IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,630,988
Granted Patent B2
US 12,630,988 · App. 18/205,360 · Granted May 19, 2026

Snow removal system

Inventor: Thomas M. Rich (Lebanon, IN)
Assignee: THE TORO COMPANY
E01H5/061E01H5/062E01H10/007
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,630,988
App. No.
18/205,360
Granted
May 19, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A snow plow is pivotally mounted to a tractor by a compound mount allowing for multiple blade positions. The mount has an inner portion pivotally mounted about a first horizontal axis to the front of the tractor and an outer portion pivotally mounted about a vertical axis to the inner portion. The plow blade is pivotally mounted about a second horizontal axis to the outer portion. Deicer nozzles spray liquid and a spreader distributes salt and other materials in front of the front wheels of the tractor.

Claims (56)

1 . A snow removal system comprising:

a skid steer vehicle comprising:

a frame having a frame front end, a frame rear end, a first side, and a second side,

a first plurality of rotating elements positioned adjacent to the first side of the frame and a second plurality of rotating elements positioned adjacent to the second side of the frame,

a power source operatively connected to the first plurality of rotating elements and the second plurality of rotating elements,

controls operatively connected to the power source to control rotation of the first plurality of rotating elements independent of the second plurality of rotating elements, and

a standing platform positioned rearward of at least a portion of the power source;

a mount configured to removably connect a snow removal accessory to the frame, the mount comprising:

a mount rear end connected to the frame and pivotable about a first substantially horizontal axis,

a mount front end positioned at least partially in front of the frame front end, and

wherein at least a portion of the first substantially horizontal axis is positioned in front of at least a portion of the frontmost rotating element of the first plurality of rotating elements; and

a deicer system comprising a container for storing a deicer fluid, wherein a bottom end of the container is positioned above the standing platform and rearward of at least a portion of a rearmost rotating element of the first plurality of rotating elements.

2 . The snow removal system of claim 1 , comprising the snow removal accessory.

3 . The snow removal system of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of rotating elements includes a first pair of wheels, and the second plurality of rotating elements includes a second pair of wheels.

4 . The snow removal system of claim 3 , comprising a first motor operatively connected to the first pair of wheels, and a second motor operatively connected to the second pair of wheels.

5 . The snow removal system of claim 3 , wherein a distance between the first pair of wheels is less than a diameter of a frontmost wheel of the first pair of wheels.

6 . The snow removal system of claim 1 , comprising a spreader system including a container having an opening configured to selectively allow material stored in the container to fall downwardly out of the container, wherein the container is fixedly connected to the frame.

7 . The snow removal system of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the mount rear end is positioned between the first and second sides of the frame.

8 . The snow removal system of claim 1 , comprising a hydraulic pump in fluid communication with at least one source of hydraulic fluid and a hydraulic cylinder operatively connected to the mount.

9 . The snow removal system of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the frontmost rotating element of the first plurality of rotating elements is positioned in front of the frame front end.

10 . The snow removal system of claim 1 , wherein the first substantially horizontal axis intersects the frontmost rotating element of the first plurality of rotating elements.

11 . The snow removal system of claim 1 , wherein the mount rear end is connected to the frame at a location which is fixed relative to the frame.

12 . A snow removal system comprising:

a skid steer vehicle comprising:

a frame having a frame front end, a frame rear end, a first side, and a second side,

a first plurality of rotating elements positioned adjacent to the first side of the frame and a second plurality of rotating elements positioned adjacent to the second side of the frame,

a power source operatively connected to the first plurality of rotating elements and the second plurality of rotating elements,

controls operatively connected to the power source to control rotation of the first plurality of rotating elements independent of the second plurality of rotating elements, and

a standing platform positioned rearward of at least a portion of the power source; and

a mount configured to removably connect a snow removal accessory to the frame, the mount comprising:

a mount rear end connected to the frame at least at a location that is rearward of at least a first portion of a frontmost rotating element of the first plurality of rotating elements, wherein the mount rear end is pivotable about a first substantially horizontal axis,

a mount front end positioned at least partially in front of the frame front end, and

wherein at least a portion of the first substantially horizontal axis is positioned in front of at least a second portion of the frontmost rotating element of the first plurality of rotating elements.

