Abstract
The invention relates to a lightweight, inflatable plow that can be attached to the front of any smaller motorized vehicle for use in removing snow or a similar substance from a commercial or residential driveway. The plow of the invention is partially inflatable, partially rigid and lightweight and can be attached to the front of a motor vehicle without requiring assembly or making any permanent modifications to the body, frame, or any component of the vehicle. The plow of the invention is preferably flexible enough to fold in half in the center for easy transport and storage.
Claims
1. A plow device for attachment to a motor vehicle comprising: a. an inflatable bladder; b. at least one blade with a front, back and bottom section; c. a blade edge; and d. at least one attachment strap for attachment of the device to the motor vehicle, wherein the inflatable bladder is attached to the back section of the at least one blade and the blade edge is at the bottom section of the at least one blade.
2. The plow of claim 1, wherein the inflatable bladder comprises at least two compartments.
3. The plow of claim 2, wherein the at least two compartments are stacked vertically, horizontally or a combination thereof.
4. The plow of claim 1, wherein the inflatable bladder comprises a polymer material.
5. The plow of claim 4, wherein the polymer comprises a plastic polymer.
6. The plow of claim 4, wherein the polymer comprises a synthetic fiber.
7. The plow of claim 4, wherein the polymer material comprises polypropylene, coated polyurethane, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, coated modacrylic or combinations thereof.
8. The plow of claim 1, wherein the inflatable bladder comprises a front side and the front side comprises a pocket for attachment of the inflatable bladder to the back section of the at least one blade.
9. The plow of claim 1, wherein the inflatable bladder comprises a back side and the back side is concave.
10. The plow of claim 1, wherein the inflatable bladder comprises a rectangular or triangular shape.
11. The plow of claim 1, wherein the at least one blade comprises two segments.
12. The plow of claim 1, wherein the back of the least one blade comprises at least one hinge.
13. The plow of claim 1, wherein the least one blade comprises a straight angle or a V-shape.
14. The plow of claim 1, wherein the at least one blade comprises a rigid material.
15. The plow of claim 15, wherein the rigid material comprises a plastic or a metal.
16. The plow if claim 15, wherein the rigid material comprises high density polyethylene, polycarbonate or aluminum.
17. The plow of claim 1, wherein the blade edge comprises a rounded cutting edge.
18. The plow of claim 1, further comprising a pressure feedback system.
19. A motor vehicle comprising the plow of claim 1.
20. A method of plowing comprising the steps of a. Assembling the plow as claimed in claim 1; b. Attaching the plow to the front of a motor vehicle; and c. Plowing an area with the plow.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The accompanying drawings are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification. The drawings, together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the exemplary embodiments and methods given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment attached to a vehicle.
[0023] FIG. 2 is a partial enlarged front isometric view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1.
[0024] FIG. 3 is a partial enlarged rear isometric view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1.
[0025] FIG. 4a is an isometric view of an element of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1.
[0026] FIG. 4b is an exploded view of the element of FIG. 4a.
[0027] FIG. 4c is a rear view of the element of FIG. 4a.
[0028] FIG. 5a is a front isometric view of an element of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1
[0029] FIG. 5b is a side view of the element of FIG. 5a.
[0030] FIG. 6 is a rear isometric view of the element of FIG. 5a.
[0031] FIG. 7 is rear isometric view of an element of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1.
[0032] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another element of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1.
[0033] FIG. 9 is a front isometric view of another preferred embodiment.
[0034] FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 9.
[0035] FIG. 11a is a bottom isometric view of an element of FIG. 9.
[0036] FIG. 11b is a front view of the element of FIG. 11a.
[0037] FIG. 11c is a side view of the element of FIG. 11a.
[0038] FIG. 12 is a front isometric view of an element of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 9.
[0039] FIG. 13a is a front isometric view of another preferred embodiment.
[0040] FIG. 13b is a rear isometric view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 13a.
[0041] FIG. 14 is a front isometric view of another preferred embodiment.
[0042] FIG. 15 is an exploded view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 14.
[0043] FIG. 16 is a rear isometric view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 14.
[0044] FIG. 17 is an enlarged partial rear isometric view of an element of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 15.
[0045] FIG. 18a is a side isometric view of an alternate position of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 15.
[0046] FIG. 18b is a bottom isometric view of another alternate position of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 15.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0047] Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments and methods of the invention. It should be noted, however, that the invention in its broader aspects is not necessarily limited to the specific details, representative materials and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described in connection with the exemplary embodiments and methods. Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the drawings.
