GB2114946A - Vehicle mudflap - Google Patents

Abstract

A vehicle mudflap (14) is attached to a wheel arch flange (12) of a vehicle body by means of clamps (16) which are secured to the flap. Each clamp is of U-shaped sheet metal form and comprises two limbs (18, 20) between which the flange (12) is gripped by means of a screw 22 which passes through apertures in the limbs, and possibly also through the mudflap thereby providing the means for securing the clamp to the mudflap. The screw does not pass through the flange (12) where the flange is rather narrow. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Vehicle mudflap This invention relates to vehicle mudflaps.

In conventional motor car bodies, the bodywork around the wheel arch is formed with an inturned flange, and this has been used as a support for mounting mudflaps to the vehicle body. Various types of mounting device have been devised, some of them taking the form of clamps, others taking the form of screws which pass through apertures drilled in the flanges. Recently, however, in certain vehicles the width of the flanges has been considerably reduced, and also manufacturers do not recommend the drilling of holes through the vehicle body in the region of the wheel arches.

According to the present invention there is provided a mudflap for securing to the inturned flange around the wheel arch of a vehicle body, the mudflap having attached thereto a piurality of clamps the clamps each comprising a U-shaped bracket with apertures in both limbs of the U, and a screw passing through the apertures, the flange being received between the limbs of the U outwardly of the screw (so that the screw does not pass through the flange), the screw being used to draw the limbs towards each other so as to grip the flange and thereby clamp the bracket to the flange. In one embodiment a projecting end of the screw passes through a portion of the mudflap which is secured thereto by retaining means on the screw. The screw may pass freely through one limb and threadedly engage in the aperture of the other.Alternatively, the screw may pass freely through both limbs and a separate nut be provided on the screw to draw the limbs together. Said retaining means may comprise a separate nut, or it may comprise a plate fast with the mudflap and having an aperture which threadedly engages the screw, or it may comprise the head of the screw.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, one embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a fragment of the vehicle body in the region of the wheel arch and a mudflap mounted thereto, Fig. 2 shows a horizontal cross-sectional view through one embodiment of clamp, Fig. 3 shows a horizontal cross-sectional view through a second embodiment of clamp, Fig. 4 shows a horizontal cross-sectional view through a third embodiment of clamp, Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of part of a mudflap with another embodiment of clamp, Fig. 6 shows a horizontal cross-sectional view through a modification of the arrangement shown in Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 shows a fragmentary prospective view of a modification of the embodiments shown in Figs.

5 and 6.

Referring to the drawings, and firstly to Fig. 1; the vehicle body 10 has an inturned flange 12 formed around each wheel arch, and a mudflap 14 is mounted to the flange by means of two or more clamps 16 (only one is shown in Fig. 1).

As can be seen also from Fig. 2, the clamp comprises a sheet metal U-shaped bracket providing a pair of limbs 1 8, 20 having aligned apertures through which passes the shank 22 of a screw 24. The flange 1 2 is received between the limbs 18, 20 outwardly of the screw, and a nut 26 threadedly engages the shank so that by tightening the nut the limbs of the bracket can be drawn towards each other and clamp onto the flange 12. The mudflap 14 has an aperture through which the projecting end of the shank 22 passes, and a second nut 28 is engaged on the shank and tightened to secure the mudflap on the screw.

In the second embodiment shown in Fig. 3, instead of a nut 26, the aperture in the limb 20 is somewhat smaller, and is provided with a radial nick on either side of which the marginal portion of the plate around the aperture is offset in known manner to provide threaded engagement on the shank of the screw. Thus, by rotation of the screw the limbs of the bracket can be drawn towards each other without the use of a separate screw 26. The mudflap 14 can thus abut directly against the limb 20 of the bracket. A nut 28 is used, as in the embodiment of Fig. 2, to retain the mudflap on the screw.

In the third embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the shank 22 of the screw is of self-tapping form, and the sheet material of the bracket adjacent the aperture in the limb 20 is provided with an opposed pair of offset elements for engaging the self-tapping shank of the screw in known manner.

