SWEEPING BLADE DEVICE AND SWEEPING BLADE ASSEMBLY FOR A VEHICLE

Abstract

There is provided a sweeping blade assembly configured to be attached to a plow blade of a vehicle for sweeping debris on a ground surface. The sweeping blade assembly comprises: a blade support securable to the vehicle, a sweeping blade device, and a blade tilting control assembly. The sweeping blade device comprises: a blade main portion mounted to the blade support and tiltable about a pivoting axis. The blade tilting control assembly comprises a protruding abutment protruding from one of the blade supports and the blade main portion and an abutment receiving aperture defined in the other one of the blade support and the blade main portion. The abutment receiving aperture is delimited by an inner peripheral wall. The protruding abutment is engageable in the abutment receiving aperture and displaceable with respect to one another upon tilting of blade main portion about the pivoting axis with the inner peripheral wall of the abutment receiving aperture limiting the tilting of blade main portion. There is also provided a sweeping blade device and a snow plow comprising the sweeping blade assembly.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 USC § 119(e) of U.S. provisional patent application 63/268,068 filed on Feb. 16, 2022, the specification of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to snowplowing vehicles. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to sweeping blade devices and to sweeping blade assemblies for vehicles, such as snowplowing vehicles.

BACKGROUND

Snowplowing vehicles are well known in countries that experience significant snowfall and severe cold. Such vehicles include a sweeping blade which travels over the surface of a substrate such as a road, airport, runway, parking lot or the like for removing snow, ice, snowpacks, icepacks, debris such as gravel or rocks, or the like.

The typical challenge of these vehicles is the presence of uneven surfaces and obstacles on the road especially those of a protruding nature e.g., bumps, which cause uneven wear and premature damage to the blade and/or the entire assembly accompanied by an uneven cleaning of the areas surrounding the protruding obstacle. Another typical challenge of these vehicle results in the difficulty of easily installing, or alternatively easily replacing, the sweeping blade, as this component is very heavy. Such operation usually can not be performed by a single driver or operator of the snowplowing vehicle. These blades are often exposed to a lot of impacts with, for example, icepacks, manholes, bridge joints, rail tracks, rocks, other hard objects, etc. located in front of the snowplowing vehicle.

There already exists in the art sweeping blade assemblies that include a blade support, which can be secured to a vehicle (e.g., to a plow blade of a snowplowing vehicle), and a plurality of sweeping blade devices which can be secured to the blade support, making the blade replacement easier. Each one of the sweeping blade devices can be secured to the blade support using a plurality of bolts and locknuts for example, allowing replacement of the individual sweeping blade devices, once damaged. Each sweeping blade device can be provided with a plurality of blade inserts or a hard facing along a scraping edge thereof. Indeed, each sweeping blade device can include a downwardly-opened longitudinal insert-receiving channel which can be configured for receiving the plurality of blade inserts. For example, the sweeping blade devices can be made from steel, while the blade inserts or hard facing can be made from carbide, ceramic, and the like.

These individual sweeping blade devices, while making the blade replacement easier, can be less resistant against impacts with icepacks, manholes, bridge joints, rail tracks, rocks, other hard objects, etc., during the scraping operations. Indeed, impacts between the icepacks and the sweeping blade devices can lead the carbide blade inserts to chip or to break, which can bring additional operating costs.

Therefore, there remains a need for improved sweeping blade assemblies and reinforced sweeping blade devices that allow for quick and convenient replacement of the sweeping blade devices on a blade support, while at least maintaining efficiency during snow removal operations or other similar operations and resistance of the whole assembly (i.e., sweeping blade device, blade inserts, etc.) against impacts, and which, by virtue of their designs and components, would be able to overcome or at least minimize some of the above-discussed concerns.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide sweeping blade devices and sweeping blade assemblies for vehicles adapted for sweeping a ground surface that overcome or mitigate one or more disadvantages of known sweeping blade devices and sweeping blade assemblies, or at least provide useful alternatives.

In accordance with a general aspect, there is provided a sweeping blade assembly configured to be attached to a plow blade of a vehicle for sweeping debris on a ground surface. The sweeping blade assembly comprises: a blade support securable to the vehicle; a sweeping blade device comprising: a blade main portion mounted to the blade support and tiltable about a pivoting axis; and a blade tilting control assembly comprising a protruding abutment protruding from one of the blade support and the blade main portion and an abutment receiving aperture defined in the other one of the blade support and the blade main portion. The protruding abutment is engageable in the abutment receiving aperture and displaceable with respect to one another upon tilting of blade main portion about the pivoting axis with a perimeter of the abutment receiving aperture limiting the tilting of blade main portion.

In an embodiment, the sweeping blade device further comprises a sweeping blade fastener configured to mount the blade main portion to the blade support.

In accordance with another general aspect, there is provided a sweeping blade assembly configured to be attached to a plow blade of a vehicle for sweeping debris on a ground surface. The sweeping blade assembly comprises: a blade support securable to the vehicle; a sweeping blade device comprising: a blade main portion and a single sweeping blade fastener mounting the blade main portion to the blade support, the blade main portion being tiltable about a pivoting axis defined by the sweeping blade fastener. The sweeping blade assembly further comprises: a blade tilting control assembly engaged with the blade support and the blade main portion and limiting a tilting movement of the blade main portion about the pivoting axis.

In an embodiment, the blade tilting control assembly comprises a protruding abutment protruding from one of the blade support and the blade main portion and an abutment receiving aperture defined in the other one of the blade support and the blade main portion, the protruding abutment being engageable in the abutment receiving aperture and displaceable with respect to one another upon tilting of blade main portion about the pivoting axis with a perimeter of the abutment receiving aperture limiting the tilting of blade main portion.

In an embodiment, the blade main portion comprises a bushing hole defined therein and the sweeping blade device further comprises a single bushing assembly including the sweeping blade fastener and a resilient bushing contained in the bushing hole and surrounding the sweeping blade fastener. The single bushing assembly can be substantially centrally located along a length L of the blade main portion.

In an embodiment, the protruding abutment protrudes from the blade support towards the blade main portion when assembled together and the abutment receiving aperture is defined in the blade main portion. The blade support can comprise a vehicle mounting portion located rearwardly of the blade main portion when assembled together and the protruding abutment protrudes forwardly from a front face of the vehicle mounting portion.

In an embodiment, the abutment receiving aperture is delimited by an inner peripheral wall of the blade main support and the protruding abutment abuts against the inner peripheral wall to limit an angular movement of the blade main portion both directions, i.e., clockwise and counter-clockwise.

In an embodiment, a surface area of the abutment receiving aperture is greater than a surface area of the protruding abutment.

In accordance with still another general aspect, there is provided a sweeping blade device comprising: a blade main portion having a front face, a rear face, a single bushing hole, and at least one of: a protruding abutment protruding from at least one of the front face and the rear face; and an abutment receiving aperture opened on at least one of the front face and the rear face. The sweeping blade device further comprises a single bushing assembly including a sweeping blade fastener and a resilient bushing contained in the single bushing hole and surrounding the sweeping blade fastener.