13 . The snow removal system of claim 12 , comprising a hydraulic pump in fluid communication with at least one source of hydraulic fluid and a hydraulic cylinder operatively connected to the mount.

14 . The snow removal system of claim 12 , comprising a deicer system comprising a container for storing a deicer fluid, wherein at least a portion of the container is positioned rearward of at least a portion of a rearmost rotating element of the first plurality of rotating elements.

15 . The snow removal system of claim 12 , comprising a spreader system including a container having an opening configured to selectively allow material stored in the container to fall downwardly out of the container, wherein the container is fixedly connected to the frame.

16 . The snow removal system of claim 12 , wherein the location where the mount rear end connects to the frame is in front of at least the second portion of the frontmost rotating element of the first plurality of rotating elements.

17 . The snow removal system of claim 12 , wherein the first side of the frame is positioned between the frontmost rotating element of the first plurality of rotating elements and at least a portion of the mount rear end, and the second side of the frame is positioned between a frontmost rotating element of the second plurality of rotating elements and the at least a portion of the mount rear end.

18 . The snow removal system of claim 12 , comprising a first motor operatively connected to the first plurality of rotating elements, and a second motor operatively connected to the second plurality of rotating elements.

19 . The snow removal system of claim 12 , wherein the location where the mount rear end connects to the frame is fixed relative to the frame.

20 . A snow removal system comprising:

a skid steer vehicle comprising:

a frame having a frame front end, a frame rear end, a first side, and a second side,

a first plurality of rotating elements positioned adjacent to the first side of the frame and a second plurality of rotating elements positioned adjacent to the second side of the frame,

a power source operatively connected to the first plurality of rotating elements and the second plurality of rotating elements,

controls operatively connected to the power source to control rotation of the first plurality of rotating elements independent of the second plurality of rotating elements, and

a standing platform positioned rearward of at least a portion of the power source; and

a mount configured to removably connect a snow removal accessory to the frame, the mount comprising:

a mount rear end connected to the frame at least at a location that is rearward of at least a first portion of a frontmost rotating element of the first plurality of rotating elements, wherein the mount rear end is pivotable about a first substantially horizontal axis,

a mount front end positioned at least partially in front of the frame front end, and

wherein the first substantially horizontal axis is in front of a rearmost rotating element of the first plurality of rotating elements.

21 . The snow removal system of claim 20 , comprising a deicer system comprising a container for storing a deicer fluid, wherein at least a portion of the container is positioned rearward of at least a portion of a rearmost rotating element of the first plurality of rotating elements.

22 . The snow removal system of claim 20 , comprising a spreader system including a container having an opening configured to selectively allow material stored in the container to fall downwardly out of the container, wherein the container is fixedly connected to the frame.

23 . The snow removal system of claim 20 , wherein at least a portion of the mount rear end is positioned between the first and second sides of the frame.

24 . The snow removal system of claim 20 , comprising a first motor operatively connected to the first plurality of rotating elements, and a second motor operatively connected to the second plurality of rotating elements.

25 . The snow removal system of claim 20 , wherein the location where the mount rear end connects to the frame is fixed relative to the frame.

