Patent ID: 7832814
Filing Date: 2010-11-16
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
1. A snow and/or debris deflector for a tracked vehicle, said deflector comprising: a) a rigid plate configured to be mounted to said vehicle substantially transversely to the longitudinal direction of a track of said vehicle and near one of the wheels of said vehicle, said rigid plate having an inner wheel-facing side, an opposite outer side, and a lower edge; b) a resilient pad having an upper portion, mounted on said outer side of said rigid plate, a lower portion, extending from said upper portion and overlapping said lower edge of said rigid plate, and a hinge portion at the junction of said upper portion and said lower portion and about which said lower portion can pivot with respect to said upper portion, said lower portion being provided with at least one reinforcing element embedded therein overlapping said lower edge of said rigid plate such that said lower portion of said resilient pad is prevented from bending around said lower edge of said rigid plate and toward said one of said wheels; wherein the combination of said rigid plate, said lower portion of said resilient pad and said at least one reinforcing element causes said lower portion of said resilient pad to abut on said rigid plate and remain substantially rigid when pushed against said rigid plate by snow and/or debris traveling toward said one of said wheels, but causes said lower portion of said resilient pad to pivot about said hinge portion away from said rigid plate when pushed away from said rigid plate by snow and/or debris exiting said one of said wheels.