In an embodiment, the single bushing assembly is substantially centrally located along a length L of the blade main portion.

In an embodiment, the blade main portion comprises the abutment receiving aperture extending therethrough. The abutment receiving aperture can be a through hole extending from the front face to the rear face of the blade main portion.

In accordance with a further general aspect, there is provided a sweeping blade assembly configured to be attached to a plow blade of a vehicle for sweeping debris on a ground surface. The sweeping blade assembly comprises: a blade support securable to the vehicle, a sweeping blade device, and a blade tilting control assembly. The sweeping blade device comprises a blade main portion mounted to the blade support and tiltable about a pivoting axis. The blade tilting control assembly comprises a protruding abutment protruding from one of the blade support and the blade main portion and an abutment receiving aperture defined in the other one of the blade support and the blade main portion. The abutment receiving aperture is delimited by an inner peripheral wall. The protruding abutment is engageable in the abutment receiving aperture and displaceable with respect to one another upon tilting of blade main portion about the pivoting axis with the inner peripheral wall of the abutment receiving aperture limiting the tilting of blade main portion.

In an embodiment, the sweeping blade device further comprises a sweeping blade fastener extending through the blade main portion and engaged with the blade support, the sweeping blade fastener defining the pivoting axis of the blade main portion.

In an embodiment, the protruding abutment protrudes from the blade support towards the blade main portion when assembled together and the blade main portion comprises the abutment receiving aperture with the abutment receiving aperture being displaceable with respect to the protruding abutment upon tilting of blade main portion about the pivoting axis. The blade tilting control assembly can further comprise a resilient material sleeve contained in the main blade portion and the resilient material sleeve defines the inner peripheral wall limiting the tilting of the blade main portion.

In an embodiment, the blade main portion comprises a bushing hole defined therein and the sweeping blade device further comprises a single bushing assembly including the sweeping blade fastener and a resilient bushing contained in the bushing hole and surrounding the sweeping blade fastener. The single bushing assembly can be substantially centrally located along a length L of the blade main portion.

In an embodiment, the abutment receiving aperture extends through one of the blade support and the blade main portion.

In an embodiment, the blade tilting control assembly is a single blade tilting control assembly located on one lateral side of the pivoting axis.

The blade support can comprise a vehicle mounting portion located rearwardly of the blade main portion when assembled together and the protruding abutment protrudes forwardly from a front face of the vehicle mounting portion.

In an embodiment, a perimeter of the abutment receiving aperture delimited by the inner peripheral wall is greater than a perimeter of the protruding abutment.

In an embodiment, the blade support comprises a sweeping blade mounting portion located forwardly of the blade main portion when assembled together and the abutment receiving aperture is concealed behind the sweeping blade mounting portion.

In an embodiment, a center of the protruding abutment is located in an upper half section of the blade main portion and the protruding abutment is centrally located inside the abutment receiving aperture.

In an embodiment, a center of the protruding abutment and the pivoting axis are substantially at a same height on the blade main portion.

In accordance with still another general aspect, there is provided a snow plow comprising: a snow plow blade and the sweeping blade assembly as described above mounted in a lower portion of the snow plow blade.

In accordance with yet another general aspect, there is provided a sweeping blade device comprising: a blade main portion having a front face, a rear face, a single bushing hole; and a single bushing assembly including a resilient bushing contained in the single bushing hole and defining a blade-support mounting aperture. The blade main portion comprises at least one of: a protruding abutment protruding from at least one of the front face and the rear face; and an abutment receiving aperture opened on at least one of the front face and the rear face.

In an embodiment, the single bushing assembly is substantially centrally located along a length L of the blade main portion and one of the protruding abutment and the abutment receiving aperture is located on one lateral side of the single bushing assembly.

In an embodiment, the blade main portion comprises the abutment receiving aperture extending therethrough. The abutment receiving aperture can be a through hole extending from the front face to the rear face of the blade main portion and the sweeping blade device can further comprise a resilient material sleeve contained in the main blade portion and lining a peripheral wall of the through hole to define an inner peripheral wall.

In an embodiment, a center of the abutment receiving aperture is located in an upper half section of the blade main portion.

In an embodiment, a center of the abutment receiving aperture and the blade-support mounting aperture are substantially at a same height on the blade main portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, advantages and features will become more apparent upon reading the following non-restrictive description of embodiments thereof, given for the purpose of exemplification only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top and front perspective view of a sweeping blade assembly in accordance with a non-limitative embodiment, the sweeping blade assembly being configured to be attached to a blade support of a vehicle for sweeping a ground surface;

FIG. 2 is a top and front perspective view of the sweeping blade assembly of FIG. 1, wherein a sweeping blade mounting portion (or second plate) has been detached and removed to expose two sweeping blade devices;

FIG. 3 is a top and rear perspective view of the sweeping blade assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation view of the sweeping blade assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the sweeping blade assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a side-elevation view of the sweeping blade assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a top and front perspective view of a sweeping blade assembly in accordance with another non-limitative embodiment, wherein the sweeping blade mounting portion has a different shape;

FIG. 8 is a top and front perspective view of the sweeping blade assembly of FIG. 7, wherein the sweeping blade mounting portion (or second plate) has been detached and removed to expose two sweeping blade devices;

FIG. 9 is a side-elevation view of the sweeping blade assembly of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a front elevation view of a sweeping blade assembly in accordance with another non-limitative embodiment, wherein a blade main portion has an abutment receiving aperture with a substantially circular profile and a protruding abutment provided on a blade support has also a substantially circular profile;

FIG. 11 a side-elevation view of the sweeping blade assembly of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a bottom plan view of the sweeping blade assembly of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 13 is top and rear perspective view, exploded, of the sweeping blade assembly of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, the same numerical references refer to similar elements. Furthermore, for the sake of simplicity and clarity, namely so as to not unduly burden the figures with several reference numbers, not all figures contain references to all the components and features, and references to some components and features may be found in only one figure, and components and features of the present disclosure which are illustrated in other figures can be easily inferred therefrom. The embodiments, geometrical configurations, materials mentioned and/or dimensions shown in the figures or described in the present disclosure are embodiments only, given solely for exemplification purposes.

Furthermore, in the context of the present description, it will be considered that all elongated objects will have an implicit “longitudinal axis” or “centerline”, such as the longitudinal axis of a shaft for example, or the centerline of a biasing device such as a coiled spring, for example, and that expressions such as “connected” and “connectable”, “secured” and “securable”, “engaged” and “engageable”, “installed” and “installable” or “mounted” and “mountable”, may be interchangeable, in that the present sweeping blade assembly or sweeping blade device also relates to kits with corresponding components for assembling a resulting fully-assembled and fully-operational sweeping blade assembly or sweeping blade device. In the context of the present description, the terms “front”, “forward”, “rear”, and “rearward” are interpreted in a context of a displacement direction of a vehicle carrying the sweeping blade assembly or the sweeping blade device. Furthermore, the terms “upward”, “upper”, “downward”, and “lower” are interpreted in the context of the sweeping blade device being used with a lower edge thereof contacting a road surface.

