Abstract:
The Zero Clearance Attachment is an attachment device that allows for safely and completely clearing snow or other material away from and right up to and against obstacles, such as buildings, doors, vehicles, machinery, etc. The Zero Clearance Attachment can be quickly attached to a plow, blade, bucket, blower, snow blower, or other equipment, and allow the machine operator using the Zero Clearance Attachment to physically come in contact while moving or otherwise, with the obstacle being cleared around and not cause harm or damage to the obstacle. The soft flex edge of the Zero Clearance Attachment can slide along the obstacle allowing for more complete snow or other material removal. The flex edge can deflect back and away from an obstacle to prevent damage to the obstacle. The Zero Clearance Attachment is comprised of a rigid frame with a flex edge on the outward end of the frame. The flex edge can embody many designs including a spring resistance deflection mechanism, a pivot mechanism or a retracting mechanism. The Zero Clearance Attachment can be mounted on the end of a plow, blade, bucket, blower, snow blower, or other equipment.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application: 61/205,943 filed 26 Jan. 2009 by the inventor Wayne M. Kotila 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to the safe and complete removal of snow, sand, or other materials away from and right up against doors, buildings, or other obstacles. The invention addresses the issue of snow or other material removal being limited to areas a safe distance away from buildings and other obstacles, resulting in snow and other materials left up against buildings, doors and other obstacles. This can result in the need to step over, climb over, or hand shovel the material away, but in many cases the material is just left where it is. This often results in stuck vehicles, loss of access, or doors frozen down, and snow left piled up can create ice dams, which can cause water to back up into buildings. 
         [0004]    The invention can be quickly attached or removed when needed, or remain mounted all the time to a bucket, plow, blade, blower, snow blower, or other equipment, and can be designed to attach to either end of the bucket, plow, blade, blower, snow blower, or other equipment. The invention can be used to clear away unwanted material from buildings, doors, or other obstacles and into the bucket, plow or blade with no resulting damage. The invention can fit a variety of applications through a variety of designs and through a variety of flex edge designs. The invention has a proportionally small size in comparison to most of the plows, blades, buckets, blowers, snow blowers or other equipment, it would attach to. Because of this small proportional size the invention won&#39;t create a strong side force on the machine being used to clear away material. 
         [0005]    2. Description of Prior Art 
         [0006]    As can be seen by reference to the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,145,825: 3,604,517:3,279,104: 3,805,424: 4,275,514: 3,807,064: 4,073,077: 5,638,618:5,148,617: 4,962,600:4,741,116. There are a myriad, and diverse number of wing or extension constructions that serve to extend the width of a plow blade or bucket and, or to prevent a trail of snow or other material from sliding off the end of a bucket or blade, but none that address the issue of complete clearing of unwanted material away from buildings, doors, and other obstacles. Prior art does not allow for physical contact between the plow blade or bucket extension and the obstacle, and if said contact did take place, severe damage to the obstacle could and would result. The current invention: Zero Clearance Attachment, is designed to solve these issues, while not causing damage to the obstacles being cleared around thus providing more complete snow or other material removal. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention, the Zero Clearance Attachment allows for the safe removal of snow and other material up to and against buildings and other obstacles, without causing damage to the buildings or other obstacles. Prior art does not allow for close up material removal, and attempting to get close can result in severe damage to buildings or other obstacles. The Zero Clearance Attachment can be of a variety of different designs and materials, without changing the intent of the invention. 
         [0008]    In one embodiment, a flexible (flex) edge or soft edge is used, in another embodiment the flex edge is enhanced with a customizable spring tension design using compression springs to add resistance. These compression springs can be changed in minutes to weaker or stronger springs to fit the users desired parameters. In other embodiments the use of springs, pivot plates or retracting plates and or a soft or flex edge are used. 
         [0009]    The inventions many different designs, all use a strong frame forming an angle with gussets or other framing for strength, the angle can be any degree of bend to fit the desired application. The frame can be quickly attached to the end of a plow blade, bucket snow blower, or other applicable device. The inventions flex edge can be of a stiff yet forgiving material such as rubber or other applicable materials known to industry. The inventions embodiment of a flex edge can also be constructed of a forgiving but stiff material like belting, and the belting can be wrapped around a pipe or other material to add more rigidity, while still maintaining a flexible edge that will deflect away if striking a building or other obstacle and not cause any damage. The pipe or other rigid material used also provides a mounting frame for attaching a square tubing or other suitable receiver for the compression spring assembly. In this assembly the ends of the compression spring rods float unattached in over sized holes in the square tubing, and can be assembled with extension springs that run between the spring rods and the square tubing. This prevents the floating spring rods from popping out of the receiver (square tubing), if the flex edge is deflected forward, as this can happen from the forces applied if a plow blade is dragging on the ground as it is angled back. 
