AU2009208140B1

AU2009208140B1 - Vehicle mud flaps and mud guards

Info

Publication number: AU2009208140B1
Application number: AU2009208140A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Barry John Simpson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-08-13
Filing date: 2009-08-13
Publication date: 2010-05-06
Anticipated expiration: 2029-08-13
Also published as: WO2011017769A1

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: "VEHICLE MUD FLAPS AND MUD GUARDS" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: TITLE VEHICLE MUD FLAPS AND MUD GUARDS FIELD OF THE INVENTION 5 The present invention relates to vehicle mud flaps and vehicle mud guards. In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to improved mud flap assemblies for trucks, trailers, prime movers, cars, utility vehicles and the like. 10 BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Mud flaps are widely used on a range of domestic, commercial and industrial vehicles, such as trucks, trailers, cars, vans, pick-ups and the like. Mud flaps help prevent debris, surface water and the like from being thrown up by wheels of the vehicle to minimise damage to following vehicles. 15 One problem experienced with mud flaps is that they are often damaged, for example by large debris on the road and tyre blow-outs, especially on larger vehicles, and the mud flaps need to be replaced. This is time consuming and potentially costly, especially with larger vehicles having multiple axles and/or wider vehicles, which have multiple mud flaps that need to be replaced when 20 damaged. Mud flaps can also be damaged when the vehicle is traversing over rough terrain or if the mud flap becomes trapped between the wheel and protruding obstacles, such as a loading dock. Attempts to provide reusable and more easily replaceable mud flaps are disclosed in US Patent Nos. 3,799,580 (McGuire), 4,326,727 (Rock), 3,934,901 25 (Hammerly) and 6,827,372 (Barr et al.). For example, McGuire discloses a mud 2 flap that detaches when a threshold force is applied to minimise the likelihood of damage to the mud flap. The mud flap can be reattached if it is still usable or a new mud flap can be attached. A first section attachable to a vehicle comprises a socket and a second section constituting the mud flap comprises an edge 5 slidably receivable within the socket. However, one drawback of the prior art mud flaps in the aforementioned patents is that they comprise quite a few different components, at least some of which need to be machined to reasonably accurate tolerances to enable the components to fit together, which results is increased manufacture costs and 10 time. For example, the mud flap of McGuire comprises a series of recesses in the top of the edge of the second section which must align with a series of openings in the socket of the first section. Coulter pins are inserted through the openings and pass through the recesses to prevent lateral movement of the second section relative to the first section. 15 In another example, the mud flap hanger system of Barr et al. comprises a blade-like member attached to a truck frame which is received within a continuous channel of a specially moulded mud flap wherein the size of the channel and the blade-like member must accurately match. The quick release mud flap hanger assembly of Hammerly comprises a 20 substantial metal bar from which the mud flap depends and the bar is removably received within a bracket mounted to a vehicle frame member. The bracket comprises a pressure responsive locking means to lock the bar in place, which contributes to the complexity and cost of the assembly. A related problem to the aforementioned problems associated with 25 mudflaps concerns mud guards and particularly mud guards of larger vehicles, 3 such as prime movers and trailers. Mud guards are typically mounted to the chassis of the vehicle and there is often very little room between the wheel and the mud guard to work, e.g. for maintenance purposes. For example, it is necessary to remove the wheel(s) and/or the mud guard to gain access to 5 service the brakes and/or the suspension. This problem has been ameliorated to an extent with detachable mud guards, examples of which are disclosed in International Patent publication No. WO 04/056640 (Domar SRL) and European Patent No. EP 0 916 569 (Sauermann). Mudflaps are often attached to mud guards of a vehicle and for multiple 10 axle vehicles, such as trailers pulled by a prime mover, it is a legal requirement in many countries to also have mud flaps that extend between adjacent mud guards in a looped manner where the guard separation is greater than a specified distance. For example, in Australia, this minimum specified distance is 7.62cm (3 inches). Therefore, if the mud guards need to be removed to gain 15 access, it is necessary to either remove the mud flap from at least one of the mud guards, which is time consuming, or remove adjacent mud guards simultaneously, which is awkward, time consuming and risks damaging the mud flaps. The mud flaps disclosed in McGuire, Rock, Hammerly and Barr et al. are 20 of the single, downward depending variety and are not suitable to extend between adjacent mud guards in a looped manner as described above. Therefore, there is a need for a mud flap that addresses or at least ameliorates one or more of the aforementioned problems or provides a useful commercial alternative.