It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is not to be construed as limiting and are for descriptive purpose only. The principles and uses of the teachings of the present invention may be better understood with reference to the accompanying description, figures and examples. It is to be understood that the details set forth herein do not construe a limitation to an application of the invention. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention can be carried out or practiced in various ways and that the invention can be implemented in embodiments other than the ones outlined in the description above.

Moreover, components of the sweeping blade assembly, sweeping blade device, bushing assembly and/or steps of the method(s) described herein could be modified, simplified, altered, omitted and/or interchanged, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, depending on the particular applications which the present sweeping blade assembly or sweeping blade device is intended for, and the desired end results, as briefly exemplified herein and as also apparent to a person skilled in the art.

In addition, although the embodiments as illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprise various components, and although the embodiments of the present sweeping blade assembly or sweeping blade device and corresponding portion(s)/part(s)/component(s) as shown consist of certain geometrical configurations, as explained and illustrated herein, not all of these components and geometries are essential and thus should not be taken in their restrictive sense, i.e. should not be taken so as to limit the scope of the present disclosure. It is to be understood, as also apparent to a person skilled in the art, that other suitable components and cooperation thereinbetween, as well as other suitable geometrical configurations may be used for the present sweeping blade assembly, sweeping blade device, bushing assembly and corresponding portion(s)/part(s)/component(s) according to the present sweeping blade assembly, as will be briefly explained herein and as can be easily inferred herefrom by a person skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

To provide a more concise description, some of the quantitative and qualitative expressions given herein may be qualified with the terms “about” and “substantially”. It is understood that whether the terms “about” and “substantially” are used explicitly or not, every quantity or qualification given herein is meant to refer to an actual given value or qualification, and it is also meant to refer to the approximation to such given value or qualification that would reasonably be inferred based on the ordinary skill in the art, including approximations due to the experimental and/or measurement conditions for such given value.

The present disclosure describes a sweeping blade assembly that is configured to be attached to a vehicle and, more particularly, to a plow blade of the vehicle, in a lower portion thereof, for sweeping a ground surface. It is appreciated that a plurality of sweeping blade assemblies can be mounted to the plow blade of the vehicle, in an adjacent configuration, to cover a length thereof. Each one of the sweeping blade assemblies can include a plurality of sweeping blade devices. The sweeping blades devices can be configured in an adjacent configuration to enhance removal of snow, ice and/or other debris that are provided on the ground surface and/or to maintain the resistance of the whole sweeping blade assembly, and which, by virtue of its design and components, overcomes or at least minimizes some of the above-discussed drawbacks.

Indeed, in accordance with a non-limitative embodiment, the sweeping blade assembly includes a blade support securable to the plow blade of the vehicle and one or more sweeping blade devices, securable to the blade support to be engaged with the vehicle. In an embodiment, the sweeping blade assembly includes a plurality of sweeping blade devices mounted in an adjacent configuration. Each blade support supports a plurality of the sweeping blade devices and the vehicle and its plow blade can have a plurality of blade supports also mounted in an adjacent configuration.

Each sweeping blade device comprises a blade main portion, which is tiltable about a pivoting axis when mounted to the blade support.

Each one of the sweeping blade device(s) (or the sweeping blade assembly) further includes a blade tilting control assembly engaged with the blade support and the blade main portion and configured to limit the tilting of blade main portion with respect to the ground, an horizontal axis or the blade support. In an embodiment, the blade tilting control assembly comprises a protruding abutment and an abutment receiving aperture. The protruding abutment protrudes from one of the blade support and the blade main portion, while the abutment receiving aperture is defined in the other one of the blade support and the blade main portion. The protruding abutment is engageable in the abutment receiving aperture and displaceable with respect to one another upon tilting of blade main portion about the pivoting axis with a perimeter of the abutment receiving aperture limiting the tilting movement of blade main portion.

In an embodiment, the sweeping blade device further comprises a sweeping blade fastener for mounting the blade main portion to the blade support. The sweeping blade fastener defines a pivoting axis for the blade main portion when securing the blade main portion to the blade support, as will be described in more details below.

In a non-limitative embodiment, the sweeping blade device includes a single sweeping blade fastener for each blade main portion. The sweeping blade fastener, which can be a bolt, is configured to mount the blade main portion to the blade support. Therefore, the blade main portion is tiltable about a pivoting axis defined by the sweeping blade fastener.

In a particular embodiment, the protruding abutment protrudes from the blade support towards the blade main portion when assembled together and the abutment receiving aperture is defined in the blade main portion. For instance and without being limitative, the protruding abutment can protrude forwardly from a front face of a vehicle mounting portion, which is part of the blade support and is located rearwardly of the blade main portion when assembled together.

To limit the angular movement of the blade main portion in both directions, i.e. clockwise and counter-clockwise, the protruding abutment can abut against an inner peripheral wall of the blade main support (or an inner peripheral wall delimiting the abutment receiving aperture). To allow a movement of the protruding abutment when engaged in the abutment receiving aperture, a surface area of the abutment receiving aperture can be greater than a surface area of the protruding abutment.

In an embodiment, the blade main portion comprises a bushing hole defined therein and the sweeping blade device further comprises a single bushing assembly including the sweeping blade fastener and a resilient bushing contained in the bushing hole and surrounding the sweeping blade fastener.

The sweeping blade device can comprise the blade main portion having a front face, a rear face, the bushing hole, and at least one of: the protruding abutment protruding from at least one of the front face and the rear face and the abutment receiving aperture opened on at least one of the front face and the rear face. The sweeping blade device can also comprise a single bushing assembly including the sweeping blade fastener and the resilient bushing contained in the bushing hole and surrounding the sweeping blade fastener. For instance, the blade main portion can comprise the abutment receiving aperture extending therethrough and the abutment receiving aperture can be a through hole extending from the front face to the rear face of the blade main portion.

In an embodiment, the single bushing assembly is substantially centrally located along a length L of the blade main portion.

The sweeping blade assembly can be mounted to the plow of a vehicle, which can be a pickup truck, a tractor, an ATV, a UTV, a loader/backhoe, a skid-steer, a larger vehicle such as a spreader truck, a dump body truck, and the like. It can be used either as light or heavy-duty snowplow blades. Since in some embodiments it includes a single sweeping blade fastener, blade main portion replacement can be quicker.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a sweeping blade assembly 10 in accordance with a non-limitative embodiment, which is configured to be attached to a vehicle (not shown) for sweeping a ground surface. The sweeping blade assembly 10 can be attached to a plow blade (not shown) of a snowplowing vehicle, in a lower portion thereof, as will be described in more details below.

