Flexible mud flap hanger-bracket
AssigneeFontaine Spray Suppression Company
InventorIan A. Dixon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Mud flap hanger is disclosed which includes a post member that is configured to allow attachment of the hanger to a vehicle and a hanger arm extending from the post member having a flexible core of a composite material, for example, a fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) and that is clad with a substantially inelastic polymer. Preferably, the hanger arm is formed with a cross-section shape of a polygon so that clips for hanging the mud flap from the arm may be conformed to that polygonal shape.
Claims24
Mud flap hanger comprising:
- an elongated hanger arm comprising:
- an elongated, flexible core formed from a fiber-reinforced polymer material;
- and
- a polymer cladding encasing said elongated core, said cladding being substantially inelastic relative to said elongated core;
- and
- wherein said hanger arm is configured with a generally polygonally-shaped cross-section;
- a plurality of clips for suspending a mud flap from said hanger arm, said clips shaped to conform to said polygonally-shaped cross-section;
- and
- a post member connected at one end to one end of said hanger arm for attaching said mud flap hanger to a vehicle.
A mud-flap equipped vehicle having chassis-mounted mud flaps, said vehicle comprising:
- a mounting bracket affixed to said vehicle's chassis, said bracket defining a channel having first and second open ends, said open ends being defined by respective perimeter ledges;
- a mud flap hanger comprising:
- a post member configured to be inserted into said channel through said first open end;
- a hanger arm extending laterally from one end of said post member and comprising a substantially inelastic polymer outer molding encasing a flexible rod, said hanger arm being one of a straight configuration and an angled configuration;
- a plurality of clips for suspending a mud flap from said hanger arm, said clips shaped to conform to the cross-section shape of said hanger arm.
An apparatus for mounting a mud flap to a vehicle chassis, said apparatus comprising:
- an elongated hanger arm having a flexible elongated core encased in a relatively rigid molding;
- and
- a post member from which said elongated hanger arm laterally extends, said post member configured to attach said apparatus to said vehicle chassis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.