Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to snow plows typically used with light and medium duty trucks, and particularly to a straight blade snow plow deflector for use with a straight blade snow removal system. 
   Once the exclusive domain of municipality-operated heavy trucks, snow plows have been used with light and medium duty trucks for decades. As would be expected in any area of technology which has been developed for that period of time, snow plows for light and medium duty trucks have undergone tremendous improvement in a wide variety of ways over time, evolving to increase both the usefulness of the snow plows as well as to enhance the ease of using them. The business of manufacturing snow plows for light and medium duty trucks has been highly competitive, with manufacturers of competing snow plows differentiating themselves based on the features and enhanced technology that they design into their products. 
   One of the most common types of snow plow designs includes a snow plow blade that is straight or substantially linear along its width dimension having a rolled or curved moldboard. This type of plow blade is secured to the front end of the plow vehicle, and can be operated in a straight position or can be pivoted left or right about a central axis to push snow to either side of the vehicle. 
   However, a straight blade plow can have difficulty pushing large amounts of snow to an out of the way location. For example, when moving larger piles of snow, snow typically spills over the top edge of the blade and falls back on to the just-plowed surface. In addition, at high rates of speed, snow is sprayed over the top of the snow plow blade and on to the windshield of the snow plow vehicle, interfering with the driver&#39;s visibility, and the safety of the operation of the snow plow. 
   Snow plow blade deflector can be added to a conventional straight blade snow plow design, however, many of the available prior art deflectors come in a single width or size, and therefore cannot be used on more than one snow plow blade. As a result, many different widths of deflectors must be manufactured to accommodate the available blade widths, and consumers must purchase a different defector for each plow. 
   In addition, conventional after market deflectors require specialized mounting equipment, such as mounting frames, bars and hardware that mount behind the snow plow blade, which lack the rigidity to withstand heavy and/or wet snow. Further, such equipment adds weight to the snow plow, adding stress to the hydraulic lifting system of the snow plow, requiring more force to move the blades into position for plowing. The additional weight or mass of the snow plow blade can adversely affect fuel economy, handling of the snow plow and the useful life of the snow plow vehicle. 
   Accordingly, a straight snow plow blade snow deflector that can be adjusted to fit a wide range of sizes of snow plow blades, without adding significant additional weight to the snow plow blade and without requiring cumbersome mounting equipment is needed to address the problems of conventional snow deflectors. 
   The straight blade snow plow snow deflector of the present invention must also be of construction which is both durable and long lasting, and it should also require little or no maintenance to be provided by the user throughout its operating lifetime. In order to enhance the market appeal of the snow plow of the present invention, it should also be of inexpensive construction to thereby afford it the broadest possible market. Finally, it is also an objective that all of the aforesaid advantages and objectives of the snow plow having reinforced wings of the present invention be achieved without incurring any substantial relative disadvantage. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The disadvantages and limitations of the background art discussed above are overcome by the present invention. With this invention, a snow plow deflector for a straight snow plow blade is provided. 
   A conventional straight snow plow blade has a front, plowing side and a rear side that will be secured to the plow vehicle during operation of the snow plow. The overall width of a straight snow plow blade depends on the particular application of the snow plow, the manufacturer and/or the particular model of snow plow and is a matter of choice. Widths can vary from about six feet to about ten feet, or even longer depending on the application. 
   The snow plow blade has a support frame including a substantially arcuate overall cross-section and a moldboard secured to the front, plowing side thereof. The typical support frame of a straight snow plow blade includes a top, substantially horizontal mounting surface. The mounting surface of the snow plow blade is preferably provided with a plurality of evenly spaced apertures or pre-tapped holes along the width thereof. Alternatively, the holes may be provided at the time of installation of the snow deflector of the present invention. 
   It will be further appreciated that the snow deflector of the present invention can be secured to a number of different types of straight snow plow blades provided that the snow plow blade includes a top frame member having a mounting surface. 