Still referring to the non-limitative embodiment of FIG. 1, the sweeping blade assembly 10 includes a blade support 12 which an upper portion thereof is superposable and securable to the plow blade of the vehicle, and a plurality of sweeping blade devices 26, which in turn are secured to the blade support 12. Therefore, the sweeping blade devices 26 are indirectly mounted to the plow blade of the vehicle through the blade support 12. In the non-limitative embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the sweeping blade assembly 10 comprises two sweeping blade devices 26 mounted to the blade support 12 and configured in an adjacent configuration. However, it is appreciated that, in an alternative embodiment, each one of the sweeping blade assemblies 10 can comprise only one sweeping blade device or more than two sweeping blade devices 26.

As mentioned above, it is noted that in one scenario, the sweeping blade devices 26 can be detachably securable to the blade support 12 using mechanical fasteners as will be described in more details below. The sweeping blade devices 26 are configured so as to travel over the ground surface, such as a road, a landing runway of an airport, a runway, a parking lot or the like, for removing snow, ice, debris or the like. The configuration of the multiple longitudinally-adjacent sweeping blade devices 26 helps in efficiently clearing snow and ice debris, even in harsh conditions, as it will be described in more details below. In one implementation, the sweeping blade devices 26 can also be secured to a blade support 12 in a way to work substantially independently (i.e., to move relative to the blade support 12 substantially independently from one another), for sweeping uneven ground surfaces more efficiently, for example (not shown). In the context of the present description, substantially independently with respect to the relative movement of the adjacent sweeping blade devices 26 is intended to mean that they can be independently mounted to the blade support 12.

Referring now more particularly to the non-limitative embodiment of FIG. 1, the blade support 12 comprises a vehicle mounting portion or first plate 14 and a sweeping blade mounting portion or second plate 20, which is spaced-apart from the vehicle mounting portion 14 in a manner such that the sweeping blade devices 26 can be located (sandwiched) in between. The blade support 12 includes a plurality of spaced-apart apertures 16 which extend through the vehicle mounting portion 14, in an upper portion thereof, and which are spaced-apart from one another along a length L of the blade support 12. The apertures 16 allow universal attachment of the blade support 12 to the vehicle, such as to the plow blade of the vehicle, using a plurality of suitable mechanical fasteners 17 insertable therein, for example. Thanks to the plurality of spaced-apart apertures 16, the blade support 12 is configured so as to fit substantially any vehicle or plow blade. In the non-limitative embodiment shown, only one mechanical fastener 17 is illustrated but it is appreciated that the blade support 12 can be mounted to the vehicle through a plurality of mechanical fasteners 17 provided along the length L of the sweeping blade assembly 10. In the non-limitative embodiment shown, the mechanical fastener 17 is represented as a bolt but it is appreciated that other mechanical fasteners can be used. Furthermore, in the non-limitative embodiment shown, the length L of the sweeping blade assembly 10 substantially corresponds to the length of the blade support 12.

The blade support 12 further includes sweeping-blade mounting apertures 19a, 19b (FIGS. 1 and 3) which extend through the sweeping blade mounting portion 20 and the vehicle mounting portion 14 respectively and which are spaced-apart from one another along the length L thereof. The sweeping-blade mounting apertures 19a, 19b are provided in pairs with a first aperture 19a extending through the sweeping blade mounting portion 20 and a second aperture 19b extending through the vehicle mounting portion 14. In the vehicle mounting portion 14, the sweeping-blade mounting apertures 19b are located below the plurality of spaced-apart apertures 16 and are hidden by the sweeping blade devices 26, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. As will be described in more details below, in a non-limitative embodiment, each one of the sweeping blade devices 26 is mounted to the vehicle mounting portion 14 through a single pair of sweeping-blade mounting apertures 19a, 19b. Thus, the blade support 12 includes at least one pair of sweeping-blade mounting apertures 19a, 19b for each sweeping blade device 26. When superposed, the sweeping-blade mounting apertures 19a, 19b of each pair are aligned and, in some embodiments, in register.

Now referring more particularly to the non-limitative embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, each sweeping blade device 26 comprises a blade main portion 28. The blade main portion 28 extends between a scraping edge or lower edge 30, which is adapted to contact with the ground surface, and a blade upper edge 32, which is found opposite to the scraping edge 30. The blade main portion 28 also defines a front or debris-contacting surface 37 and a rear surface or trailing surface 35, which is found opposite to the front surface 37.

In the non-limitative embodiment shown, the blade main portions 28 are substantially trapezoidal in shape (or profile) with beveled lateral edges 29, being wider adjacent to the scraping edge 30 and narrower at the blade upper edge 32. However, it is appreciated that the shape of the blade main portions 28 can vary from the embodiment shown. For instance and without being limitative, they can be substantially rectangular in shape (or profile).

Adjacent blade main portions 28 are separated by a gap 23 to allow rotation and translation of the blade main portion 28. More particularly, the gap 23 is dimensioned to allow sufficient angular and translational (horizontal and/or up/down) movement, as permitted by a bushing assembly 31 and a blade tilting control assembly 40, as will be described in more details below.

The blade main portion 28 further includes a blade-support mounting aperture 33 which extend therethrough. In the non-limitative embodiment shown, the blade main portion 28 includes a single blade-support mounting aperture 33, which is located substantially centrally therein along a length thereof and in an upper half section of the blade main portion 28, i.e. closer to the upper edge 32. In an embodiment, at least a center of the blade-support mounting aperture 33 is located in the upper half section of the blade main portion 28. In the non-limitative embodiment shown, the blade-support mounting aperture 33 has a circular cross-section but it is appreciated that it can be characterized by a different shape. As will be described in more details below, the blade-support mounting apertures 33 allow attachment of the sweeping blade devices 26 to the blade support 12, using suitable mechanical fasteners (253 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 to 13) insertable therein, for example.

The sweeping blade device 26 further comprises the resilient bushing assembly 31, which defines the blade-support mounting aperture 33. More particularly, the blade main portion 28 comprises a bushing hole 50 (FIG. 5) extending therethrough. If the sweeping blade assembly includes two or more sweeping blade devices 26, the bushing hole 50 of each one of the sweeping blade devices are spaced-apart along the length L of the blade support 12 of the sweeping blade assembly 10. In the non-limitative embodiment shown, each one of the bushing holes 50 is located substantially centrally along a length of its respective blade main portion 28. In the embodiment shown, the bushing holes 50 are located in an upper half section of the blade main portion 28, i.e. closer to the upper edge 32. In an embodiment, at least a center of the bushing hole(s) 50 is located in the upper half section of the blade main portion 28. However, it is appreciated that, in an alternative embodiment (not shown), they could be located substantially centrally of the blade main portion 28 along its height. In the non-limitative embodiment shown, the bushing holes 50 have a substantially circular cross-section but it is appreciated that it can be characterized by a different shape/profile (oval, rectangular, elliptic, square, etc.).