4 In this specification, the terms "comprises", "comprising", "includes", "including" or similar terms are intended to mean a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a method, system or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include those elements solely, but may well include other elements not listed. 5 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Generally, embodiments of the present invention relate to a mud flap assembly which is attachable to a vehicle chassis, a vehicle mudguard or a vehicle body or which can be integrated therewith. The mud flap assembly 10 comprises at least one slotted channel and a mud flap is held by one or more support members. Alternatively, the mud flap comprises an enlarged end region. The one or more support members and the mud flap, or the enlarged end region of the mud flap, are slidably received within the slotted channel. One or more fasteners pass through the slotted channel to maintain the mud flap in place. 15 The mud flap assembly comprises a combination of simple components, which are easily and relatively cheaply manufactured, and which enable easy removal for replacement of the mud flap or to allow access for maintenance. According to one aspect, but not necessarily the broadest aspect, the invention resides in a mud flap assembly comprising: 20 at least one elongate channel having an elongate slot; and at least one support member holding a mud flap, the at least one support member slidably received within the elongate channel such that the mud flap extends through the elongate slot. Preferably, a pair of support members holds an end region of the mud flap 25 therebetween.

5 Preferably, one or more fasteners pass through the at least one support member and the mud flap. Preferably, the at least one support member is elongate and slidably received within the at least one elongate channel. 5 Suitably, the at least one support member extends substantially the same width as the width of the mud flap. Suitably, the at least one elongate channel is attached to a vehicle chassis or frame, a vehicle body or to a mud guard, optionally via an elongate plate. 10 Suitably, the at least one elongate channel is integrally formed in a vehicle mud guard, a vehicle chassis or a vehicle body. Suitably, one or more fasteners, such as a bolt, screw or plastic tie, pass through one or more end regions of the elongate channel, but not through the support member or the mud flap, to maintain the at least one support member 15 holding the mud flap within the elongate channel. Suitably, an end cap is received within at least one end of the elongate channel. According to another aspect, but not necessarily the broadest aspect, the 20 invention resides in a mud flap assembly comprising: at least one elongate channel having an elongate slot; and a mud flap having an enlarged end region slidably received within the elongate channel such that the mud flap extends through the elongate slot; and 6 one or more fasteners passing through the elongate channel, but not through the enlarged end region, to maintain the enlarged end region of the mud flap within the elongate channel. Suitably, the end region of the mud flap is enlarged along a continuous or 5 discontinuous width of the mud flap. According to a further aspect, but not necessarily the broadest aspect, the invention resides in a vehicle mud guard comprising at least one integrated elongate channel having an elongate slot for slidably receiving a mud flap such 10 that the mud flap extends through the elongate slot. Suitably, at least one support member holds the mud flap and the at least one support member is slidably received within the elongate channel. Alternatively, the mud flap comprises an enlarged end region slidably received within the elongate channel. 15 According to yet another aspect, but not necessarily the broadest aspect, the invention resides in a mud flap assembly comprising: at least two adjacent elongate channels, each elongate channel having a respective elongate slot, one of the elongate channels slidably receiving a 20 downwardly depending mud flap and another of the elongate channels slidably receiving a looped mud flap. Suitably, either or both of the mud flaps is held by at least one respective support member, each of the support members slidably received within a respective one of the elongate channels such that the mud flap extends through 25 the elongate slot.