[0048] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment attached to a vehicle 100. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the plow 101 of the preferred embodiment comprises a v-shaped blade 102, a pressure feedback system 103 and an inflatable bladder 104. The plow 101 is preferably connected to the vehicle 100 with straps 105, 106, which are preferably adjustable. According to a preferred embodiment, there are preferably at least four attachment points 107, 109 on the plow 101 sewn onto the inflatable bladder 104. Straps 105 hook to bottom/side attachment points 107 on the plow 101 and connect to the vehicle 100 in the front door hinge seam 108. Straps 106 hook into the top attachment points 109 on the plow 101 and connect to the top of the hood 110 where the windshield wipers are located. The attachment points 107, 109 are preferably reinforced.
[0049] The inflatable bladder 104 of the preferred embodiment has a slight triangular shape with a vertex 705 as seen in FIG. 7. The triangular shape allows snow to move to either side of the vehicle 100 if the snow load becomes too large to continue pushing forward. The slight triangular shape can be more closely defined by the angle of the vertex 705. The angle of the vertex 705 of the preferred embodiment is preferably about 90-180 degrees, more preferably about 120-160 degrees. Alternative embodiments with a smaller or larger vertex 705 angle are also contemplated.
[0050] To better match the rounded contour of most vehicle 101 bumpers, the inflatable bladder 104 is preferably slightly curved on the side facing the vehicle, i.e., the side that comes in contact with the vehicle 100, as seen in FIGS. 7 and 13b. This allows the inflatable bladder 104 to form around the front of the vehicle 100 when fully inflated and properly attached. The curvature of the inflatable bladder 104 at the interfacing point with the bumper of the vehicle 100 also distributes the load and vibrational force across the bumper of the vehicle 100 to provide even plowing force and minimize damage to the vehicle 100. According to an alternative embodiment, the inflatable bladder 104 may be constructed with a flatter vehicle interface to accommodate vehicles such as SUVs or small trucks, which typically have less curvature in their bumpers, some vehicles, primarily in the truck or sport utility vehicle classes, are built with a flat bumper.
[0051] The material for the inflatable bladder 104, 1300 is preferably durable, resistant to abrasion and waterproof. According to a preferred embodiment, the inflatable bladder 104, 1300 is preferably made of a polymer, preferably a plastic polymer, more preferably polypropylene, polyurethane (PU) coated nylon, polyethylene or flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sheet. Alternatively, the inflatable bladder 104, 1300 may also be made of acrylic, coated modacrylic, or other suitable synthetic fiber.
[0052] Straps 105, 106 are preferably adjustable by means of a buckle 800 as seen in FIG. 8, or other suitable means. The straps 105, 106 preferably have a hook 801 at one end to connect to the attachment points 107, 109. The straps 105, 106 are preferably about 0.5-5 inches wide, preferably about 1-3 inches wide, more preferably about 2 inches wide. The buckles 800 on the adjustable straps 105, 106 are preferably coated with a material such as rubber to prevent any damage to the vehicle 100. Although the preferred embodiment is shown with four attachment points, 107, 109, an alternative embodiment may include more than four attachment points in different locations. For example, according to another preferred embodiment, there may be six attachment points, two on top, two on the side, and two on the bottom (not shown).
[0053] As seen in FIG. 2, the pressure feedback system 103 comprises a front cylinder 200 and a pressure feedback console 201. The front cylinder 200 is the hinging point between the blades of the v-shaped blade 102. The pressure feedback console 201 is attached to the top of the front cylinder 200. The console 201 houses electrical components 202 such as batteries and computer chips. The user fastens the console 201 to the cylinder 200 and connects a wire 203 to an external connection point 204. The external connection point 204 is connected to a differential pressure sensor 205 mounted inside the inflatable bladder 104. There is another wire 206 that connects the electrical components 202 to an LED board 207. When not in use, the console 201 can be detached from the cylinder 200 and external connection point 204 for storage.
[0054] The pressure feedback system 103 can optionally be added to any of the embodiments described herein. The differential pressure sensor 205 operates by taking the difference between two input readings to determine the change in pressure across a barrier. If there is no barrier, the reading will be zero because the pressure at both inputs is the same. In order to protect the pressure feedback system 103 from damage, it is preferably mounted inside a protective housing 208 as seen in FIG. 2. The protective housing 208 and differential pressure sensor 205 are preferably attached to the internal upper wall at the vertex 705 of the inflatable bladder 104 where wire 203 will allow input from the differential pressure sensor 205 to detect the pressure of the surrounding atmosphere. The protective housing 208 is located on top of the front cylinder 200 to shield the electrical components 202 from damage. The differential pressure sensor 205 is mounted inside the inflatable bladder 104 and is connected to the external connection point 204 for connection to the pressure feedback console 201.
