Patent Publication Number: US-2022235528-A1

Title: Snowplow with Side Shield

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/141,156, which was filed on Jan. 25, 2021 and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of snowplows. More specifically, the present invention relates to a mechanical arm attachment for snowplow blades, which is designed to function as a side shield, and prevents the plow blade from displacing snow onto a driveway entrance. The mechanical arm of the plow raises or lowers into a position perpendicular with the plow, to activate the side shield as per the requirements. The present invention selectively and intermittently transforms a regular snowplow into a partial pusher box-style plow blade. Additionally, the invention enables the users to use different speed settings for displacing powder, regular snowfall or heavy snowfall accumulation. The mechanical arm of the present invention can be easily attached to the conventional plow devices and offers an effective way to clear snow during winter conditions, without causing inconvenience for homeowners. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices and methods of manufacture. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     By way of background, during winter, heavy snowfall and snow accumulation occurs in various parts of the world. Although snow accumulation creates a picturesque view; there are various problems faced by the people in those regions. One of the major problems faced by people due to heavy snowfall is snow accumulation in outdoor areas such as roads, sidewalks and driveway aprons. This affects people&#39;s commute and impacts the daily routine of the people living in the areas with heavy snowfall. Also, snow covering or piled on sidewalks and driveway aprons can be slippery, which may lead to injuries to the people walking thereon. 
     Various kinds of snow removal devices have been used and known for decades in order to remove snow accumulated over roads and more. Generally, large commercial plow trucks are deployed by local or state government to displace any amount of snowfall accumulation from the roadways. A snowplow device is mounted on a vehicle such as a truck, and is used for pushing or moving snow and ice from outdoor surfaces such as roads, and other areas that serve transportation purposes. Using the snowplow trucks, large amounts of snow accumulated during heavy snowfall can be displaced for hours and days at a time. Typically, the snowplow works by using a plow blade to push snow to the side to clear it from a road surface. The plows displace the snow toward the outside of road areas, often allowing enormous mounds of snow to accumulate on sidewalks and in front of driveway aprons. Some homeowners may then be blocked in their driveway due to the amount of snow displaced by the plow truck. 
     To remove the snow accumulated after the snowplow trucks push the snow to the side of the roads and onto the driveway aprons, people may use various snow removal tools such as a shovel or the like, to move the snow, ice or debris. The snow, ice or debris accumulated on sidewalks, in front of driveway aprons and on driveway aprons can be incredibly difficult to manually move due to their weight, ultimately leaving people without any way for their vehicles to leave their driveway. 
     Therefore, there is a long-felt need in the art for a snowplowing device that allows users to quickly and easily displace and move accumulated snow from roadways and other similar areas. There is also a long-felt need in the art for a snowplowing device that prohibits the snowplow blades from pushing the displaced snow to certain areas at the sides of the road surfaces. There is also a long-felt need in the art for a snowplowing device that prevents snow accumulation on driveway aprons and pathways. Additionally, there is a long-felt need in the art for a snowplowing device that prevents the driveway aprons and sidewalks from being blocked due the accumulation of snow displaced from the roads. Moreover, there is a long-felt need in the art for a snowplowing device that allows the people to easily commute during bitter winter conditions. Further, there is a long-felt need in the art for a snowplowing device which does not cause any inconvenience to the homeowners by blocking their driveway. Finally, there is a long-felt need in the art for a snowplowing device which improves the overall snow removal process, enables the selective and intermittent transformation of a regular snowplow into a partial pusher box-style plow blade. 
     The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a snowplow device having a selectively deployable side shield. The snowplow device comprises: a mounting frame to attach to a front of a vehicle; a hydraulic unit attached to the mounting frame and having a hydraulic cylinder connected to a snowplow blade; the snowplow blade having a top rail, a bottom rail and two C-shaped longitudinal edges; a side shield attached to one C-shaped longitudinal edge of the snowplow blade using a side shield base fixed at the rear of the snowplow blade; the side shield is pivotally connected to the side shield base using a rotating actuator wherein the rotating actuator is attached to an electronic circuit or a hydraulic circuit for providing rotation to the side shield; and, the hydraulic cylinder connected to the rear of the snowplow blade via a universal joint for providing the vertical and rotational movements to the snowplow blade. The rotating actuator includes a range of 180 degrees, and can rotate the side shield up to 90° to the snowplow blade. While the plow vehicle is traveling in the forward direction and during the snowplowing process, the side shield is aligned along the C-shaped longitudinal edge. 