   The snow deflector of the present invention has a generally arcuate cross section preferably and comprises three separate but interlocking components or pieces. The deflector preferably includes two outer sections and a center section. The snow deflector is preferably constructed of a plastic material such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, silicones, polyurethanes, acrylics, rubber, synthetic rubber, neoprene, or combinations thereof. Most preferably, each piece of the snow deflector is constructed of High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (HMPE) to provide the deflector with an impact resistant, abrasion resistant and low friction plowing surface so that snow easily rolls off the deflector. Alternately, the rear-most portions of the deflector that are attached to the snow plow blade can have a steel reinforcement (not shown) located within the plastic material, while the unreinforced forward-most portions of the snow deflector will not be so reinforced and will accordingly be more flexible. 
   The outer sections are constructed in substantially identical manner, each having a generally arcuate cross section for moving snow outwardly and downwardly away from the snow plow blade. Each outer section includes a plurality of downwardly sloping channels and a corresponding plurality of recesses adjacent thereto that are formed in an evenly spaced manner along its entire width. Each channel forms a reinforcing rib on the opposite surface of the outer section. An aperture is formed in the bottom of each recess to accommodate a bolt or other fastening mechanism so that each outer section can be secured to the top member of the snow plow blade. The apertures are positioned within each recess so that they can be coaxially aligned with the apertures on the top member of the snow plow blade. 
   The center section also has a generally arcuate cross section and is substantially the same shape as the center sections. A plurality of raised ribs and a corresponding plurality of recesses are formed in an evenly spaced manner along the entire width of the center section. The ribs strengthen the center section to permit the deflector to withstand the impact of large or heavy loads of snow. 
   Each recess of the center section is sized to fit and seat flush within the recesses formed in the outer sections. An aperture is formed through the bottom of each of the recesses to accommodate the bolt. As will be appreciated, the apertures in the center section are positioned within each of the recesses so that they can be aligned with the apertures in the outer sections and also with the apertures on the top member of the snow plow blade. 
   The snow deflector of the present invention is installed on to the straight snow plow blade when the blade is in its lowered, substantially flat position. Each of the outer sections are aligned with and respectively secured to the top member of the snow plow blade. 
   The outer sections can be adjusted in either direction along the width of the snow plow blade so that each of the apertures formed in the bottom of each recess are coaxially aligned with the apertures in the top mounting surface of the snow plow blade. When the outer sections are in place, a portion of the top member of the straight snow plow blade is not covered by the deflector. Accordingly, the center section is positioned over the uncovered portion of the plow blade and over the top of both the outer sections, so that one of its side ends overlaps a portion of the outer section, and its opposite side end overlaps a portion of the other outer section. 
   When properly positioned, the recesses of the center section interfit and seat flush within the recesses in the overlapping portions of each of the outer sections. In addition, the apertures in the bottom of each seated recess of the center section are coaxially aligned with the corresponding apertures in the bottom of the outer sections, which are in turn, coaxially aligned with the apertures in the mounting surface of the top member of the snow plow blade. Bolts and washers are then used to secure the snow deflector to the snow plow blade. 
   The snow deflector of the present invention is adjustable to straight snow plow blades of different widths. For example, depending on the width of the snow plow blade, the ends of the center section will overlap a smaller, or larger portion of the outer sections. Accordingly, the number of recesses of the center section that overlap and seat within the correspondingly aligned recesses of the outer sections is determined by the width of the snow plow blade. 