More particularly, the resilient bushing assembly 31 is received in the bushing hole 50. The resilient bushing assembly 31 comprises a resilient bushing 34 at least partially filing an internal space defined by a perimeter of the bushing hole 50. In the embodiment shown, the resilient bushing 34 is annular in shape and defines an inner aperture designed to receive the mechanical fastener (253 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 to 13) used to connect the blade main portion 28 to the blade support 12. Thus, the resilient bushing 34 fills the internal space defined between a periphery of the bushing hole 50 and the mechanical fastener which can extend therethrough. In the non-limitative embodiment shown, the resilient bushing assembly 31 further comprises a rigid sleeve 36, such as rigid polymeric or a metal-based sleeve, received in the inner aperture defined in the resilient bushing 34. The rigid sleeve 36 defines the blade support mounting aperture 33, which extends therethrough and is designed to receive the mechanical fastener (or sweeping blade fastener) (253 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 to 13). Thus, a diameter of the bushing hole 50 is wider than a diameter of the rigid sleeve and a diameter of the mechanical fastener (253 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 to 13) used to connect the blade main portion 28 to the blade support 12.

The rigid sleeve 36 prevents direct contact between the resilient bushing 34 and the sweeping blade fastener. More particularly, the resilient bushing 34 can be configured to surround the rigid sleeve 36. The rigid sleeve 36 is used to operatively and detachably/removably secure the blade main portion 28 to the blade support 12, whereby as the blade main portion 28 vibrates and moves at an attack angle and angularly in response to road obstacles, these vibrations and shocks are absorbed and/or dampened by the resilient bushing 34 which is provided between the metal portion of the blade main portion 28 and the rigid sleeve 36 to minimize any metal-to-metal contact, although some metal-to-metal contact may still remain. A metal-to-metal contact (for instance, without the resilient bushing 34) results in an increase in wear and repair due to vibration which causes costs increase to the user of such a blade for removing snow from all kinds of roads and surfaces.

In the non-limitative embodiment shown, the inner aperture and the rigid sleeve 36 are centrally located in the resilient bushing 34 but it is appreciated that their respective position can vary.

It is appreciated that, in alternative embodiment, the resilient bushing assembly 31 can be free of rigid sleeve and the blade support mounting aperture can be defined as the inner aperture defined in the resilient bushing 34.

In an embodiment, one or more airgaps (not shown) can be provided within the resilient bushing 34 for improving the compressibility thereof. This arrangement allows for increased movement flexibility of the blade main portion 28, wherein, when the resilient bushing 34 is compressed, the blade main portion 28 may move upward to avoid the obstacle and reduce its impact on the entire sweeping blade assembly 10. Whereas when the obstacle happens to be closer to one lateral edges 29 of the blade main portion 28 than the other, the single bushing assembly 31 with the sweeping blade fastener (253 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 to 13) acting as a pivoting axis will cause the blade main portion 28 to move angularly and rotate to one side (or to tilt) to reduce the impact of the obstacle onto the sweeping blade assembly 10.

In a non-limitative embodiment, each one of the sweeping blade devices 26 comprises a single bushing assembly 31, which can be centrally mounted along the length L thereof. The single bushing assembly 31 comprises, amongst others, the sweeping blade fastener mounting the blade main portion 28 to the blade support 12. In addition to mounting the blade main portion 28 to the blade support 12, the sweeping blade fastener allows the blade main portion 28 to tilt about a pivoting axis defined by the axis of the sweeping blade fastener.

The resilient bushing 34 is at least partially made of a resilient material. The expression “resilient material” is intended to mean a material which absorbs energy when it is deformed elastically and then, when the force causing the deformation is removed, unloads this energy by substantially taking back its initial shape. Examples include, without limitations, natural rubber, polymeric/plastic material, a wide range of composite material and the like. The expression “rubber material” is intended to mean a material in which bond lengths deviate from the equilibrium (minimum energy) and strain energy is stored electrostatically. Examples include, without limitations, compositions of nitrile, hydrogenated nitrile, ethylene-propylene, fluorocarbon, chloroprene, silicone, fluorosilicone, polyacrylate, ethylene acrylic, styrene-butadiene, polyurethane, rubber material and the like.

The resilient bushing 34 being compressible, they allow for limited free movement of the blade main portion 28 with respect to the blade support 12. More particularly, the blade main portions 28 can translate/slide between the vehicle mounting portion (or first plate) 14 and the sweeping blade mounting portion (or second plate) 20. They can slide substantially linearly with the lower or scraping edge 30 remaining substantially parallel to longitudinal edges of the vehicle mounting portion 14 and the sweeping blade mounting portion 20 or in an angular manner wherein the blade main portion 28 tilts or pivots about a pivoting axis defined by the sweeping blade fastener (253 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 to 13). When displaced in an angular manner, the lower or scraping edge 30 of the blade main portion 28 defines an oblique angle with the longitudinal edges of the vehicle mounting portion 14 and the sweeping blade mounting portion 20.

Depending on the location of the obstacle hit by the blade main portion 28 with respect to its lower or scraping edge 30, the blade main portion 28 will experience a linear displacement or an angular displacement.

As the properties of the material of the resilient bushing 34 and the diameter of the bushing hole 50, amongst others, limits the linear displacement of blade main portion 28 with respect to the blade support 12, it might be suitable to limit the angular displacement, i.e. the tilting angle that the blade main portion 28 can reach. For the purpose of this description, the tilting angle corresponds to the angle defined between the lower or scraping edge 30 of the blade main portion 28 and the longitudinal edges of the vehicle mounting portion 14 and the sweeping blade mounting portion 20 (or the ground surface or a horizontally-extending axis).