7 Suitably, either or both of the mud flaps comprises a respective enlarged end region, each of the enlarged end regions slidably received within a respective one of the elongate channels such that the mud flap extends through the elongate slot. 5 Suitably, the at least two adjacent elongate channels are integrally formed in a vehicle mud guard, a vehicle chassis or a vehicle body. According to a yet further aspect, but not necessarily the broadest aspect, the invention resides in a vehicle comprising any one of the aforementioned mud 10 flap assemblies and/or mud guards. Further forms and features of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. 15 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the invention may be readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to identical elements. The drawings are provided by way of 20 example only, wherein: FIG 1 is a perspective view of a mud flap assembly according to embodiments of the present invention; FIG 2 is an end view of the mud flap assembly shown in FIG 1; FIG 3 is a partial end view of a mud flap assembly integrally formed with a 25 vehicle mud guard in accordance with other embodiments of the present 8 invention; FIG 4 is an end view of a mud flap assembly according to alternative embodiments of the present invention; and FIG 5 is an end view of a mud flap assembly for multiple mud flaps in 5 accordance with further embodiments of the present invention. Skilled addressees will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the relative dimensions of some of the elements in the drawings may be distorted to help improve understanding of embodiments of the present 10 invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG 1, a schematic diagram illustrates a mud flap assembly 10 according to embodiments of the present invention. The mud flap assembly 15 10 comprises an elongate channel 12 having an elongate slot 14 extending along the full length of the channel. In this embodiment, the elongate channel 12 has a square cross section comprising four walls 13 and the elongate slot 14 is provided in a lower wall 13A of the channel 12. However, in alternative embodiments, the elongate channel 12 can comprise other cross sectional 20 shapes. The mud flap assembly 10 also comprises at least one support member 16 holding a mud flap 18. In the embodiment shown in FIG 1, a pair of support members 16 is provided which hold an end region 20 of the mud flap 18 therebetween by virtue of one or more fasteners 22 passing through the support 25 members 16 and the mud flap 18. Examples of suitable fasteners 22 include, but 9 are not limited to, nuts and bolts, screws, rivets and the like. Alternatively, a suitable adhesive could be used. Only one fastener 22 is shown in FIG 1 for the sake of clarity. The one or more elongate support members 16 holding the mud flap 18 5 are slidably received within the elongate channel 12 such that the mud flap 18 extends through the elongate slot 14. Hence, elongate slot 14 has a width at least slightly wider than the thickness of the mud flap 18 to allow the mud flap 18 to pass easily through the elongate slot 14. In the embodiment shown, the at least one support member 16 extends 10 substantially the same width as the width of the mud flap 18. However, in alternative embodiments, the support member 16 provided on one or both sides of the mud flap 18 can comprise a plurality of spaced apart support member elements which are shorter in length than the width of the mud flap 18. Such embodiments would use smaller amounts of material for the support member 16. 15 The support members 16 can be made from any suitable rigid material, such as a suitable plastic or metal, such as aluminium or steel. The elongate channel 12 can be attached to a vehicle chassis or frame. Alternatively, the elongate channel 12 can be attached to a vehicle mud guard. As a further alternative, the elongate channel 12 can be attached to a body 20 potion of a vehicle, such as a body panel of a vehicle adjacent the wheel arch of the vehicle. The elongate channel 12 can be attached to the aforementioned parts of a vehicle via an elongate plate 24 appropriately shaped according to the part of the vehicle to which the mud flap assembly 10 is attached. For example, the plate 24 can be planar or angled as required. The elongate channel 12 can 25 be attached to the elongate plate 24 and the elongate plate 24 can be attached 10 to the aforementioned parts of a vehicle via any suitable means, such as, but not limited to, nuts and bolts, screws, rivets, welds or adhesive. As shown in FIG 2, one or more fasteners 26, such as a bolt, screw or plastic tie, pass through one or more end regions 28 of the elongate channel 12, 5 but not the support members 16 or the mud flap 18, to maintain the support members holding the mud flap within the elongate channel and prevent substantial lateral movement of the support members 16 and the mud flap 18 when in use. However, the one or more fasteners 26 are easily removed to remove the support members 16 and the mud flap 18, for example, to replace 10 the mud flap due to wear or damage or to prevent damage thereto, e.g. when traversing over rough terrain. According to some embodiments, an end cap 30 is received within at least one end of the elongate channel 12 to provide an aesthetically pleasing finish to the mud cap assembly. End cap 30 can be used in addition to the one or 15 more fasteners 26, or can be used instead of one or more fasteners 26 if the end cap 30 has a tight fit in the end of the elongate channel 12. The end cap 30 can comprise a lug 31 which is engaged by the elongate channel 12 for this purpose. With reference to FIG 3, according to some embodiments, the at least one elongate channel 12 is integrally formed in a vehicle mud guard 32, for example 20 during manufacture of the vehicle, to prevent the need for the elongate channel 12 to be attached to the mud guard or other part of the vehicle. Alternatively, the at least one elongate channel 12 is integrally formed in a vehicle chassis or in a vehicle body portion, such as a body panel. The mud flap 18 is slidably received within the integrated elongate channel 12 such that the mud flap 18 extends 25 through the elongate slot 14 as described above.

