Invertible Patents (Class 37/267)
  • Patent number: 10856650
    Abstract: There is described a scratch-free snow removal tool comprising a flexible blade presenting a sweeping surface extending in a plane. The flexible blade defines a blade edge which is continuous and can be made of silicone or TPE. The blade support is more rigid than the flexible blade. A plurality of fingers is provided, which are more rigid than the flexible blade and extend in the plane of the sweeping surface, from the blade support toward the blade edge without reaching the blade edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: André Lafleur RD&D Inc.
    Inventor: Andre Lafleur
  • Patent number: 8776406
    Abstract: A reversible wing plow including a hitch, a moldboard and a moldboard shifting mechanism. The hitch is coupleable to the rear of a prime mover. The moldboard is operably coupled to the hitch proximate an inboard end and rotatable about a first horizontal axis that extends outwardly from the hitch generally parallel to a direction of forward movement of the prime mover. The moldboard shifting mechanism includes first and second linear actuators, both of which are coupled to the hitch at one end and coupled to opposing sides of a rotation crank plate on the other end. The crank plate is further operably coupled to the moldboard, whereby the moldboard is rotatably shiftable to the driver or passenger side of the prime mover, or to a vertically oriented transport position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Inventor: Michael Frederick Stephan
  • Patent number: 8191288
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various aspects of an improved snow or material pushers for use with loaders, backhoes, agricultural and larger home and garden tractors and the like for moving snow or other materials on generally flat areas such as parking lots, driveways, feed lots, runways, and loading areas. The improvements include, among others, a reversible design, extended side plates and/or wear shoes as well as improved scraping edge configurations so as to provide added functionality and versatility to pushers. As described the various features may be employed alone or in combination to provide the capability for snow and ice removal while minimizing the potential for damage to surfaces and objects thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Pro-Tech Manufacturing and Distribution, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Weagley, Michael J. Guggino, James Maier
  • Patent number: 7712232
    Abstract: A snow blower attachment includes a concentric axis fan and auger, the fan and auger being independently powered by respective motors and being axially operably coupled for support and for independent rotation of the fan and auger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Inventor: David S. Majkrzak
  • Patent number: 7703222
    Abstract: A snow plow for use with personal utility vehicles is disclosed. The snow plow includes a mounting apparatus for attachment to a vehicle and a plow blade having a main surface, a rear surface, a plurality of retention members and a rubber scraper. The mounting apparatus includes a frame having a mounting upright and a hitch tongue, which is easily mounted in a hitch receiver which can be pivotally secured a vehicle. The retention members configured to at least partially encircle and slideably engage the mounting upright when the plow blade is in a working orientation. Preferably, the frame pushes the rear surface of the plow blade when the vehicle is moving in a direction towards the plow blade and wherein the frame disengages the rear surface when the vehicle moves in a direction rearward of the plow blade and the plow blade pivots away from the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Agri-Cover, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles M. Schmeichel
  • Patent number: 7676962
    Abstract: A snow plow for attachment to a vehicle, the snow plow including a mounting apparatus having a mounting frame, the mounting frame including at least one mounting upright. The snow plow further including a plow blade including a retention apparatus constructed and arranged to slidlingly and disengageably secure the plow blade to the mounting upright(s) when the plow blade is in a working orientation. The plow blade includes a mold board, preferably, a two piece mold board being an aluminum extrusion. The mold board will preferably include a front and a back and cells or compartments partially formed by support structures that extend between the front and the back of the mold board and along the width of the plow blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Agri-Cover, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles M. Schmeichel
  • Patent number: 7658021
    Abstract: A self-adjusting snow plow for use with pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles is disclosed. The snow plow includes a mounting apparatus for attachment to a vehicle and a plow blade having first and second ends, a top, a bottom, a plurality of retention members and a rubber scraper. The mounting apparatus includes a pair of mounting uprights and a hitch tongue which is easily mounted in a hitch receiver which is secured to the front of a vehicle. The retention members are constructed and arranged to at least partially encircle and slideably engage one of the respective mounting uprights and the retention members allow the respective ends of the plow blade to slide upward relative to the mounting upright most proximate to that end of the plow while the other end of the plow remains generally in the same position relative to the mounting upright proximate that end of the plow blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Agri-Cover, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles M. Schmeichel