     In this manner, the novel snowplow device of the present invention accomplishes all of the forgoing objectives, and provides a relatively easy, convenient and effective solution to displace snow from the roads and other similar areas without moving the displaced snow to the sidewalks and driveway aprons. The snowplow device of the present invention prevents the displaced snow from blocking the sidewalks and driveway aprons, and effectively clears the snow during bitter winter conditions. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
     The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a snowplow device having a selectively deployable side shield. The snowplow device comprises: a mounting frame to attach to a front of a vehicle; a hydraulic unit attached to the mounting frame and having a hydraulic cylinder connected to a snowplow blade; the snowplow blade having a top rail, a bottom rail and two C-shaped longitudinal edges; a side shield attached to one C-shaped longitudinal edge of the snowplow blade using a side shield base fixed at the rear of the snowplow blade; the side shield is pivotally connected to the side shield base using a rotating actuator wherein the rotating actuator is attached to an electronic circuit or a hydraulic circuit for providing rotation to the side shield; and, the hydraulic cylinder connected to the rear of the snowplow blade via a universal joint for providing the vertical and rotational movements to the snowplow blade. The rotating actuator includes a range of 180 degrees and can rotate the side shield up to 90° to the snowplow blade. While the plow vehicle is traveling in the forward direction and during the snowplowing process, the side shield is aligned along the C-shaped longitudinal edge. 
     In a further embodiment of the present invention, a side shield barrier to prevent displacement of snow from a side of a snowplow blade is disclosed. The snowplow blade comprises: a planar structure having a straight vertical edge, a curved edge, and a pair of lateral edges; the side shield barrier is pivotally connected to a side shield base using a rotating actuator; the rotating actuator rotates the side shield barrier between an activated position and a retracted position; the side shield aligns with the curved edge of a snow blade in the activated position and is raised up to 90° in the retracted position; and, side shield barrier is configured to be controlled using an activation and retraction button placed in the cabin of a vehicle to which the snowplow blade is attached. 
     In yet a further embodiment of the present invention, a method of intermittently and selectively blocking the discharging of snow from one side of a snowplow blade attached to a vehicle is disclosed. The method comprises: providing the snowplow blade including a side shield attachment secured to the snowplow blade; the side shield attachment includes a straight vertical edge, a curved edge, and a pair of lateral edges; the side shield attachment pivotally secured to an arm; connecting the snowplow blade to the vehicle; pivoting the side shield attachment between a generally vertical upward-retracted position and a generally vertical downward-deployed or activated position; wherein in the activated position, the curved edge of the side shield attachment aligns to the C-shaped curved side edge of the snowplow blade, and prohibits the displacement of snow from the C-shaped curved edge to the side of the snowplow blade. 
     The device of the present invention provides snowplow trucks with a mechanical arm attachment designed to function as a side shield, preventing the plow from displacing snow onto a driveway entrance. The device enables drivers or operators to intermittently activate the side shield to enable and block snow displacement on one side of the plow. The device converts a regular plow blade back and forth from the regular plow blade to a pusher box-type plow. The plow and side shield barrier can also feature integrated heating coils to further help remove and displace snow. The side shield barrier can be fixed to a side of the plow near to the driveway entrance, home and buildings, and offers a way to effectively clear snow during bitter winter conditions without causing severe inconvenience for homeowners. 
     To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a snowplow device with a side shield of the present invention designed to attach to the front of a snowplow truck in accordance with the disclosed architecture; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a snowplow device with a side shield of the present invention showing the hydraulic mechanism and rotating mechanism in accordance with the disclosed architecture; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a close-up perspective view of the connection of one potential embodiment of the side shield to the mounting side shield base of the snowplow device of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of the control buttons present in the cabin of a truck to which the snowplow blade with a side shield of the present invention is attached in accordance with the disclosed architecture; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of the snowplow device with a side shield of the present invention attached to the front of a vehicle in accordance with the disclosed architecture; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of one potential of the snowplow device with a side shield of the present invention being used to plow snow from a surface in accordance with the disclosed architecture. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined. 
     As noted above, there is a long-felt need in the art for a snowplowing device that allows the users to quickly and easily displace snow accumulated on roads, wheel chair ramps, and other similar areas. There is also a long-felt need in the art for a snowplowing device that selectively allows and prevents the snowplow blades from pushing the displaced snow to the sides of the road surfaces. There is also a long-felt need in the art for a snowplowing device that prevents snow accumulation on driveway aprons and pathways. Additionally, there is a long-felt need in the art for a snowplowing device that prevents the driveway aprons, wheel chair ramps and sidewalks from being blocked due the accumulation of snow displaced from the roads. Moreover, there is a long-felt need in the art for a snowplowing device that allows the people to easily commute during bitter winter conditions. Further, there is a long-felt need in the art for a snowplowing device which does not cause any inconvenience to homeowners by blocking their driveway apron with plowed snow from the roadway. Finally, there is a long-felt need in the art for a snowplowing device which improves the overall snow removal process by selectively converting a standard snowplow configuration into a partial snow pusher box plow configuration. 