[0055] The LED board 207 as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4c preferably lights up and displays different colors to indicate that the power is connected and the relative pressure within the inflatable bladder 104. For example, the LED board 207 may display green lights to indicate that it is on with 0 pressure, yellow lights to indicate a pressure in the range of from about 9-11 PSI, orange lights to indicate a pressure in the range of about 11-14 PSI, and red lights to indicate a pressure of more than 14 PSI. In this example, the yellow to red color progression of the LED lights warns the user that the pressure is getting too high and that the inflatable bladder 104 could burst. Optionally, the LED board 207 could also display another color, such as blue, to indicate that the inflatable bladder 104 is underinflated and in danger of being caught under the vehicle 100 tires and run over. Of course, any color/pressure combinations are contemplated depending on the LED board 207 and the material of the inflatable bladder 104.
[0056] As seen in FIGS. 5a, 5b and 6, the blade 102 of the invention may be preferably curved. The curved blade 102 preferably has a flat rear surface. As seen in FIGS. 5a and 5b, according to one embodiment, the blade 102 made be made of a one-piece molded plastic with an integrated flat rear surface 500 for attachment to the inflatable bladder 104 and hinge 300. Alternatively, the blade 102 may be made of metal or plastic and fitted with a rigid plate 301 for attachment to the inflatable bladder 104 and hinge 300 as seen in FIG. 6.
[0057] As seen in FIG. 3, at least one hinge 300 is attached to a rigid plate 301 on the back of each blade 102 and on the back of the front cylinder 200. As seen in FIGS. 4a and 4b, the pressure feedback console 201 is preferably fastened to the front cylinder 200 with screws or bolts fed through holes 400 located on the side of the protective housing 208. According to a preferred embodiment, the back side of the front cylinder 200 and the back side of the protective housing 208 are shaped to correspond to the angle of the blades 102 and inflatable bladder 104 as seen in FIG. 4b. Accordingly, the angle in FIG. 4b is preferably about 90-180 degrees, more preferably about 120-160 degrees. Of course, according to an alternative embodiment, if the plow is angled as seen in FIGS. 13a and 13b, or straight (not shown), the back side of the front cylinder 200 and the back side of the protective housing 208 are shaped to correspond to the angle of the blades and inflatable bladder 104.
[0058] Preferably, the curved blade 102 is made of a rigid plastic material such as high density polyethylene (HDPE) or polycarbonate. According to a preferred embodiment, the curved blade 102 has a radius of about 10 inches to about 20 inches, preferably 12 inches to 18 inches, more preferably 13 inches to 16 inches. As seen in FIG. 6, the rigid plate 301 is preferably attached to the blade 102 with any suitable fasteners 601, including but not limited to screws, bolts or pins.
[0059] The inflatable bladder 104 preferably has more than one compartment, including at least one top compartment 700 and at least one bottom compartment 701 as seen in FIG. 7. Each compartment 700, 701 preferably has at least one valve 702 on the back side of the inflatable bladder 104, which preferably comprises a valve 703 and cap 704. The valve 703 is preferably a tire valve such that the inflatable bladder 104 can be inflated with a bicycle pump or air compressor. According to alternative embodiments, other valves 703 such as a one-way air valve or a valve with a safety release that prevents over inflation may also be used. According to a preferred embodiment, the compartments 700, 701 are stacked vertically and combined to produce the inflatable bladder 104. Although this embodiment comprises two compartments 700, 701 stacked vertically, the invention also contemplates two or more compartments stacked vertically, horizontally or a combination thereof. Having more than one compartment protects the plow 101 from complete deflation during use in the event that a compartment 700, 701 of the bladder 104 is punctured, ruptured or is otherwise damaged. Each compartment is preferably inflated individually, although they can be deflated simultaneously.
[0060] FIG. 9 is a front isometric view of another preferred embodiment wherein the blade 900 is v-shaped and has three or more flat surfaces to form a preferably semi-hexagonal profile when viewed from the side (as seen in FIG. 12) to facilitate attachment of the hinges 300 to the segments of the blade 900, and the segments of the blade 900 to the rigid plate 301 with fasteners 901. As seen in FIG. 9, the inflatable bladder 104 preferably has a pocket 904 that is attached to the front of the inflatable bladder 104 as detailed further with respect to FIGS. 15 and 17.
