Douglas Dynamics LLC

Gerald E Lutzke

James R Doornek

Chad Thomas Barker

Steven Lohry Klug

Christian T Nielsen

John R Behrens

A vehicle mounted accessory unit assembly is provided that is removably mountable to a vehicle, the accessory assembly including a support frame having a first and second portion that are connected at a pivot point, with the pivot point enabling forces to be directed in such a way as to minimize the stresses on the vehicle to which the accessory unit assembly is attached. The accessory unit assembly further includes a wheel assembly to further minimize the stresses on the vehicle. The wheel assembly preferably includes a ground engaging wheel, a mounting member, a spring assembly and a dampener. A steering dampener is also utilized.

Vehicle mounted accessory assembly

A snowplow (20) adapted for being attached to or detached from a vehicle (22) having a frame (24). The snowplow includes a mount frame (26) for connection to the vehicle frame, a support frame (32), a lift assembly (38) and a blade assembly. The blade assembly of the invention includes a blade (30), a blade cutting edge (31) and a wheel support assembly (56). The support frame includes a forward end (33) for supporting the blade and a rearward end (36) for connection to the vehicle. When detached from the vehicle as a single unit, the resultant weight on the rearward end of the support frame may be supported on a ground surface (46) by a jack stand (48). The wheel support assembly includes a yoke assembly (60) having a pair of sides (62) for supporting a wheel (57), a biased spring 80 mounted onto a stud (76) for allowing the yoke assembly to rotate from an upward inoperative position to a downward load support position, a handle (64), a support plate (65) and a bracket assembly (90) for mounting the wheel assembly to the snowplow. The wheel assembly is rotatable between the inoperative position and the load supporting position and is in the load supporting position when the snowplow is detached from the vehicle. An advantage of this invention is that nearly all of the weight of the snowplow is supported by the wheel support assembly when the snowplow is detached from the vehicle.

Rotatable support wheels for a snowplow

A snowplow (20) adapted for being attached or detached from a vehicle (22) having a frame (24). The snowplow includes a mount frame (26) for connection to the vehicle frame, a support frame (32), a lift assembly (38) and a blade assembly. The blade assembly includes a blade (30), a blade cutting edge (31) and a wheel support assembly (56). The support frame includes a forward end (33) for supporting the blade and a rearward end (36) for connection to the vehicle. When detached from the vehicle as a single unit, the resultant weight on the rearward end of the support frame is supported on a ground surface (46) by a jack stand (48). The wheel support assembly is mounted adjacent to or slightly ahead of a center of gravity (58). The wheel support assembly includes a yoke assembly (60) having a pair of sides (62) for supporting a wheel (57), a biased spring (80) mounted onto a stud (76) for allowing the yoke assembly to rotate from an upward inoperative position to a downward load support position, a handle (64), a support plate (65) and a bracket assembly (90) for mounting the wheel assembly to the snowplow. An advantage of this invention is that nearly all of the weight of the snowplow is supported by the wheel support assembly when the snowplow is detached from the vehicle. This allows even the smallest of operators to be able to easily maneuver the snowplow in any direction around a storage area with no additional assistance being required to attach the snowplow to the vehicle.

Growing community of inventors

Sheboygan, WI, United States of America

Gerald E Lutzke