# US 10,246,134 B1 · Truck mud flap with elbow tubes > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,246,134 B1 - Document ID: US10246134B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/027,294 - Filed: 2018-07-04 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2018-05-22 - Applicants: Nicholas Radyk - Inventors: Nicholas Radyk - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246134B1 ## CPC - B62D 25/18: Parts or details thereof, e.g. mudguard flaps - B62D 25/188: {Mud-guard flaps for utility vehicles} - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) ## Abstract A mud flap adapted to be attached behind a wheel or outside a wheel of a vehicle, particularly useful in association with large trucks or tractor trailers, which facilitates the redirected flow of water, mud, snow and roadway debris to and down the exterior surface of the mud flap. The mud flap is adapted to be attached to a vehicle behind a wheel thereof, using conventional technology, and includes a panel defined by an interior surface intended to be positioned approximal a tire and an opposing exterior surface. The panel has a plurality of annular apertures extending through the panel. A plurality of elbow tubes extend from the exterior surface of the panel at each of the apertures, and a plurality of lip structures defined by an arced perimeter, extend from the interior surface of the panel. The elbow tubes of the disclosed technology include a body extending with a downward curvature relative to the panel when the panel is attached to the vehicle. In this configuration, water, snow, ice and roadway debris flow down the interior surface of the panel, are collected by the lips and redirected through the elbow tubes, down the exterior surface of the panel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A mud flap for use on vehicles behind a tire thereof, the mud flap comprising: a panel defined by an interior surface and an opposing exterior surface, the panel having a plurality of annular apertures extending through the panel, each aperture defined in part by a lower semicircular perimeter; a plurality of elbow tubes extending from the exterior surface of the panel, at each of the apertures, each of the tubes having a body extending with a downward curvature relative to the panel; and a plurality of lip structures defined by an arced perimeter, each of the lip structures extending from the interior surface of the panel, at the lower semicircular perimeter of one of the apertures. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The mud flap of claim 1, wherein the apertures are aligned in a series of adjacent horizontal rows across the panel, the apertures of each row being vertically offset from the apertures of the adjacent horizontal rows. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The mud flap of claim 1, wherein the elbow tubes are annular, ninety degree elbow tubes. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The mud flap of claim 3, wherein the tubes have the same cross-sectional area along the length thereof. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The mud flap of claim 1, wherein a first end of each of the elbow tubes is affixed to the exterior surface of the panel, at the corresponding aperture of the panel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The mud flap of claim 1, wherein a first end of each of the elbow tubes is positioned within the corresponding aperture of the panel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The mud flap of claim 6, wherein a cross-sectional area of the apertures is slightly larger than an exterior cross-sectional area of the first end of elbow tubes, to receive the same in fitting arrangement. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The mud flap of claim 1, wherein the panel and the elbow tubes are formed together as an assembly. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The mud flap of claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional area of each of the apertures is equal to an interior cross sectional area of a first end of the corresponding elbow tube. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The mud flap of claim 1, wherein the lip is formed as an extension of the first end of the elbow tube. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The mud flap of claim 1, wherein the lip is formed with the panel as an assembly. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The mud flap of claim 1, wherein a top surface of the lip is coextensive with an interior surface of the aperture. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The mud flap of claim 1, wherein an arced top surface of the lip is coextensive with a lower interior surface of a first end of the tube. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The mud flap of claim 1, wherein opposing ends of the lip extend no more than the lower semi-circular perimeter of the corresponding aperture. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The mud flap of claim 1, wherein the lip extends perpendicularly from the interior panel surface between ⅛″ and ¼″ from the interior surface of the panel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The mud flap of claim 1, wherein the elbow tubes and the lips are secured to the panel by means of an adhesive. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The mud flap of claim 1, wherein the panel, the elbow tubes and the lips are formed in a single mold. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The mud flap of claim 1, wherein the lips are formed as an extension of a first end of the elbow tubes, and wherein the first end of the elbow tubes are positioned within the corresponding apertures of the panel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The mud flap of claim 18, wherein opposing ends of the lips extend no more than a lower semi-circular perimeter of the first end of the elbow tubes.