Combination snow blower and plow, and retrofit kit

Abstract

A combination snow blower and plow apparatus provides at least two operating configurations including (i) a standard-width snow blowing configuration, and (ii) an expanded-width plowing and blowing configuration. Optionally, the apparatus may further be capable of an expanded-width snow plowing configuration. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a pair of snow-pushing plate assemblies that are pivotably attached to a snow blower mechanism, and are repositionable or reconfigurable to provide different plowing or blowing configurations, such as by directing snow into a snow blower intake or by pushing an accumulation of snow ahead of the blower mechanism. In other embodiments, the apparatus includes a pair of removable snow-pushing wings. The snow-pushing plate assemblies may be configured as a kit for retrofitting existing snow blowers. Optionally, inlet-blocking plates may be used to block the snow blower intake and form a substantially continuous plow across the front of the snow blower mechanism.

1 . A combination snow blower and plow apparatus comprising:
 a snow blower mechanism having a housing with opposite sides and defining a snow inlet portion between said opposite sides, said snow blower mechanism further having a snow discharge portion in communication with said snow inlet portion;   a snow-pushing plate pivotably coupled to one of said opposite sides of said housing, said snow-pushing plate being independently pivotable between a plurality of extended snow-pushing positions in which said snow-pushing plate extends outwardly at an angle from a respective one of said sides of said housing, and a retracted position in which said snow-pushing plate is positioned alongside and generally parallel to said one of said opposite side of said housing;   a support strut having first and second strut portions that are coupled to said side of said housing and to said snow-pushing plate, respectively, said first and second strut portions being repositionable relative to one another to provide different lengths of said support strut for supporting said snow-pushing plate in said plurality of extended snow-pushing positions, and said first and second strut portions being further repositionable relative to one another for positioning said snow-pushing plate in said retracted position; and   wherein when said snow-pushing plate is in said plurality of extended snow-pushing positions, said snow-pushing plate is operable to direct snow toward said snow inlet portion as said snow blower mechanism is moved through an accumulation of snow, and when said snow-pushing plate is in said retracted position, said snow-pushing plates do not substantially engage the snow as said snow blower mechanism is moved through the accumulation of snow.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second strut portions are configured in telescoping arrangement, and at least one of said strut portions comprises a plurality of lateral bores in spaced arrangement near a joint portion of said support strut, said lateral bores for selectively receiving a pin which, when disposed in one of said bores, substantially fixes said strut portions relative to one another, thereby fixing at least one of the minimum length and the maximum length of said support strut. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said first and second strut portions are selectively pivotable relative to one another at said joint portion of said support strut for positioning said snow-pushing plate in said retracted position with said first and second strut portions at least partially separated and pivoted relative to one another. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising an elastic cord for coupling said first and second strut portions to one another, said elastic cord configured to act as a hinge that couples said first and second strut portions together when said strut portions are pivoted relative to one another for positioning said snow-pushing plate in said retracted position. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a mounting plate coupled to said housing for mounting said snow-pushing plate to said housing, wherein said mounting plate comprises a support tab that projects outwardly for supporting said support strut when said first and second strut portions are pivoted relative to one another at said joint portion and said snow-pushing plate is in said retracted position. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said snow-pushing plate is pivotable about a substantially vertical pivot axis to move said snow-pushing plate from one of said extended snow-pushing positions to said retracted position. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 an elastic retainer cord having a tethered proximal end portion coupled to one of said snow-pushing plate and said housing of said snow blower mechanism, said retainer cord further having a distal end portion comprising an enlarged portion having a larger cross sectional dimension than a diameter of said retainer cord;   a receiving element coupled to the other of said snow-pushing plate and said housing, said receiving element defining an opening having a smaller cross sectional dimension than said enlarged portion at said distal end portion of said retainer cord; and   wherein said opening of said receiving element is configured to selectively receive a portion of said retainer cord when said receiving element is engaged by said enlarged portion, to thereby retain said snow-pushing plate in the retracted position.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said enlarged portion of said retainer cord comprises a generally spherical knob. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a mounting plate that is coupled to said housing for mounting said snow-pushing plate to said housing, said mounting plate comprising at least one track defining a longitudinal slot, and said snow-pushing plate comprising a pin at a proximal end portion thereof, said pin of said snow-pushing plate being received in said longitudinal slot of said track to permit both translating and pivoting movement of said snow-pushing plate relative to said mounting plate. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said snow-pushing plate is pivotable about a substantially horizontal pivot axis to move said snow-pushing plate from one of said extended snow-pushing positions to said retracted position. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a pivot-mount plate to which said snow-pushing plate is pivotably coupled, wherein said pivot-mount plate is pivotably coupled to said snow blower housing for rotation about said substantially horizontal pivot axis. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a fastener at said pivot-mount plate, said fastener spaced radially from said substantially horizontal pivot axis and configured to selectively engage said snow blower housing side at two locations corresponding to said retracted and extended positions of said snow-pushing plate. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one of said snow-pushing plates pivotably coupled to each of said opposite sides of said housing;   an inlet-blocking plate movably coupled to each of said snow-pushing plates, said inlet-blocking plates being repositionable between an inlet-blocking use configuration in which said inlet-blocking plates cooperate to substantially obstruct said snow inlet portion, and a stored configuration in which said inlet-blocking plates are positioned substantially along said respective snow-pushing plates; and   wherein when said inlet-blocking plates are positioned in their respective inlet-blocking use configurations, said inlet-blocking plates cooperate to substantially limit or prevent snow from entering said snow inlet as said snow blower mechanism is moved through the accumulation of snow, so that said snow blower mechanism is operable to push the snow in front of said snow blower mechanism.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said snow-pushing plate comprises an inboard edge portion that extends inboard of the respective opposite side of the snow blower housing when said snow-pushing plate is in the extended position, whereby an accumulation of snow is directed into the snow inlet portion of the snow blower housing by the snow-pushing plate, including said inboard edge portion, to thereby prevent an accumulation of snow from passing between said snow-pushing plate and the respective opposite side of the snow blower housing as the snow blower mechanism is moved through the accumulation of snow. 
     
