Fender skirt and methods for using same
OwnerJeffery J. Wuthrichinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fender skirt for use with a fender of a vehicle, such as a tractor, is provided. The fender skirt is disposed between the tire and the frame of the vehicle to effectively deflect debris away from the frame and engine compartment of the vehicle. The fender skirt preferably includes two rigid members spaced apart adjacent the inner side of the fender frame between the tire and the frame of the vehicle. A flexible skirt extends between the rigid members to form a canopy adjacent at least a portion of the tire.
Claims18
A fender skirt in combination with a turning front fender of a vehicle having a frame and a tire, the combination comprising:
- an open fender that turns in relation to the tire of the vehicle, the fender having an inner side adjacent the frame of the vehicle;
- a fender skirt disposed at an angle between the tire and the frame of the vehicle, the fender skirt attached to the inner side of the fender adjacent the upper rearward portion of the front tire;
- and
- a fastening mechanism for operatively attaching the fender skirt to the inner side of the fender;
- whereby, the fender skirt deflects debris from the tire away from the frame of the vehicle.
A fender skirt for use with a turning open front fenders of a vehicle having a frame and a tire, the fender having an inner side adjacent the frame, the fender skirt comprising:
- a first elongated rigid member adapted to shape to the inner side of the fender;
- a second elongated rigid member spaced apart from the first elongated rigid member;
- a flexible skirt connected to and extending between the first and second elongated rigid members;
- and
- one or more fastening mechanisms operatively connecting the first and second elongated rigid members to the fender;
- whereby, the fender skirt deflects debris from the tire away from the frame of the vehicle.
A new method of preventing dirt and debris from damaging the main body of an agricultural tractor and contaminating the engine compartment, the tractor having a tire with a fender mounted on a fender frame that turns with the tire, the method comprising:
- providing a fender skirt;
- positioning the fender skirt at an angle between the tire and the main body of the tractor adjacent the upper rearward portion of the front tire;
- and
- attaching the fender skirt to the fender mounting frame so that the fender skirt deflects dirt and debris away from the main body of the tractor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.