     The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is a novel snowplow device having a side shield that is selectively deployable. The snowplow device comprises: a mounting frame to attach to a front of a vehicle; a hydraulic unit attached to the mounting frame and having a hydraulic cylinder connected to a snowplow blade; the snowplow blade having a top rail, a bottom rail and two C-shaped longitudinal edges; a side shield attached to one C-shaped longitudinal edge of the snowplow blade using a side shield base fixed at the rear of the snowplow blade; the side shield is pivotally-connected to the side shield base using a rotating actuator wherein the rotating actuator is attached to an electronic circuit or a hydraulic circuit for providing rotation to the side shield; and the hydraulic cylinder connected to the rear of the snowplow blade via a universal joint for providing the vertical and rotational movements to the snowplow blade. The rotating actuator includes a range of 180 degrees and can rotate the side shield up to 90° to the snowplow blade. While the plow vehicle is traveling in the forward direction and during the snowplowing process, the side shield is aligned along the C-shaped longitudinal edge. 
     Referring initially to the drawings, 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a snowplow device  100  with a side shield  102  of the present invention designed to attach to the front of a snowplow truck in accordance with the disclosed architecture. More specifically, the snowplow device  100  with a side shield  102  includes a C-shaped main blade  106  similar to a conventional blade and a planar side shield  102 . The blade  106  includes a top rail  1060  and a bottom rail  1062  and includes a plurality of reinforcing ribs  112 , longitudinally-spaced along the main axis of the blade  106 . The C-shaped blade  106  includes two curved longitudinal ends  118 ,  120 . The plow blade  106  generally extends horizontally across the width of a conventional snowplow truck, so as to clear a passage in front of the truck as the truck drives forward. 
     The bottom rail  1062  is a hardened rail which normally runs over the surface of the roadway. The front surface of the blade  106  curves upward in a C-shaped cross-section opening forward so as to prevent the snow pushed by the plow blade  106  from climbing over the top rail  1060  of the plow blade  106 . 
     The planar side shield  102  is attached to the C-shaped end  118  of the blade  106  and is also attached to a side shield base  104  through a rotating actuator (shown in  FIG. 2 ). The side shield base  104  is connected to a rear portion  122  of the blade  106  through a mechanical fastener. The side shield  102  is pivotally-rotatable using the rotating actuator. The side shield  102  includes a vertical front edge  1020 , a top horizontal edge  1022 , a bottom horizontal edge  1024  and a C-shaped edge  1023 . The C-shaped edge  1023  of the side shield  102  includes the same curve and size as of the C-shaped end  118  of the blade  106 , and conforms and aligns with the C-shaped end  118  in an activated or deployed state. The side shield  102  in an activated state, extends laterally from the plow blade  106  and rotates hingedly along the rotating actuator. The side shield  102  creates a shield for the plow device  100 , preventing snow displacement onto driveway entrances to ensure homeowners are not blocked in during heavy snow accumulation. During the snowplow operation, the side shield  102  is in an activated state, and conforms to the side of the blade  106 , thereby blocking sideways discharge of snow. Once the snowplow action is completed, the side shield  102  can be rotated in a clockwise direction to raise the side shield  102  using the rotating actuator. 
     To vertically raise and rotate the blade  106  for snowplowing action, a hydraulic power unit  114  is present and attached to the snowplow blade  106 . The hydraulic power unit  114  can be attached to the vehicle power supply with a front connection mechanism and mount. The hydraulic power unit  114  on a side surface  124  includes a hydraulic cylinder  110  which is attached to a connecting rod  108  through a connecting member  116 , and the connecting rod  108  is attached to the blade  106  through a universal joint (shown in  FIG. 2 ) for slight vertical rotating movement of the blade  106 . The movement of the hydraulic cylinder  110  moves along a piston rod  126  for vertical movement of the blade  106 . It is to be appreciated that the hydraulic power unit  114  connecting the rear end  122  of the blade  106  allows uniform blade stability. More specifically, the angle of the blade  106  with respect to the ground surface remains at all times constant, even when the blade deflects upwardly. 