Assignments (1)
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jun 5, 2023
From: RICH, THOMAS M.; L.T. RICH PRODUCTS, INC.
To: THE TORO COMPANY
Reel/Frame 063857/0371 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 17680648 · Feb 25, 2022
Continuation 16591976 · Oct 3, 2019
Continuation 15058243 · Mar 2, 2016
Related Publication 20230313476A1 · Oct 5, 2023
References Cited (78)
US 3065556A · Kampert · 1962 [cited by examiner]
US 3587182A · Hirt · 1971 [cited by examiner]
US 4074448A · Niemela · 1978 [cited by examiner]
US 4491275A · Holsworth · 1985 [cited by examiner]
US 4552226A · Platter · 1985 [cited by examiner]
US 4597468A · Friedrich · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 5082065A · Fletcher · 1992 [cited by examiner]
US 5333795A · Jessen · 1994 [cited by examiner]
US 5447204A · Asal et al. · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5638618A · Niemela et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5706591A · Wissmiller · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5950336A · Liebl · 1999 [cited by examiner]
US 6050008A · Doornek · 2000 [cited by examiner]
US 6173590B1 · Witchey · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6173904B1 · Doherty et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6276075B1 · Kost · 2001 [cited by examiner]
US 6446879B1 · Kime · 2002 [cited by examiner]
US 6830111B2 · Page · 2004 [cited by examiner]
US 6941685B2 · Goy et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 7028423B1 · Curry · 2006 [cited by examiner]
US 7043890B2 · Lofton · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7137214B2 · Hoerle · 2006 [cited by examiner]
US 7219453B2 · Baker · 2007 [cited by examiner]
US 7448453B2 · Tobin · 2008 [cited by examiner]
US 7788829B2 · Stephan · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7941947B2 · Stephan · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 7975407B2 · Dilworth · 2011 [cited by examiner]
US 7980569B2 · Azure et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8146844B2 · Kisenwether · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8191288B2 · Weagley et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8465073B2 · Roeder · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8517138B2 · Sashikuma et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8621769B2 · Weagley et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8695238B2 · Warchola · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 8732989B1 · Turnbull · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 9080297B2 · Hanson · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9592862B2 · Pugh · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US D785680S · Dipino · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9976267B2 · Steiner · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 10472783B2 · Rich · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10486616B2 · Lauziere · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 10801172B2 · Moorman · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 11255068B2 · Azure et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11686057B2 · Rich · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20020073581A1 · Takeuchi · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20020189435A1 · Domann · 2002 [cited by examiner]
US 20040018078A1 · Vicars, III · 2004 [cited by examiner]
US 20040145134A1 · Bares · 2004 [cited by examiner]
US 20050189432A1 · Kime · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050193597A1 · Sutton et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050243088A1 · Lengyel · 2005 [cited by examiner]
US 20050246088A1 · Doherty et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20070132204A1 · Sewell · 2007 [cited by examiner]
US 20080197588A1 · Azure · 2008 [cited by examiner]
US 20090078488A1 · Bock · 2009 [cited by examiner]
US 20090081017A1 · Bock · 2009 [cited by examiner]
US 20090307938A1 · Koch et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090307942A1 · Gamble, II et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20100064555A1 · Stephan · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100131157A1 · Kahle et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20140174838A1 · Oswald · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 20150083447A1 · Lewis · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20160021823A1 · Hoppel · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20160138233A1 · Barker et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20180346007A1 · Fielder · 2018 [cited by examiner]
CH 702870B1 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
EP 2639358A1 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 15/058,243, dated Mar. 18, 2019. [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 15/058,243, dated Apr. 4, 2018. [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 15/058,243, dated Apr. 21, 2017. [cited by applicant]
Final Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 15/058,243, dated Sep. 14, 2017. [cited by applicant]
Final Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 15/058,243, dated Nov. 30, 2018. [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 16/591,976, dated Mar. 8, 2021. [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 16/591,976, dated Sep. 15, 2021. [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 17/680,648, dated Jan. 23, 2023. [cited by applicant]
Final Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 17/680,648, dated Apr. 12, 2023. [cited by applicant]
Sutter 300 Mini Trail Dozer™. Website [online]. Sutter Equipment Company, Inc. Retrieved on Jun. 16, 2022 from the Internet: <URL: <https://www.sutterequipment.com/sutter-300>>. [cited by applicant]
YouTube® video of Sutter 300 Mini Trail Dozer™. Website [online]. Posted to YouTube on May 28, 2013. Retrieved on Jun. 16, 2022 from: <URL: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPH1XFWbgAs>>. [cited by applicant]