   The snow plow deflector of the present invention is of a construction which is both durable and long lasting, and which will require little or no maintenance to be provided by the user throughout its operating lifetime. The snow plow deflector of the present invention is also of inexpensive construction to enhance its market appeal and to thereby afford it the broadest possible market. Finally, all of the aforesaid advantages and objectives are achieved without incurring any substantial relative disadvantage. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other advantages of the present invention are best understood with reference to the drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a snow plow blade including a snow defector assembly of the present invention installed thereon; 
       FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view the straight snow plow blade including the snow defector assembly illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is partial view of the snow plow deflector illustrated in  FIG. 2  taken along the line  3 - 3  thereof, showing assembly of the snow deflector on to the frame of the snow plow blade; 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the snow deflector illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 3 , showing assembly of each section of the snow deflector onto the frame of the snow plow blade; 
       FIG. 5  is a top view of the snow deflector illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 4 , showing the outer sections and center section of the snow deflector mounted onto the frame of the snow plow blade; 
       FIG. 6  is a top cutaway view of the snow deflector illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 5 , showing the outer sections and center section of the snow deflector assembled together, wherein the center section overlaps a first portion of each center section; 
       FIG. 7  is a partial side view of the snow deflector illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 6 , taken along the line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a top cutaway view of the snow deflector illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 7 , showing the outer sections and center section of the snow deflector assembled together, wherein the center section overlaps a second portion of each center section; 
       FIG. 9  is a partial side view of the snow deflector illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 8 , demonstrating adjustability of the snow plow deflector for different widths of snow plow blades; 
       FIG. 10  is a side view of the snow deflector illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 9 , mounted to a snow plow blade, illustrating deflection of snow outward and downward from the snow plow blade; 
       FIG. 11  is partial view of the snow plow deflector mounted to a snow plow blade illustrated in  FIG. 10  taken along the line  11 - 11 ; 
       FIG. 12  is a side view of one of the outer sections of the snow plow deflector illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 11 ; 
       FIG. 13  is a side view of a center section of the snow plow deflector illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 11 ; 
       FIG. 14  is an exploded view of the snow deflector illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 11 , taken along the line  14 - 14  in  FIG. 4 , showing assembly of the center section and outer section onto the frame of the snow plow blade; 
       FIG. 15  is a partial view of the snow deflector illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 11  and  14 , taken along the line  15 - 15  in  FIG. 5 , showing the center section aligned with the outer section and secured to the frame member of the snow plow blade with a bolt; 
       FIG. 16  is a partial view of the snow deflector illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 11 ,  14  and  15 , taken along the line  16 - 16  in  FIG. 5 , showing an aperture of the center section aligned with an aperture of the outer section and also aligned with an aperture in the top frame member of the snow plow blade; and 
       FIG. 17  is a partial view of the snow deflector illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 11  and  14  and  15  taken along the line  17 - 17  in  FIG. 5 , showing the center section aligned with the outer section and secured to the frame member of the snow plow blade. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   A snow plow deflector  30  of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 17  and described with respect to a straight snow plow blade  32 . The snow plow blade  32  has a front, plowing side  34  and a rear side  36  that will be secured to the plow vehicle (not shown) during operation of the snow plow. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 4 , the snow plow blade  32  has an overall width  38 , that will depend on the particular application of the snow plow, for example, a lighter duty plow may be shorter in width than a commercial plow, as well known in the art. The snow plow blade  32  includes, in its simplest form, a support frame, indicated generally at  40 , having a substantially arcuate overall cross-section, an arcuate moldboard  42  and a wearstrip  43  secured to the front side  34  thereof. 
   The frame  40  comprises a top member  44 , a bottom member  46  and vertical side members, indicated generally at  48  and  50 , connecting the top and bottom members  44  and  46 . The frame  40  can further include a plurality of support ribs  52 , support plates  54  and cross members  56  positioned between the vertical side members  48  and  50  to reinforce the frame  40 . Other optional elements such as brackets  58  for mounting support shoes to the frame  40  and/or brackets  60  for attaching the snow plow blade  32  to a hitch or vehicle mounting mechanism (not shown in the Figures) can also be included on the rear side  36  of the plow blade  32 . 
