U.S. patent application number 12/025510 was filed with the patent office on 2008-08-07 for mudflap retainer.
This patent application is currently assigned to Fontaine Spray Suppression Company. Invention is credited to David Archer, David M. Oberholtzer, Michael Pritchett.
Application Number | 20080185809 12/025510 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39675509 |
Filed Date | 2008-08-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080185809 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Archer; David ; et
al. |
August 7, 2008 |
Mudflap Retainer
Abstract
A mudflap retainer comprising two halves wherein each half has
protrusions to extend through the standard hole placements of the
mudflap. The halves are mated together through the mudflap creating
a wedge at the top of the mudflap. The mudflap can then be inserted
through a slot in a mudflap hanger assembly wherein the wedge
created by the retainer couples with the mudflap hanger
assembly.
Inventors: |
Archer; David; (Orion,
MI) ; Oberholtzer; David M.; (Beverly Hills, MI)
; Pritchett; Michael; (Waterford, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LANIER FORD SHAVER & PAYNE P.C.
P O BOX 2087
HUNTSVILLE
AL
35804-2087
US
|
Assignee: |
Fontaine Spray Suppression
Company
Springfield
TN
|
Family ID: |
39675509 |
Appl. No.: |
12/025510 |
Filed: |
February 4, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60887940 |
Feb 2, 2007 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
280/154 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62D 25/188 20130101;
B62D 25/186 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
280/154 |
International
Class: |
B62D 25/18 20060101
B62D025/18 |
Claims
1. A mudflap retainer comprising: a first retainer portion
releasably connected to a second retainer portion for receiving and
retaining a mudflap between said first retainer portion and said
second retainer portion.
3. The mudflap assembly of claim 1 wherein said first retainer
portion and said second retainer portion are shaped like elongated
triangles.
4. The mudflap assembly of claim 1 wherein said first retainer
portion and said second retainer portion arc substantially
rectangular.
5. The mudflap assembly of claim 1 wherein said first retainer
portion and said second retainer portion are substantially
cylindrical.
6. The mudflap assembly of claim 1 wherein said first retainer
portion and said second retainer portion further comprise at least
one fastener.
7. The mudflap assembly of claim 6 wherein said fastener further
comprises a plurality of protrusions.
8. The mudflap assembly of claim 7 wherein said protrusions are
alternating male/female protrusions such that when mated together,
said body is securely attached to said mudflap.
9. A mudflap retainer comprising: a body dimensioned to fit within
a slot of a mudflap hanger; and at least one fastener on said body
spaced for reception by the openings of a mudflap.
10. The mudflap assembly of claim 9 wherein said body is shaped
like an elongated triangle.
11. The mudflap assembly of claim 9 wherein said body is
substantially rectangular.
12. The mudflap assembly of claim 9 wherein said body is
substantially cylindrical.
13. The mudflap assembly of claim 9 wherein said fastener further
comprises a plurality of protrusions.
14. The mudflap assembly of claim 13 wherein said protrusions are
alternating male/female protrusions such that when mated together,
said body is securely attached to said mudflap.
15. A method for retaining a mudflap comprising the steps of:
aligning at least one fastener of a first retainer with at least
one opening of a mudflap; and mating said fastener with at least
one fastener of a second retainer.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein said aligning step further
comprises the step of inserting at least one protrusion of said
first retainer through said opening of said mudflap.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application
Ser. No. 60/887,940, entitled "Ramping Mudflap Assembly," filed on
Feb. 2, 2007, which is fully incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to the field of
spray suppression in commercial trucking. In particular, the
present disclosure relates to a mudflap assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Mudguards or mudflaps are used primarily behind single or
dual rear-wheeled truck and trailer vehicles, particularly heavy
duty class 6, 7, and 8. Typically, the mudflap assemblies have the
ability to flex in horizontal and vertical directions in order to
withstand forces placed upon them during normal operation. Some
mudguard mounting structures comprise a single piece of spring-like
bar stock bent in a shape for supporting the mudguards and for
flexing in all directions.
[0004] Other mounting assemblies for mudflaps use a rigid hanger
assembly and resiliently bias the hanger assembly to a seat which
is attached to a vehicle. In such assemblies, devices are often
provided for restraining rotational movement of the hanger assembly
with respect to the seat so that the mudflap always remains in its
vertical orientation. If the hanger rotates so that the flap moves
toward the wheels, the wheels orientation. If the hanger rotates so
that the flap moves toward the wheels, the wheels may prematurely
wear the mudflap away. If the hanger rotates in an opposite
direction, the effectiveness of the mudflap may be diminished.
[0005] Mudflap brackets having a horizontal tube with a
longitudinal mudflap mounting flange on its underside are known.
Such brackets comprise a vehicle frame-mounted plate having bolts
or studs of a predetermined, fixed separation, often selected to
match existing manufacturer provided apertures in the vehicle
frame. A proximate end of the horizontal tube is held against the
frame-mounted plate, generally in an abutting relationship, by the
bias of an elongate spring residing in the tube, the spring
connected at one end to the frame-mounted plate and at the other
end to the tube, at a location on the tube distal from the vehicle
frame.
