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US 8,905,418 B2Granted
Mounting assembly for vehicle mud flaps
AssigneeFontaine Spray Suppression Company
InventorIan A. Dixon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mounting assembly for mud flaps has an elongated mounting arm defining an interior elongated chamber with a slot opening at the bottom. The assembly includes a one or more biased clips that attach to the top edge of the mud flap, which is inserted into the chamber with the lower portion of the mud flap extending through the bottom slot and the clips seated within the chamber. The clips include a pair of protrusions that engage the interior of the chamber, and are configured such that sufficient downward force on the mud flap causes the clip to open and release the mud flap.
Claims25
A vehicle mud flap mounting assembly comprising:
- a mud flap having a top edge, and front and rear faces;
- an elongated mounting arm defining an elongated chamber along its length and having a slot opening in said chamber extending along the underside of said mounting arm and having a width slot defined by opposing lips;
- and
- one or more suspension clips, each of said clips comprising two or more opposing lever members hingedly coupled together and sharing a common fulcrum, each of said lever members comprising a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, where the distal end portions are configured for engagement with said mud flap;
- a biasing member urging the distal end portions of the opposing lever members towards one another and into engagement with the mud flap;
- said distal end portions of the opposing lever members moving apart so as to disengage the mud flap when the proximal end portions of the opposing lever members are moved towards one another;
- and
- wherein said chamber encloses said one or more clips installed on said mud flap and said mud flap is suspended thereby through said slot with said one or more clips seated within said chamber along said opposing lips.
5 more elements
A vehicle configured with mud flaps, said vehicle comprising:
- a vehicle frame on which to mount a mud flap mounting assembly;
- a mud flap mounting assembly attached to said vehicle frame to suppress spray caused by rotation of a vehicle wheel, said mud flap mounting assembly comprising:
- an elongated mounting arm defining an elongated chamber along its length and having a slot opening in the bottom of said chamber said slot having a width slightly greater than the thickness of a mud flap such that a mud flap may be inserted therein, said slot defined by opposing lips;
- and
- one or more suspension clips, each of said clips comprising two or more opposing lever members sharing a common fulcrum, each of said lever members comprising a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, where the distal end portions of said lever members are configured for removable attachment to a mud flap top edge,
- a biasing member urging the distal end portions of the opposing lever members towards one another and into engagement with the mud flap top edge;
- each of said clips comprising protrusions extending away from said opposing lever members to a width greater than the width of said slot, said protrusions configured to transform an upward force thereon to a leverage sufficient to force the distal end portions of said opposing lever members apart so as to disengage the mud flap top edge.
4 more elements
A vehicle mud flap mounting assembly comprising:
- a mud flap having a top edge, and front and rear faces;
- an elongated mounting arm defining an elongated chamber along its length and having a slot opening in said chamber extending along the underside of said mounting arm and having a width slot defined by opposing lips;
- one or more suspension clips, each of said clips comprising two or more opposing lever members hingedly coupled together and sharing a common fulcrum, said lever members comprising contact surfaces configured for engagement with said front and rear faces along said top edge such that mud flap may be suspended thereby, each of clips comprising a width greater than the width of said slot;
- wherein said chamber encloses said one or more clips installed on said top edge and said mud flap is suspended thereby through said slot with said one or more clips seated within said chamber along said opposing lips;
- an elongated opening defined in the top of said mounting arm, and wherein said mud flap is inserted into said chamber through said opening;
- and
- a removable lid for covering said opening.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.