Vehicle fender and support bar

A fender and support bar therefor for an automotive vehicle wheel set comprising

• a rigid panel adapted to be supported adjacent a vehicle wheel set to intercept material thrown peripherally therefrom and being of a width substantially equal to that of the wheel set and of a longitudinal dimension sufficient to cover a predetermined peripheral extent of that wheel set, said panel having a wheel set facing surface and an opposite outwardly facing surface and formed with a transversely extending, elongated channel-form support bar seat disposed intermediate its longitudinally spaced ends, said support bar seat formed in one of said panel surfaces and having a surface of predetermined configuration,
• an elongated, tubular support bar positioned in said support bar seat and extending transversely across said panel and projecting a distance laterally from one longitudinal side of said panel for interconnection with and supported mounting on a vehicle chassis, said support bar having a surface conformation complementary to said support bar seat surface, and
• connecting means for mechanically interconnecting said panel and said support bar into a rigidly assembled structure, said connecting means including
• (1) an elongated inner clamping plate extending axially through the interior of said support bar and disposed in contacting engagement with an interior wall surface of that portion of said support bar which is disposed in said support bar seat, and
• (2) a plurality of fastening devices disposed in axially spaced relationship along said clamping plates and operatively coupled therewith to mechanically clamp said plates, panel and support bar into rigidly secured relationship.