Patent ID: 9022428
Filing Date: 2015-05-05
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
1. A vehicle splash guard comprising: a base portion configured to extend into a wheel well defined by a vehicle body structure when the vehicle splash guard is installed to the vehicle body structure, the base portion including an exterior wall and a lateral wall extending perpendicularly from the exterior wall, with the exterior wall being configured to contact an outboard surface of the vehicle body structure and the lateral wall being configured to extend into the wheel well when the vehicle splash guard is installed to the vehicle body structure, the base portion further including a bottom member that spans lower edges of the exterior wall and the lateral wall, and the vehicle body structure defining an inboard edge that extends in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body structure, that is located on the underside of the vehicle body structure, and that is spaced apart from the exterior wall of the base portion such that the laterally extending edge of the vehicle body structure cooperates with the inboard edge of the vehicle body structure to define a corner; a mounting structure defined on an inner surface of the lateral wall of the base portion and configured to fixedly couple the vehicle splash guard to the vehicle body structure; and a first non-fastener locating projection extending away from an inner surface of the base portion and being spaced apart from the mounting structure, the first non-fastener locating projection being configured to contact a laterally extending edge of the vehicle body structure that is located on an underside of the vehicle body structure to restrict movement of the base portion relative to the vehicle body structure in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body structure when the vehicle splash guard is installed to the vehicle body structure, the first non-fastener locating projection extending away from an upper surface of the bottom member, with the laterally extending edge of the vehicle body structure being spaced apart from the lateral wall of the base portion such that the first non-fastener locating projection restricts movement of the lateral wall away from the vehicle body structure when the vehicle splash guard is installed to the vehicle body structure, and the first non-fastener locating projection being further configured to contact the corner to restrict both movement of the lateral wall away from the vehicle body structure and movement of the exterior wall away from the vehicle body structure when the vehicle splash guard is installed to the vehicle body structure.