The blade-support mounting apertures 33 and the sweeping-blade mounting apertures 19a, 19b have a circumference sufficient to allow a respective sweeping blade fastener (253 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 to 13) to pass therethrough. Furthermore, when assembled together, the blade-support mounting apertures 33 and the sweeping-blade mounting apertures 19a, 19b are aligned or in registered in a manner such that a respective one of the sweeping blade fasteners can be inserted therein. Each sweeping blade fastener is of a sufficient length such that a distal end thereof can pass through the sweeping-blade mounting apertures 19b that extends through the vehicle mounting portion 14 of the blade support 12, through a corresponding blade-support mounting aperture 33 which extends through the blade main portion 28 of one of the sweeping blade devices 26, and through a corresponding the sweeping-blade mounting aperture 19a which extends through the sweeping blade mounting portion 20 of the blade support 12, such that a nut (not shown), for example, can be threaded onto the distal end of the sweeping blade fastener. When the distal ends of the sweeping blade fasteners are passed through the mounting apertures 19a, 19b, 33, and nuts (not shown) are fastened thereto, the sweeping blade devices 26 can be held securely between the vehicle mounting portion 14 and the sweeping blade mounting portion 20 of the blade support 12 with the lower or scraping edge 30 of each sweeping blade device 26 extending downwardly from the blade support 12, i.e. from the vehicle mounting portion 14 and the sweeping blade mounting portion 20, and can be positioned for scraping the surface, a road covered with snow, ice or other debris, for example. A person skilled in the art to which the present sweeping blade assembly 10 pertains would however understand that other attachment means could be used to secure the sweeping blade devices 26 to a blade support. For example, the sweeping blade devices 26 can also be detachably engageable with a corresponding blade support, as mentioned above. In an embodiment, the sweeping blade assembly 10 can be free of sweeping blade mounting portion 20.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown that the sweeping blade assembly 10 further comprises a blade tilting control assembly 40. In the non-limitative embodiment shown, the blade tilting control assembly 40 comprises a protruding abutment 42 provided on the blade support 12 and, more particularly, extending forwardly from a front face 21 of the vehicle mounting portion 14 (or mounting plate). The blade tilting control assembly 40 further comprises an abutment receiving aperture 44 defined in the blade main portion 28.

Thus, the engagement of the protruding abutment 42 with an inner peripheral wall 45 delimiting the abutment receiving aperture 44 limits the angular movement/displacement of the blade main portion 28 in both directions, i.e. clockwise and counter-clockwise with respect to the pivoting axis defined by the sweeping blade fastener or upwardly and downwardly. More particularly, the blade main portion 28 will pivot about the pivoting axis and once a maximum tilting angle is reached, the protruding abutment 42 provided on the blade support 12 will abut against the inner peripheral wall 45 of the blade main portion 28 delimitating the abutment receiving aperture, thereby preventing further pivoting of the blade main portion 28. As the abutment receiving aperture 44 surrounds entirely the protruding abutment 42, it will limit the angular movement/displacement of the blade main portion 28 in both directions, i.e. clockwise and counter-clockwise.

It is appreciated that the blade tilting control assembly 40 can vary from the embodiment shown, for instance and without being limitative, the protruding abutment can be provided on the blade main portion 28 while the abutment receiving aperture can be provided on the blade support 12.

Furthermore, either the protruding abutment or the abutment receiving aperture can be provided on the sweeping blade mounting portion 20, on a rear face thereof, instead of the vehicle mounting portion 14.

In the non-limitative embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the abutment receiving aperture 44 is a through hole. However, it is appreciated that it can be a cavity or recess extending through one of the rear face of the sweeping blade mounting portion 20, the front face 21 of the vehicle mounting portion 14 or through at least one of the front and the rear faces of the blade main portion 28.

It is appreciated that the shape/profile and the configuration of the protruding abutment 42 and/or the abutment receiving aperture 44 can vary from the non-limitative embodiment shown. The shape of the protruding abutment 42 and/or the abutment receiving aperture 44 may be, without limitations, a circular profile, an elliptic profile, and the like. In an embodiment, the abutment receiving aperture 44 is a closed figure. In an embodiment, the protruding abutment 42 is entirely insertable in the abutment receiving aperture 44. More particularly, the surface area of the abutment receiving aperture 44 is greater than the surface area of the protruding abutment 42 (or a perimeter of the abutment receiving aperture 44 is greater than a perimeter of the protruding abutment 42).

In the embodiment shown, the abutment receiving aperture 44 or the protruding abutment 42 is located in an upper half section of the blade main portion 28, i.e. closer to the upper edge 32. In an embodiment, at least a center of the abutment receiving aperture 44 or the protruding abutment 42 is located in the upper half section of the blade main portion 28, i.e. closer to the upper edge 32.

In an embodiment, a center of the abutment receiving aperture 44 and/or a center of the protruding abutment 42 is substantially aligned, i.e. at a same height along the blade main portion 28, with the pivoting axis, i.e. the sweeping blade fastener.

In the embodiment shown, the abutment receiving aperture 44, the bushing hole 50, and the resilient bushing 34 are located behind and concealed by the blade mounting portion 20 of the blade support 12 to minimize snow and other debris to obstruct the blade bushing assembly 31 and the blade tilting control assembly 40.

In the embodiment shown, the sweeping blade assembly 10 comprises one blade tilting control assembly 40, located on one lateral side of the blade main portion 28 with respect to the pivoting axis (or the sweeping blade fastener). However, it is appreciated that, in an alternative embodiment, it can be provided with more than one blade tilting control assembly 40. For instance, the sweeping blade assembly 10 can comprise two blade tilting control assemblies 40, one on each side of the pivoting axis defined by the sweeping blade fastener.

In the non-limitative embodiment shown, in an initial configuration, i.e. when no force is applied to the blade main portion 28, the protruding abutment 42 is centrally located inside the abutment receiving aperture 44. Therefore, relative displacement between the protruding abutment 42 and the abutment receiving aperture 44 is possible in both directions. However, in alternative embodiments (not shown), the position of the protruding abutment 42 can be offset with respect to a center of the abutment receiving aperture 44. In some embodiments, the relative displacement between the protruding abutment 42 and the abutment receiving aperture 44 can be possible in only one direction, either upwardly or downwardly.

Thus, amplitudes for the rotation and translation of the blade main portion 28 are mostly limited by the bushing assembly 31 and the blade tilting control assembly 40. Each blade main portion 28 is thus substantially free to move (rotate and translate) under the limits imposed by the bushing assembly 31 and the blade tilting control assembly 40.

It can also be appreciated by a person skilled in the art to which the sweeping blade assembly 10 pertains that vehicles other than snowplowing vehicles can be equipped with the above-described blade support 12. It is also noted that the blade support 12 can be comprised of one elongated blade support 12, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, or can be comprised of multiple blade supports mounted to the vehicle in an adjacent configuration (not shown).

The blade support 12 can be secured to a front, rear or side of a snowplowing vehicle or snowplowing apparatus. The blade support 12 can be secured to the front, rear or side of the vehicle using the plurality of suitable mechanical fasteners 17 insertable in at least some of the spaced-apart apertures 16, for example, which are then inserted into corresponding apertures (e.g., threaded apertures) provided on the front, rear or side of the vehicle or apparatus (not shown).

The sweeping blade fastener can be shaped such that a head of the mechanical fastener can sit beneath a surface defined by the vehicle mounting portion 14 once it has been inserted through a respective mounting apertures 19a. While the blade support 12 can be releasably secured to the vehicle using suitable mechanical fasteners, such as bolts and locknuts, it can be appreciated by the person skilled in the art that various other attachment methods can be used, including studs, press fit studs, rivets or adhesive, for example. The blade support 12 can even be permanently attached to the vehicle or apparatus by, for example, welding, tack welding or other methods. It is noted that the blade support 12 can be of varying lengths and heights. For example, the blade support 12 can be between about 36 and about 60 inches in length.

