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US 2008/0185808 A1Published application
Ramping Mudflap Assembly
AssigneeFontaine Spray Suppression Company
InventorsDavid Archer, David M. Oberholtzer, Michael Pritchett
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A mudflap assembly comprising a bracket for connection to a vehicle and a swiveling support is claimed. A mudflap hanger arm rotatably couples with the bracket via a hinged pin joint. A ramping sleeve is coupled to the pin between the hanger arm and bracket on one end, and a spring installed on the other end provides compressive force against the hanger arm when it travels up the ramping sleeve in response to a horizontal force.
Claims19
A mudflap assembly comprising:
- a hanger for supporting a mudflap;
- and
- a bracket rotatably coupled to said hanger at a first end of said hanger, such that upon impact of said hanger with an obstacle, a second end of said hanger rotates around said bracket, radially displacing said hanger from an initial position.
A mudflap assembly comprising:
- a hanger comprising a first end for supporting a mudflap, said first end comprising at least one V-shaped wedge;
- a bracket for connecting to a vehicle and for rotatably receiving a second end of said hanger;
- a spring exerting a compressive force between a first end of said bracket and said second end of said hanger;
- a sleeve comprising at least one V-shaped crevice;
- and
- a pin for creating a hinged joint with said hanger, said bracket, said spring, and said sleeve,
- wherein said V-shaped wedge is urged by said spring force to maintain an initial position cradled with said V-shaped crevice unless said hanger is acted upon by a horizontal force sufficient to displace the said V-shaped wedge with said V-shaped crevice
4 more elements
A method, comprising the steps of:
- supporting a mudflap with a hanger;
- upon impact of said hanger with an obstacle, rotating said hanger thereby radially displacing said mudflap from an initial position;
- and
- radially replacing the hanger to the initial position via a biasing mechanism.
1 more element
A mudflap assembly comprising
- a bracket connected to a vehicle;
- a hanger further comprising a mudflap;
- and
- a ramping means;
- wherein said hanger couples to said bracket thus extending the mudflap substantially perpendicularly from said vehicle, and
- wherein said ramping means causes said hanger to travel up and away from forces placed thereon.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.