# US 2008/0185808 A1 · Ramping Mudflap Assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0185808 A1 - Document ID: US20080185808A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/025,364 - Filed: 2008-02-04 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2007-02-02 - Assignees: Fontaine Spray Suppression Company - Inventors: David Archer; David M. Oberholtzer; Michael Pritchett - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080185808A1 ## CPC - B62D 25/188: {Mud-guard flaps for utility vehicles} - B62D 25/186: {being attached or suspended laterally from the wheel (B62D25/184 takes precedence)} - 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 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The mudflap assembly of claim 1, wherein a top end and a bottom end of said bracket form a cavity for receiving said first end of said hanger. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The mudflap assembly of claim 2, further comprising a ramping sleeve immovably coupled to said bottom end of said bracket, and slidably coupled to said first end of said hanger. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The mudflap assembly of claim 3, further comprising a compressive spring coupled between said top end of said bracket and said first end of said hanger. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The mudflap assembly of claim 4, further comprising a substantially cylindrical pin which mates with said top end of said bracket, said compressive spring, said first end of said hanger, and said bottom end of said bracket creating a hinged joint wherein said hanger is free to rotate axially therein. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The mudflap assembly of claim 5, further comprising at least one V-shaped crevice on said sleeve corresponding with at least one V-shaped wedge of said first end of said hanger in said initial position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The mudflap assembly of claim 6 wherein a mudflap is molded into said hanger. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The mudflap assembly of claim 6 wherein said hanger further comprises a slot for receiving a mudflap. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The mudflap assembly of claim 6 wherein said hanger further comprises an attachments means for attaching a mudflap to said hanger. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The mudflap assembly of claim 6 wherein said bracket further comprises at least one opening for attachment to a vehicle. ### Claim 11 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 ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The mudflap assembly of claim 11 wherein said mudflap is molded into said hanger. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The mudflap assembly of claim 11 wherein said hanger further comprises a slot for receiving said mudflap. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The mudflap assembly of claim 11 wherein said hanger further comprises an attachments means for attaching said mudflap to said hanger. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The mudflap assembly of claim 11 wherein said bracket further comprises at least one opening for attachment to a vehicle. ### Claim 16 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. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the replacing step further comprises the steps of positioning a ramped sleeve of said biasing mechanism to contact at least one protrusion on said hanger in order to maintain said hanger in an initial resting position before any horizontal force acts upon said hanger. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of urging said hanger to return to its initial position after said hanger has been acted on by a horizontal force. ### Claim 19 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.