Abstract:
A selectively attachable road debris flap/splash guard for vehicles which is secured to a component of the vehicle hitch apparatus and which does not acquire access to the entire perimeter of the component of the vehicle hitch apparatus to which it is attached. In one exemplary embodiment, a hanger rail receiver is secured to a component of the hitch apparatus and accommodates a hanger rail positioned therein. The hanger rail extends from the hanger rail receiver, with a debris flap secured to and depending therefrom. Alternative mechanisms are disclosed for securing the hanger rail receiver to the hitch apparatus, none of which require access to the entire perimeter of the hitch component to which the hanger rail receiver is secured. In an alternative embodiment, the hanger rail is directly secured to a component of the hitch apparatus.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application is related to and claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 (e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/369,699, filed Apr. 3, 2002. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a selectively attachable debris flap/splash guard assembly for a vehicle, and, more particularly, to a selectively attachable debris flap/splash guard assembly secured to a hitch component of the vehicle without requiring access to the entire perimeter of the hitch component. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Hitch equipped vehicles with hitch receivers are typically utilized to tow various items including, e.g., trailers, campers, and the like. Recreational equipment such as, e.g., snowmobiles, motorcycles, or the like may be placed atop a trailer for transportation to and from a recreational site. Items towed behind a vehicle including, items placed atop a trailer may be damaged due to, e.g., ice buildup occurring from moisture splashed from the road surface by the tow vehicle which freezes on various portions of the towed items, the weight of which may cause damage to the towed items. Ice formed on towed items may preclude use of the towed items until the ice can be removed. Additionally, road debris may be thrown by the tires of the tow vehicle during travel and directed against items being towed, potentially causing damage thereto. Conventional debris flaps/splash guards, attached to the towing vehicle typically do not prevent this damage due, e.g., to the size and placement of the conventional debris flap/splash guards. 
   Attempts have been made to provide additional debris flap/splash guard structures attached proximate the rear bumper of a tow vehicle. The additional debris flap/splash guards may be larger in size than conventional debris flap/splash guards associated with vehicles and therefore prove more effective in preventing damage to items towed by the vehicle. Prior attempts at providing additional debris flap/splash guards to a towing vehicle have utilized a mechanism having a collar adapted to fit about either the drawbar of a ball mount to be inserted into the hitch receiver connected to the towing vehicle or to fit about the hitch receiver itself. Collar structures of this type do not have universal applicability, as various ball mount/receiver combinations have differing geometries which may or may not accommodate placement of a collar about either the ball mount or the hitch receiver when the ball mount is operably positioned within the corresponding hitch receiver attached to a tow vehicle. Moreover, the structure of the tow vehicle, including, e.g., the rear bumper structure may preclude placement of a collar about the hitch receiver or ball mount. 
   What is needed in the art is a selectively attachable debris flap universally applicable to various towing vehicles. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a selectively attachable splash guard/debris flap for use with a tow vehicle which is secured to a component of the vehicle hitch apparatus and which does not require access to the entire perimeter of the component of the vehicle hitch apparatus to which it is attached. In one exemplary embodiment, the selectively attachable splash guard/debris flap of the present invention includes a component integral with a component of the tow vehicle hitch, e.g., the ball mount or the hitch receiver. In this embodiment, the size and placement of the splash guard/debris flap component integrally formed with the hitch component does not interfere with normal placement of the ball mount into the hitch receiver. 
   The invention in one form thereof, comprises a ball mount having one or more hanger rail receivers non-releasably secured thereto. The hanger rail receiver(s) is adapted to accommodate and support hanger rails having debris flaps fixed thereto. The hanger rail receiver(s) is positioned on the ball mount so that it does not interfere with connection of the ball mount to the hitch receiver, nor does it interfere with any structure of the tow vehicle, e.g., the rear bumper thereof. 
   The invention, in another form thereof, comprises a hitch receiver having one or more hanger rail receivers non-releasably secured thereto. The hanger rail receiver(s) is adapted to accommodate and support hanger rails having debris flaps fixed thereto. The hanger rail receiver (s) is positioned on the hitch receiver so that it does not interfere with connection of the ball mount to the hitch receiver, nor does it interfere with any structure of the tow vehicle, e.g., the rear bumper thereof. 