  • Patent number: 7627965
    Abstract: A snow plow for attachment to a vehicle, the snow plow including a mounting apparatus having a mounting frame, the mounting frame including at least one mounting upright. The snow plow further including a plow blade including a retention apparatus constructed and arranged to slidlingly and disengageably secure the plow blade to the mounting upright(s) when the plow blade is in a working orientation. The plow blade includes a mold board, the mold board preferably being an aluminum extrusion. The aluminum extrusion will preferably include at least one attachment channel, more preferably a plurality of attachment channels, in which parts of the snow blade can be secured or anchored. The plow blade preferably includes first and second attachment channels and the retention apparatus preferably includes at least one retention member anchored in at least one of the attachment channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Agri-Cover, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles M. Schmeichel
  • Patent number: 7603798
    Abstract: A self-adjusting snow plow for use with pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles is disclosed. The snow plow includes a mounting apparatus for attachment to a vehicle and a plow blade having first and second ends, a top, a bottom, a plurality of retention members and a rubber scraper. The mounting apparatus includes a pair of mounting uprights and a hitch tongue which is easily mounted in a hitch receiver which is secured to the front of a vehicle. The retention members are constructed and arranged to at least partially encircle and slideably engage one of the respective mounting uprights and the retention members allow the respective ends of the plow blade to slide upward relative to the mounting upright most proximate to that end of the plow while the other end of the plow remains generally in the same position relative to the mounting upright proximate that end of the plow blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: AGRI-COVER, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles M. Schmeichel
  • Patent number: 7509758
    Abstract: A hitch structure for mounting attachments to a vehicle such as a skid steer loader is disclosed herein. The hitch structure includes a universal, reversible hitch structure. The hitch structure includes a first end positioned opposite a second end, a fixed locking structure located adjacent each of the first end and the second end, the fixed locking structure constructed for receiving a toe end of an attachment carrier of a loader vehicle. The hitch structure also includes a removable locking structure with a slot for receiving a locking wedge positioned adjacent a heel end of the attachment carrier. The removable locking structure is removably engageable with the hitch structure alternatively adjacent either the first end or the second end of the hitch structure to form a clamping structure with the fixed locking structure located at the opposite end from the removable locking structure for mounting the attachment to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: NTH Inc.
    Inventor: Clinton Nesseth
  • Patent number: 7412787
    Abstract: An improved snow moving apparatus has a semi-cylindrical body and side plates that form an inner cavity that is impermeable by snow. The apparatus has a pushing scraper and a pulling scraper. The pushing scraper is in contact with the ground when the apparatus is in pushing mode and the pulling scraper is in contact with the ground with the apparatus is in pulling mode. The scrapers are adjustably attached to either the side plates or the body or both so that the level of the scrapers can be easily adjusted when the blades wear down through use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Inventors: Keith R. Sutton, Randall Sutton
  • Patent number: 7367407
    Abstract: A towed snowplow includes a frame which is carried by at least one wheel. The frame includes at least one moldboard and is arranged to be towed behind a vehicle and movable from a transport position directly behind the vehicle to a deployed position in which the frame extends diagonally from the vehicle to enable plowing of pavement alongside and to the rear of the towing vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Cives Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Glenn Lannert
  • Patent number: 7131221
    Abstract: A self-adjusting snow plow for use with pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles is disclosed. The snow plow includes a mounting apparatus for attachment to a vehicle and a plow blade having first and second ends, a top, a bottom, a plurality of retention members and a rubber scraper. The mounting apparatus preferably includes a pair of mounting uprights and a hitch tongue which is easily mounted in a hitch receiver which is secured to the front of a vehicle. The retention members are preferably constructed and arranged to at least partially encircle and slideably engage one of the respective mounting uprights and the retention members allow the respective ends of the plow blade to slide upward relative to the mounting upright most proximate to that end of the plow while the other end of the plow remains generally in the same position relative to the mounting upright proximate that end of the plow blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Agri-Cover, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles M. Schmeichel
