Abstract:
A snow plow leveling device comprising a housing having a front surface, a plate, and an axle rotatably coupled to the housing. The plate is coupled to the housing via the axle. The plate moves within a gap or open region within the housing. There is also a coupling element for coupling the housing to a snow plow or other device wherein when the housing is positioned in an upright position, the plate rests on the axle in a position flush with the front face of said housing to indicate a particular position of a snow plow blade. This device can optionally be used with an adjustable skid for a snow plow blade.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The invention relates to a snow plow blade protection system which includes a snow plow blade leveling device and a snow plow blade guide or shoe, that is height adjustable and which is disposed on the side of a snow plow.  
         [0002]     For example, the snow plow blade leveling indicator can include a housing, a flat indicating plate and a counter weight. The housing can be coupled to the top of the blade using any known coupling device such as bolts, screws, welding or any other coupling means. The shoe can be coupled to a side plate which can be coupled to a side plate on a snow plow blade. The shoe can be both rotatable on an angle and also adjustable in height.  
         [0003]     Controlling both the angle of a snow plow blade or element and also controlling the contact of the blade with a ground surface is important because continuous use of a snow plow blade can result in wear on the blade and require routine replacement of the blade. If the blade is in contact with a ground surface at an improper angle, then the blade will wear much faster than if the blade was positioned at a proper angle.  
         [0004]     In addition, with the addition of a properly positioned snow plow side shoe, the shoe can be used to relieve some of the pressure on a blade, to keep the blade from continuously scraping on a ground surface and wearing too quickly.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The invention relates to a snow plow blade protection system which can include angle indicating device which can include a housing, an indicating plate, and a counter weight device which can be used to indicate the rotation of the indicating plate vs. the housing based upon gravity.  
         [0006]     The housing can include at least one section which is in the form of a coupling section that can be used to couple the indicator to the snow plow blade. The coupling section can include a sight level bolting bracket and a sight level clamping plate for the side clamping of the housing to a snow plow blade. A user can clamp this indicator to the top surface of a snow plow blade, with the indicating plate facing a user sitting in a cab.  
         [0007]     In a first embodiment, the plate can be coupled to a counter weight device which is rotatably coupled to the housing. This plate can be in the form of a flat plate that when mounted or coupled to the counter weight is positioned flush against the two side faces of the housing when the indicator housing is in a substantially vertical position.  
         [0008]     The counter weight device can include a coupling bar or element, a rotatable bar or axle, and a counter weight. The counter weight can be suspended from the axle so that it provides an offset weight which would therefore induce a sufficient rotational force on the rotatable bar when the housing, which is coupled to the snowplow blade, is positioned in a offset manner.  
         [0009]     Thus, with this design, the device can be used as a simple indicator for a user positioned in a snowplow cab to determine whether the blade is positioned in an offset position.  
         [0010]     It is important to determine whether the blade is in an offset position because by determining if the blade is in an offset position, a user can then reset the blade angle and which will reduce the wear on the blade edge.  
         [0011]     This device can also be used in combination with an adjustable snow plow shoe which can be used for protecting the blade of the device from additional wear. A snow plow shoe can be in the form of a runner which is coupled to a side plate on a snow plow. This runner can be used to keep the snow plow blade off of an opposed surface to keep the blade from wearing too thin. This adjustable snow plow shoe can be adjusted in both a vertical position, raised up and off of the ground or down to the ground and also adjusted rotationally so as to adjust the exact angle of the shoe or runner. This adjustment can be made by a user in conjunction with the feedback or indication provided by the snow plow angle indicating device. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.  
         [0013]     In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:  
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a snow plow;  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a back view of a snow plow blade indicating the position of a possible attachment area of the indicator;  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of the indicator showing the different components of the indicator;  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is a side perspective view of a snow plow runner assembly being connected to a side plate of a snow plow;  
         [0018]      FIG. 5A  is a side view of a side plate on a snow plow;  
         [0019]      FIG. 5B  is a side view of an adapter plate on a snow plow;  
         [0020]      FIG. 5C  is a side view of an adjustable plate; and  
         [0021]      FIG. 5D  is a side view of a skid base.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0022]     Turning now in detail to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows a side view of a snow plow. This side view of the snow plow discloses a snow plow body including a cab  10 , a set of wheels  12 , a first set of extending arms,  14 , a second set of extending arms  16 , and a plow element  20 . Plow element  20  includes a blade element  22 , a blade body  24 , and side scoops or side plates  101 . The top edge  28  of plow element  20  can be used to receive a snow plow level indicating device  100 .  
