frame having a front end and a rear end. The front end of the push frame is adapted to support the snowplow. A first coupling means connects the rear end of the push frame to the support frame. The snowplow mounting assembly also has attachment means for securing the push frame to the support frame at a location intermediate the front and rear ends of the vehicle. A portion of the attachment means is slideably moveable along the push frame between the front and rear ends thereof. A second coupling means connects the front end of the push frame to the support frame. The snowplow mounting assembly further includes a linkage assembly that is connected to the push frame. The linkage assembly is operable to urge the snowplow to move selectively between a raised, out-of-use position and a lowered, in-use position. A means for actuating the linkage assembly is also provided.

1 . An assembly for mounting a snowplow to a vehicle, the vehicle having a front end, a rear end and a support frame extending longitudinally between the front and rear ends of the vehicle, the support frame being mounted to the undercarriage of the vehicle, the snowplow mounting assembly comprising: 
 a hollow push frame having a front end and a rear end, the front end of the push frame being adapted to support the snowplow;    first coupling means for connecting the rear end of the push frame to the support frame;    attachment means for securing the push frame to the support frame at a location intermediate the front and rear ends of the vehicle, a portion of the attachment means being slideably moveable along the push frame between the front and rear ends thereof;    second coupling means for connecting the front end of the push frame to the support frame;    a linkage assembly connected to the push frame; the linkage assembly being operable to urge the snowplow to move selectively between a raised, out-of-use position and a lowered, in-use position; and    means for actuating the linkage assembly.    
   
   
       2 . The snowplow mounting assembly of  claim 1  wherein the push frame has a length, the length of the push frame being adjustable to correspond to the length of the vehicle.  
   
   
       3 . The snowplow mounting assembly of  claim 2  wherein the push frame includes a front portion and rear portion detachably connected to the front portion.  
   
   
       4 . The snowplow mounting assembly of  claim 3  wherein: 
 the front portion of the push frame has a first cross-sectional area;    the rear portion of the push frame has a second cross-sectional area; and    the second cross-sectional area is greater than the first cross-sectional area to thereby permit a part of the front portion to be received within the rear portion.    
   
   
       5 . The snowplow mounting assembly of  claim 4  wherein: 
 each of the front and rear portions are defined by a pair of opposed sidewalls, an upper wall and a lower wall; the upper and lower walls extending between the opposed sidewalls; the sidewalls of the front and rear portions have at least one pair of opposed apertures defined therein;    the apertures in the sidewalls of the front portion being alignable with the apertures in the sidewalls of the rear portion when the front and rear portions are connected to each other;    the apertures being sized to receive a pin for fastening the front portion to the rear portion.    
   
   
       6 . The snowplow mounting assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first coupling means includes a hitch carried on the rear end of the push frame.  
   
   
       7 . The snowplow mounting assembly of  claim 6  wherein the rear end of the push frame has a pair of spaced apart mounting arms for receiving therebetween the hitch, the pair of mounting arms standing proud of the rear end of the push frame to face the undercarriage of the vehicle when the push frame is mounted to the support frame.  
   
   
       8 . The snowplow mounting assembly of  claim 7  wherein the hitch is hingedly mounted between the pair of mounting arms.  
   
   
       9 . The snowplow mounting assembly of  claim 8  further comprising means for adjusting the height of the hitch relative to the rear end of the push frame.  
   
   
       10 . The snowplow mounting assembly of  claim 1  wherein the attachment means includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being the portion of the attachment means that is slideably moveable along the push frame between the front and rear ends thereof, the second portion being fixed to the support frame.  
   
   
       11 . The snowplow mounting assembly of  claim 10  wherein: 
 the first portion of the attachment means is a sliding member; and    the second portion of the attachment means is a clamping device pivotally connected to the sliding member.    
   
   
       12 . The snowplow mounting assembly of  claim 11  wherein: 
 the push frame includes a front portion and rear portion detachably connected to the front portion; and    the sliding member is mounted in substantially surrounding relation to the front portion of the push frame and is adapted to slide longitudinally therealong.    
   
   
       13 . The snowplow mounting assembly of  claim 11  wherein the clamping device includes a pair of clamping members operatively connected to each other for fastening to the support frame and a pair of spaced apart mounting arms for carrying the clamping members therebetween, each mounting arm having a first end fastened to the clamping members and a second end attached to the sliding member.  
   
   
       14 . The snowplow mounting assembly of  claim 1  wherein the second coupling means includes a connecting rod.  
   
   
       15 . The snowplow mounting assembly of  claim 1  wherein the second coupling means includes a connector selected from the group consisting of: (a) a strap; (b) a cable; and (c) a chain.  
   