  • Patent number: 6817118
    Abstract: A self-adjusting snow plow for use with pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles is disclosed. The snow plow includes a mounting apparatus for attachment to a vehicle and a plow blade having first and second ends, a top, a bottom, a plurality of retention members and a rubber scraper. The mounting apparatus includes a pair of mounting uprights and a hitch tongue which is easily mounted in a hitch receiver which is secured to the front of a vehicle. The retention members are constructed and arranged to at least partially encircle and slidably engage one of the respective mounting uprights and the retention members allow the respective ends of the plow blade to slide upward relative to the mounting upright most proximate to that end of the plow while the other end of the plow remains generally in the same position relative to the mounting upright proximate that end of the plow blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Inventor: Charles M. Schmeichel
  • Patent number: 6662478
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a grading blade disposed between a pair of holders. An adjusting mechanism is rigidly attached to the grading blade. A threaded connector is used to adjust the vertical position of the grading blade. Each holder is attached to a rear portion of a utility bucket, e.g., by welding. A plurality of gussets are attached to one of the holders and to the utility bucket, thereby providing further attachment and supported to the present grading assembly. The grading blade may be rotated, thereby using each of a pair of grading edges as desired. Moreover, the grading blade may be detached and repaired or replaced. When installed on a utility bucket, the present grading assembly allows precision grading to be conducted when driving in both forward and rearward directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Virnig Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Darin R. Virnig
  • Patent number: 6470604
    Abstract: A snowplow attachment for mounting to the front end of a vehicle that includes both a push blade operable during forward movement of vehicle and a pull blade operable during reverse movement of the vehicle. The pull blade drops down in front of the push blade such that pushed snow can then be pulled back. The snowplow can get up close to permanent structures such as buildings and remove snow therefrom. During the push mode, the pull blade is raised to avoid interference with pushed snow. The snowplow can include side plates located on the ends of the blades for containing the snow and prevent snow from escaping out the sides, thereby increasing the volume of snow moved by the plow during one sweep. According to one embodiment, the snowplow includes a push blade assembly that is adapted to mount directly on the vehicle and a movable pull blade carried by the push blade assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Farmers' Factory Company
    Inventors: Gerald T. Foster, Paul Burton, Robert W. Norton
  • Patent number: 6314666
    Abstract: The material moving blade has a moldboard assembly with a lower moldboard portion and an upper moldboard portion. A hinge connects the upper moldboard portion to the lower moldboard portion for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis. An upper cutting bar with an upper bar working edge is clamped to a top edge of the upper moldboard portion. A lower cutting bar with a lower bar working edge is clamped to a bottom edge of the lower moldboard portion. An actuator pivots the upper moldboard portion about the horizontal axis in one direction to a position in which the upper cutting bar is above the lower moldboard portion and in another direction to a position in which the upper bar working edge is below the lower bar working edge and the upper moldboard material contact surface faces rearward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Hiniker Company
    Inventors: David D. Klemenhagen, Roger J. Scheurer, Vincent J. Tomlonovic
  • Patent number: 6070343
    Abstract: An adjustable grading device attaching to a vehicle rear towing hitch having a grading blade for grading or snow removal and integrated wheels for transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Inventor: David T. Sheldon
  • Patent number: 4559726
    Abstract: This invention relates to a snow handling equipment comprising a handle grip, a tubular handle, a blade slightly curved in cross section and rectangular in plan and a supporting device securing the blade to the handle. The supporting device allows the pivoting movement of the blade in a plane perpendicular with respect to the plane of the handle to allow the user to adjust the angle of the blade or turn the blade upside down in order to use either edge of the blade to scrape the snow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1985
    Inventor: Marius Moisan