Abstract:
An attachment for an all terrain vehicle (ATV) which enables the ATV to be used for clearing away snow and other loose granular material, such as sand, earth, and crushed stones. The apparatus includes a blade with a detachable liner, and a frame which fits beneath the ATV and is releasably connected to the outer sides of the ATV by a mounting device. The angle of the blade may be adjusted using a dual-handed lever. The blade may be raised and lowered by the driver while seated at the ATV using a handle which actuates a lever and a cable and pulley apparatus.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a device which can be attached to an all terrain vehicle (“ATV”) and used for clearing away loose granular material, such as snow, sand, earth, and crushed stones. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     All terrain vehicles are popularly used by consumers as recreational vehicles. However, given their ability to manoeuvre on a variety of terrains, ATVs have the potential to be adapted for practical applications such as the removal of snow. Accordingly, there is consumer demand for an ATV attachment which enables the ATV to be used for clearing snow and other loose granular material, such as sand, earth and crushed stones. 
     It is desirable that the attachment be easily installed and removed, so that the vehicle does not carry any unnecessary weight when the attachment is not in use. However, the devices found in the prior art are relatively cumbersome to install and remove, or have limited applications. Typically, the attachment points for these devices are situated on the underside of the ATV, so that they are not readily accessible to the user. U.S. Pat. No. 3,688,847 teaches a frame assembly which requires the removal of the front wheels of the vehicle in order to initially install the attachment piece for hooking up the frame assembly. U.S. Pat. No. 4,615,130 teaches a frame assembly suitable only for ATV&#39;s having a trailer—type hitch on the rear—end of the vehicle. Accordingly, there is a need for an assembly which can be quickly and easily attached and detached from ATV&#39;s. 
     In certain situations it may be desirable to change the angle of the blade on the attachment, for example, when clearing snow adjacent to a wall or fence. However, the prior art suffers from the disadvantage that it can be relatively cumbersome to adjust the angle of the blade. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,615,130 teaches the use of retractable pins as a means for locking the blade at a desired angle. However, the removal and insertion of pins requires a certain degree of manual dexterity and maybe difficult to accomplish under cold-weather conditions, when the driver of the ATV is likely to be wearing gloves. Accordingly, there is a need for a device equipped with means for quickly and conveniently adjusting the angle of the blade. 
     In certain situations, it may also be desirable to raise the blade, for example when travelling to a destination which needs to be cleared. Accordingly, it is desirable to have an attachment that can be easily raised and lowered by the driver while seated on the MV. 
     Finally, the prior an does not teach a blade with a detachable liner, which would allow the liner to be inexpensively replaced if it becomes damaged, and which would also allow the liner to be inexpensively colour coordinated with the customer&#39;s ATV. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The disadvantages of the prior at are obviated and mitigated by the present invention which provides an attachment for use in shoveling snow and other loose granular material, which can be quickly and easily attached and detached from an ATV; which enables the operator of the MV to easily and quickly adjust the blade to a desired angle; and easily raise or lower the blade of the ATV while seated on the ATV. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the snow blade has a coloured liner detachably secured to the blade frame, which may be colour coordinated with the body of the ATV. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides an apparatus which may be attached to an all terrain vehicle for use in clearing loose granular material; said apparatus comprising a frame assembly adapted to fit beneath the all terrain vehicle in a spaced apart relationship thereto, and to be releasably connected to the outer sides of the all terrain vehicle by a mounting means; blade means for use in clearing loose granular material; said blade means attached to the frame assembly at the front-end of the all terrain vehicle; angle adjustment means for adjusting the angle of the blade means relative to the longitudinal axis of the all terrain vehicle; and vertical adjustment means for raising and lowering said blade means and said frame assembly. 
     A further embodiment provides a kit comprising a frame assembly adapted to fit beneath the all terrain vehicle in a spaced apart relationship thereto, and to be releasably connected to the outer sides of the all, terrain vehicle by a mounting means; blade means for use in clearing loose granular material; said blade means attached to the frame assembly at the front-end of the all terrain vehicle; angle adjustment means for adjusting the angle of the blade means relative to the longitudinal axis of the all terrain vehicle; and vertical adjustment means for raising and lowering said blade means and said frame assembly. 
     Additionally, the invention provides an attachment means for releasably securing a frame assembly and blade means to an all terrain vehicles comprising angle adjustment means for adjusting the angle of the blade means relative to the longitudinal axis of the all terrain vehicle; and vertical adjustment means for raising and lowering said blade means and said frame assembly. 
     An advantage of the present invention is that the attachment points for the frame assembly are easily accessible on the outer sides of the ATV, and therefore the frame assembly can be attached and detached quickly and easily. 
     Preferably, the vertical adjustment means comprises a dual-handed lever which enables the operator to easily adjust the angle of the blade from either side of the ATV. Because the angle of the blade is adjusted using a simple lifting and turning motion, it is possible to adjust the angle of the blade even while wearing gloves. 
     A further advantage of this invention is that the driver can easily raise or lower the blade and frame assembly while seated on the ATV, through the use of an over-centering mechanism which enables the blade to stay locked in the up position without the use of latch pins or extra brackets. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A better understanding of the invention will be obtained by considering the detailed description below, with reference to the following drawings of embodiments of the present invention in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a side view showing an ATV incorporating the present invention 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lift attachment apparatus of the present invention, shown in combination with a blade assembly 
     FIG. 3 is a top elevated view of the lift attachment apparatus of the present invention, shown in combination with a blade assembly 
     FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the lift attachment apparatus of the present invention 
     FIG. 4A is a side exploded view of the lift attachment apparatus of the present invention 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the locking means of the lift attachment apparatus 
     FIG. 5A is an exploded view of the locking means of the lift attachment apparatus 
     FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of a blade assembly 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In FIG. 1, the lift attachment apparatus of the present invention, generally designated as  2 , is shown mounted to an all terrain vehicle (ATV)  4 , and a blade assembly  6 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, lift attachment apparatus  2  comprises a frame assembly  10 , a locking device  18  and over centering lift handle assembly  30 . 