   
       16 . The snowplow mounting assembly of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the snowplow mounting assembly further includes a snowplow support bracket fixed to the push frame adjacent the front end thereof; and    the linkage assembly includes: 
 at least one linkage rod extending between the front and rear ends of the push frame, the at least one linkage rod having a front end, a rear end and an elongate slot formed therein adjacent the rear end thereof;  
 at least one bar link having a first end and a second end, the first end of the at least one bar link being connected to the at least one linkage rod;  
 at least one dog-legged link having a first end pivotally connected to the second end of the at least one bar link and a second end connected to the actuating means, the at least one dog-legged link being mounted to the push frame at a link pivot connection located intermediate the first and second ends of the at least one dog-legged link, the link pivot connection extending into the hollow of the push frame for connection to the at least one linkage rod; and  
 a generally L-shaped, lever having a first arm and a second arm joined to the first arm; each arm having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the first arm being pivotally connected to the second coupling means, the distal end of the second arm being connected to the front end of the at least one linkage rod, the lever being mounted to the snowplow mounting bracket at a lever pivot connection located between the proximal and distal ends of the second arm.  
   
   
   
       17 . The snowplow mounting assembly of  claim 16  wherein: 
 the at least one linkage rod is housed within the push frame; and    the push frame has an elongate slot defined therein, the rear end of the at least one linkage rod being constrained to travel longitudinally along the slot defined in the push frame.    
   
   
       18 . The snowplow mounting assembly of  claim 17  wherein: 
 the at least one linkage rod is a first linkage rod;    the linkage assembly includes a second linkage rod, the second linkage rod having a front end, a rear end and an elongate slot formed therein between the front and rear ends thereof;    the first and second linkage rods are disposed within the push frame side-by-side; and    the distal end of the second arm of the lever is connected to the front end of the second linkage rod.    
   
   
       19 . The snowplow mounting assembly of  claim 18  wherein: 
 the second linkage rod is housed within the push frame;    the elongate slot of the push frame is a first slot; and    the push frame has a second opposed slot defined therein, the rear end of the second linkage rod being constrained to travel longitudinally along the second slot of the push frame.    
   
   
       20 . The snowplow mounting assembly of  claim 19  wherein the linkage assembly further includes a roller member joining the rear end of the first linkage rod to the rear end of the second linkage rod.  
   
   
       21 . The snowplow mounting assembly of  claim 19  wherein: 
 the at least one bar link is a first bar link;    the at least one dog-legged link is a first dog-legged link; and    the linkage assembly includes a second bar link spaced apart from the first bar link and a second dog-legged link spaced apart from the first dog-legged link;    the second bar link having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second bar link being connected to the second linkage rod;    the second dog-legged link having a first end pivotally connected to the second end of the second bar link and a second end connected to the actuating means, the second dog-legged link being mounted to the push frame at a second link pivot connection located intermediate the first and second ends of the second dog-legged link, the second link pivot connection extending into the hollow of the push frame for connection to the second linkage rod.    
   
   
       22 . The snowplow mounting assembly of  claim 21  wherein: 
 the lever of the linkage assembly is a first lever; and    the actuating means includes a second generally L-shaped, lever; the second lever having a first arm and a second arm joined to the first arm; each arm of the second lever having a proximal end and a distal end; the first arm of the second lever being fixedly mounted to the second ends of the first and second bar links; the distal end of the second arm terminating in a handle.    
   
   
       23 . The snowplow mounting assembly of  claim 1  wherein the actuating means includes manual actuating means.  
   
   
       24 . The snowplow mounting assembly of  claim 23  wherein the manual actuating means includes an actuating lever operatively connected to the linkage assembly.  
   
   
       25 . The snowplow mounting assembly of  claim 24  wherein: 
 the actuating lever is a generally L-shaped, actuating lever having a first arm and a second arm joined thereto;    each arm has a proximal end and a distal end;    the first arm is fixedly mounted to the linkage assembly adjacent its distal end; and    the distal end of the second arm terminates in a handle.    
   
   
       26 . The snowplow mounting assembly of  claim 25  wherein the handle of the actuating lever is within reach of a driver of the vehicle.  
   
   
       27 . The snowplow mounting assembly of  claim 24  wherein the actuating lever is moveable between an engaged position whereat the snowplow is in the lowered, in-use position and a disengaged position whereat the snowplow is in the raised, out-of-use position.  
   
   
       28 . The snowplow mounting assembly of  claim 1  further comprising means for supporting the snowplow on the front end of the push frame.  
   
   
       29 . The snowplow mounting assembly of  claim 28  wherein the snowplow support means includes: 
 a bracket fixed atop the push frame adjacent the front end thereof; and    a snowplow mounting member for attaching to the snowplow, the mounting member being attached to the bracket.    
   
