SNOWPLOW BLADE SYSTEM

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/716,949, filed on Nov. 6, 2024, and entitled “SNOWPLOW BLADE SYSTEM”, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

Snowplow blades are designed to clear snow and ice from roads, driveways, and/or other surfaces. Snowplow blades are typically mounted on vehicles, allowing the snowplow blade to push or plow snow as the vehicle travels. Snowplow blades can be mounted on numerous types of vehicles, ranging from small trucks or all-terrain vehicles to heavy-duty machines.

Snowplow blades come in a variety of materials, shapes, and sizes. Common materials used for snowplow blades are steel, rubber, and carbide. Straight snowplow blades are adapted to push snow directly ahead or to the side and are commonly used to plow straight roads, highways, or large open areas (e.g., parking lots). V-shaped blades are often used to cut through deep snowdrifts and/or heavy snowfall by splitting the snow in two directions, making them effective in extreme weather conditions. Some snowplow systems accommodate adjustment and/or articulation of the snowplow blade, allowing the angle and position of the snowplow blade to be adapted for different conditions/tasks.

The subject matter described and/or claimed herein is not limited to embodiments that operate only in environments or contexts such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one exemplary technology area where some embodiments described herein may be practiced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

References will be made to embodiments of the disclosure, examples of which may be illustrated in the accompanying figures. These figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the disclosure is generally described in the context of these embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure to these particular embodiments. Items in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of an example snowplow cover blade, in accordance with implementations of the disclosed subject matter.

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of two connected snowplow cover blades, in accordance with implementations of the disclosed subject matter.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example snowplow blade section including a snowplow cover blade having interconnect features defined by lateral edges (each comprising one or more protrusions and recesses) and a snowplow blade element having mounting holes.

FIG. 4 illustrates a bottom view of the snowplow blade section (with protrusions of the interconnect features omitted) showing a cutting edge of the snowplow blade element and a carbide dowel segment connected to a rear surface thereof.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example snowplow blade section that functions as an end section and includes a cover blade, a snowplow blade element with mounting holes, and a single lateral edge forming an interconnect feature that includes a protrusion and a recess.

FIG. 6 illustrates an intermediate snowplow blade section engaged with an end section via placement of protrusions within corresponding recesses, enabling the intermediate section to be positionally retained and facilitating alignment of mounting holes for fastening.

FIG. 7 illustrates a mounting bracket of a vehicle with a snowplow blade system comprising end sections and intermediate sections mounted thereto, depicting the assembled, modular arrangement enabled by the interconnect features.

FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of the end snowplow blade section showing an integrated end guard connected to the snowplow blade element, which may include a carbide dowel segment and a planar offset to buffer lateral impacts and enhance durability.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Disclosed embodiments are directed to snowplow blade systems and components thereof.

As noted above, snowplow blades come in a variety of materials, shapes, and sizes. Carbide (often tungsten carbide) is a hard material that is resistant to wear, making it well-suited for use in snowplow cutting edges. Carbide snowplow blades can thus maintain a sharp cutting edge for long periods, even in harsh conditions, which can minimize replacement frequency, downtime, and/or maintenance costs. Because carbide is an expensive material, snowplow blades that include carbide (e.g., carbide inserts) are often coupled with a cover blade or plow guard, often made of steel. A cover blade can protect the carbide components of a snowplow blade, acting as a buffer that shields the carbide components from sudden impacts that could chip or crack the carbide. Cover guards can also absorb much of the wear and tear from the road surface and can be replaced or refurbished separately from the carbide components, which can prolong the life of the snowplow blade.

Mounting conventional snowplow blades on vehicles can present several challenges due to the physical properties of the materials and the design of the blade. Snowplow blades can vary in length, depending on the type of vehicle on which they are mounted and the specific application for which they are used. When installed on a vehicle, a snowplow blade may have a total length of about 6 feet to 12 feet. Conventional snowplow blades often comprise multiple sections that are individually installed on a mounting bracket or main plow blade. Each section usually ranges from 3 to 5 feet in length.