[0006] The abutting relationship of the horizontal tube and
mounting plate to the frame-mounted plate may result in
misalignment of the tube, which occurs when the tube is struck or
subjected to the forces experienced by the vehicle traveling down
the road. The bias of the elongate spring may not overcome the
misalignment by itself. Corners or edges between the mounting
plate, or tube, and the frame-mounted plate catch or hang up on
each other, preventing realignment of the tube. Furthermore, such
devices can be expensive to manufacture and replace, and are
difficult to install and assemble.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present disclosure is directed to a mudflap retainer to
allow for the incorporation of a mudflap into an associated mudflap
assembly device. This is accomplished by providing two halves of a
mudflap retainer wherein each half of the retainer has protrusions
extending through the standard hole placements of the mudflap. The
halves are mated together through the mudflap creating a wedge at
the top of the mudflap. The mudflap can then be inserted through a
slot in a mudflap hanger assembly wherein the wedge created by the
retainer couples with the mudflap hanger assembly.
[0008] For purposes of summarizing the disclosure, certain aspects,
advantages, and novel features of the disclosure have been
described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all
such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one
particular embodiment of the disclosure. Thus, the disclosure may
be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes
one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without
necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or
suggested herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The present disclosure is described with reference to the
accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers
indicate identical or functionally similar elements. Additionally,
the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the drawing
in which the reference number first appears.
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mudflap assembly showing
mudflap retainers according to the present disclosure.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a front internal view of the mudflap assembly of
FIG. 1 with the mudflap retainers wedged therein.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a side view of the mudflap retainer of FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a top view of the mudflap retainer of FIG. 3.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a front profile view of the mudflap retainer of
FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] The various embodiments of the present disclosure and their
advantages are best understood by referring to FIGS. 1 through 5 of
the drawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to
scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the
principles of the disclosure. Throughout the drawings, like
numerals are used for like and corresponding parts of the various
drawings.
[0016] Referring now to FIG. 1, a mudflap assembly 101 comprises a
bracket 105, a hanger 110, a mudflap 115, and two mudflap retainers
120, 125. The bracket 105 attaches to a vehicle (not shown) behind
its wheel (not shown). A hanger 110 couples to the bracket 105 and
extends away from the vehicle (not shown) in order to retain a
mudflap 115 in a position to deflect flying debris (not shown). The
mudflap 115 is coupled to the hanger 110 by two retainers 120, 125,
wherein each retainer has a plurality of protrusions (FIGS. 3, 4,
5) which extend through the holes 135 of the mudflap 115. The
protrusions of the retainers join together through the holes 135 of
the mudflap 115 creating a wedge at the top of the mudflap (FIG.
2). The mudflap 115 can then be inserted through a slot 130 in the
hanger 110 wherein the wedge created by the retainers couples with
the crevice formed in the slot 130 of the hanger 110.
[0017] Referring now to FIG. 2, the inner surfaces 205, 210 of the
slot (FIG. 1) form a V-shaped crevice upon which the retainers 120,
125 rest. In this way, the mudflap 115 is retained within the
hanger 110, without the need for bolts or other fasteners.
[0018] FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 show the side, top, and front views,
respectively, of a mudflap retainer 120. Referring now to FIGS.
3-5, a plurality of protrusions 305, 310 are located on the inner
wall 340 (FIG. 5), and are spaced such that they match the standard
holes 135 (FIG. 1) on the mudflap 115 (FIG. 1). When the inner wall
340 of two retainers 120, 125 (FIG. 1) face each other, the
protrusions 305 mate with the protrusions 310 similar to a
male/female connection. In other embodiments, other means of
attaching the retainers together through the mudflap, such as
snaps, buttons, screws, and bolts are possible with or without such
protrusions. Furthermore, the two retainers do not have to be
separate halves. They may be hinged together at the top such that
they clamp down onto the mudflap.
[0019] As shown in FIG. 5, in one embodiment the profile of the
retainer creates a wedge sufficient to couple with the inner
surfaces 205, 210 (FIG. 2) of the slot 130 (FIG. 1) of the hanger
110 (FIG. 1). Accordingly, the top edge 315 of the retainer 120 is
wider than the bottom edge 320. In other embodiments, the profile
of the retainer may resemble other shapes (square, rectangular,
circular) sufficient to fit within the top of the slot 130 (FIG. 1)
of the hanger, yet not pass through the bottom of the slot 130
(FIG. 1). In this regard, the profile of the retainer will match
the shape of the crevice formed by the inner surfaces of the slot
of the hanger.
[0020] This disclosure may be provided in other specific forms and
embodiments without departing from the essential characteristics as
described herein. The embodiments described above are to be
considered in all aspects as illustrative only and not restrictive
in any manner. The following claims rather than the foregoing
description indicate the scope of the disclosure.
[0021] As described above and shown in the associated drawings, the
present disclosure comprises a mudflap retainer. While particular
embodiments of the disclosure have been described, it will be
understood, however, that the disclosure is not limited thereto,
since modifications may be made by those skilled in the art,
particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. It is, therefore,
contemplated by the appended claims to cover any such modifications
that incorporate those features or those improvements that embody
the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
* * * * *