   The top member  44  has a front surface  64 , a top mounting surface  66 , a rear surface  68 , and first and second opposing ends  70  and  72 . A front edge  78  and a rear edge  80  define the width  76  of the mounting surface  66 . A plurality of apertures or holes  82  are provided in an evenly spaced manner between the ends  70  and  72  of the mounting surface  66  and are linearly arranged with respect to each other. The holes  82  may be pre-drilled in the mounting surface  66 , or may be provided at the time of installation of the snow deflector  30 . It will be appreciated that the top member  44  can be a hollow member, a solid member, a channel member, or any type of rigid structure presenting a top mounting surface capable of receiving the deflector  30 , as described in more detail below. 
   Accordingly, it will be further appreciated that the snow deflector  30  of the present invention can not only be secured to snow plow blades of different widths, but can be secured to a number of different types of straight snow plow blades, provided the snow plow blade includes a top frame member having a mounting surface as described above. As such, the straight snow plow blade  30  and frame  40  configuration illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 17  is provided as an example of the type of straight snow plow blade utilized with the present invention. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 12  through  17 , in addition to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , the snow deflector  30  of the present invention preferably comprises three separate but interlocking components or pieces including two outer sections  90  and  92  and a center section  94 . Although certain preferred embodiments of the present invention include the three component snow deflector  30 , consistent with the broader aspects of the present invention, one skilled in the art will recognize that the snow deflector  30  can include more than three components, constructed in a like manner to the snow deflector  30  described herein. 
   The sections  90 ,  92 , and  94  of the snow deflector  30  are preferably constructed of a plastic material such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, silicones, polyurethanes, acrylics, rubber, synthetic rubber, neoprene, or combinations thereof. Most preferably, each piece of the snow deflector  30  is constructed of High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (HMPE) to provide the deflector  30  with a rigid and low friction plowing surface so that snow easily rolls off the deflector. Alternately, the rear-most portions of the deflector  30  that are attached to the snow plow blade can have a steel reinforcement (not shown) located within the plastic material, while the unreinforced forward-most portions of the snow deflector  30  will not be so reinforced and will accordingly be more flexible. 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 ,  4 , and  12 , the outer section  90  has a generally arcuate cross section including first and second surfaces  95  and  97 , a width  98  defined by first and second side ends  100  and  102 , a forward edge  104 , having a downwardly angled position and a rear edge  106  including a downwardly extending lip  108 . A plurality of downwardly sloping channels  110  and a corresponding plurality of mounting elements  112 , such as the recesses, are formed in an evenly spaced manner along the entire width  98  of the outer section  90  between the ends  100  and  102  thereof. As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , each channel  110  is adjacent to one of the recesses  112 . 
   Each channel  110  begins near the forward edge  104  of the outer section  90  and includes first and second side walls  118  and  120  that slope downwardly toward the rear edge  106  and a ramp portion  122 . As best illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 12 , each of the channels  110  in the first surface  95  of the outer section  90  form a rib  124  on the second surface  97  of the outer section  90 . It will be appreciated that the ribs  124  strengthen the outer section  90 , permitting the deflector  30  to withstand the impact of large or heavy loads of snow. 
   Each recess  112  is preferably U-shaped, defined by interior and exterior side walls  125  and  126  and a substantially planar bottom  128 . An outer surface  130  of the bottom  128  is configured to engage the mounting surface  66  of the snow plow blade  32 . An inner surface  131  of the bottom  128  is configured to engage the center section  94 , as will be described in more detail below. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the recesses  112  can have a different overall shape, such as a generally circular shape, provided each recess includes a bottom surface configured to mate with and engage the mounting surface  66  of the snow plow blade  32 . 
   An aperture  132  is formed in the bottom  128  of each recess  112  to accommodate a bolt  134  or other fastening mechanism so that the outer section  90  can be secured to the top member  44  of the snow plow blade  32 . The aperture  132  is positioned within each recess  112  so that it can be coaxially aligned with the apertures  82  on the mounting surface  66  of the top member  44  of the snow plow blade  32 . 