         [0010]    The many designs of the The Zero Clearance Attachment, allow it to work with a variety of machines and applications while maintaining the same design intent. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The present invention will be further explained with references to the drawing figures listed below, where in like structure is referred to by like numerals throughout the multiple views. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of The Zero Clearance Attachment (ZCA) with a solid flex edge (i.e. rubber), the ZCA is mounted to a bucket. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the ZCA mounted to a bucket and designed with following embodiments. 
           [0014]    A: The belt style flex edge looped around a rigid pipe. 
           [0015]    B: The compression spring resistance assembly. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the ZCA mounted to a blade or plow designed with the following embodiments. 
           [0017]    A: The belt style flex edge looped around rigid pipe. 
           [0018]    B: The compression spring resistance assembly with extension spring rod holders. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the compression spring resistance assembly with an extension spring rod holder and a belt style flex edge looped around a rigid pipe. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the ZCA mounted to a blade with a belt Style flex edge looped around a rigid pipe, designed with a pivot mechanism to pivot the ZCA back out of the way to a park position when desired. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the ZCA mounted to a bucket designed with a pivoting flex plate and a looped belt style flex edge. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the ZCA mounted to a bucket designed with a retractable flex plate and a flex edge of a solid but forgiving and flexible material like rubber. 
       
    
    
       [0023]    While the above identified drawing figures set forth a variety embodiments of the invention, other embodiments are also contemplated as noted in the discussion. In all cases, this disclosure presents the present invention by way of representation and not limitation. It should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art which fall within the scope and spirit of the principles of this invention. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0024]      FIG. 1  in this embodiment of the present invention, The Zero Clearance Attachment (ZCA) ( 5 ) is a frame or structure and is designed for use with a conventional bucket ( 10 ). The ZCA ( 5 ) attaches to the bucket ( 10 ) with bolts, pins, welding or other preferred method. The ZCA ( 5 ) is attached to the end of the bucket ( 10 ) and angling away at an angle ( 83 ) of 45 degree, but could be of a lesser or greater degree of angle and not change the design intent. This angle ( 83 ) is supported by gussets ( 20 ) to maintain the angle ( 83 ) and add rigidity, the gussets ( 20 ) are attached (i.e. welded) to the ZCA ( 5 ). On the outward vertical end ( 30 ) of the ZCA ( 5 ) is a flexible (flex) edge ( 25 ). This flex edge is of a solid yet flexible material like rubber ( 40 ). The bottom edge of the ZCA ( 5 ) has a height adjustable and replaceable wear edge (scraper blade ( 45 )), attached by suitable means such as bolts. The scraper blade ( 45 ) accounts for the thickness of the bucket ( 10 ), aligning the bottom of the ZCA ( 5 ) with the bottom of the bucket ( 10 ) when the ZCA is mounted inside the bucket ( 10 ). The ZCA ( 5 ) has a location indicating pole ( 50 ) mounted to the outward vertical end ( 30 ) of the ZCA ( 5 ), this indicates to the machine operator, the location of the vertical edge ( 30 ) of the ZCA ( 5 ) in order to maintain contact between the flex edge ( 25 ) and the obstacles being cleared around when needed. 
         [0025]      FIG. 2  in an alternate embodiment the ZCA ( 5 ) is attached to a conventional bucket ( 10 ) with bolts, pins, welded or by whatever means preferred. The ZCA ( 5 ) has a flex edge ( 25 ) constructed of belt material ( 35 ) looped around a rigid pipe ( 80 ), and attached to the outward vertical end ( 30 ) of the ZCA ( 5 ). The ZCA ( 5 ) also has a flex edge location indicating pole ( 50 ), as well as an adjustable and replaceable scraper blade ( 45 ). The ZCA ( 5 ) angles outward at an angle ( 83 ) of 45 degree, or can be a lesser or greater angle if desired. This angle ( 83 ) is maintained with gussets ( 20 ) that are attached (i.e. welded) to the ZCA ( 5 ). In this view the ZCA ( 5 ) has a compression spring resistance assembly that includes compression springs ( 120 ) riding on compression spring rods ( 115 ), with one end of the compression spring rods ( 115 ) floating in oversized holes (pockets ( 119 )), through one wall of the compression spring rod receiver (tube or square tubing ( 110 )). This receiver tube ( 110 ) is attached to the backside ( 118 ) of the flex edge ( 25 ) with screws, bolts, rivets or other applicable means through the belting ( 35 ) and into the rigid pipe ( 80 ). The opposite end of the compression rods ( 115 ) slide loose through holes in the compression spring brackets ( 125 ). The compression springs ( 120 ) ride on the compression spring rods ( 115 ) and are held between the compression spring brackets ( 125 ) and flat washers ( 135 ), (as shown in more detail in  FIG. 4 ). The compression spring brackets ( 125 ) are attached to the ZCA ( 5 ) by applicable means (i.e. welding). When using the ZCA ( 5 ) this tension spring resistance assembly gives the flex edge ( 25 ) more rigidity, this added and customizable rigidity allows the clearing of harder materials like icy snow but if the flex edge ( 25 ) strikes an obstacle such as a building, the flex edge ( 25 ) will still deflect back and inward as the compression springs ( 120 ), compress between the compression spring brackets ( 125 ), and the flat washers ( 135 ). The compression springs ( 120 ) can be easily and quickly changed to stronger or weaker tension springs to fit the desired parameters. 