     
         15 . A combination snow blower and plow apparatus comprising:
 a snow blower mechanism having a housing with opposite sides and defining a snow inlet portion between said opposite sides, said snow blower mechanism further having a snow discharge portion in communication with said snow inlet portion;   a snow-pushing plate pivotably coupled to one of said opposite sides of said housing, said snow-pushing plate being independently pivotable between a plurality of extended snow-pushing positions in which said snow-pushing plate extends outwardly at an angle from a respective one of said sides of said housing, and a retracted position in which said snow-pushing plate is positioned alongside and generally parallel to said one of said opposite side of said housing;   a support strut extending between said snow-pushing plate and said one of said opposite sides of said housing for supporting said snow-pushing plate in said extended position;   an elastic retainer cord having a tethered proximal end portion coupled to said snow-pushing plate and said housing, said retainer cord further having a distal end portion comprising an enlarged portion having a larger cross sectional dimension than a diameter of said retainer cord;   a receiving element coupled to the other of said snow-pushing plate and said housing, said receiving element defining an opening having a smaller cross sectional dimension than said enlarged portion at said distal end portion of said retainer cord; and   wherein said opening of said receiving element is configured to selectively receive a portion of said retainer cord while said receiving element is engaged by said enlarged portion to thereby retain said snow-pushing plate in the retracted position.   
     
     
         16 . A retrofit kit for a snow blower, the snow blower having a housing with opposite sides and defining a snow inlet portion between the opposite sides, the snow blower further having a snow discharge portion in communication with said snow inlet portion, said kit comprising:
 a pair of plate assemblies configured for attachment to the snow blower, each of said plate assemblies comprising:
 a mounting plate having a forward end portion and a rearward end portion, said mounting plate configured for attachment to one of the opposite sides of the snow blower housing; 
 an outwardly-extendable snow-pushing plate coupled to said mounting plate via a hinge and configured to be pivotally movable between an extended snow-pushing position in which said snow-pushing plate extends outwardly at an angle from the snow blower, and a retracted position in which said snow-pushing plate is positioned alongside and generally parallel to the snow blower; 
 a support strut having first and second strut portions that are coupled to said rearward end portion of said mounting plate and said snow-pushing plate, respectively, said support strut for supporting said snow-pushing plate in said extended snow-pushing position, and said first and second strut portions being selectively repositionable relative to one another for positioning said snow-pushing plate in said retracted position. 
   
     
     
         17 . The retrofit kit of  claim 16 , wherein said first and second strut portions are configured in telescoping arrangement, and at least one of said strut portions comprises a plurality of lateral bores in spaced arrangement near said joint portion, said lateral bores for selectively receiving a pin which, when disposed in one of said bores, substantially fixes said strut portions relative to one another, thereby fixing at least one of the minimum length and the maximum length of said support strut. 
     
     
         18 . The retrofit kit of  claim 15 , wherein said first and second strut portions are pivotable relative to one another at a joint portion of said support strut for positioning said snow-pushing plate in said retracted position. 
     
