Snow Blower Shovel Attachment Apparatus

Abstract

A snow blower shovel attachment apparatus for using a snow blower as a plow for wet snow includes a frame coupled to a shovel blade. The frame has a horizontal portion extending from a back face of the shovel blade and a vertical portion extending from the horizontal portion to above a top edge of the shovel blade. A plurality of attachment brackets is coupled to the frame. The plurality of attachment brackets includes a pair of upper attachment brackets coupled to a top end of the vertical portion of the frame and a pair of lower attachment brackets coupled to a bottom end of the vertical portion of the frame. The upper attachment brackets pivotably engage an auger housing of a snow blower and the lower attachment brackets selectively engage the auger housing.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A snow blower shovel attachment apparatus comprising:
 a shovel blade, the shovel blade having a bottom edge, a top edge, a left edge, a right edge, a front face, and a back face;   a frame coupled to the shovel blade, the frame having a horizontal portion extending from the back face of the shovel blade and a vertical portion extending from the horizontal portion to above the top edge of the shovel blade, the vertical portion being coupled to the left edge and the right edge of the shovel blade; and   a plurality of attachment brackets coupled to the frame, the plurality of attachment brackets including a pair of upper attachment brackets coupled to a top end of the vertical portion of the frame and a pair of lower attachment brackets coupled to a bottom end of the vertical portion of the frame, the upper attachment brackets being configured to pivotably engage an auger housing of a snow blower, the lower attachment brackets being configured to selectively engage the auger housing of the snow blower.   
     
     
         2 . The snow blower shovel attachment apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a pair of headlights coupled to the shovel blade, each headlight having a light housing, a bulb, a battery in operational communication with the bulb, and a control switch in operational communication with the battery. 
     
     
         3 . The snow blower shovel attachment apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising each light housing being cuboidal and coupled adjacent the vertical portion of the frame. 
     
     
         4 . The snow blower shovel attachment apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising the horizontal portion of the frame having a left horizontal portion coupled to the back face of the shovel blade proximal the left edge, a right horizontal portion coupled to the back face of the shovel blade proximal the right edge, and a medial horizontal portion extending between the left horizontal portion and the right horizontal portion. 
     
     
         5 . The snow blower shovel attachment apparatus of  claim 4  further comprising a plurality of gussets coupled to the left horizontal portion and the right horizontal portion of the frame, the plurality of gussets being coupled between the horizontal portion and the back face of the shovel blade and between the horizontal portion and the vertical portion of the frame. 
     
     
         6 . The snow blower shovel attachment apparatus of  claim 5  further comprising each gusset having a curved outer edge. 
     
     
         7 . The snow blower shovel attachment apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising the vertical portion of the frame having a left vertical portion and a right vertical portion coupled to the left edge and the right edge of the shovel blade, respectively. 
     
     
         8 . The snow blower shovel attachment apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising each attachment bracket of the plurality of attachment brackets extending perpendicularly to the vertical portion of the frame and having a rounded distal end, each of the upper attachment brackets having a pivot aperture proximal the distal end and a locking aperture, each of the lower attachment brackets having an attachment aperture, a pair of hinge bolts being configured to pivotably couple the pivot aperture of each upper attachment bracket to the auger housing of the snow blower, the locking aperture of each upper attachment bracket receiving a pair of quick release pins configured to selectively engage a pair of store position apertures of the auger housing of the snow blower, the attachment aperture of each of the lower attachment brackets receiving the pair of quick release pins to selectively engage a pair of use position apertures of the auger housing of the snow blower. 
     
     
         9 . A snow blower shovel attachment apparatus comprising:
 a shovel blade, the shovel blade having a bottom edge, a top edge, a left edge, a right edge, a front face, and a back face;   a frame coupled to the shovel blade, the frame having a horizontal portion extending from the back face of the shovel blade and a vertical portion extending from the horizontal portion to above the top edge of the shovel blade, the horizontal portion of the frame having a left horizontal portion coupled to the back face of the shovel blade proximal the left edge, a right horizontal portion coupled to the back face of the shovel blade proximal the right edge, and a medial horizontal portion extending between the left horizontal portion and the right horizontal portion, the vertical portion of the frame having a left vertical portion and a right vertical portion coupled to the left edge and the right edge of the shovel blade, respectively;   a plurality of gussets coupled to the left horizontal portion and the right horizontal portion of the frame, the plurality of gussets being coupled between the horizontal portion and the back face of the shovel blade and between the horizontal portion and the vertical portion of the frame, each gusset having a curved outer edge;   a plurality of attachment brackets coupled to the frame, the plurality of attachment brackets including a pair of upper attachment brackets coupled to a top end of the vertical portion of the frame and a pair of lower attachment brackets coupled to a bottom end of the vertical portion of the frame, each attachment bracket of the plurality of attachment brackets extending perpendicularly to the vertical portion of the frame and having a rounded distal end, each of the upper attachment brackets having a pivot aperture proximal the distal end and a locking aperture, each of the lower attachment brackets having an attachment aperture, a pair of hinge bolts being configured to pivotably couple the pivot aperture of each upper attachment bracket to an auger housing of a snow blower, the locking aperture of each upper attachment bracket receiving a pair of quick release pins configured to selectively engage a pair of store position apertures of the auger housing of the snow blower, the attachment aperture of each of the lower attachment brackets receiving the pair of quick release pins to selectively engage a pair of use position apertures of the auger housing of the snow blower; and   a pair of headlights coupled to the shovel blade, each headlight having a light housing, a bulb, a battery in operational communication with the bulb, and a control switch in operational communication with the battery, each light housing being cuboidal and coupled adjacent the vertical portion of the frame.