Sidewalk maintenance vehicle and system for clearing snow and ice from a surface

Abstract

A sidewalk maintenance vehicle for clearing snow and ice from a surface and for applying granular material to the surface comprises a tractor for providing mobility to the sidewalk maintenance vehicle and having a generally central longitudinal axis. A snow and ice removal apparatus, such as a plow blade, is mounted on the tractor so as to be disposed forwardly of the tractor and generally tranversely to the generally central longitudinal axis. A hopper is mounted on the tractor for carrying the granular material therein. The hopper has an outlet disposed longitudinally between the tractor and the plow, and a dispensing means operatively mounted at the outlet for permitting controlled dispensing of the granular material from the hopper onto the surface.

1 . A sidewalk maintenance vehicle for clearing snow and ice from a surface and for applying granular material to said surface, said sidewalk maintenance vehicle comprising: 
 a tractor for providing mobility to said sidewalk maintenance vehicle and having a generally central longitudinal axis;    a snow and ice removal apparatus mounted on said tractor so as to be disposed forwardly of said tractor and generally tranversely to said generally central longitudinal axis; and,    a hopper mounted on said tractor for carrying said granular material therein;    wherein said hopper has an outlet disposed longitudinally between said tractor and said snow and ice removal apparatus, and a dispensing means operatively mounted at said outlet for permitting controlled dispensing of said granular material from said hopper onto said surface.    
   
   
       2 . The sidewalk maintenance vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein said hopper is disposed longitudinally between said tractor and said snow and ice removal apparatus.  
   
   
       3 . The sidewalk maintenance vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein said dispensing means is integrally mounted within said hopper.  
   
   
       4 . The sidewalk maintenance vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein said tractor is a wheeled vehicle.  
   
   
       5 . The sidewalk maintenance vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein said hopper has a front wall portion, a back wall portion, a left side wall portion, and a right side wall portion.  
   
   
       6 . The sidewalk maintenance vehicle of  claim 5 , wherein said front wall portion of said hopper has a central forward portion, a left rearwardly sloped portion, and a right rearwardly sloped portion.  
   
   
       7 . The sidewalk maintenance vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein said snow and ice removal apparatus comprises a plow blade.  
   
   
       8 . The sidewalk maintenance vehicle of  claim 7 , wherein said plow blade is mounted on said tractor by means of a plow blade attachment arm.  
   
   
       9 . The sidewalk maintenance vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein said plow blade attachment arm has a rear mounting arm portion for connecting said plow blade attachment arm to said tractor, a peripheral frame portion defining a central hollow area for accommodating said hopper, and means to connect said plow blade to said peripheral frame portion.  
   
   
       10 . A method of using a sidewalk maintenance vehicle, having drive members such as wheels or tracks, to clear snow and ice from a surface, said method comprising the steps of, while driving said vehicle: 
 clearing at least a portion of snow and ice disposed on said surface forwardly of said vehicle;    applying a granular material to the at least partially cleared surface, forwardly of said drive members, of said sidewalk maintenance vehicle.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said step of clearing at least a portion of snow and ice disposed on said surface forwardly of said vehicle comprises plowing said surface using a plow blade.  
   
   
       12 . A plow for use in a sidewalk maintenance vehicle employing a tractor for providing mobility, and used for clearing snow and ice from a surface and for applying granular material to said surface, said tractor having a generally central longitudinal axis, said plow comprising: 
 a plow blade; and,    a plow blade attachment arm for mounting said plow blade onto said tractor so as to be disposed forwardly of said tractor and generally tranversely to said generally central longitudinal axis;    wherein said plow blade attachment arm has a rear mounting arm portion for connecting said plow blade attachment arm to said tractor, a peripheral frame portion defining a central hollow area for accommodating said hopper, and means to connect said plow to said peripheral frame portion.    
   
   
       13 . The sidewalk maintenance vehicle of  claim 12 , wherein said peripheral frame portion of said plow blade attachment arm is substantially rectangularly shaped.  
   
   
       14 . A hopper for use in a sidewalk maintenance vehicle used for clearing snow and ice from a surface and for applying granular material to said surface, said hopper comprising: 
 a front wall portion having a central forward portion, a left rearwardly sloped portion, and a right rearwardly sloped portion;    a back wall portion;    a left side wall portion;    a right side wall portion;    an outlet disposed at the bottom of said hopper; and,    dispensing means operatively mounted at said outlet for permitting controlled dispensing of said granular material from said hopper onto said surface.    
   
   
       15 . A system mountable onto a tractor having a generally central longitudinal axis, for clearing snow and ice from a surface and for applying granular material to said surface, said system comprising: 
 a snow and ice removal apparatus mountable on said tractor forwardly of said tractor and generally tranversely to said generally central longitudinal axis; and,    a hopper mountable on said tractor for carrying said granular material therein;    wherein said hopper has an outlet disposed longitudinally between said tractor and said snow and ice removal apparatus, and a dispensing means operatively mounted at said outlet for permitting controlled dispensing of said granular material from said hopper onto said surface.    
   
   
       16 . The sidewalk maintenance vehicle of  claim 15 , wherein said hopper is mountable on said tractor so as to be disposed forwardly of said of said tractor and rearwardly of said snow and ice removal apparatus.  
   
   
       17 . The sidewalk maintenance vehicle of  claim 16 , wherein said snow and ice removal apparatus comprises a plow blade.  
   
   
       18 . The sidewalk maintenance vehicle of  claim 17 , wherein said plow blade is mounted on said tractor by means of a plow blade attachment arm.  
   
   
       19 . The sidewalk maintenance vehicle of  claim 18 , wherein said plow blade attachment arm has a rear mounting arm portion for connecting said plow blade attachment arm to said tractor, a peripheral frame portion defining a central hollow area for accommodating said hopper, and means to connect said plow to said peripheral frame portion.  
   
   
       20 . The sidewalk maintenance vehicle of  claim 19 , wherein said peripheral frame portion of said plow blade attachment arm is substantially rectangularly shaped.