[0061] According to a preferred embodiment, the blade 900 may optionally have a reinforced, rounded cutting edge 902 attached to the edge of the segments of the blade 900 with fasteners 1100 as seen in FIGS. 11a and 11b. The reinforced, rounded cutting edge 902 acts to withstand the majority of abrasion and potential damage to the rigid blade 900. According to a preferred embodiment, the cutting edge 902 has an angled end 905 to match the angle of the vertex 705 as seen in FIGS. 9, 10, 11a, 11b, 14 and 15.
[0062] The cutting edge 902 is preferably made of a hard, abrasion resistant plastic such as HDPE. This plastic can be easily formed into the preferred U-shape of the cutting edge 902 as seen in FIG. 11c. Some metals such as stainless steel and aluminum could also be used for the cutting edge 902. To achieve the highest degree of strength, the material for the cutting edge 902 is preferably in one piece. An additional advantage to having a cutting edge 902 is that it can be repaired or replaced as necessary without affecting the functionality of the plow 101.
[0063] The blade 900 is preferably rigid and abrasion resistant to successfully penetrate snow of different consistencies, including powdery, wet, icy, sleet, or any combination that a user may encounter during the colder seasons. The blade 900 may be made of any suitable material such as plastic or metal, more preferably the blade 900 is made of HDPE plastic or aluminum. Optionally, the plow 101 of the invention may also have blade guides 903. The blade guides 903 are commonly installed on plows 101 to aid the user in determining where the edge of the plow is with respect to the area being plowed, as the user often cannot see the plow 101 fully from the vehicle 100. The blade guides 903 extend vertically from the outermost points of the plow 100 and about 30-42 inches into the user's field of vision so that the user knows there the edge of the plow 101 is.
[0064] As seen in FIG. 10, sliders 1000 are optionally affixed to the bottom of the inflatable bladder 104. According to a preferred embodiment, there are preferably about 3-7 sliders 1000, more preferably about 5 sliders 1000 on the bottom of the inflatable bladder 104. The sliders 1000 are preferably made of rubber, plastic, metal or other suitable material. The purpose of these sliders 1000 is to make contact with the abrasive surface being plowed and to protect the bottom of the inflatable bladder 104 from damage. These sliders 1000 are preferably made of a material that is harder and more resistant than the material of the inflatable bladder 104. The sliders 1000 may be round, square, rectangular or any other suitable shape. According to an alternative embodiment, the sliders may also be a strip shape.
[0065] Another preferred embodiment can be seen in FIGS. 13a and 13b, wherein the inflatable bladder 1300 is triangular with the vertex 1301 of the inflatable bladder 1300 aligned with either the left or right headlight of a vehicle. This configuration allows a user to move snow or other material entirely to one side of the vehicle. In FIGS. 13a and 13b, the vertex 1301 would be aligned with the right headlight of the vehicle. This configuration causes the snow to move forward and to the left of the vehicle 100 when in use. This embodiment uses the same fundamental features of the other preferred embodiments, including attachment points 107, 109 and a rigid blade 900 with a centrally located hinge (not shown). The hinge permits the plow 101 to be folded when deflated and not in use for ease of storage and transportation as seen in FIGS. 18a and 18b.
[0066] According to another preferred embodiment (not shown), the inflatable bladder may optionally be rectangular in shape with a flat mounted blade to push snow or other material in the forwards direction. This embodiment has a front facing blade that is parallel to the front of the vehicle. The inflatable compartment for any other alternative embodiment can comprise any shape that will successfully attach to a vehicle and clear a path by plowing snow or moving a substance in a forward direction in front of the vehicle. For example, the inflatable compartment may be semicircular, semi-hexagonal, inverted V-shape, or any other configurations that allow snow or other material to be moved from a path by being pushed forward or moved to the left or right side of the vehicle.
[0067] FIG. 14 is a front isometric view of another preferred embodiment. This embodiment differs from the embodiment of FIG. 9, in that it does not have the optional pressure feedback system 103. Otherwise, this embodiment comprises similar elements as in FIG. 9, as also seen in FIG. 15.
[0068] As seen in FIG. 15, the v-shaped blade 900 meets at the vertex 705 of the inflatable bladder 104 and is attached to the inflatable bladder 104 with hinges 300. The hinge 300 adds stability to the plow 101 by securely fastening the v-shaped blade 900 at the vertex 705. The hinge 300 also allows the inflatable bladder 104 to be deflated and folded for storage as shown further in FIGS. 18a and 18b. Conversely, the hinge 300 allows the plow 101 to be inflated and to open like an accordion for use. According to a preferred embodiment, the blade 900 is joined in a flush manner at the vertex 705 with preferably only a small gap created by the hinge 300. This gap is preferably minimized to prevent snow from entering the space behind the segments of the blade 900.