   The invention, in yet another form thereof, comprises a vehicle hitch apparatus and a debris flap for selective securement to the vehicle hitch apparatus. In this embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle hitch apparatus including a vehicle mounted hitch component and a ball mount has a hanger rail receiver non-releasably secured thereto. A hanger rail is selectively securable to the hanger rail receiver and extends therefrom. A debris flap is secured to the hanger rail and depends therefrom. 
   The invention, in another form thereof, comprises a vehicle hitch apparatus and a debris flap for selective securement to the vehicle hitch apparatus. This form of the present invention includes a vehicle hitch apparatus including a vehicle mounted hitch component having a substantially square cross-section, a ball mount and a drawbar extending from the ball mount and having a substantially square cross-section. A hanger rail receiver is secured to a single side of one of the vehicle mounted hitch component and the drawbar. A hanger rail is selectively securable to the hanger rail receiver to extend therefrom. A debris flap is secured to the hanger rail and depends therefrom. 
   The invention, in a further form thereof, comprises a vehicle hitch apparatus and a debris flap for selective securement to the vehicle hitch apparatus. This form of the present invention includes a vehicle hitch apparatus including a vehicle mounted hitch receiver having a substantially square cross-section including first, second, third, and fourth sides; a ball mount; and a drawbar extending from the ball mount and including first, second, third, and fourth sides. This form of the present invention further includes the hanger rail receiver and securing means for securing the hanger rail receiver to one of the first side of the hitch receiver and the first side of the drawbar, without requiring access to at least one of the second, third, and fourth sides of the vehicle hitch component to which the hanger rail receiver is secured. The hanger rail is selectively securable to the hanger rail receiver to extend therefrom and a debris flap is secured to the hanger rail and depends therefrom. 
   The invention, in yet a further form thereof, comprises a vehicle hitch apparatus and a debris flap for selective securement to the vehicle hitch apparatus. This form of the present invention includes a vehicle hitch apparatus including a vehicle mounted hitch component, a ball mount, and a drawbar extending from the ball mount and including a face opposite the drawbar. In this form of the present invention, a hanger rail receiver is secured to the face of the drawbar. A hanger rail is selectively securable to the hanger rail receiver and extends therefrom and a debris flap is secured to the hanger rail and depends therefrom. 
   An advantage of the present invention is the ability to provide a selectively attachable debris flap/splash guard system which is universally applicable to a variety of tow vehicles and which does not require removal of the ball mount from the hitch receiver to enable attachment of the mud flaps to the hitch structure. 
   Another advantage of the present invention is the ability to provide a selectively attachable splash guard/debris flap which is securable to a component of a vehicle hitch apparatus without requiring access to the entire perimeter of the component of the vehicle hitch apparatus to which it is attached. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating two alternative embodiments of the present invention, including a first embodiment in which a portion of the debris flap/splash guard assembly of the present invention is fixed to the hitch receiver of a hitch assembly, and a second embodiment in which a portion of the debris flap/splash guard assembly of the present invention is fixed to the ball mount of a hitch assembly; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a second embodiment ball mount of the present invention including a pair of hanger rail receiver tubes fixed thereto; 
       FIG. 3  is a side plan view of a third embodiment ball mount of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a top plan view thereof; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment ball mount of the present invention having a ball mount connector secured to the ball mount, the ball mount connector having a set screw operatively associated therewith whereby an extension connector can traverse the interior of the ball mount connector and be secured thereto via the aforementioned set screw; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment ball mount of the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment ball mount of the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a side plan view of a seventh embodiment ball mount of the present invention; 
       FIG. 9  is a bottom plan view thereof; 
       FIG. 10  is a side plan view of an eighth embodiment ball mount of the present invention; 
       FIG. 11  is a top plan view thereof; 
       FIG. 12  is a side plan view of a second embodiment hitch receiver of the present invention; 
       FIG. 13  is a side plan view of a ninth embodiment ball mount of the present invention; 
       FIG. 14  is a sectional view thereof taken along line  14 — 14  of  FIG. 13 ; 
       FIG. 15  is a sectional view of a tenth embodiment ball mount of the present invention; 
       FIG. 16  is a sectional view of an eleventh embodiment ball mount of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 17  is a partial plan view of a hanger rail receiver tube and debris flap hanger rail in accordance with the present invention. 