     Frame assembly  10  is of substantially A-shaped design, consisting of diverging arms  12 ,  13  that are connected by cross members  14 ,  15  for reinforcement. The posterior end of the frame assembly  10  is defined by attachment means such as lug  16  disposed at one end of each of arms  12 ,  13 . The frame assembly may accordingly be conveniently mounted to the frame of ATV  4 , as shown by FIG.  1 . 
     Locking device  18  is mounted to the anterior end of frame assembly  10 . As more particularly shown in FIG. 4A, locking device  18  comprises a base plate  19 , and frame member  20  which may be secured to blade assembly  6  by means by of a pivot bolt  21  or other similar securement means. Lock pin assembly  22  comprises dual lock handle  24  which is operatively connected to latch lever means  26  by means of lugs  28  and pivot bolts  29 , and to lock spring  27 . 
     Frame member  20  is secured to blade assembly  6  by means of bolts or other mechanically equivalent attachment means and is preferably pivotally connected to base plate  19  at attachment point  25 . Spring means  23  acts to bias the blade assembly  6  as against the frame member  20 . 
     Over center lift handle assembly means  30  comprises handle member  32  which is pivotally connected to base bracket  34 , connecting link  40 , lever  36  and over center pivot arm  38 . Lock spring  41  is secured to pivot arm  38  and to support member  37 . Pivot arm  38  is rotatable along vertical axis A, and may be a first, second, or third class lever. Pivot arm  38  is attached to a lift cable  42 . Lift cable  42  runs along the longitudinal axis of the frame assembly  10  and is received by pulley  44  which is operatively connected to locking device  18 . The free end of lift cable  42  is fitted with attachment means  46  that enables the cable to be secured to the front bumper, or other suitable attachment point on the ATV. 
     Referring to FIG. 6, blade assembly  6  includes a blade frame  62  which may optionally be fitted with a replaceable blade liner  64 . Blade liner  64  may be detachably secured to blade assembly by means of bolts  66  or similar connection means. Blade frame  62  is rotatably connected to the anterior end of the frame assembly  10 , as described above. The detachable liner enables a damaged liner to be inexpensively replaced. It also enables a dealer to stock fewer blade frames, while providing the consumer with a variety of colour options for the liner. Optionally, a blade guard  67  may be incorporated within the blade assembly. 
     As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the blade assembly  6  may define a single direction, tapered speed blade, or a bidirectional, conventional blade. All conventional blades and blade frames adapted for use for an all terrain vehicle or similar device are within the scope of the present invention. 
     The orientation of the locking device  18  relative to the frame assembly  20  means that the blade assembly  6  may be attached to the all terrain vehicle, and the relative angle of the blade may be adjusted, from either side of the all terrain vehicle. 
     The present invention defines an over centering lift system with significant mechanical advantage that enables the operator of the ATV to easily and conveniently raise and lower the blade assembly without undue manipulation. By pulling back on the handle  32 , the driver can quickly and easily raise the blade assembly  6 . When handle  32  is pulled toward the back of the ATV, the handle lever  36  is pulled toward the front of the ATV which causes the pivot arm  38  to pivot about its axis A, by means of connecting link  40  thereby tightening the lift cable  42  which pulls up on the pulley  44 . This motion is translated to frame member  19  and causes blade assembly  6  to move lo vertically, relative to the ground (“up position”). Once the lift cable  42  has passed over the axis A of the pivot arm  38 , the weight of the blade assembly  6  would tend to cause the pivot arm  38  to continue pivoting about its axis A thereby urging blade assembly  36  to a downward position. However, a pivot am stop  34  is situated so as to block further movement of the pivot arm  38 . This over-centering mechanism holds blade assembly  36  in an up position without the use of pins and extra brackets. The frame assembly  10  and blade assembly  36  remain in the up position by virtue of the over-centering mechanism, described above, until the driver returns the handle  32  to an upright position. 
     When the handle  32  is in an upright position, the pivot arm  38  is oriented approximately 90 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the ATV, the lift cable  42  is relatively slack and the blade assembly is in a down position, i.e. substantially tangential to the ground surface. 
     The action of lock spring  41  (attached between the base of the handle  32  and the end of the pivot arm  38  that is attached to the support member  37 ) reduces the manual effort required to lift the blade assembly and ensures that pivot arm  38  achieves a positive lock in the up or down position, thereby preventing blade assembly  6  from dropping to the ground as the ATV travels over rough terrain. 
     The angle of the blade assembly  6  relative to the ground surface may be adjusted by pulling up on either side of the dual-handed lock handle  24  to release the latch lever  26 , then rotating the frame member  20  about the blade angle pivot attachment point  25  until the blade assembly  6  is at a desired angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the ATV whereupon the latch lever is realigned with a suitable notch  29  on the frame member  20 , and then releasing the dual-handed lock handle  24  so that the latch lever  26  matingly engages with the desired notch. Return spring  27  urges the latch lever  26  against the notch  27 , and thereby serves to lock the blade assembly  6  into the desired angular orientation, relative the longitudinal axis of the frame assembly  10 . 
     Optionally, the relative mechanical advantage of the over centering lift system may be adjusted by altering the point at which cable  42  is connected to pivot am  38 . This may be accomplished by the provision of one or more additional connection points That may take the form of apertures, eyelets or other similar structures that may be used to secure cable  42  to pivot arm  38 .