     The side shield  102  electively prohibits the plow blade  100  from displacing snow (i.e. sideways discharge) onto a driveway entrance or driveway apron through the open side surface. As a result, a more efficient plowing operation can be achieved and also roads become clear without accumulation of large amounts of snow on driveway aprons and in front of houses. The side shield  102  is substantially planar and is pivotably joined to the side shield base  104 , having a mounting frame as described hereinbefore. 
     The side shield  102  attachment withstands the shock normally associated with plowing operations without damaging any part of the attachments. When the side shield  102  is in the retracted position as shown in  FIG. 1 , the side shield  102  is oriented vertically and a portion of the side shield  102  extends above the top rail  1060  of the blade  106 . In the deployed or activated position shown in  FIGS. 5-6 , the side shield  102  is positioned generally perpendicular to the front surface of the plow  106  and is supported on the edge  118  to prevent the diversion of snow caught by the plow  106  without inducing instability to the plow  106  or to the side shield  102 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a snowplow device  100  with a side shield  102  of the present invention showing the hydraulic mechanism and rotating mechanism in accordance with the disclosed architecture. More specifically, the planar side shield  102  of the present invention is pivotally connected to the mounting side shield base  104  through a rotating actuator  202 . The rotating actuator  202  is electrically-powered and can be controlled by an operator of the snowplow truck from the cabin using a control button. A shaft  204  is a part of the rotating actuator  202  and allows the side shield  102  to rotate from an activated state of the side shield  102  being aligned with the C-shaped end  118 , to a retracted or raised state of being perpendicular to the mounting side shield base  104  as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     The mounting side shield base  104  is fixed to the rear portion  122  of the blade  106  through a strong and durable mechanical fastener  206 . The rotating actuator  202  includes a range of 180° in rotation. As far as the rotating actuator  202  is concerned, the side shield  102  generally lies at 90°, or orthogonal, to the plow blade  106 , in the forward direction. The rotating actuator  202  is cost-effective and more efficient than equivalent linear cylinder(s) and associated linkage. Also, the rotatory actuator  202  is small and compact, thereby providing an alternative arrangement from the cylinder-and-linkage equivalent for rotating the side shield  102 . 
     To vertically raise and provide the desired rotation to the blade  106 , a hydraulic cylinder  110  moves vertically along a piston rod  126  and is connected to an extendable piston rod  208 . The extendable piston rod  208  is connected to a universal joint  210  which allows the rotation of the blade  106  for an effective snowplowing process. The connecting rod  108  is raised vertically by the movement of the hydraulic cylinder  110  along the piston rod  126  to raise the blade  106 . The connecting rod  108  is attached to the rear portion  122  of the plow blade  106 . 
     The hydraulic mechanism connected to the connecting rod  108  is electronically operated, and can be connected to the electronic circuitry of the truck to which the snowplow device of the present invention is connected. An operator of the truck can easily control the hydraulic mechanism and rotating actuator. In one embodiment, the angle of the side shield  102  relative to the plow blade  106  can be controlled by the hydraulic operation of the rotating actuator  202 . The rotating actuator  202  can have an associated hydraulic circuit with a pressure-sensing cross-over valve. 
     It should be noted that although in the present embodiment and other embodiments of the present invention, only a single connecting rod  108  is shown, the possibility of a second connecting rod to support the movement of the plow blade  106  can be added to the device. A second hydraulic mechanism can be present to support the second connecting rod or a single hydraulic mechanism can support both of the connecting rods. Based on the needs and requirements of the plowing operation, side shields can be present on the other C-shaped end  120  of the plow blade  106 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a close-up perspective view of the connection of one potential embodiment of the side shield  102  to the mounting side shield base of the snowplow device  100  of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. More specifically, as described above, a rotating actuator  202  is used for rotating the side shield  102 . The housing of the rotating actuator  202  is bolted to the mounting side shield base  104  and a rotating shaft connects to the planar surface of the side shield  102 , using the prepared bolt-holes in the side shield  102 . The appropriate struts, gussets and other reinforcing components can be used as required for attaching the side shield  102 . 
