Patents by Inventor Curt E. Niemela

Curt E. Niemela has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6442877
    Abstract: A plow assembly for vehicles such as pickup trucks and tractors for moving snow or other materials, as well as for bulldozers, graders and the like for excavating and grading dirt, sand, gravel or other plowable materials, has at least one extendable, forwardly pivotable plow wing which is extendable on one end of a main plow by sliding movement along the rear of the plow between a retracted and an extended position in which the plow wing is generally aligned with the plow front surface. The plow wing is also pivotally mounted on a hinge for movement between the extended position and a forwardly angled position in which the plow wing front surface extends at an angle to the plow front surface. At least one actuator, such as an hydraulic fluid power cylinder, is connected to the plow wing to move the wing between the retracted, extended and forwardly angled positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Blizzard Corporation
    Inventors: Philip J. Quenzi, Cal G. Niemela, Curt E. Niemela
  • Patent number: 6412199
    Abstract: A plow assembly for vehicles, such as pickup trucks and tractors, or bulldozers or graders, for moving snow or other plowable materials has at least one extendable, forwardly pivotable plow wing which is pivotable at a hinge at one end of a main plow for movement between an aligned position and a forwardly angled position in which the plow wing front surface extends at an angle to the plow front surface. The plow wing includes an inner and outer portion, whereby the outer portion is slidably mounted to the inner portion for sliding movement along the inner portion between a retracted and an extended position. One or more actuators, such as fluid power cylinders or the like, are connected to the plow wing to move the wing between the retracted, extended, aligned and forwardly angled positions. In one preferred embodiment, an extendable plow wing is pivotally mounted on each end of the main plow with a pair of fluid cylinders connected to each of the respective plow wings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Blizzard Corporation
    Inventors: Philip J. Quenzi, Cal G. Niemela, Curt E. Niemela
  • Patent number: 6408549
    Abstract: A plow assembly for vehicles such as pickup trucks and tractors for moving snow or other materials, as well as for bulldozers, graders and the like for excavating and grading dirt, sand, gravel or other plowable materials, has at least one extendable, forwardly pivotable plow wing which is extendable on one end of a main plow by sliding movement along the front of the plow between a retracted and an extended position. The plow wing is also pivotally mounted on a hinge for movement between an aligned position and a forwardly angled position in which the plow wing front surface extends at an angle to the plow front surface. At least one fluid power cylinder is connected to the plow wing to move the wing between the retracted, extended, aligned, and forwardly angled positions. In the preferred embodiment, an extendable plow wing is included on each end of the main plow with a pair of fluid cylinders connected to each of the respective plow wings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Blizzard Corporation
    Inventors: Philip J. Quenzi, Cal G. Niemela, Curt E. Niemela