To properly mount a conventional snowplow blade section onto a mounting bracket, bolt holes on the snowplow blade section are brought into alignment with corresponding holes on a mounting bracket (e.g., of a vehicle). Achieving such alignment is a challenging endeavor, often necessitating mechanical assistance and/or multiple people to maneuver the snowplow blade section into place (especially for bulky, heavy snowplow blade sections made of carbide and/or steel). Improper alignment and/or installation of a snowplow blade section can result in degraded lifespan and/or performance. If the snowplow blade section is slightly misaligned, installers may need to manually adjust its position while balancing the weight, which can be physically demanding and time-consuming and may present safety risks.

At least some disclosed embodiments are directed to a snowplow blade section that includes a snowplow implement. The snowplow implement can comprise a snowplow blade element (e.g., with one or more carbide inserts) or a snowplow cover blade (e.g., a steel cover blade). The snowplow implement can include a base edge and one or more lateral edges. The base edge can define and/or operate as a cutting edge configured to contact a road or other surface to be plowed. The lateral edge(s) can define an interconnect feature that includes a protrusion and a recess. Along a longitudinal axis or dimension of the snowplow implement, the protrusion may extend beyond the base edge, whereas the recess may overlap with the base edge.

The interconnect feature(s) of the snowplow implement can enable the snowplow blade section to interconnect or interlock with other snowplow blade sections that include a corresponding interconnect feature. For instance, the protrusion of a first snowplow implement may at least partially advance into the recess of a second snowplow implement, whereas the protrusion of the second snowplow implement may at least partially advance into the recess of the first snowplow implement. Such functionality can improve the ease of installation of snowplow blade sections on mounting brackets connected to vehicles.

For instance, a first snowplow blade section may be brought into alignment with a mounting bracket, such that bolt holes of the first snowplow blade section and the mounting bracket are aligned with one another. The first snowplow blade section may then be secured to the mounting bracket (e.g., via bolts). A second snowplow blade section may then be lifted and arranged such that the protrusion of the second snowplow blade section enters the recess of the first snowplow blade section, and the protrusion of the first snowplow blade section enters the recess of the second snowplow blade section. The engagements between the protrusions and recesses of the first and second snowplow blade sections may contribute to retaining the second snowplow blade section at a position proximate to the mounting bracket (e.g., with the mounting holes of the second snowplow blade section nearly aligned with corresponding mounting holes of the mounting bracket). Stated differently, engagements between the interconnect features of the first and second snowplow blade sections may enable the second snowplow blade section to hang from the first snowplow blade section. This support, hanging, or retention afforded by the engagement between the first and second snowplow blade sections can assist users in finalizing alignment between the mounting holes of the second snowplow blade section and the mounting bracket. For instance, with the second snowplow blade section effectively hanging from the first snowplow blade section, a user may allocate less effort to supporting the weight of the second snowplow blade section and may focus on aligning and securing the second snowplow blade section with the mounting bracket.

Snowplow blade sections that include features described herein can thus be easier, faster, and/or safer for users to install. A snowplow blade section can include additional features that contribute to ease and/or efficiency of installation, such as a reduced overall length (e.g., within a range of about 1.5 feet to about 4 feet, such as 2 foot or 3 foot sections). In some instances, a single user may safely and accurately mount a snowplow blade to a vehicle by individually mounting multiple snowplow blade sections that include features described herein.

A snowplow blade as described herein can include additional features, such as integrated end guards that will be described in more detail hereinafter. Although examples described herein focus, in at least some respects, on the interconnect features of a snowplow blade section being implemented on a snowplow cover blade (rather than a snowplow blade element), other configurations are possible, such as where interconnect features are implemented on a snowplow blade element in addition to or as an alternative to implementation on the snowplow cover blade. The disclosed principles may be implemented on snowplow blade sections that omit snowplow cover blades. Furthermore, one will appreciate, in view of the present disclosure, that the principles disclosed herein may be implemented on any type of snowplow blade system regardless of material.

Having described various high-level features of the disclosed subject matter, attention will now be directed to the Figures, which provide supporting illustrations related to the disclosed subject matter. The specific examples depicted in the Figures are provided for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the appended claims.

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of an example snowplow cover blade 100, in accordance with implementations of the disclosed subject matter. The snowplow cover blade 100 can be constructed of any suitable material, such as steel, and can be configured for connection to a snowplow blade element (see FIG. 3). When connected with a snowplow blade element, the snowplow cover blade 100 and the snowplow blade element can together form a snowplow blade section, which can be mounted to a mounting bracket of a vehicle along with other snowplow blade sections to form a snowplow blade.

