Universal snow plow mounting apparatus
View Patent ↗A height adjustable snow plow mounting apparatus includes an elongated member having a snow plow mounting member positioned at each end thereof. A vehicle mounting member positioned on the elongated member engages a receiver on the motor vehicle for the purpose of releasably connecting the snow plow mounting apparatus to the vehicle. A support member comprising an extended sleeve which substantially spans the length of the elongated member functions to secure the vehicle mounting member to the elongated member. By simply reversing the position of the elongated member relative to the support member, the snow plow mounting members may be positioned above or below the horizontal plane of the vehicle mounting member. In turn, the apparatus readily supports two different heights of the vehicle mounting member relative to the motor vehicle, which heights are based upon standard height differences in motor vehicle ground clearance.
1. A height adjustable snow plow mounting apparatus for mounting a snow plow onto a receiver secured to the front of a motor vehicle, the snow plow mounting apparatus comprising:
an elongated member having an upper side and a lower side and a first end and a second end;
an at least one snow plow mounting member positioned at or near each of the first and second ends of the elongated member, each snow plow mounting member for releasably connecting the snow plow mounting apparatus to a snow plow on a first side of the snow plow mounting apparatus;
an at least one vehicle mounting member positioned on the elongated member and extending outwardly therefrom, the vehicle mounting member for engaging with the receiver for the purpose of releasably connecting the snow plow mounting apparatus on a second side of the snow plow mounting apparatus;
a support member for engaging the vehicle mounting member and securing the vehicle mounting member to the elongated member, the support member comprising an extended sleeve which substantially spans the length of the elongated member;
a flange portion positioned on the support member at a position substantially corresponding to the location of the vehicle mounting member, the flange portion comprising at least two downwardly extending projections, the projections spaced to accommodate the vehicle mounting member between them for the purpose of preventing substantial lateral movement of the vehicle mounting member;
wherein each of the at least one snow plow mounting members may be positioned at a height above or below the horizontal plane of the vehicle mounting member by reversing the positions of the elongated member and the support member, which orientations support two different heights of the vehicle mounting member relative to the motor vehicle, which heights are based upon standard height differences in motor vehicle around clearance.
2. The snow plow mounting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle mounting member may be positioned above or below the elongated member.
3. The snow plow mounting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle mounting member is positioned along a vertical planar axis of each of the at least one snow plow mounting members.
4. The snow plow mounting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second sides substantially oppose each other.
5. The snow plow mounting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle mounting member further comprises a plurality of apertures positioned latitudinally on opposite sides of the vehicle mounting member, wherein the plurality of apertures are sized and positioned on the vehicle mounting member to correspond to apertures positioned on opposite sides of the vehicle receiver.
6. The snow plow mounting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the support member interconnects with each of the at least one snow plow mounting members to augment the strength of the connection between each of the at least one snow plow mounting members and the snow plow mounting apparatus.
7. The snow plow mounting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the support member is fused to the elongated member.
8. The snow plow mounting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the support member is a substantially planar member positioned proximate to the elongated member and substantially aligned with the vehicle mounting member.
9. The snow plow mounting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one snow plow mounting members further comprises a height adjustment means.
10. The snow plow mounting apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the vehicle mounting member may also be positioned above or below the elongated member by adjusting the position of the vehicle mounting member along the vertical planar axis of each of the at least one snow plow mounting members via the height adjustment means.
11. The snow plow mounting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flange portion comprises two identical flange portions positioned proximate to an upper end of the support member.
12. The snow plow mounting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle mounting member is sized to extend outwardly from the elongated member to ensure sufficient clearance between the snow plow mounting apparatus and a front bumper of the motor vehicle.
13. The snow plow mounting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one snow plow mounting members takes the form of a substantially planar mounting plate.
14. The snow plow mounting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one snow plow mounting members takes the form of a substantially cylindrically shaped pin.