Patent ID: 7100311

Claim:
A gate assembly for a snow plow blade having first and second opposite ends, the gate assembly comprising: a gate pivotably coupled to the first end of the snow plow blade, the gate pivotable from a deployed position in which the gate is adjacent the first end of the snow plow blade and has a surface positioned in a first substantially laterally-facing direction to block snow from exiting the first end of the snow plow blade; through an intermediate position in which the surface faces in a direction substantially opposite the first laterally-facing direction; and to a stowed position in which at least part of the gate is moved to a location behind the snow plow blade and between the first and second ends of the snow plow blade; the gate assembly further comprising an actuator having a first state in which the actuator secures the gate in the deployed position and a second state in which the gate is pivotable to the stowed position; and wherein the actuator is automatically actuated responsive to the gate reaching the deployed position.