         [0023]     Snow plow element  20  can be used as both a plow and a scoop wherein this element  20  can be selectively adjusted in angle so that it can plow, scoop and dump snow based upon the control from the user in the cab. As is known, hydraulic pistons in first arms  14  and second arms  16  can be controlled or operated to pivot plow element  20  relative to a ground surface. When a user plows a surface, it is important to make sure that the blade is positioned at its proper angle so that there is no unnecessary wear on the blade.  
         [0024]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , level indicating device  100  can include a base section or coupling element  112  which is in the form of a U-shaped section. This section can include at least three bolt holes  112   a ,  112   b , and  112   c  wherein a user can then bolt section  112  to a top section  28  of element  20 .  
         [0025]     Base section  112  includes side holes  112   e  and  112   f  which can then be used to receive the remaining section of the housing. Housing  113  can be coupled to base section via a bolt  140  which can be coupled via screw threads to base  113 , which can be tightened on this bolt. Housing  113  is rotatably coupled via this screw or bolt and it can be adjusted in its angle with respect to the ground via this connection. This housing has a C-shaped profile and it can be used to house an axle  116  which can be rotatably coupled to this housing, and insertable into holes  113   a  and  113   b  inside housing  113 . Axle  116  can be rotatably coupled to housing in any known manner.  
         [0026]     A spacer bar or counter weight spacer bar  117  can be coupled to axle  116 , wherein spacer bar  117  extends out and away from bar  117  and it is then curved down to counter weight  119 . Spacer bar  117  can be L shaped, and has an opposite end forming an additional spacer bar  120  which extends out to the opposite side of axle  116  and is coupled to balance plate  118 . These bars  117  and  120  can be in the form of two bars on a single bar coupled to axle  116 .  
         [0027]     A balance plate  118  rests freely inside of housing  113  but it is supported by spacer bar section  120 . When axle/rotatable bar  116  rotates, this causes rotational or angular movement of bar  120  which then causes plate  118  to rotate relative to housing  113  which then creates an offset view for the viewer in a cab of the snowplow.  
         [0028]     To create the proper balance in the device, housing  113  is rotatably coupled to base bracket  112  via coupling bracket  121 . Coupling bracket  121  extends out from housing  113  to create a U-shaped receiving section which then slides over U-shaped bracket or coupling element  112 . This coupling bracket can then be clamped down on U-shaped bracket via a nut and a bolt to create a compression fit connection, thus frictionally engaging both brackets together. These two brackets will stay fixed relative to each other until the user loosens the nut, relieving the compression forces. Alternatively, housing  113  can have threaded holes  113   a  and  113   b  to receive a threaded bolt  140 .  
         [0029]     Housing  113  is rotatable relative to coupling element  112  so that indicator  100  can be set for any desired angle of a snow plow. For example, if a user decides to adjust an angle of a snow plow blade such that a top surface  28  of show plow  20  is offset from a horizontal position, a user can adjust or rotate housing  113  to compensate for this snow plow blade adjustment.  
         [0030]     At times it may be necessary to view this indicator at night or in the driving snow. Therefore, optional additional indicators  125  and  126  can be applied to both a front face of housing  113  and to plate  118 . These indicators can be in the form of painted lines, reflectors or any other known material. These indicators can also be in the form of one line or multiple parallel lines extending across housing  113  or plate  118 . A user can then line up indicator  125  with the associated indicator  126  to determine whether a snow plow is positioned at the right angle.  