The snowplow cover blade 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes a front face 102 and a rear face opposite the front face. The snowplow cover blade 100 furthermore includes a base edge 104, a top edge 106, and lateral edges 108 and 110 (which may extend between the front face 102 and the rear face). The base edge 104 can function as a cutting edge adapted to contact a road or other surface to be plowed during end use and can be configured to wear down during end use.

The lateral edges 108 and 110 can each define interconnect features 120 and 140, respectively, which can facilitate interconnection with other snowplow blade covers. FIG. 1 illustrates the interconnect feature 120 defined by lateral edge 108 as including a protrusion 122 and a recess 130 (e.g., a male component and a female component, respectively). The protrusion 122 can extend laterally beyond the extent of the base edge 104 of the snowplow cover blade 100 and can be configured for placement within a recess of a neighboring snowplow cover blade. Along these lines, the recess 130 can be recessed relative to the lateral end or extent of the base edge 104 and can be configured to receive a protrusion of a neighboring snowplow cover blade. Although FIG. 1 illustrates the protrusion 122 and the recess 130 substantially parallel to the base edge 104, other configurations are possible, such as where the protrusion 122 and/or the recess 130 are angularly offset relative to the base edge 104.

For illustrative purposes, FIG. 1 depicts a longitudinal axis 190 of the snowplow cover blade 100 and a longitudinal center 192 of the snowplow cover blade 100 along the longitudinal axis 190. As shown in FIG. 1, at least part of the protrusion 122 is positioned further from the longitudinal center 192 (along the longitudinal axis 190) than any part of the base edge 104 of the snowplow cover blade 100. FIG. 1 further illustrates that an end 124 of the protrusion 122 (e.g., an outermost or extremity end of the protrusion 122 relative to the longitudinal center 192) is positioned further from the longitudinal center 192 (along the longitudinal axis 190) than a (nearest) lateral end 162 of the base edge 104 (e.g., an outermost or extremity end of the base edge 104 relative to the longitudinal center 192). In the example shown in FIG. 1, along the longitudinal axis 190, at least part of the protrusion 122 does not overlap with the base edge 104.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example in which, along the longitudinal axis 190, at least part of the recess 130 overlaps with at least part of the base edge 104. FIG. 1 further illustrates that an end of the recess 130 (e.g., an innermost end relative to the longitudinal center 192) is closer to the longitudinal center 192 than the (nearest) lateral end 162 of the base edge 104.

FIG. 1 illustrates that the interconnect features 140 defined by the lateral edge 110 may also include a protrusion 142 and a recess 150. The protrusion 142 may have characteristics similar to those of the protrusion 122 described hereinabove. For instance, the protrusion 142 may extend further from the longitudinal center 192 (along the longitudinal axis 190) than a lateral end 164 of the base edge 104. Similarly, the recess 150 may have characteristics similar to the recess 130 described hereinabove. For instance, at least part of the recess 150 may overlap with at least part of the base edge 104 (along the longitudinal axis 190).

FIG. 1 illustrates the interconnect feature 140 as having vertically flipped characteristics relative to the interconnect feature 120. For instance, lateral edge 108 defines the protrusion 122 above the recess 130 (relative to the base edge 104), whereas lateral edge 110 defines the recess 150 above the protrusion 142. Such a vertically flipped (or vertically mirrored) relationship between the interconnect feature 120 and the interconnect features 140 can enable the snowplow cover blade 100 to interconnect or interlock with separate snowplow cover blades to form a snowplow cover blade assembly.

For example, FIG. 2 illustrates the snowplow cover blade 100 shown in FIG. 1, as well as a second snowplow cover blade 200 that includes features similar to those of snowplow cover blade 100. In particular, the second snowplow cover blade 200 includes interconnect features 220 and 240 that include protrusions 222 and 242, respectively, and recesses 230 and 250, respectively. FIG. 2 illustrates the protrusion 222 of the second snowplow cover blade 200 residing within the recess 150 of the snowplow cover blade 100. FIG. 2 also illustrates the protrusion 142 of the snowplow cover blade 100 residing within the recesses 230 of the second snowplow cover blade 200. As described herein, the interconnecting or interlocking functionality of different snowplow cover blades (or other snowplow implements) can improve mounting procedures for mounting different snowplow blade sections to a mounting bracket.