11 Referring to FIG 4, according to other embodiments, the mud flap 18 has an enlarged end region 34, which is slidably received within the elongate channel 12 such that the mud flap extends through the elongate slot 14. In such embodiments, one or more fasteners 26 pass through the elongate channel 12, 5 but not the enlarged end region 34 of the mud flap, to maintain the enlarged end region 34 of the mud flap 18 within the elongate channel 12. The end region 34 of the mud flap 18 is enlarged along a continuous width of the mud flap 18. Alternatively, the end region 34 of the mud flap 18 is enlarged along a discontinuous width of the mud flap 18 such that enlarged 10 portions of the end region 34 are separated by regions of the mud flap 18 that are not enlarged at the end region 34, which reduces the amount of material required for this embodiment of the mud flap 18. Whilst the enlarged end region 34 is shown in FIG 4 as having a square cross section, other cross sectional shapes can be used. The enlarged end 15 region 34 prevents the mud flap 18 from slipping out through the elongate slot 14 and enlarged end region 34 merely needs to be easily slidably received within the elongate channel 12. The enlarged end region 34 does not need to be moulded or otherwise formed to conform accurately to the cross sectional shape of the elongate channel 12. 20 Embodiments of the mud flap 18 comprising the enlarged end region 34 can be used with the elongate channel 12 integrally formed in a vehicle mud guard, a vehicle chassis or in a vehicle body portion as described above. With reference to FIG 5, other embodiments can be used for mud flaps that extend between adjacent mud guards in a looped manner as required by 25 legislation in some countries where the guard separation is greater than a 12 specified distance. The mud flap assembly 100 comprises at least two adjacent elongate channels 12 and each elongate channel 12 has a respective elongate slot 14. One of the elongate channels 12 slidably receives a downwardly depending mud flap 18 and another of the elongate channels 12 slidably 5 receives a looped mud flap 18A, which is slidably received at its other end in another elongate channel 12 (not shown) affixed, for example, to an adjacent mud guard of the vehicle. One or more fasteners 26 passing through end regions 28 of the elongate channel 12 to maintain the mud flap 18 within the elongate channel 12 have been omitted from FIG 5 for the sake of clarity. 10 Either or both of the mud flaps 18, 18A is held by at least one respective support member 16. Each of the support members 16 is slidably received within a respective one of the elongate channels 12 such that the mud flap extends through the elongate slot 14. In the example shown in FIG 5, each mud flap 18, 18A comprises a pair of support members 16. 15 Alternatively, either or both of the mud flaps comprise a respective enlarged end region 34, as described in relation to FIG 4. Each of the enlarged end regions 34 is slidably received within a respective one of the elongate channels 12 such that the mud flap extends through the elongate slot 14. In a further alternative, one of the mud flaps 18, 18A is held by at least 20 one respective support member 16 and another of the mud flaps 18, 18A comprises an enlarged end region 34. The looped mud flap 18A comprises one or more support members 16 at each end region 20 of the mud flap 18A. Alternatively, the looped mud flap 18A comprises an enlarged end region 34 at each end region 20 of the mud flap 18A. 25 In a further alternative, the looped mud flap 18A comprises one or more support 13 members 16 at one end region 20 of the mud flap 18A and an enlarged end region 34 at an opposite end region 20 of the mud flap 18A. According to some embodiments, the at least two adjacent elongate channels 12 are integrally formed in a vehicle mud guard, a vehicle chassis or a 5 vehicle body portion, such as a body panel. It is envisaged that the aforementioned mud flap assemblies and/or mud guards can be used on a wide variety of vehicles, such as, but not limited to, trucks, trailers, prime movers, cars, vans, utility vehicles for domestic, commercial and/or industrial use. 10 It will be appreciated that the support members 16 and the enlarged end regions 34 are of a size such that they are easily slidably received within the elongate channels 12. It will also be appreciated that the enlarged end regions 34 can have a cross sectional shape complimentary to the cross sectional shape of the elongate channels 12. However, it is only necessary that the cross 15 sectional shape of the enlarged end regions 34 are easily slidably received within the elongate channels 12 and the cross sectional shape of the enlarged end regions 34 does not need to be accurately manufactured to high tolerances as required by some of the prior art mud flap assemblies. The mud flap assemblies can be used in single units to span the required 20 width, such as the width of a mud guard or the width of an entire vehicle. Alternatively, the mud flap assemblies can be used in multiple units to span the required width. For example, multiple adjacent units can be used to span the width of an entire vehicle, where the weight of a single unit would be too large. The use of multiple units also enables individual units to be replaced when 25 damaged rather than replacing a whole single unit only parts of which may be 14 damaged. According to some embodiments, such as the embodiments which use one or more support members 16, the mud flap 18 can be a conventional flexible rubber mud flap that does not require any modification. The one or more support 5 members 16 can be attached to the conventional mud flap 18 and slidably received within the elongate channels 12 as described above. Hence, embodiments of the present invention can use readily available conventional mud flaps, which facilitates retro-fitting of embodiments of the present invention to a wide range of vehicles. 10 Hence, the mud flap assemblies and mud guards according to embodiments of the present invention as described herein provide a solution to the aforementioned problems of the prior art. At least some of the mud flap assemblies and mud guards described herein have a simpler construction than many of the prior art assemblies and are therefore cheaper and quicker to 15 manufacture, install and replace when damaged and use less materials. Embodiments can be used for multiple mud flaps, such as the downwardly depending mud flaps and the looped mud flaps. The mud flap assemblies and mud guards described herein can also be factory fitted or retro fitted. Throughout the specification the aim has been to describe the invention 20 without limiting the invention to any one embodiment or specific collection of features. Persons skilled in the relevant art may realize variations from the specific embodiments that will nonetheless fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A mud flap assembly comprising: at least one elongate channel integrally formed in a vehicle mud guard, 5 the elongate channel having an elongate slot; a mud flap; and at least one separate support member attached to and holding the mud flap, the at least one support member slidably received within the elongate channel such that the mud flap extends through the elongate slot. 10

