US 4,189,165 AGranted

Mud-flap supporting assembly

OwnerCharles F. Leonard, Claude H. Leonardinventors

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Abstract

A mud-flap supporting assembly is provided that allows pivotal movement of a mud flap mounting arm about a vertical axis adjacent to the vehicle to which the arm is mounted, but prevents movement of the arm in a vertical direction. A vertical pin passes through an arm portion and a support portion to define the vertical axis about which the mounting arm is pivoted, and a spring is operatively connected between the arm and arm portion for centering the arm so that it is normally in intermediate position but may pivot against the spring bias about the vertical axis out of the intermediate position yet will be automatically returned by the spring to the intermediate position. The arm may be mounted so that it is horizontally movable with respect to the arm portion; or the arm and arm portion may be fixed together and a pair of pivotal levers mounted to the arm portion which are engaged by the spring.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A mud-flap supporting assembly, for mounting a mud-flap on a vehicle, comprising

a horizontally disposed mounting arm adapted to have a mud-flap attached thereto;
means for mounting said mounting arm to a vehicle at an attachment point, including means for substantially preventing movement of said arm in a vertical direction;
and means for providing pivotal movement of said arm about a vertical axis adjacent the operative attachment point of the arm to the vehicle;
said means for providing pivotal movement of said arm about a vertical axis including a vertical pin, an arm portion for receipt of said pin, and a support portion adapted to be connected to the vehicle for receipt of said pin, said pin passing through said arm portion and said support portion;
and said means for substantially preventing movement of said arm in a vertical direction including interfering portions of said arm portion and said support portion;
and
spring means operatively connected between said arm and arm portion for centering said arm so that it is normally in a first position but may pivot against the bias of said spring means about said vertical axis out of the first position and so that it will be automatically returned by said spring means to the first position, said spring means consisting of a single coil spring having hook-shaped end portions each operatively engaging one of said arm and said arm portion.

4 more elements

A mud-flap supporting assembly, for mounting a mud-flap on a vehicle, comprising

a horizontally disposed mounting arm adapted to have a mud-flap attached thereto;
means for mounting said mounting arm to a vehicle at an attachment point, including means for substantially preventing movement of said arm in a vertical direction, and means for providing pivotal movement of said arm about a vertical axis adjacent the operative attachment point of the arm to the vehicle;
said means for providing pivotal movement of said arm about a vertical axis including a vertical pin, an arm portion for receipt of said pin, and a support portion adapted to be connected to the vehicle for receipt of said pin, said pin passing through said arm portion and said support portion;
spring means operatively connected between said arm and arm portion for centering said arm so that it is normally in a first position but may pivot against the bias of said spring means about said vertical axis out of the first position and so that it will be automatically returned by said spring means to the first position;
and
said means for preventing movement of said arm in a vertical direction comprising interfering portions of said arm portion and said support portion, and means for mounting said arm for horizontal telescopic movement thereof with respect to said arm portion against the bias of said spring means.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.