In some implementations, the snowplow cover blade 100 can have an overall length of about 2 feet (excluding the protrusions 122 and 142), or the length of the base edge 104 can be about 2 feet (e.g., within a range of about 1.5 feet to 2.5 feet). Such a configuration can improve the ease of installation of the snowplow cover blade 100 (or the snowplow blade section of which it is a part) by having a reduced size and weight (e.g., conventional snowplow blade sections are typically 3 to 5 feet in length). One will appreciate, in view of the present disclosure, that the principles described herein can be implemented on a snowplow blade implement or section of any size. For instance, other implementations of the disclosed subject matter may comprise a snowplow cover blade having an overall length of about 3 feet (excluding the protrusions).

FIG. 3 illustrates an example snowplow blade section 300. Snowplow blade section 300 includes a snowplow cover blade 310 and a snowplow blade element 340. The snowplow cover blade 310 shown in FIG. 3 includes features similar to those described hereinabove with reference to the snowplow cover blade 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2. For instance, the snowplow cover blade 310 includes interconnect features 314 defined by lateral edges 312 thereof, and the interconnect features 314 may each comprise one or more protrusions 316 and one or more recesses 318. The snowplow blade element 340 of the snowplow blade section 300 includes mounting holes 342. The mounting holes 342 may be configured to receive fasteners such as bolts, pins, or other mechanical connectors that secure the snowplow blade section 300 to a mounting bracket or moldboard of a vehicle. The mounting holes 342 may be circular, slotted, or otherwise shaped to facilitate alignment during installation, and may optionally include countersinks or counterbores to allow fastener heads to seat flush with or below an outer surface of the snowplow blade element 340. The number and spacing of the mounting holes 342 may vary according to the overall width of the snowplow blade section 300 and the hole pattern of the mounting bracket. During operation, loads experienced by the blade section may be distributed through the fasteners positioned in the mounting holes 342, promoting even force transfer and minimizing localized stress concentrations. The holes 342 may further be arranged in a linear or staggered pattern to provide structural stability under plowing forces.

FIG. 4 illustrates a bottom view of the snowplow blade section 300 (with the protrusions of the interconnect features 314 omitted for clarity). FIG. 4 illustrates a cutting edge 402 of the snowplow blade element 340 of the snowplow blade section 300. The cutting edge 402 may define the portion of the blade element 340 that directly contacts the road or surface being plowed. The cutting edge 402 may be formed from a wear-resistant material such as hardened steel, tungsten carbide, or a composite structure combining steel and carbide layers. In some examples, the cutting edge 402 may be integrally formed with the blade element 340, whereas in other examples the cutting edge 402 may be provided as a replaceable insert or welded strip. The snowplow cover blade 310 can overlap and protect an upper region of the cutting edge 402 to mitigate wear and chipping, thereby extending operational lifespan. FIG. 4 also shows that the snowplow blade element 340 may comprise a carbide dowel segment 404 connected to a rear surface 406 thereof. The carbide dowel segment 404 may include an elongated rod, bar, or other element that includes dowels made of carbide or another hard, abrasion-resistant material. The carbide dowel segment 404 may be attached to the rear surface 406 by welding, brazing, or mechanical fastening. The carbide dowel segment 404 may act as a wear guard or stiffening element that absorbs frictional contact forces during plowing, reducing wear along the rear edge of the cutting edge 402 and increasing the rigidity of the snowplow blade element 340. Although FIG. 4 illustrates a single carbide dowel segment 404 centrally located on the rear of the snowplow blade element 340, any number of carbide dowel segments may be used, and each may have any desired length, orientation, or placement to provide localized reinforcement where higher wear is expected. In some implementations, the carbide dowel segment 404 may be positioned along portions of the blade element 340 that align with vehicle wheel paths to enhance durability. Snowplow blade sections as described herein may include or omit carbide dowel segments depending on desired weight, cost, and wear-protection characteristics.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example snowplow blade section 550 that includes a cover blade 560 and a snowplow blade element 590. The snowplow blade section 550 also includes mounting holes 592 and a snowplow blade edge (not shown in FIG. 5) similar to the snowplow blade section 300. In contrast with snowplow blade section 300, which may comprise an intermediate section, snowplow blade section 550 comprises an end section or end piece. Accordingly, snowplow blade section 550 comprises a single lateral edge 562 that forms an interconnect feature 564 that includes a protrusion 566 and recess 568. The interconnect feature 564 may be configured to engage with an adjacent section, such as the interconnect feature 314 of snowplow blade section 300. A snowplow blade system as described herein may include opposing end sections, with lateral edges defining interconnect features 564 on opposing sides of the opposing end sections. Each end section may therefore provide a terminal boundary for the snowplow blade system while maintaining compatibility with intermediate sections for modular assembly.