[0069] As seen in FIG. 17, the pocket 904 is a thin pocket that is attached to the front of the inflatable bladder 104 and is preferably made from the same material as the inflatable bladder 104. The pocket 904 is preferably configured to span the entire height of the inflatable bladder 104, but only the partial length of the inflatable bladder 104. The pocket 904 houses the rigid plate 301 for attachment of the blade 900. The rigid plate 301 slides into the pocket 904 with a snug fit. The pockets 904 may remain open or be closed with a hook and loop closure, zipper, buttons or other suitable closure to keep foreign material out of the pocket. The rigid plate 301 inside the pocket 904 allows the blade 900 to be securely attached to the inflatable bladder 104 without puncturing any holes into the inflatable bladder 104. The pocket 904 is preferably external from the inflatable bladder 104. By remaining attached to the outside of the bladder 104, all of the fasteners used to attach the blade 900 remain fixed to the rigid plate 301 and do not contact the inflatable bladder 104. The rigid plate 301 and pocket 904 have the height of the inflatable bladder 104, but preferably do not span the entire length of the blades 900. The length of the pocket 904 and rigid plate 301 covers the majority of the front of the plow 101, but preferably stops about 3-10 inches, more preferably about 4-8 inches, most preferably about 5-7 inches from the vertex 705 of the inflatable bladder 104 such as to prevent any interference with the hinges 300. Any interference at the vertex 705 would prevent the plow 101 from folding when deflated for storage as shown in FIGS. 18a and 18b.
[0070] According to a preferred embodiment, the rigid plate 301 may be made of any suitable material, including but not limited to plywood, particle board, aluminum or plastic. The rigid plate 301 may be thinner or thicker depending on the desired application. A thicker plate will weigh more and will permit the plow to better cut through dense snow or other materials. On the other hand, a thinner plate will make the plow lighter and therefore easier to move, install and store.
[0071] Preferably, the total height of the plow 101 is below the vehicle 100 headlights and radiator. Adverse conditions often require the use of headlights and, in some instances, use of the plow 101 at night may be desirable or necessary. Further, plowing may require the engine of the vehicle 100 to work harder and therefore, the radiator of the vehicle should remain unobstructed when the plow 101 is in use to prevent the vehicle 100 from overheating. As most passenger vehicles have headlights at a height of about 20 inches, according to a preferred embodiment, the plow 101 preferably has a height of about 14 inches to about 20 inches, preferably about 16 inches to 20 inches, in order to ensure proper contact with the bumper while still being clear of the headlights and radiator. Alternatively, the plow 101 may be higher than about 20 inches for use with a small truck or SUV.
[0072] The plow 101 is preferably at least as wide as the outer distance of the front wheels of the vehicle 100 plus an additional 3-5 inches on both sides. The front wheels of the vehicle 100 preferably have sufficient clearance from any snow or other material being moved for the vehicle 100 to be able to move forward. Even a small amount of snow that interferes with the tires of the vehicle 100 can cause the vehicle 100 to lose traction and decrease the effectiveness and snow removal capability of the plow 101. The traction of the vehicle 100 may also be compromised if either sand or dirt creates a barrier between the tires and the area being plowed. The average width of an SUV is about 72 inches, accordingly, the plow 101 is preferably at least about 6-8 inches wider, or a total width of about 78-80 inches. Preferably, the inflatable bladder 104 has a slightly smaller width than the blade 900. As seen in FIG. 16, the segments of the blade 900 extend from a few to several inches wider than the inflatable bladder 104. The bladder 104 only interfaces with the vehicle 100, but the blade 900 must ensure that sufficient snow is removed to clear the tire tracks.
[0073] According to another preferred embodiment, the plow 101 may be modified for use with non-passenger vehicles, such as ATVs, golf carts, or tractors (not shown). Such modifications would require a plow 101 that is wide enough to clear the tire tracks of the non-passenger vehicle, as unlike passenger vehicles, the wheels of a non-passenger vehicles are frequently wider than the wheelbase.
[0074] While preferred embodiments of the plow of this invention have been shown, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that what has been shown and described is considered at present to be a preferred embodiment of the plow of this invention. Accordingly, changes may be made in the plow of this invention without actually departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. The appended claims are intended to cover all such changes and modifications which are within in the spirit and scope of this invention.