The blade support 12 and the sweeping blade devices 26 can be made of a hard, durable material, and the sweeping blade devices 26 can be provided with a plurality of blade inserts 58 (FIG. 1 to 3 and 5) or a hard facing (not shown) along the scraping edges 30 thereof. Indeed, in one scenario, each sweeping blade device 26 can include a downwardly-opened longitudinal insert-receiving channel which can be configured for receiving the plurality of blade inserts 58. Each sweeping blade device 26 can therefore be made from a variety of materials depending on the application of the sweeping blade assembly 10. For example, the blade main portion 28 of the sweeping blade devices 26 can be made from steel, or the like. On the other hand, the blade inserts 58 or hard facing can be made of various durable materials known to the person skilled in the art, for example, carbide, ceramic, etc.

The sweeping blade devices 26 can be of varying lengths and heights. For example, the sweeping blade devices 26 can be between about 4 and 12 inches in height. On the other hand, the sweeping blade devices 26 can be between about 6 inches and 24 inches in length. An advantage of using sweeping blade devices 26 of relatively short lengths and of a configuration as the one illustrated in FIG. 2, defining a trapeze-shaped configuration with the scraping edge 30 being longer than the blade upper edge 32, is that the sweeping blade devices 26 will be lighter to transport as part of a replacement kit, for example, or on their own, and they will be easier to remove and replace, which can be especially beneficial for drivers or operators in the field. It is noted that each sweeping blade device 26 can however take any shape, size or configuration, as long as it is configured so as to contact with both the ground surface to be scraped and the debris in front of sweeping blade assembly 10.

As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, once the sweeping blade devices 26 are securely held in place between the vehicle mounting portion 14 and the sweeping blade mounting portion 20 of the blade support 12, lower portions 27 of the sweeping blade devices 26 extend outwardly (i.e., downwardly) past the blade support 12. The lower portions 27 of the sweeping blade devices 26 are therefore exposed.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 to 9, there is shown an alternative embodiment of the sweeping blade assembly 10, wherein the features are numbered with reference numerals in the 100 series which correspond to the reference numerals of the previous embodiment.

The features of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 are substantially identical to the one described above in reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. However, the shape of the sweeping blade mounting portion 20, 120 of the blade support 12, 112 is different. While in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the sweeping blade mounting portion 20 is substantially planar, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the sweeping blade mounting portion 120 is shaped like a bracket (or J-shaped profile). It includes a curvature in an upper portion thereof defining a segment 120a covering partially the blade upper edge 132 and limiting debris to enter between the vehicle mounting portion 114 and the sweeping blade mounting portion 120 of the blade support 112 with a gap 113 remaining between an upper free edge of the sweeping blade mounting portion 120 and the front face 21 of the vehicle mounting portion 14. Furthermore, the segment 120a covering partially the blade upper edge 132 can also limit the tilting movement of the blade main portion 128 through an abutment between the blade upper edge 132 and the segment 120a. It is appreciated that, in an alternative embodiment (not shown), the upper free edge of the sweeping blade mounting portion 120 can contact the front face 21 of the vehicle mounting portion 14, i.e. the sweeping blade assembly 110 can be free of gap 113.

Referring now to FIGS. 10 to 13, there is shown another alternative embodiment of the sweeping blade assemblies 10, 110, wherein the features are numbered with reference numerals in the 200 series which correspond to the reference numerals of the previous embodiments.

The features of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 to 13 are substantially identical to the one described above in reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. However, the shape/profile of the abutment receiving aperture 244 defined in the blade main portion 228 is different. While in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 9, the abutment receiving aperture 44, 144 has a rectangular profile, the abutment receiving aperture 244 has substantially circular profile. The shape of the sweeping blade mounting portion 220 of the blade support 212 is similar to the one of FIGS. 1 to 6. However, it is appreciated that, in an alternative embodiment (not shown), the embodiment of the sweeping blade mounting portion 120 of the blade support 112, shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, could be used instead.

In addition, the protruding abutment 242 provided on the blade support 212 and, more particularly, extending forwardly from the front face 221 of the vehicle mounting portion 214 (or mounting plate) has also a substantially circular profile, while the protruding abutments 42, 142 provided on the blade supports 12, 112 respective have a rectangular profile.

It is appreciated that alternative combinations of rectangular/circular abutment receiving aperture 44, 144, 244 and protruding abutment 42, 142, 242 can be foreseen (or vice-versa). The abutment receiving apertures 44, 144, 244 and the protruding abutment 42, 142, 242 are part of the blade tilting control assembly 40, 140, 240.

In addition, the inner peripheral wall 245 delimiting the abutment receiving aperture 244 is made of a resilient material. More particularly, an aperture is defined in the blade main portion 228 and the peripheral wall of this aperture is lined with a resilient material layer 247, such as a resilient material sleeve, defining the inner peripheral wall 245. The resilient material layer 247 smooths the contact between the protruding abutment 242 and the inner peripheral wall 245, thereby preventing metal-to-metal contact between one the sweeping blade fasteners and the inner peripheral wall 245 delimiting the abutment receiving aperture 244.

In some implementations, the blade support 12, 112, 222 (i.e., the vehicle mounting portion 14, 114, 224 and the sweeping blade mounting portion 20, 120, 220), the plurality of reinforced sweeping blade devices 26, 126, 226 and/or the plurality of mechanical fasteners 17, 117, 227 including the sweeping blade fasteners (253 on FIGS. 10 to 13) can be secured one to another by preventing metal-to-metal contact between the components/parts of the sweeping blade assembly. In some non-limitative implementations (not shown), the outer surface of the blade main portion 28, 128, 228 interfacing with the internal surfaces of the vehicle mounting portion 14, 114, 214 and the sweeping blade mounting portion 20, 120, 220 (with the surfaces of the blade support 12, 112, 212 facing the reinforced sweeping blade devices 26, 126, 226) can be lined, at least partially, with a resilient layer so as to prevent metal-to-metal contact between the blade support 12, 112, 212 and the reinforced sweeping blade devices 26, 126, 226, thereby absorbing impact and vibrations, and more particularly, so as to prevent metal-to-metal contact between the internal surfaces of the vehicle mounting portion 14, 114, 214 and the sweeping blade mounting portion 20, 120, 220 and the reinforced sweeping blade devices 26, 126, 226. A person skilled in the art to which the sweeping blade assembly 10, 110, 210 pertains would understand that at least a section of the blade support 12, 112, 212 and/or of the reinforced sweeping blade devices 26, 126, 226 can be lined with the resilient layer(s), so as to prevent metal-to-metal contact between these components. The resilient layer can be made of a flexible material such as a rubber-like material, but it will be appreciated that other materials can be used.

