Plow for use with automobile
A personal use plow for pushing, but not limited to, snow and slush from ones driveway by most passenger automobiles and/or ATV's that is attached using a unique strapping and cog bracing system. The plow is made of injected molded structural foam plastic and comes in 5 separate panels that can be easily assembled into a solid plow blade. This material is lightweight and allows for easy transportation, storage, and use. When assembled, the plow can be used either in the front or back of the vehicle. The plow attaches to the vehicle by a special hook, designed as part of this patent, which attaches to the hood, trunk, or luggage rack of the vehicle. All parts for the functionality of the plow are contained on the plow itself, so there are no brackets or hitches required to be attached to the bumpers or vehicle.
1. A plow for pushing material with a motor vehicle comprising the following components:
two or more blade sections have top and bottom edges which are identical to each other and sides which are provided with spaced tabs with spaces between the tabs along the entire section between the top and bottom edges, the spaced tabs and spaces being positioned such that the spaced tabs on one blade section will mate with spaces on an adjoining blade section, forming an interlocking connection between blade sections, wherein the tabs are part of the blade and form a continuous blade,
a pair of blade end caps, said blade end caps provided with spaced tabs with spaces between the tabs, the spaced tabs and spaces being positioned such that the spaced tabs on one blade end cap will mate with spaces on an adjoining blade section, forming an interlocking connection with a blade sections,
a pair of cog plates, one of said cog plates being secured to the back of said blade sections, said pair of cog plates being spaced from each other,
a pair of cog plate extenders, said pair of cog plate extenders being secured between one of said cog plates and the back of said blade sections,
a pair of cogs, each of said cogs being secured to one of said cog plates, each of said cogs having a curved surface for engaging a lower curved surface of the front or back of a motor vehicle, each of said cogs having a slot formed therein,
a pair of studs, each of said studs having a lower end received in a slot in one of said cogs,
a pair of stud caps, each of said stud caps being placed on the upper end of one of said studs, and each having a strap securing portion,
a pair of clips for engaging the edge of the motor vehicle, each of said clips having a strap securing portion, and
a pair of straps, each secured at one end to one of said stud caps, and at the other end to one of said pair of clips.
2. The plow for pushing material with a motor vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the components of the plow when disassembled may be compactly stored.
3. The plow for pushing material with a motor vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the structural components thereof are formed of injected molded composite plastic material.
4. The plow for pushing material with a motor vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the top and bottom edges of the blade sections are the same, such that the top and bottom edges of the blade section are reversible.
5. The plow for pushing material with a motor vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the reversible top and bottom edges of the plow are rounded to allow for easy gliding over reasonable obstructions in the driveway, such as cracks or solid ice formations.
6. The plow for pushing material with a motor vehicle of claim 1 , when said cog plate and said cog plate extenders are secured on each side to adjoining blade sections, such that they extend across the interlocking connection between two blade sections.
7. The plow for pushing material with a motor vehicle of claim 1 , wherein a cog may be secured to a cog plate at adjustable vertical and horizontal positions, so as to accommodate use with various motor vehicles.
8. The plow for pushing material with a motor vehicle of claim 1 , wherein a connecting tab is provide on each of said blade end caps for securing one end of an extensible member, the other end of which is secured to the motor vehicle, whereby the plow will not move away from the vehicle when the direction of the vehicle is reversed.
9. The plow for pushing material with a motor vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the components are secured to each other by fasteners, such as bolts and nuts.
10. A plow for pushing material with a motor vehicle comprising the following components:
two or more blade sections forming a blade with a back, where each of the blade sections includes a top edge and a bottom edge and having sides with spaced tabs along the entire section between the top and bottom edges, the spaced tabs positioned to mate with the spaced tabs of an adjoining blade section forming an interlocking connection between blade sections wherein the tabs are part of the blade and form a continuous blade,
at least a cog plate secured to the back of the blade,
at least a cog plate extender secured between the cog plate and the back of the blade,
at least a cog with at least a slot, the cog secured to the cog plate with a curved surface for engaging a lower curved surface of the motor vehicle,
at least two studs, each with a lower end and a strap securing portion, each stud to be received in one of the slots of the one cog, and
a first pair of straps, each having one end secured to the strap securing portion of the studs, and at the other end to the end of a portion of the motor vehicle.
11. The plow of claim 10 , wherein the top edge and the bottom edges have an identical rounded configuration.
12. The plow of claim 10 , wherein the plow further comprises a pair of blade end caps, with spaced tabs to mate to an adjoining blade section.
13. The plow of claim 12 , wherein each end cap include a side strap attachment for securing a second pair of straps between the blade end caps and the motor vehicle.
14. The plow of claim 10 , wherein the motor vehicle is an automobile.