The bracket is thus clamped onto the flange in a similar manner to that of the embodiment of Fig.

3, and likewise the mudflap abuts directly onto the limb 20 of the bracket. However, in place of the conventional nut 28, an apertured plate 30 is provided, the plate having, as with the limb 20, offset elements 32 adjacent the aperture to engage the self-tapping thread of the screw. The plate 30 can be a separate element, or it could be fast with the mudflap, if desired. If it is separate from the mudflap it could be formed with marginal out-turned elements 34 to bite into the surface of the mudflap and prevent rotation during movement of the screw.

In the embodiment of Fig. 2, the nut 26 can first be used to clamp the bracket to the flange, and then the mudflap can be offered up to the screw and the second nut 28 engaged and tightened onto the mudflap. Alternatively, and this applies particularly to the embodiments of Figs. 3 and 4, the brackets could be initially attached to the mudflap using the nut 28 or 30. When the screw is rotated to clamp the bracket onto the flange, it will simultaneously draw the nut 28 or 30 towards the bracket and more securely clamp the mudflap to the bracket.

The free end of either limb 18 or 30 can be provided with a portion 36 which is angled inwardly towards the other limb, to improve the grip on the flange.

The screw could be used the other way round from that shown in the drawings. In other words, the head of the screw could lie adjacent from the mudflap, and thereby constitute said retaining means for the mudflap.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 5 two (or more) clamps 1 6 are integrally formed with a metal plate 13 which is secured, for example by rivets 11, to the attachment portion 1 5 of the mudflaps which projects upwards from the main body 1 7 of the flap. The plate 13 provides reinforcement and stiffening for the attachment portion, but also holds the clamps rigidly in the attachment portion.

The limbs 20 of the clamps extend from the plate, and the limbs 1 8 are spaced from the plate so that their ends 36 co-operate with the plate to provide the clamping action. Alternatively, the plate 13 could be provided on the other side of the attachment portion, as shown in Fig. 6, so that the flange 12 is actually gripped between the end 36 of the limb 18 and the surface of the mudflap. In either embodiment the apertures in the limbs 1 8 are bounded by offset elements 32 of the like to engage with the shanks 22 of the screws.

Alternatively, nuts could be welded onto the limbs 18. The screws can be pre-engaged in the limbs 1 8, 20, so that the user has only to tighten them after fitting the mudflap in position. Thus there are no separate parts to be fitted. Moreover, the screw heads are accessible from the wheel side of the mudflap.

In the modification shown in Fig. 7 the plate 1 3 is spaced from the inner edge of the attachment portion 15 of the mudflap, so that the apertures in the limbs 18, 20 of the clamp lie over the surface of the mudflap. The screws 22 thus pass through the mudflap and secure the plate to the flap, so that rivets 11 or the like are not needed. This modification could also be applied to the arrangement shown in Fig. 6.

Claims (9)

1. A mudflap for securing to the intumed flange around the wheel arch of a vehicle body, the mudflap having attached thereto a plurality of clamps, the clamps each comprising a Ushaped bracket with apertures in both limbs of the U, and a screw passing through the apertures, the flange being received between the limbs of the U outwardly of the screw (so that the screw does not pass through the flange), the screw-being used to draw the limbs towards each other so as to grip the flange and thereby clamp the bracket to the flange.

2. A mudflap according to claim 1 wherein a projecting end of the screw passes through a portion of the mudflap which is secured thereto by retaining means on the screw.

3. A mudflap according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the screw passes freely throughtone limb and threadedly engages in the aperture of the other.

4. A mudflap according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the screw passes freely through both lines and a separate nut is provided on the screw to draw the limbs together.

5. A mudflap according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said retaining means comprises a separate nut.

6. A mudflap according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said retaining means comprises a plate fast with the mudflap and having an aperture which threadedly engages the screw.

7. A mudflap according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said retaining means comprises the bead of the screw.

8. A mudflap according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the clamps are integral with a common plate which is secured to the mudflap.

9. A mudflap substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.