The ability to have absolutely no metal-to-metal contact (or to reduce the metal-to-metal contact) can significantly reduce the vibration throughout the whole sweeping blade assembly 10, 110, 210 and can result in more complete and efficient snow removal by way of example only. It can also reduce overall operating costs. Another benefit of using the resilient layer is that, as the resilient layer deforms, it can allow the reinforced sweeping blade devices 26, 126, 226 to move slightly in response to uneven surfaces, obstructions or debris, while not placing undue stress on the blade support 12, 112, 212 of the sweeping blade assembly 10, 110, 210.

In some embodiments, such as the ones shown in FIGS. 2, 8, and 13, the rigid sleeve 36, 136, 236 of the resilient bushing assembly 31, 131, 231 can protrude outwardly from the front or debris-contacting surface 37, 137, 237 and the rear surface or trailing surface 35, 135, 235 of the blade main portion 28, 128, 228 to slightly space-apart the blade main portion 28, 128, 228 from the vehicle mounting portion 14, 114, 214 and the sweeping blade mounting portion 20, 120, 220, thereby reducing friction during the angular movement/displacement of the blade main portion 28, 128, 228.

In the above description, an embodiment is an example or implementation of the inventions. The various appearances of “one embodiment,” “an embodiment” or “some embodiments” do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiments. Reference in the specification to “some embodiments”, “an embodiment”, “one embodiment” or “other embodiments” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least some embodiments, but not necessarily all embodiments, of the inventions.

Although various features of the invention may be described in the context of a single embodiment, the features may also be provided separately or in any suitable combination. Conversely, although the invention may be described herein in the context of separate embodiments for clarity, the invention may also be implemented in a single embodiment.

It is to be understood that the terms “including”, “comprising”, “consisting” and grammatical variants thereof do not preclude the addition of one or more components, features, steps, or integers or groups thereof and that the terms are to be construed as specifying components, features, steps or integers.

If the specification or claims refer to “an additional” element, that does not preclude there being more than one of the additional element. It is to be understood that where the claims or specification refer to “a” or “an” element, such reference is not be construed that there is only one of that element.

It is to be understood that where the specification states that a component, feature, structure, or characteristic “may”, “might”, “can” or “could” be included, that particular component, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to be included.

Several alternative embodiments and examples have been described and illustrated herein. The embodiments of the invention described above are intended to be exemplary only. A person of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate the features of the individual embodiments, and the possible combinations and variations of the components. A person of ordinary skill in the art would further appreciate that any of the embodiments could be provided in any combination with the other embodiments disclosed herein. It is understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the central characteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein. Accordingly, while the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind. The scope of the invention is therefore intended to be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A sweeping blade assembly configured to be attached to a plow blade of a vehicle for sweeping debris on a ground surface, the sweeping blade assembly comprising:

a blade support securable to the vehicle;

a sweeping blade device comprising: a blade main portion mounted to the blade support and tiltable about a pivoting axis; and

a blade tilting control assembly comprising a protruding abutment protruding from one of the blade support and the blade main portion and an abutment receiving aperture defined in the other one of the blade support and the blade main portion, the abutment receiving aperture being delimited by an inner peripheral wall, the protruding abutment being engageable in the abutment receiving aperture and displaceable with respect to one another upon tilting of blade main portion about the pivoting axis with the inner peripheral wall of the abutment receiving aperture limiting the tilting of blade main portion.

2. The sweeping blade assembly of claim 1, wherein the sweeping blade device further comprises a sweeping blade fastener extending through the blade main portion and engaged with the blade support, the sweeping blade fastener defining the pivoting axis of the blade main portion.

3. The sweeping blade assembly of claim 1, wherein the protruding abutment protrudes from the blade support towards the blade main portion when assembled together and the blade main portion comprises the abutment receiving aperture with the abutment receiving aperture being displaceable with respect to the protruding abutment upon tilting of blade main portion about the pivoting axis.

4. The sweeping blade assembly of claim 3, wherein the blade tilting control assembly further comprises a resilient material sleeve contained in the main blade portion and the resilient material sleeve defines the inner peripheral wall limiting the tilting of the blade main portion.

5. The sweeping blade assembly of claim 2, wherein the blade main portion comprises a bushing hole defined therein and the sweeping blade device further comprises a single bushing assembly including the sweeping blade fastener and a resilient bushing contained in the bushing hole and surrounding the sweeping blade fastener.

6. The sweeping blade assembly of claim 5, wherein the single bushing assembly is substantially centrally located along a length L of the blade main portion.

7. The sweeping blade assembly of claim 1, wherein the abutment receiving aperture extends through one of the blade support and the blade main portion.

8. The sweeping blade assembly of claim 1, wherein the blade tilting control assembly is a single blade tilting control assembly located on one lateral side of the pivoting axis.

9. The sweeping blade assembly of claim 3, wherein the blade support comprises a vehicle mounting portion located rearwardly of the blade main portion when assembled together and the protruding abutment protrudes forwardly from a front face of the vehicle mounting portion.

10. The sweeping blade assembly of claim 1, wherein a perimeter of the abutment receiving aperture delimited by the inner peripheral wall is greater than a perimeter of the protruding abutment.

11. The sweeping blade assembly of claim 1, wherein the blade support comprises a sweeping blade mounting portion located forwardly of the blade main portion when assembled together and the abutment receiving aperture is concealed behind the sweeping blade mounting portion.

12. The sweeping blade assembly of claim 1, wherein a center of the protruding abutment is located in an upper half section of the blade main portion and the protruding abutment is centrally located inside the abutment receiving aperture.

13. The sweeping blade assembly of claim 1, wherein a center of the protruding abutment and the pivoting axis are substantially at a same height on the blade main portion.

14. A snow plow comprising: a snow plow blade and the sweeping blade assembly of claim 1 mounted in a lower portion of the snow plow blade.

15. A sweeping blade device comprising:

a blade main portion having a front face, a rear face, a single bushing hole, and at least one of: a protruding abutment protruding from at least one of the front face and the rear face; and an abutment receiving aperture opened on at least one of the front face and the rear face; and

a single bushing assembly including a resilient bushing contained in the single bushing hole and defining a blade-support mounting aperture.

16. The sweeping blade device of claim 15, wherein the single bushing assembly is substantially centrally located along a length L of the blade main portion and one of the protruding abutment and the abutment receiving aperture is located on one lateral side of the single bushing assembly.

17. The sweeping blade device of claim 15, wherein the blade main portion comprises the abutment receiving aperture extending therethrough.

18. The sweeping blade device of claim 16, wherein the abutment receiving aperture is a through hole extending from the front face to the rear face of the blade main portion and the sweeping blade device further comprises a resilient material sleeve contained in the main blade portion and lining a peripheral wall of the through hole to define an inner peripheral wall.

19. The sweeping blade device of claim 16, wherein a center of the abutment receiving aperture is located in an upper half section of the blade main portion.

20. The sweeping blade device of claim 16, wherein a center of the abutment receiving aperture and the blade-support mounting aperture are substantially at a same height on the blade main portion.