   The outer section  92  is formed in the same manner as the outer section  90 , and therefore has a generally arcuate cross section, including first and second surfaces  140  and  142 , a width  144  defined by first and second side ends  146  and  148 , a forward edge  150 , having a downwardly angled position and a rear edge  152  including a downwardly extending lip  154 . A plurality of downwardly sloping channels  156  and a corresponding plurality of mounting elements  158 , such as recesses, are formed in an evenly spaced manner along the entire width  144  of the outer section  92  between the ends  146  and  148  thereof. As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , each channel  156  is adjacent to one of the recesses  158 . 
   Each channel  156  includes first and second side walls  160  and  162  that slope downwardly toward the rear edge  152  and a ramp portion  164 . As best illustrated in  FIGS. 7 ,  12  and  16 , each of the channels  156  in the first surface  140  of the outer section  92  form a rib  166  on the second surface  142  of the outer section  92 . It will be appreciated that the ribs  166  strengthen the outer section  92  to permit the deflector  30  to withstand heavy or large loads of snow. 
   Each recess  158  is preferably U-shaped having interior and exterior side walls  168  and  170  and a substantially planar bottom  172 . An outer surface  174  of the bottom  172  is configured to engage the mounting surface  66  of the top member  44 . An inner surface  175  of the bottom  172  is configured to engage the center section  94 , as will be described in more detail below. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the recesses  158  can have another overall shape, such as a generally circular, provided each recess includes a bottom surface configured to mate with and engage the mounting surface  66  of the snow plow blade  32 . 
   An aperture  176  is formed through the bottom  172  of each recess  158  to accommodate the bolt  134  or so that the outer section  92  can be secured to the top member  44  of the snow plow blade. The aperture  176  is positioned within the recess  158  on the outer section  92  so that it can be aligned with the apertures  82  on the mounting surface  66  of the snow plow blade  32 . 
   As best illustrated in  FIGS. 4 ,  13  and  16 , the center section  94  has a generally arcuate cross section of substantially the same shape as the outer sections  90  and  92 . The center section  94  has first and second surfaces  180  and  182 , a width  184  defined by first and second side ends  186  and  188 , a forward edge  190 , having a downwardly angled position and a rear edge  192  including a downwardly extending lip  194 . A plurality of raised ribs  196  and a corresponding plurality of mounting elements  198 , such as recesses, are formed in an evenly spaced manner along the entire width  184  of the center section  94  between the ends  186  and  188  thereof. As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , each rib  196  is adjacent to one of the recesses  198 . 
   Each raised rib  196  begins near the forward edge  190  of the center section  94  and includes first and second side walls  200  and  202  and a raised middle portion  204  that each curve downwardly toward the rear edge  192 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 8 , each of the first and second side walls  200  and  202  extend downward on opposite sides of the recess  198 . It will be appreciated that the ribs  196  strengthen the center section  94  to permit the deflector  30  to withstand the impact of large or heavy loads of snow. 
   Each recess  198  is preferably U-shaped and is sized to fit within the recesses  112  and  158  formed in the outer sections  90  and  92 , respectively. Each recess is defined by interior and exterior side walls  206  and  208  and a substantially planar bottom  210 . An outer surface  212  of the bottom  210  is configured to engage the mounting surface  66  of the top member  44 , and also configured to engage the inner surfaces  131  and  175  of the recesses  112  and  158  of each of the outer sections  90  and  92 , respectively, when deflector  30  is installed on the snow plow blade  32 . The bottom  210  of the center section  94  also includes an inner surface  214 . 
   An aperture  216  is formed through the bottom  210  of each of the recesses  198  to accommodate the bolt  134 . As will be appreciated, the apertures  216  are positioned within each of the recesses so it can be aligned with the apertures  132  and  176  in the outer sections  90  and  92 , respectively, and also with the apertures  82  on the mounting surface  66  of the snow plow blade  32  when the deflector  30  is installed thereon. 
   The first surface  180  of the center section  94  can include an area  181  for displaying manufacturer, trademark and/or model information for the snow deflector  30 . 