The interconnect features 314 and 564 may facilitate ease in mounting the snowplow blade sections 300 and 550 to a mounting bracket or moldboard of a vehicle. The protrusions 316, 566 and recesses 318, 568 may be configured to engage complementarily, allowing one section to at least partially support another prior to fastening. This hanging capability can simplify alignment of the heavy blade sections and reduce manual handling requirements during installation.

By way of illustrative example, an actor (e.g., user or machine) may first bring the snowplow blade section 550 into alignment with a mounting bracket of a vehicle such that the mounting holes 592 become aligned with corresponding mounting holes of the mounting bracket. The actor may then secure the snowplow blade section 550 to the mounting bracket (e.g., via bolts extending through the mounting holes 592). With the snowplow blade section 550 secured to the mounting bracket, the actor may bring the snowplow blade section 300 into engagement with the snowplow blade section 550 using the interconnect features 314 and 564. The protrusion 316 may be received within the recess 568, and the protrusion 566 may be received within the recess 318, thereby interlocking the adjacent sections.

FIG. 6 illustrates the snowplow blade section 300 engaged with the snowplow blade section 550 via positioning of the protrusion 316 within the recess 568 and positioning of the protrusion 566 within the recess 318. The engagement between the interconnect features 314 and 564 can enable the snowplow blade section 300 to be positionally retained by (or effectively hang from) the snowplow blade section 550. The snowplow blade section 550 can thus at least partially support the weight of the snowplow blade section 300, which can assist the actor in aligning the mounting holes 342 of the snowplow blade section 300 with corresponding mounting holes of the mounting bracket. The actor may then complete mounting of the snowplow blade section 300 to the mounting bracket (e.g., via bolts or other fasteners extending through the mounting holes 342). This process can be repeated to mount any desired number of snowplow blade sections to a mounting bracket, such as by first mounting an end section such as section 550 to the mounting bracket via fasteners, then hanging an intermediate section such as section 300 from the end section via the interconnect features and securing the intermediate section via fasteners, and repeating for additional intermediate sections until a final or opposing end section is positioned and secured. Such a sequential hanging and fastening process may allow rapid, accurate, and safe installation of a modular snowplow blade system without requiring multiple operators or complex lifting equipment.

FIG. 7 illustrates a mounting bracket 702 of a vehicle 704 (e.g., a snowplow truck) with a snowplow blade system 720 comprising various snowplow blade sections mounted thereto, in accordance with the mounting process described herein. For instance, the mounting bracket 702 includes end sections 750A and 750B and intermediate sections 700 arranged therebetween. The interconnect and fastening arrangement shown can provide various benefits. The modular configuration may allow individual sections to be removed and replaced independently, thereby reducing maintenance costs and downtime. The interlocking joints may distribute mechanical loads along the length of the blade system, maintaining alignment and reducing vibration and noise during operation. The cover blades may shield the underlying blade elements and cutting edges from direct impact and abrasion, prolonging the service life of both the cutting components and the fasteners. In addition, the use of shorter, lighter blade sections may permit single-person installation and handling while still providing a continuous, uniform plow edge across the full width of the vehicle.

A snowplow blade or snowplow blade system 720 can include two or more snowplow blade sections, which can include at least two end sections (e.g., conceptually similar to snowplow blade section 550 described above) and any quantity of intermediate sections (e.g., including interconnect features defined by lateral edges of a snowplow implement, similar to the interconnect features 314 of the snowplow cover blade 310 described above). The modular design may allow the total blade width to be adjusted by selecting the number and type of intermediate sections used, facilitating compatibility with different vehicles and operating conditions.

