Convertible snow plow

Abstract

A plow mounts to a vehicle and includes a plow blade defining a longitudinal direction and having a forward surface configurable at a first position with the plow blade transverse to the direction of travel and a second position with the plow blade oblique to the direction of travel. First and second box ends are at ends of the plow blade, extending transversely to the plow blade, each of the first and second box ends having a first straight edge, a second straight edge, and a recess intermediate the first and second straight edges. The box ends rotate between a first position with a first straight edge extending forward horizontally proximate the bottom of the plow blade; a second position with a second straight extending rearward horizontally proximate the bottom of the plow blade, and a third position with the first and second straight edges raised.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plow apparatus, mountable to a vehicle moving in a direction of travel; the plow apparatus comprising:
 a plow blade defining a longitudinal direction and having a forward surface; the plow blade having a top, a bottom, a first end and a second end;   a blade positioning system for supporting the plow blade at:
 a first position with the plow blade longitudinal direction substantially transverse to the direction of travel; 
 a second position with the plow blade longitudinal direction oblique to the direction of travel; 
   a first box end at the first end of the plow blade and a second box end at a second end of the plow blade; each of the first and second box ends extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the plow blade, each of the first and second box ends having a first straight edge, a second straight edge non-parallel with the first straight edge, and a section intermediate the first edge and the second edge and defining a recess;   the first and second box ends being rotatable about an axis extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the plow blade between a first box end position and a second box end position; the first straight edge being at a lower portion of the first and second box ends and extending substantially forward horizontally at a same height as the bottom of the plow blade at the first box end position; the second straight edge being at a lower portion of the first and second box ends and extending substantially rearward horizontally at a same height as the bottom of the plow blade at the second box end position.   
     
     
         2 . The plow apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a third box end position; the first and second straight edges being raised above the bottom of the plow blade at the third box end position. 
     
     
         3 . The plow apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the first and second box ends are at the first box end position or the second box end position when the plow blade is at the first position, and wherein the first and second box ends are at the third box end position when the plow blade is at the second position. 
     
     
         4 . The plow apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the section intermediate the first edge and the second edge comprises a concave curved edge. 
     
     
         5 . The plow apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the section intermediate the first edge and the second edge comprises a curved edge, the curved edge substantially aligning with the curved profile when the first and second box ends are at the first box end position. 
     
     
         6 . The plow apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the each of the first and second box ends comprises a substantially planar body extending transverse to the longitudinal direction of the plow blade. 
     
     
         7 . A plow apparatus, mountable to a vehicle moving in a direction of travel; the plow apparatus comprising:
 a plow blade defining a longitudinal direction and having a forward surface with a curved profile; the plow blade having a top, a bottom, a first end and a second end;   a blade positioning system for supporting the plow blade at:
 a first position with the plow blade longitudinal direction substantially transverse to the direction of travel; 
 a second position with the plow blade longitudinal direction oblique to the direction of travel; 
   a first box end at the first end of the plow blade and a second box end at a second end of the plow blade; each of the first and second box ends extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the plow blade, each of the first and second box ends having a first straight edge, a second straight edge non-parallel with the first straight edge, and a section intermediate the first edge and the second edge and defining a recess;   the first and second box ends being rotatable about an axis extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the plow blade between a first box end position, a second box end position and a third box end position; the first straight edge being at a lower portion of the first and second box ends and extending substantially forward horizontally at a same height as the bottom of the plow blade at the first box end position; the second straight edge being at a lower portion of the first and second box ends and extending substantially rearward horizontally at a same height as the bottom of the plow blade at the second box end position; the first and second straight edges being raised above the bottom of the plow blade at the third box end position.   
     
     
         8 . The plow apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the first and second box ends are at the first box end position or the second box end position when the plow blade is at the first position, and wherein the first and second box ends are at the third box end position when the plow blade is at the second position. 
     
     
         9 . The plow apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the section intermediate the first edge and the second edge comprises a concave curved edge. 
     
     
         10 . The plow apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the section intermediate the first edge and the second edge comprises a curved edge, the curved edge substantially aligning with the curved profile when the first and second box ends are at the first box end position. 
     
     
         11 . The plow apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the each of the first and second box ends comprises a substantially planar body extending transverse to the longitudinal direction of the plow blade. 
     
     
         12 . A method of positioning a plow blade for plowing, the plow blade having a face defining a curved profile, and a box end at each end of the blade, each box end having a first straight edge, a second straight edge, and a recessed section intermediate the first straight edge and the second straight edge; the method comprising:
 mounting the plow blade to a vehicle moving in a primary direction of travel;   positioning the plow blade face transverse to the primary direction of travel and positioning the box ends with the first straight edge extending horizontally forward of the blade in the primary direction of travel;   positioning the plow blade face transverse to the primary direction of travel and positioning the box ends with the second straight edge extending rearward of the blade opposite to the primary direction of travel; and   positioning the plow blade face obliquely to the primary direction of travel and positioning the box ends with the first and second straight edges extending obliquely to horizontal.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the ends of the plow blade are unobstructed when the box ends are positioned with the first and second straight edges extending obliquely to horizontal. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the recessed section intermediate the first edge and the second edge comprises a concave curved edge and wherein the concave third edge forms a void for snow to pass beyond an end of the plow blade when the box ends are positioned with the first and second straight edges extending obliquely to horizontal. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the section intermediate the first edge and the second edge comprises a curved edge, and wherein with the box ends are positioned with the second straight edge extending rearward of the blade opposite to the primary direction of travel the curved edge substantially aligns with the curved profile.