   Turning next to  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  14  through  17 , assembly of the snow deflector  30  of the present invention on to the straight snow plow blade  32  is illustrated. The snow plow blade  32  is first lowered to a flat, level surface. The outer section  90  is then positioned with its second surface  97  facing the plowing side  42  of the snow plow blade. The first end  100  of the outer section  90  is aligned with the first side end  70  of the mounting surface  66  of the snow plow&#39;s top member  44 . In addition, the outer member  90  is positioned so that the outer surface  130  of the bottom  128  of each of the recesses  112  engages and rests flush against the mounting surface  66 , with the lip  108  extending downwardly over the rear surface  68  of the top member  44  of the snow plow blade  32 . 
   The outer section  90  can be adjusted in either direction along the width  38  of the snow plow blade  32  so that each of the apertures  132  formed in the bottom  128  of each recess  112  are coaxially aligned with the apertures  82  in the mounting surface  66  of the snow plow blade  32 . Once the outer section  90  is in its proper position, it is preferably temporarily clamped in placed, while the remaining sections  92  and  94  of the deflector  30  are positioned. 
   Likewise, the outer section  92  is positioned with its second surface  142  facing the plowing side  42  of the snow plow blade  32 . The first end  146  of the outer section  92  is aligned with the second side end  72  of the mounting surface  66  of the snow plow&#39;s top member  44 . In addition, the outer member  92  is positioned so that the outer surface  174  of the bottom  172  of each of the recesses  158  engages and rests flush against the mounting surface  66 , with the lip  154  extending downwardly over the rear surface  68  of the top member  44  of the snow plow blade  32 . 
   The outer section  92  can be adjusted in either direction along the width  38  of the snow plow blade  32  so that each of the apertures  176  formed in the bottom  172  of each recess  158  are coaxially aligned with the apertures  82  in the mounting surface  66  of the snow plow blade  32 . Once the outer section  92  is in its proper position, is preferably temporarily clamped in placed, while the center section  94  of the deflector  30  is positioned. 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 through 9 , when the outer sections  90  and  92  are in place, a portion  228  of the top member  44  of the straight snow plow blade  32  may not be covered by the outer sections  90  and  92  of the deflector  30 . Accordingly, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the center section  94  is positioned over the portion  228  of the plow blade  32  and over the top of both the outer sections  90  and  94 , so that its side end  186  overlaps a portion  232  of the outer section  90 , and its side end  188  overlaps a portion  234  of the outer section  92 . 
   When properly positioned, the recesses  198  near the end  186  of the center section  94  interfit and seat flush within the recesses  112  in the overlapping portion  232  of the outer section  90 . In addition, the apertures  216  in the bottom  210  of each seated recess  198  of the center section  94  are coaxially aligned with the apertures  132  in the bottom  128  of the outer section  90 , and in turn, coaxially aligned with the apertures  82  in the mounting surface  66  of the top member  44  of the blade frame  40 . 
   Likewise, the recesses  198  near the end  188  of the center section  94  interfit and seat flush within the recesses  158  in the overlapping portion  234  of the outer section  92 . In addition, the apertures  216  in the bottom  210  of each seated recess  198  of the center section  94  are coaxially aligned with the apertures  176  in the bottom  172  of the outer section  92 , and in turn coaxially aligned with the apertures  82  in the mounting surface  66  of the top member  44  of the blade frame  40 . 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , two recesses  198  on the end  186  of the center section  94  overlap and seat within the two recesses  112  on the overlapping portion  232  of the outer section  90 , and two recesses  198  on the end  188  of the center section  94  overlap and seat within two corresponding recesses  158  on the overlapping portion  234  of the outer section  92 . 
   The center section  94  also overlaps the portion  228  of the top member  44  of the straight snow plow blade  32  so that the outer surface  212  of the bottom  210  engages and rests flush against the mounting surface  66  thereof, with the lip  194  extending downwardly over the rear surface  68  of the top member  44  of the snow plow blade  32 . 