A snowplow blade system 720 may comprise (i) one or more intermediate sections that include one or more carbide dowel segments along the cutting edge(s) thereof and (ii) one or more intermediate sections that omit such carbide dowel segments. In such cases, the positioning of the intermediate section(s) that include carbide dowel segment(s) along the snowplow blade can be selected by users, thereby enabling users to allocate the protective carbide dowel segments to regions of the snowplow blade that are expected to experience greater wear. This configuration may allow optimized durability in high-wear zones while minimizing unnecessary weight and cost in lower-wear regions. Although the present examples focus on carbide dowel segments as a means of guarding a snowplow blade element, other materials or structures such as hardened steel bars, abrasion-resistant polymer inserts, or ceramic composites may be implemented for similar purposes.

FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of snowplow blade section 550, showing additional features thereof. For instance, FIG. 8 illustrates that the snowplow blade section 550 can include an integrated end guard 802 connected to the snowplow blade element 590. The integrated end guard 802 can act as a buffer that shields the snowplow blade element 590 from impacts that could otherwise damage it, such as collisions with curbs, posts, or obstacles encountered during plowing. In some implementations, the integrated end guard 802 can be replaced or refurbished separately from the snowplow blade element 590, which can contribute to prolonged economic life of the snowplow blade section 550. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the integrated end guard 802 comprises a carbide dowel segment welded to the snowplow blade element 590. The integrated end guard 802 may have a planar offset relative to the snowplow blade element 590, as shown in FIG. 8, such that it extends slightly outward to intercept lateral impacts before they reach the main structure of the blade element. The end guard 802 may also enhance lateral rigidity and alignment between adjoining sections, thereby maintaining a substantially continuous plow edge across the assembly.

Although not illustrated in FIG. 8, a rear surface of a snowplow blade element 590 can include one or more additional or alternative carbide dowel segments connected thereto. For instance, one or more carbide dowel segments may be welded or otherwise affixed to the rear surface proximate to and/or extending along the cutting edge of the snowplow blade element 590 (e.g., with carbide dowel ends oriented downward toward the surface being plowed). Such carbide dowel segments can protect or guard the cutting edge during use, thereby extending the lifespan of the snowplow blade element 590. The carbide dowel segment(s) can extend along the entire cutting edge of the snowplow blade element 590, or along any selected portion thereof. Placement and quantity may be adjusted to balance durability, weight, and cost.

Although various embodiments described herein focus on examples in which each of the snowplow blade sections includes a respective snowplow cover blade that provides the interconnect features, interconnect features could additionally or alternatively be defined on the snowplow blade elements themselves. Furthermore, a snowplow blade section could omit snowplow cover blades altogether while still incorporating interconnect features as described herein. These and other variations may be implemented to accommodate different materials, manufacturing methods, or vehicle interface standards while retaining the modular assembly, improved alignment, and wear-protection characteristics disclosed herein.

Disclosed embodiments include at least those represented in the following numbered clauses:

Clause 1. A snowplow blade section, comprising: a snowplow blade implement, comprising: a base edge; and at least a first lateral edge, wherein the first lateral edge defines an interconnect feature, the interconnect feature comprising a protrusion and a recess, wherein the protrusion is configured for positioning within a separate recess of a separate snowplow blade section, and wherein the recess is configured to receive a separate protrusion of the separate snowplow blade section.

Clause 2. The snowplow blade section of any preceding or subsequent clause, wherein the snowplow blade implement comprises a snowplow blade element.

Clause 3. The snowplow blade section of any preceding or subsequent clause, wherein the snowplow blade element comprises a cutting edge.

Clause 4. The snowplow blade section of any preceding or subsequent clause, wherein the snowplow blade element comprises at least one carbide dowel segment.

Clause 5. The snowplow blade section of any preceding or subsequent clause, wherein the at least one carbide dowel segment is connected to a rear surface of the snowplow blade element.

Clause 6. The snowplow blade section of any preceding or subsequent clause, wherein the snowplow blade element defines a plurality of mounting holes configured to receive fasteners for securing the snowplow blade section to a mounting bracket of a vehicle.

Clause 7. The snowplow blade section of any preceding or subsequent clause, further comprising an integrated end guard coupled to the snowplow blade element.

Clause 8. The snowplow blade section of any preceding or subsequent clause, wherein the integrated end guard comprises a carbide dowel segment.

Clause 9. The snowplow blade section of any preceding or subsequent clause, wherein the carbide dowel segment is planarly offset from the snowplow blade element.

Clause 10. The snowplow blade section of any preceding or subsequent clause, further comprising a snowplow blade element, wherein the snowplow blade implement comprises a snowplow cover blade connected to the snowplow blade element.