         [0026]      FIG. 3  the embodiment in this version of the ZCA ( 5 ) is attached to a conventional plow ( 15 ) by means of mounting tabs ( 150 ), and common fasteners like pins or bolts. The ZCA ( 5 ) is forming a angle ( 83 ) with a plow mounted application the angle ( 83 ) can usually be anywhere from 0 degrees to 120 degrees because of the plows ability to be held at varied angles, but the preferred angle would be between 45 degrees, and 90 degrees. The ZCA ( 5 ) is strengthened with gussets ( 20 ). The flex edge ( 25 ) is a looped belt ( 35 ), with a rigid pipe ( 80 ), and has a spring resistance assembly using compression springs ( 120 ) (as described in  FIG. 2 ). The embodiment in  FIG. 3  also utilizes extension springs ( 130 ) attached to the compression spring rods ( 115 ) and the compression spring rod receiver ( 110 ). The extension springs ( 130 ) ensure that the ends of the compression spring rods ( 115 ) do not pop out of the holes in the compression spring rod receiver ( 110 ). This can happen when the flex edge ( 25 ) deflects forward as the plow angle is changed in a clockwise direction, (with a ZCA that mounts on the right end of the plow) and the plows bottom edge is dragging on the ground. The ZCA ( 5 ) in this view also has a location indicating pole ( 50 ). 
         [0027]      FIG. 4  is a larger top view of the spring resistance assembly, consists of a compression spring bracket ( 125 ), compression spring rod ( 115 ), compression spring ( 120 ), flat washer ( 135 ), cotter pin ( 140 ), compression spring rod receiver ( 110 ), rod holding extension spring ( 130 ), flex edge ( 25 ), looped belt material ( 35 ), rigid pipe ( 80 ), and fasteners ( 145 ). When clearing away snow or other material with The Zero Clearance Attachment, with the flex edge moving along a building door or other obstacle, the compression springs ( 120 ) of the compression spring resistance assembly will give added resistance to the flex edge ( 25 ), allowing heavier, harder or denser material to be removed, but the flex edge ( 25 ) will still deflect back compressing the compression springs ( 120 ) if the obstacle being cleared around or some other obstacle like the edge of a door frame is hit with the flex edge ( 25 ). This allows for complete clearing of material up against obstacles with out damaging the obstacle. When the flex edge ( 25 ) deflects back from an obstacle, the compression rod ( 115 ) with be pushed back by the compression spring receiver ( 110 ), the flat washer ( 135 ) held in place by the cotter pin ( 140 ), will compress the compression spring ( 120 ) up against the compression spring bracket ( 125 ). The compression springs ( 120 ), can be interchanged with stronger or weaker springs to give more or less flex edge resistance if desired. If needed for the application a compression rod holding extension spring ( 130 ) will keep the compression spring rod ( 115 ) from coming out of the hole in the compression rod receiver ( 110 ). In all applications the flex edge ( 25 ) can be used without the compression spring resistance assembly if the added flex edge resistance given by the compression springs ( 120 ) is not needed. 
         [0028]      FIG. 5  shows the ZCA ( 5 ) attached to a conventional plow ( 15 ), in this embodiment the ZCA ( 5 ) would attach with a pivoting system. The inward facing side of the ZCA ( 5 ) has pivot point brackets ( 100 ), that align with mating pivot points on a mounting plate, or frame ( 105 ), and this mounting plate, or frame ( 105 ) would be attached to the plow ( 15 ), and the ZCA would attach to the plate or frame ( 105 ), via the pivot points using pins or bolts. This would allow the ZCA ( 5 ) to rotate, (pivot) around and to a parked position in back of the plow ( 15 ) or other device, that the ZCA ( 5 ) is mounted to. With pivot points ( 100 ) on the inward side of the ZCA ( 5 ) and the pivot arm ( 155 ) on the outward side, when the cylinder ( 65 ) is retracted, the ZCA ( 5 ) will pivot around and back. In lieu of the cylinder ( 65 ) a manual linkage or other known means could be used. The embodiment in  FIG. 5  forms an angle ( 83 ) with frame work or gussets ( 20 ), has a flex edge ( 25 ), a location indicating pole ( 50 ), and an adjustable scraper blade ( 45 ), mounted to the bottom. The flex edge ( 25 ) is a looped belt ( 35 ) around a rigid pipe ( 80 ) that is riveted, screwed, bonded or by other applicable means attached inside the looped belt ( 35 ). 