   The bolts  132 , and preferably washers  230 , are then used to secure the deflector  30  to the snow plow blade  32 . As best illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the first end  100  of the outer section  90  is secured to the snow plow blade  32  by threading one of the bolts  132  consecutively through the aperture  132  in the bottom  128  of each recess  112  and then through the corresponding aperture  82  in mounting surface  66  of the snow plow blade  32 . Likewise, the first end  146  of the outer section  92  is secured in place by threading one of the bolts  132  consecutively through each of the apertures  176  in the bottom  174  of each recess  158  and then through the corresponding aperture  82  in mounting surface  66  of the snow plow blade  32 . 
   The center section  94  is secured in place by threading one of the bolts  132  consecutively through the aperture  216  in the bottom  210  of the recess  198 , through the corresponding, coaxially aligned aperture  132  in the bottom  128  of each recess  112  of the overlapping portion  232  of the outer section  90 , and then through the corresponding, coaxially aligned aperture  82  in mounting surface  66  of the snow plow blade  32 . Likewise, one of the bolts  132  is threaded consecutively through the aperture  216  in the bottom  210  of the recess  198 , through the corresponding, coaxially aligned aperture  176  in the bottom  172  of each recess  158  of the overlapping portion  234  of the outer section  92 , and then through the corresponding, coaxially aligned aperture  82  in mounting surface  66  of the snow plow blade  32 . 
   The center section  94  is directly secured to the portion  228  of the top member  44  of the straight snow plow blade  32  by threading one of the bolts  132  through the aperture  216  in the bottom  210  of the recess  198 , and then through the corresponding, coaxially aligned aperture  82  in mounting surface  66  of the snow plow blade  32 . 
   As best illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the deflector  30  is adjustable to straight snow plow blades of different widths  38 . For example, the snow plow blade  32  shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9  is shorter than the blade shown in  FIG. 5 , and as such, the end  186  center section  94  overlaps a larger portion  300  of the of the outer section  90  so that four recesses  198  thereon seat within the four corresponding, and aligned recesses  112  on the outer section  90 . Likewise, the end  188  of the center section  94  overlaps a larger portion  302  of the outer section  92  so that four recesses  198  thereon seat within the four corresponding, and aligned recesses  158  on the outer section  92 . It is preferable that each end  186  and  188  of the center section  94  overlap the same number of recesses on the outer sections  90  and  92 , respectively. However, it is consistent with the broader aspects of the present invention that each end  186  and  188  of the center section  94  can overlap a different number of recesses on the outer sections  90  and  92 , respectively, depending on the width  38  of the snow plow blade  32 . 
   Consistent with the broader aspects of the present invention, the center section  94  of the deflector  30  can be secured to the snow plow blade  32  underneath the outer sections  90  and  92 , respectively, so that the portion  232  of the outer section  90  overlaps the end  186  of the center section  94 , and the portion  234  of the outer section  92  overlaps the end  188  of the center section  188 . One skilled in the art will recognize that when configured to mount this way, each recess of the outer sections will be sized to interfit and seat flush within the recesses  198  provided on the center section  94 . 
   The snow plow snow deflector of the present invention is of a construction which is both durable and long lasting, and which will require little or no maintenance to be provided by the user throughout its operating lifetime. The snow plow snow deflector is also of inexpensive construction to enhance its market appeal and to thereby afford it the broadest possible market. Finally, all of the aforesaid advantages and objectives of the snow plow snow deflector of the present invention are achieved without incurring any substantial relative disadvantage. 
   Although the foregoing description of the snow plow snow deflector wings of the present invention has been shown and described with reference to particular embodiments and applications thereof, it has been presented for purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the particular embodiments and applications disclosed. It will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art that a number of changes, modifications, variations, or alterations to the invention as described herein may be made, none of which depart from the spirit or scope of the present invention. The particular embodiments and applications were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such changes, modifications, variations, and alterations should therefore be seen as being within the scope of the present invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.

Technology Category: 0