     The mounting shield base  104  is fixed and remains static in a direction laterally perpendicular to the main plow blade  106  and is affixed along the C-shaped edge  118 . During the movement of the main plow blade  106 , and also during the rotation of the side shield  102 , the mounting shield base  104  remains static and stable using the mechanical fastener  206 . In case of an electronically controlled side shield  102 , a circuitry is connected to the rotating actuator  202  which connects the rotating actuator  202  to the electronic circuit of the truck on which the plow blade  106  is attached. The side shield  102  and the mounting shield base  104  can be constructed using stainless steel, aluminum or heavy plastic materials. The electronically-controlled rotating actuator  202  enables drivers to selectively activate the side shield  102  to intermittently block snow displacement (i.e. snow discharge) on one side of the plow blade. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of the control buttons present in the cabin of a truck to which the snowplow blade device  100  with a side shield  102  of the present invention is attached in accordance with the disclosed architecture. For easily activating and retracting the side shield  102  during the snowplowing process, an operator of the truck uses the control system  400  connected to the wired circuitry of the snowplow device  100  of the present invention. The control system  400  includes a retraction and activation button  402  having an upward control  4022  to raise the side shield  102 , and a downward control  4024  to lower the side shield  102  to align the side shield  102  with the C-shaped end of the main blade. The retraction and activation button  402  is electronically-connected to the rotating actuator for operating and controlling the side shield  102  rotation for activation and retraction. The retraction and activation button  402  enables truck drivers and operators to selectively and intermittently activate the side shield  102  to block snow displacement on one side of the plow. 
     In addition to the retraction and activation button  402 , three speed control buttons  404 ,  406 ,  408  are also present in the controlling system  400 , for providing speed settings for the snowplow device  100  including the main blade  106  and the side shield  102 . The high speed button  408  snow powder, a moderate speed button  406  for regular snowfall accumulation, and a slow speed button  404  for heavy snowfall accumulation. It is to be appreciated that the speed control buttons  404 ,  406 ,  408  control the speed of rotation and movement of both the main blade  106  and the side shield  102 , and can correspond to the speed of the plow vehicle during use thereof. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of the snowplow device  100  with a side shield  102  of the present invention attached to the front of a vehicle in accordance with the disclosed architecture. More specifically, the snowplow device  100  is attached to the front portion  504  of a vehicle  500 , such as a snowplow truck. A frame  502  having a plurality of flexible hydraulic vertical bands are attached to the hydraulic unit  114  of the snowplow device  100 . The blade  106  and the side shield  102  can be easily rotated to perform the snowplowing process by a driver or an operator using the controlling section present in the cabin of the vehicle  500 . In one embodiment, the snowplow device  100  is removably attached to a frame connection at the front of the vehicle  500 . In another embodiment, the snowplow  100  is removably-attached to the undercarriage or chassis of the vehicle  500 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of one potential of the snowplow device  100  with a side shield  102  of the present invention being used to plow snow from a surface in accordance with the disclosed architecture. For plowing snow  600  in areas such as in front of buildings and overhead doors, the driver travels to the destination with the snowplow truck  500  having the plow blade  106  raised and the side shield  102  in a retracted position. Once the driver arrives at the destination, the driver then activates or deploys the side shield  102  using the retraction and activation button, and lowers the plow blade  106  to the roadway in order to push the snow away while blocking snow displacement and discharge on one side of the blade by the side shield. The plowing is performed with the intermittently-activated side shield  102  such that the side shield  102  selectively blocks snow displacement towards a selected area, and does not cause inconvenience to homeowners/community members. 
     When the side shield  102  is in the deployed or activated position, the snow  600  collected from a roadway or other surface by the snowplow blade  106 , contacts the side shield  102  and is temporarily prevented from being discharged from the side of the plow  106 . The planar and durable surface of the side shield  102  controls the snow contacting the side shield  102  and temporarily prevents the snow from diverting from the plow to an undesired location, such as across a driveway apron or other roadway section. To return to normal plow function, i.e., when it is desired to dispense snow away from the plow blade, the pivotal side shield  102  is raised from the extended position on the front of the snowplow into a retracted position so that snow can be deposited to the side of the plow. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the side shield  102  and the blade  106  can have integrated heating coils such as electric heating coils, steam coils, heating solenoids or any other heating element to melt and help remove and displace snow from the plow device. The integrated heating coils receive the power for heating from the truck to which the snowplow is attached. The heating elements are placed such that they are evenly-spaced apart from one another for providing uniform heating, and can be used for heavy snow. 
     Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name, but not in structure or function. As used herein “snowplow device with side shield”, “snowplow device”, “snowplow device with side attachment”, “improved snowplow device”, and “snowplow device” are interchangeable and refer to the snowplow device with side shield  100  of the present invention. 
     Notwithstanding the forgoing, the snowplow device with side shield  100  of the present invention can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that it accomplishes the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the size, configuration and material of the snowplow device with side shield  100  as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the snowplow device with side shield  100  are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the snowplow device with side shield  100  are important design parameters for user convenience, the snowplow device with side shield  100  may be of any size that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user&#39;s needs and/or preferences. 
     Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof. 
     What includes been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.