2. The mud flap assembly of claim 1, wherein a pair of support members holds an end region of the mud flap therebetween.

3. The mud flap assembly of claim 1 or 2, wherein one or more fasteners 15 pass through the at least one support member and the mud flap.

4. The mud flap assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the at least one support member extends substantially the same width as the width of the mud flap. 20

5. The mud flap assembly of any preceding claim, wherein one or more fasteners pass through one or more end regions of the elongate channel, but not through the support member or the mud flap, to maintain the at least one support member within the elongate channel. 25 16

6. The mud flap assembly of claim 5, wherein the fastener is one of the following: a bolt; a screw; a plastic tie.

7. The mud flap assembly of any preceding claim, further comprising an end 5 cap received within at least one end of the elongate channel.

8. A mud flap assembly comprising: at least two adjacent elongate channels, each elongate channel having a respective elongate slot, one of the elongate channels slidably receiving 10 a downwardly depending mud flap and another of the elongate channels slidably receiving a looped mud flap.

9. The mud flap assembly of claim 8, wherein either or both of the mud flaps is held by at least one respective support member. 15

10. The mud flap assembly of claim 9, wherein each of the support members is slidably received within a respective one of the elongate channels such that the mud flap extends through the elongate slot. 20

11. The mud flap assembly of claim 8, wherein either or both of the mud flaps comprises a respective enlarged end region.

12. The mud flap assembly of claim 11, wherein each of the enlarged end regions is slidably received within a respective one of the elongate 25 channels such that the mud flap extends through the elongate slot. 17

13. The mud flap assembly of any of claims 8 to 12, wherein the at least two adjacent elongate channels are integrally formed in one of the following: a vehicle mud guard; a vehicle chassis; a vehicle body. 5

14. A vehicle mud guard comprising the mud flap assembly of any of claims 1 12.

15.A vehicle comprising the mud flap assembly according to any one of 10 claims 1 to 13.

16.A vehicle comprising the vehicle mud guard according to claim 14.

17.A mud flap assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with 15 reference to the accompanying drawings.