         [0031]      FIG. 4  is a side perspective view of a snow plow runner or skid which can be coupled to a side plate  101  of a snow plow. FIGS.  5 A-D show some of these parts in greater detail. This device can include a first plate or side plate gusset  102  which is coupled to side plate  101  of a snow plow. First plate  102  is designed to receive an adjusting bolt or threaded rod  109 . Side plate  101  can also include guides  101   a  and  101   b  and a slot  101   c  shown in greater detail in  FIG. 5A .  
         [0032]     There is also a second plate or adapter plate  103  which is rotatably coupled to side plate  101 . Second plate or adaptor plate  103  includes a top edge which has at least two curved indents  103   a  and  103   b  (See  FIG. 5B ) which are designed to receive bolts or runners in the form of guides  101   a  and  101   b  running in associated tracks  105   a  and  105   b . Second plate  103  also includes an adjustment bushing  103   c  for receiving a bolt or axle  106   a  which allows for the rotation of adaptor plate  103 .  
         [0033]     An adapter plate stiffener  104  can be bolted to adapter plate  103  to restrict an associated bending or movement of an adaptor plate. An adjustment plate  105  can be coupled in a slidable manner to side plate  101 . Adjustment plate  105  includes at least two tracks  105   a  and  105   b  and a hole  105   c . Tracks  105   a  and  105   b  are designed to accommodate running guides  101   a  and  101   b  disposed on side plate  101 .  
         [0034]     Adaptor plate  103  can be coupled in a rotatable manner to slidable bracket  105  via an axle  106   a  extending through hole or bush  106 .  
         [0035]     An adjustment block  107  can be coupled to adjustment plate or adaptor  105  to couple threaded rod  109  to adjustment plate  105 . There can also be an adjustment plate stiffener  108  which can be coupled to adjustment plate  105 , wherein this plate acts as a flat plate to reinforce or stiffen the coupling between adjustment plate  105  and side plate  101 .  
         [0036]     Coupled to adaptor plate  103  is a skid base  110  and a skid gusset plate  111 . This skid base  110  can be securely fastened to adaptor plate  103  via a plurality of bolts or any other securing means, while adaptor plate  103  is rotatably coupled to slidable bracket or adjustment plate  105  and therefore side plate  101 .  
         [0037]     Essentially this device is designed as a universally adjustable skid, which can be raised or lowered to protect a snow plow blade on a snow plow. Essentially skid  110  and gusset plate  111  can be raised and lowered axially by a rotation of a threaded adjustment rod  109 . In addition, this skid  110  and gusset plate  111  can also be rotatable on a bolt  106   a  relative to side plate  101 . This universal adjustment then allows a snow plow operator to save on the life of these gusset plates or skids due to the decrease in the unnecessary frictional or wear interaction between a gusset plate or skids and the ground surface. The rotational movement of skid  110  and gusset plate  111  can be optionally restricted via stops  130  coupled to side plate  101  to restrict the rotational movement of skid  110  to a particular rotational region.  
         [0038]     Both of these devices may be used together to create an adjustable system for reducing the wear on a snow plow blade.  
         [0039]     For example, a user could review the positioning of the snow plow device by reviewing the positioning of front plate  118  relative to housing  113  on indicator  100 . If this positioning is off, then the user could adjust the snow plow by viewing the indicator to position the snow plow such that front plate  118  rests in a position flush or substantially flush with a front face of housing  113 . In this position the plow is positioned so that it induces relatively minimal wear on a skid gusset plate  111  in a heel or toe region to allow the skid to run parallel of the ground surface and within its rotational range. The angle indicator of the snow plow can be used to keep the snow plow on at a particular angle, within this rotational range of the skid and also at an angle that makes the snow plow blade most effective.  
         [0040]     Alternatively, the elevation of the skid plate can be adjusted so as to protect a snow plow blade. When a user is plowing a parking lot or surface, a snow plow blade can gradually wear down along with the associated skids. It is important to reduce the wear on expensive snow plow blades by periodically adjusting the position of skid  110  and gusset plate  111  relative to a ground surface so that a skid receives the brunt of the wear on the blade while reducing the wear on a snow plow blade.  
         [0041]     Accordingly, while a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.