         [0029]      FIG. 6  is a ZCA ( 5 ) attached to a conventional bucket ( 10 ) with bolts, pins, welded or by whatever means preferred. In this embodiment the ZCA ( 5 ) has a flex edge ( 25 ), made with looped belt material ( 35 ) and attached to a pivoting plate ( 55 ) constructed of a rigid material like steel. The pivoting plate ( 55 ) has pivot tabs ( 60 ), that with pivot pins attach to pivot plate brackets ( 78 ). The Pivot plate brackets ( 78 ), are attached (i.e. welded) to the main frame of the ZCA ( 5 ). The pivot plate ( 55 ) has a location indicating pole ( 50 ). Extension springs ( 75 ) connected between spring connection brackets ( 72 ), and pivot plate ( 55 ) keep the pivot plate ( 55 ) in the home position. The ZCA ( 5 ) uses gussets or support brackets ( 20 ), to add rigidity and maintain the angle ( 83 ). Along the bottom is an adjustable scraper blade ( 45 ). The face or leading side of the pivot plate ( 55 ) has a soft face ( 70 ) of rubber or other suitable material. In addition to the flex edge ( 25 ), deflecting to the rear and inward when striking an obstacle, the pivot plate ( 55 ) can also pivot back giving a large safe area to strike and obstacle with out causing damage to the obstacle. The pivot plate ( 55 ) can be easily modified with stronger or weaker springs ( 75 ) to change the force required to pivot the plate. 
         [0030]      FIG. 7  is a ZCA ( 5 ) attached to a conventional bucket ( 10 ). In this embodiment the flex edge ( 25 ) is of a solid material like rubber ( 40 ) and is attached to a retracting plate ( 90 ) that can be made of a rigid material like steel, that will retract back and inward away from an obstacle when striking the obstacle. This is accomplished through the retracting linkage ( 95 ). The extensions springs ( 75 ) will return the retracting plate assembly ( 85 ), to its home or normal position after clearing the obstacle. There is an adjustable scraper blade ( 45 ) along the bottom of the ZCA ( 5 ), there are gussets or framing ( 20 ), to give rigidity and maintain the angle ( 83 ) of the ZCA ( 5 ). In this view the gussets ( 20 ) are used as a connection point for the retracting linkage ( 95 ) of the retracting plate assembly ( 85 ). There is a location indicating pole ( 50 ) on the retracting plate assembly ( 85 ). With this design the retracting plate ( 90 ), along with the flex edge ( 25 ) gives a large safe area to strike an obstacle without causing damage to the obstacle. The flex edge ( 25 ) will deflect to the rear and inward when striking an obstacle and the retracting plate ( 90 ) will also retract to the rear and inward toward the main frame of the ZCA ( 5 ), and away from the obstacle being struck. The extension springs ( 75 ) can easily be changed to stronger or weaker springs to modify the force required to retract the retracting plate assembly ( 85 ). 
       REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS 
       [0000]    
       
           5 . Zero Clearance Attachment (ZCA) 
           10 . Bucket (for reference) 
           15 . Plow blade (for reference) 
           20 . Gusset 
           25 . Flex edge 
           30 . Outward edge of ZCA frame 
           35 . Belt material 
           40 . Solid rubber 
           45 . Scraper blade 
           50 . Location indicating pole 
           55 . Pivoting plate 
           60 . Pivot point tabs 
           65 . Cylinder 
           70 . Soft face material 
           72 . Spring connection bracket 
           75 . Extension springs 
           78 . Pivot plate bracket 
           80 . Rigid pipe 
           83 . Angle 
           85 . Retracting plate assembly 
           90 . Retracting plate 
           95 . Retracting linkage 
           100 . Pivot point brackets 
           105 . Mounting plate 
           110 . Compression spring rod receiver 
           115 . Compression spring rod 
           118 . Backside 
           119 . Pockets 
           120 . Compression spring 
           125 . Compression spring bracket 
           130 . Compression rod holding extension spring 
           135 . Flat washer 
           140 . Cotter pin 
           145 . Fastener 
           150 . Mounting tabs 
           155 . Pivot arm 
       
     
         [0067]    Various modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the apparent scope hereof.