Clause 11. The snowplow blade section of any preceding or subsequent clause, wherein the protrusion and the recess are vertically offset relative to one another along the first lateral edge.

Clause 12. The snowplow blade section of any preceding or subsequent clause, wherein the snowplow blade implement comprises a second lateral edge defining a second interconnect feature configured to interconnect with an additional snowplow blade section.

Clause 13. A snowplow blade system, comprising: a first snowplow blade section, comprising: a first base edge; and at least a first lateral edge, wherein the first lateral edge defines a first interconnect feature, the first interconnect feature comprising a first protrusion and a first recess; and a second snowplow blade section, comprising: a second base edge; and at least a second lateral edge, wherein the second lateral edge defines a second interconnect feature, the second interconnect feature comprising a second protrusion and a second recess, wherein the first recess is configured to receive the second protrusion, and wherein the second recess is configured to receive the first protrusion.

Clause 14. The snowplow blade system of any preceding or subsequent clause, wherein the first snowplow blade section comprises an end section, and wherein the second snowplow blade section comprises an intermediate section.

Clause 15. The snowplow blade system of any preceding or subsequent clause, wherein the first base edge of the intermediate section comprises a longitudinal length of 2 feet or 3 feet.

Clause 16. The snowplow blade system of any preceding or subsequent clause, further comprising one or more additional intermediate sections, wherein at least one of the one or more additional intermediate sections is configured to interconnect with the intermediate section.

Clause 17. The snowplow blade system of any preceding or subsequent clause, further comprising an additional end section configured to interconnect with the one or more additional intermediate sections.

Clause 18. The snowplow blade system of any preceding or subsequent clause, wherein the end section comprises an integrated end guard.

Clause 19. The snowplow blade system of any preceding or subsequent clause, wherein the integrated end guard comprises a carbide dowel segment.

Clause 20. A method for installing a snowplow blade, comprising: mounting a first snowplow blade section to a mounting bracket, the first snowplow blade section comprising: a first base edge; and at least a first lateral edge, wherein the first lateral edge defines a first interconnect feature, the first interconnect feature comprising a first protrusion and a first recess; obtaining a second snowplow blade section, the second snowplow blade section comprising: a second base edge; and at least a second lateral edge, wherein the second lateral edge defines a second interconnect feature, the second interconnect feature comprising a second protrusion and a second recess; positioning the second snowplow blade section such that (i) the first protrusion of the first snowplow blade section is within the second recess of the second snowplow blade section and (ii) the second protrusion of the second snowplow blade section is within the first recess of the first snowplow blade section; and mounting the second snowplow blade section to the mounting bracket, wherein engagement between the first interconnect feature of the first snowplow blade section and the second interconnect feature of the second snowplow blade section contributes to positional retention of the second snowplow blade section during mounting of the second snowplow blade section.

While certain embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail, with reference to specific configurations, parameters, components, elements, etcetera, the descriptions are illustrative and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the claimed invention.

Furthermore, it should be understood that for any given element of component of a described embodiment, any of the possible alternatives listed for that element or component may generally be used individually or in combination with one another, unless implicitly or explicitly stated otherwise.

In addition, unless otherwise indicated, numbers expressing quantities, constituents, distances, or other measurements used in the specification and claims are to be understood as optionally being modified by the term “about” or its synonyms. When the terms “about,” “approximately,” “substantially,” or the like are used in conjunction with a stated amount, value, or condition, it may be taken to mean an amount, value or condition that deviates by less than 20%, less than 10%, less than 5%, less than 1%, less than 0.1%, or less than 0.01% of the stated amount, value, or condition. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of the claims, each numerical parameter should be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques.

Any headings and subheadings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims.

It will also be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” do not exclude plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, an embodiment referencing a singular referent (e.g., “widget”) may also include two or more such referents.

It will also be appreciated that embodiments described herein may also include properties and/or features (e.g., ingredients, components, members, elements, parts, and/or regions) described in one or more separate embodiments and are not necessarily limited strictly to the features expressly described for that particular embodiment. Accordingly, the various features of a given embodiment can be combined with and/or incorporated into other embodiments of the present disclosure. Thus, disclosure of certain features relative to a specific embodiment of the present disclosure should not be construed as limiting application or inclusion of said features to the specific embodiment. Rather, it will be appreciated that other embodiments can also include such features.