   
       30 . The snowplow mounting assembly of  claim 29  wherein: 
 the push frame has a flange member that extends from the front end of the push frame; and    the snowplow mounting member rests atop the flange member.    
   
   
       31 . The snowplow mounting assembly of  claim 30  wherein the snowplow support means further includes fastening means for securing the snowplow mounting member to the flange member.  
   
   
       32 . The snowplow mounting assembly of  claim 31  wherein the mounting member includes a generally semi-circular plate and a band welded thereto; the semi-circular plate having an arcuate edge and a substantially straight edge; the band extending along the arcuate edge of the semi-circular plate; the straight edge of the semi-circular plate being disposed opposite the snowplow and the arcuate edge being disposed opposite the bracket, when the mounting member is attached to the snowplow.  
   
   
       33 . The snowplow mounting assembly of  claim 32  wherein the semi-circular plate is pivotally connected to the flange member.  
   
   
       34 . The snowplow mounting assembly of  claim 33  wherein: 
 the fastening means is pivot connection member; and    each of the flange member and the semi-circular plate has an aperture defined therein, the apertures being aligned one with the other to receive therethrough the pivot connection member.    
   
   
       35 . The snowplow mounting assembly of  claim 34  further comprising an indexed snowplow orientation assembly operable to fix the snowplow in a predetermined angular position selected from a set of discrete angular positions relative to the front end of the push frame.  
   
   
       36 . The snowplow mounting assembly of  claim 35  wherein: 
 the band has a plurality of indexing apertures formed therein, each indexing aperture corresponding to one the predetermined angular positions selected from the set of discrete angular positions;    the bracket includes a pair of opposed, spaced apart, first and second walls standing proud of the push frame; the each of the first and second walls having an opening defined therein, the openings in the first and second walls being alignable with one of the plurality of indexing apertures formed in the band; and    the indexed snowplow orientation means includes an indexing pin for insertion into the openings and one of the plurality of indexing apertures when aligned;    the openings in the first and second walls, the plurality of indexing apertures and the indexing pin defining the indexed snowplow orientation means.    
   
   
       37 . The snowplow assembly of  claim 36  wherein: 
 the indexing pin is supported by the first and second walls and is mounted to extend through the openings defined therein;    the indexing pin being moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position;    in the engaged position, the indexing pin extending through the openings and one of the plurality of indexing apertures in alignment to thereby fix the snowplow in one of the predetermined angular positions selected from the set of predetermined angular positions;    in the disengaged position, the indexing pin extending short of any of the plurality of indexing apertures to thereby allowing the semi-circular plate to be rotated about the pivot connection member and the snowplow to be moved to one of the predetermined angular positions selected from the set of predetermined angular positions.    
   
   
       38 . The snowplow mounting assembly of  claim 37  wherein the indexing pin is spring-loaded.  
   
   
       39 . The snowplow mounting assembly of  claim 38  wherein the indexing pin is biased toward the engaged position.  
   
   
       40 . The snowplow mounting assembly of  claim 28  further comprising a snowplow carried by the snowplow supporting means.  
   
   
       41 . An assembly for mounting a snowplow to a vehicle, the vehicle having a front end, a rear end and a support frame extending longitudinally between the front and rear ends of the vehicle, the support frame being mounted to the undercarriage of the vehicle, the snowplow mounting assembly comprising: 
 a hollow push frame having a front end and a rear end, the front end of the push frame being adapted to support the snowplow;    first coupling means for connecting the rear end of the push frame to the rear end of the vehicle;    attachment means for securing the push frame to the support frame at a location intermediate the front and rear ends of the vehicle, a portion of the attachment means being slideably moveable along the push frame between the front and rear ends thereof;    second coupling means for connecting the front end of the push frame to the first end of the vehicle;    a linkage assembly connected to the push frame; the linkage assembly being operable to urge the snowplow to move selectively between a raised, out-of-use position and a lowered, in-use position; and    means for actuating the linkage assembly.    
   
   
       42 . An assembly for mounting an implement to a vehicle, the vehicle having a front end, a rear end and a support frame extending longitudinally between the front and rear ends of the vehicle, the support frame being mounted to the undercarriage of the vehicle, the implement mounting assembly comprising: 
 a hollow push frame having a front end and a rear end, the front end of the push frame being adapted to support the implement;    first coupling means for connecting the rear end of the push frame to the support frame;    attachment means for securing the push frame to the support frame at a location intermediate the front and rear ends of the vehicle, a portion of the attachment means being slideably moveable along the push frame between the front and rear ends thereof;    second coupling means for connecting the front end of the push frame to the support frame;    a linkage assembly connected to the push frame; the linkage assembly being operable to urge the implement to move selectively between a raised, out-of-use position and a lowered, in-use position; and    means for actuating the linkage assembly.