Expandable Containment Plow

Abstract

Provided is a material handling assembly, such as a plow, that may contain additional features mounted thereon so as to increase the functionality of the assembly, and an apparatus and method for mounting such an assembly or other like structure onto a vehicle, such as a truck. A plow mounting apparatus may be used for automatically mounting and dismounting a plow blade to an end of an associated vehicle. The plow mounting apparatus includes a plow assembly comprising: an expandable plow blade pivotally attached to a front portion of a plow frame; a lift frame attached to a rear portion of the plow frame; an auxiliary light mounting apparatus attached to the plow frame; and a height adjustment mechanism that is operable to raise and lower the plow blade assembly relative to the ground. The height adjustment mechanism may include a hydraulic cylinder having a top portion and a bottom portion. The vertical pull structure is attached to the lift frame and includes an outer vertical sleeve and an inner vertical member which is slidingly engageable with the outer vertical sleeve. The light mounting apparatus includes a cross member affixed to a lift frame of a plow assembly and first and second horns which are positioned within the interior of the first and second ends of the cross member such that they are adjustable by way of a fastener.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An adjustable auxiliary light mounting apparatus being affixed to a plow mounting apparatus for mounting a material handling box assembly on an associated vehicle, such as a truck, comprising:
 a lift frame having a first side member and a second side member;   a cross member positioned between the first side member and the second side member of the lift frame, wherein the cross member has a first end and a second end having an inner diameter and an outer diameter, and the cross member having at least one aperture at a first end and at least one aperture at a second end of the cross member;   a first horn having a first end and a second end having an inner diameter and an outer diameter, wherein the outer diameter of the first end of the first horn is less than the inner diameter of the first end of the cross member, wherein the first end of the first horn is positioned within the first end of the cross member and wherein the first horn has at least one aperture positioned so as to overlap the at least one aperture at the first end of the cross member;   a second horn having a first end and a second end having an inner diameter and an outer diameter, wherein the outer diameter of the second horn is less than the inner diameter of the second end of the cross member, wherein the first end of the second horn is positioned within the second end of the cross member and wherein the second horn has at least one aperture positioned so as to overlap the at least one aperture in the second end of the cross member;   at least one first auxiliary light housing positioned at a top portion of the first horn and at least one second auxiliary light housing positioned at a top portion of the second horn;   at least one light positioned within the first and second auxiliary light housings; and   a pin inserted within the overlapping apertures of the first and second horns and the cross member so as to secure the horns within the cross member.   
     
     
         2 . The adjustable auxiliary light mounting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plow mounting apparatus further comprises:
 a lift frame attached to the rear portion of the plow frame;   a vehicle mounting frame consisting of an upper cross member and a lower cross member, wherein the vehicle mounting frame is semi-permanently attached to the chassis of the associated vehicle, the lift frame includes a pair of upper hooks which engage the upper cross member on the vehicle mounting frame, and wherein the clevis frame includes a pair of lower hooks which engage the lower cross member on the vehicle mounting frame;   a vertical pull structure attached to the lift frame, the vertical pull structure having an outer vertical sleeve and an inner vertical member slidingly engageable with the outer vertical sleeve; and   a height adjustment mechanism operable to raise and lower the material handling box assembly relative to the ground, the height adjustment mechanism comprising a hydraulic cylinder having a top portion and a bottom portion; the top portion being attached to the lift frame and the bottom portion being attached to a foot member.   
     
     
         3 . The adjustable auxiliary light mounting apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the material handling box assembly further comprises:
 a main blade consisting of a plate having a concave front surface opposite a convex rear surface; being elongated along its width to define a pair of lateral ends opposed to one another, the elongation defining an axis of elongation; and a plurality of substantially vertical, laterally spaced apart gussets engaged to the rear surface but absent from the lateral ends of the main blade;   a guide frame engaged directly to the rear surface to provide structural support thereto, elongated in the width direction, extending the width of the blade; having a C-shaped cross section having a pair of opposing lips engaged to the rear surface where each of said lips extends toward the other lip; the guide frame defining a first half of a first slidable engagement set having an operational axis substantially parallel to the axis of elongation; and a first half of a second slidable engagement set having an operational axis substantially parallel to the axis of elongation; and   a first wing blade assembly slidably engaged with the first half of a first slidable engagement set by a wing blade slide defining a second half of the first slidable engagement set; the state of being slidably engaged permitting the first wing blade assembly to be moved along the operational axis of the first slidable engagement set such that the width of the material handling box assembly may be adjusted; the first wing blade assembly comprising a wing blade having a front surface positioned behind and which is curved to conform with the rear surface; and a lateral edge plate defining a lateral containment surface.   
     
     
         4 . The adjustable auxiliary light mounting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cross member is permanently attached to the first side member and second side member of the lift frame. 
     
     
         5 . The adjustable auxiliary light mounting apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the cross member is the upper most cross member of the lift frame. 
     
     
         6 . The adjustable auxiliary light mounting apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the cross member has a tubular structure having a circumference and the first and second horns have a bent, tubular structure having a circumference. 
     
     
         7 . The adjustable auxiliary light mounting apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the cross member has at least one pair of apertures at its first end and at least one pair of apertures at its second end. 
     
     
         8 . The adjustable auxiliary light mounting apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first horn and the second horn comprise at least one pair of apertures positioned to overlap the at least one pair of apertures at the first end of the cross member and the second end of the cross member. 
     
     
         9 . The adjustable auxiliary light mounting apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the cross member has a plurality of paired apertures disposed about the circumference of the cross member at the first end and the second end of the cross member. 
     
     
         10 . The adjustable auxiliary light mounting apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first horn has a plurality of paired apertures positioned to overlap the plurality of paired apertures at the first end of the cross member and wherein the second horn has a plurality of paired apertures positioned to overlap the plurality of paired apertures at the second end of the cross member. 
     
     
         11 . The adjustable auxiliary light mounting apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of paired apertures comprises four sets of two apertures which are spaced at 90 degree intervals about the circumference of the cross member at the first end and the second end of the cross member. 
     
     
         12 . The adjustable auxiliary light mounting apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first horn has four sets of two apertures spaced at 90 degree intervals about the circumference of the cross member at the first end of the cross member and wherein the second horn has four sets of two apertures spaced at 90 degree intervals about the circumference of the cross member at the second end of the cross member. 
     
     
         13 . The adjustable auxiliary light mounting apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the first horn comprises one first auxiliary light housing positioned at its top portion and wherein the second horn comprises one second auxiliary light housing positioned at its top portion. 
     
     
         14 . The adjustable auxiliary light mounting apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second auxiliary light housings are respectively positioned on the top portion of the first and second horns through a pivotable bracket. 
     
     
         15 . The adjustable auxiliary light mounting apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second auxiliary light housings respectively mounted on the first and second horns comprise two auxiliary lights. 
     
     
         16 . The adjustable auxiliary light mounting apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the two auxiliary lights comprise a high beam and a low beam. 
     
     
         17 . The adjustable auxiliary light mounting apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the first and second auxiliary light housings further comprise a turn signal.