     
         19 . The retrofit kit of  claim 18 , further comprising an elastic cord for coupling said first and second strut portions to one another, said elastic cord configured to act as a hinge coupling said first and second strut portions together when said strut portions are pivoted relative to one another for positioning said snow-pushing plate in said retracted position. 
     
     
         20 . The retrofit kit of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 an elastic retainer cord having a tethered proximal end portion coupled to said snow-pushing plate, said retainer cord further having a distal end portion comprising an enlarged portion with a larger cross sectional dimension than a diameter of said retainer cord;   a receiving element coupled to said rearward end portion of said mounting plate, said receiving element defining an opening having a smaller cross sectional dimension than said enlarged portion at said distal end portion of said retainer cord; and   wherein said opening of said receiving element is configured to selectively receive a portion of said retainer cord while said receiving element is engaged by said enlarged portion, to thereby retain said snow-pushing plate in the retracted position.   
     
     
         21 . The retrofit kit of  claim 20 , wherein said mounting plate comprises a support tab projecting outwardly between said forward and rearward end portions, said support tab configured to support said support strut when said first and second strut portions are pivoted relative to one another at said joint portion and said snow-pushing plate is in said retracted position. 
     
     
         22 . The retrofit kit of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 an elastic retainer cord having a tethered proximal end portion coupled to one of said snow-pushing plate and said mounting plate, said retainer cord further having a distal end portion comprising an enlarged portion having a larger cross sectional dimension than a diameter of said retainer cord;   a receiving element coupled to the other of said snow-pushing plate and said mounting plate, said receiving element defining an opening having a smaller cross sectional dimension than said enlarged portion at said distal end portion of said retainer cord; and   wherein said opening of said receiving element is configured to selectively receive a portion of said retainer cord while said receiving element is engaged by said enlarged portion, to thereby retain said snow-pushing plate in the retracted position.   
     
     
         23 . A combination snow blower and plow apparatus comprising:
 a snow blower mechanism having a housing with opposite sides and defining a snow inlet portion between said opposite sides, said snow blower mechanism further having a snow discharge portion in communication with said snow inlet portion;   a snow-pushing wing assembly comprising a snow-pushing surface and a mounting surface with a first mounting track disposed at said mounting surface;   a second mounting track disposed at one of said sides of said housing, said second mounting track configured for releasable engagement with said first mounting track;   a fastener positioned at said mounting surface of said snow-pushing wing assembly for selectively engaging said one of said sides of said housing and operable to secure said snow-pushing wing assembly at said housing when said first and second mounting tracks are in engagement with one another; and   wherein said snow-pushing wing assembly is separable from said housing upon disengagement of said fastener from said one of said sides of said housing, and upon disengagement of said first mounting track from said second mounting track.   
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein one of said first and second mounting tracks comprises an I-shaped cross section and the other of said first and second mounting tracks comprises a C-shaped cross section for receiving a portion of the I-shaped cross section. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , comprising at least two of said first mounting tracks and at least two of said second mounting tracks, wherein each of said second mounting tracks corresponds to a respective one of said first mounting tracks. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein said first and second mounting tracks are oriented substantially vertically and are configured to permit substantially vertical sliding movement of said snow-pushing wing assembly relative to said snow blower housing when said fastener is disengaged from said snow blower housing. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , further comprising a flexible scraper blade positioned along a lower end portion of said snow-pushing surface. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein said wing assembly comprises a unitarily formed body that includes said snow-pushing surface and said mounting surface. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein said unitarily formed body comprises molded resinous plastic. 
     
     
         30 . A retrofit kit for a snow blower, the snow blower having a housing with opposite sides and defining a snow inlet portion between the opposite sides, the snow blower further having a snow discharge portion in communication with said snow inlet portion, said kit comprising:
 a pair of snow-pushing wings, each wing comprising a snow-pushing surface and a mounting surface;   a first mounting track disposed at said mounting surface of each of said wings;   a second mounting track configured for coupling to each of said sides of said housing, said second mounting track configured for releasable engagement with said first mounting track; and   a fastener configured to be positioned at said mounting surface of said snow-pushing wing assembly for selectively engaging said one of said sides of said housing, wherein said fastener is operable to secure said snow-pushing wing assembly at said housing when said first and second mounting tracks are in engagement with one another.   
     
     
         31 . The retrofit kit of  claim 30 , wherein said wings each comprise a unitarily formed body that includes said snow-pushing surface and said mounting surface. 
     
     
         32 . The retrofit kit of  claim 31 , wherein said unitarily formed body comprises molded resinous plastic.