Adjustable-width snow plow

Abstract

A snow plow apparatus comprises a snow plow main blade, end blade sections telescopingly mounted to ends of the main blade for sliding extension and retraction, and mechanical fasteners fixing a selected telescoped position of the end blade sections on the main blade. The main blade has a vertical cross section with linear portions connected by a formed channel-shaped center portion that gives the blade greater bending strength, and includes flanged upper and lower edges. The end blade sections match the main blade's vertical cross section, and include top and bottom flanges that slidably engage the upper and lower edges. Mechanical fasteners engage aligned holes in the flanges to fix a selected extended position of the blade end sections. End plates attached to the blade end sections retain snow on the face of the main blade during use.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A snow plow apparatus comprising:
 a snow plow main blade;   end blade sections telescopingly mounted to ends of the main blade for sliding extension and retraction; and   mechanical fasteners for fixing a selected telescoped position of the end blade sections on the main blade.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the snow plow main blade defines a non-planar vertical cross sectional shape, and the end blade sections define a mating shape configured for sliding engagement. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the snow plow main blade defines a vertical cross sectional shape having a stiffening channel formed along its midsection. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the snow plow main blade defines a vertical cross sectional shape with top and bottom edges, and wherein the end blade sections include flanges that slidably engage the top and bottom edges. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the snow plow main blade defines a vertical cross sectional shape with a first flange, and the end blade sections include a second flange slidingly abutting the first flange, and wherein the fasteners include at least one mechanical fastener extending through the first and second flanges to fix the first and second flanges together. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein one of the first and second flanges includes at least one hole and the other of the first and second flanges includes a slot overlapping the at least one hole. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein one of the first and second flanges includes at least two holes that can be selectively positioned in alignment with a mating hole in the other of the first and second flanges. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the at least two holes includes at least three holes. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein unused ones of the at least two holes are covered and thus not exposed to allow pass through of snow when not being used. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein unused ones of the at least two holes are plugged when not being used. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the main blade includes a vehicle mount on a rear surface, and the end blade sections include an end capture blade that extends forward from the end blade sections away from the vehicle mount, whereby the snow plow apparatus is a back blade configured to be pulled behind a vehicle with the end capture blades holding scraped snow on the main blade. 
     
     
         12 . A snow plow apparatus comprising:
 a snow plow main blade defining a length;   end blade sections adjustably attached to the main blade for movement to different positions including at least three different-blade-width adjusted positions and lying parallel the length in all the adjusted positions; and   a mechanical fastening system including fasteners to fix a selected one of the at least three positions, whereby the end blade sections can be fixed on the main blade in one of the positions in order to provide a selected total dimensional length.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the fasteners include threaded shafts. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus defined in  claim 12 , wherein the mechanical fastening system defines at least three discrete positions of the end blade sections on the main blade. 
     
     
         15 . A method of providing a single snow plow apparatus capable of providing a desired adjusted length, comprising steps of:
 providing a snow plow main blade;   telescopingly mounting end blade sections on ends of the main blade for sliding extension and retraction, and moving the end blade sections to a desired telescoped position; and   mechanically fastening the end blade sections on the main blade to fix the selected telescoped position of the end blade sections on the main blade, thus providing a selected total dimensional length.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of providing the snow plow main blade includes providing discrete holes defining at least two different discrete positions, and the step of moving the end blade sections includes moving the end blade sections between the at least two different discrete positions. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of moving the end blade sections includes moving the end blade sections to one of the at least two discrete positions and extending at least one fastener through one of the discrete holes and simultaneously includes covering another one of the at least two discrete holes that is not being used to prevent pass through of plowed snow. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of moving the end blade sections includes moving the end blade sections to one of the at least two discrete positions and extending at least one fastener through one of the discrete holes and simultaneously includes plugging another one of the at least two discrete holes that is not being used to prevent pass through of plowed snow.