   

   Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the drawings represent embodiments of the present invention, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated to better illustrate and explain the present invention. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate embodiments of the invention, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  illustrates ball mount  14   a  having hanger rail receiver tube  24  fixed thereto. Ball mount  14   a  is securable to hitch receiver  12   a  via, e.g., a pin and cotter key arrangement as illustrated in FIG.  1 . Ball mount  14   a  includes tab connector  26   a  fixed thereto via, e.g., one or more welds. Tab connector  26   a  includes a central aperture through which bolt  28  is positioned. Hanger rail receiver tube  24  includes a similarly positioned central aperture through both the top and bottom wall thereof. To assemble ball mount  14   a , the central apertures of tab connector  26   a  and hanger rail receiver tube  24  are aligned and bolt  28  is positioned therethrough, with a nut being secured to the distal end thereof to affix hanger rail receiver tube  24  to ball mount  14   a  via tab connector  26   a . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , hanger rail receiver tube  24  includes a hollow interior sized to accommodate placement of debris flap hanger rails  18  therein. In an alternative embodiment, hanger rail receiver tube  24  is a solid member which, in use, is positioned within a hollow debris flap hanger rail. 
   Debris flap hanger rails  18  include connection apertures  20  alignable with corresponding apertures  48  formed in the front and rear walls of hanger rail receiver tube  24 . To secure debris flap hanger rails  18  to hanger rail receiver tube  24 , debris flap hanger rails  18  are positioned within hanger rail receiver tube  24  with connection apertures  20  of hanger rails  18  aligned with corresponding apertures  48  of hanger rail receiver tube  24  so that a fastener may be positioned through apertures  20 ,  48  to secure debris flap hanger rails  18  to hanger rail receiver tube  24 . One acceptable device for securing debris flap hanger rails  18  to hanger rail receiver tube  24  is a pin and cotter key combination as illustrated in FIG.  1 . In an alternative embodiment, a threaded pin having an enlarged head is utilized to secure debris flap hanger rails  18  to hanger rail receiver tube  24 . In this embodiment, aperture  48  formed through opposing sides of hanger rail receiver tube  24  includes an enlarged end formed in one side of hanger rail receiver tube  24 . The enlarged end of aperture  48  of this embodiment is adapted to receive the enlarged end of the threaded pin, with the threaded end of the pin protruding from the opposite end of aperture  48  to receive a female threaded fastener such as a bolt or wing nut. In one exemplary embodiment, a retaining element can be utilized to retain a wing nut used to secure hanger rail  18  to receiver tube  24  in fixed position to resist loosening thereof. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , debris flap  16  may include a curved upper surface to provide greater coverage at the ends of bumper  50 . If a curved upper surface is used in conjunction with debris flap  16 , debris flap  16  can extend beyond the end of bumper  50  and effectively provide greater coverage. Debris flap  16  is, in one exemplary embodiment, sized to provide coverage along bumper  50  from hitch receiver  12  to the outermost extent of bumper  50 . The curved upper surface of debris flap  16  illustrated in  FIG. 1  also provides an aesthetically pleasing line to the top surface of debris flap  16 . In one exemplary embodiment, the curved upper surface of debris flap  16  can match the curvature at an end of bumper  50 . 
   Generally, hanger rails  18  are tubular members having a hollow interior. With this in mind, connection apertures  20  are formed in the front and rear walls of hanger rails  18 . However, if hanger rails  18  are formed as solid rails, then connection apertures  20  will, of course, traverse the entire depth thereof. Throughout the remainder of this document, numerous alternative embodiments having one or more hanger rail receiver tubes connected to either a hitch receiver or ball mount will be illustrated and described. Debris flap hanger rails  18  will be secured to the hanger rail receiver tubes of these alternative embodiments in the same manner described above with respect to hanger rail receive tube  24  of ball mount  14   a . With this in mind, securement of hanger rail  18  to these various alternative hanger rail receiver tubes will not be described for the sake of brevity. Moreover, while the hanger rails and hanger rail receiver tubes of the exemplary embodiments described herein have a square cross section, alternative geometries, including round or various polygonal geometries, may be utilized. 
   Ball mount  14   a  illustrated in  FIG. 1  is adaptable for use with any tow vehicle having a hitch receiver for receiving a ball mount therein because hanger rail receiver tube  24  is affixed to a rearwardly facing portion of ball mount  14   a , i.e., a portion facing away from the tow vehicle, and, therefore, hanger rail receiver tube  24  will not interfere with placement of ball mount  14   a  in the hitch receiver. 
     FIG. 1  further illustrates a tow vehicle, i.e., truck  10  including hitch receiver  12   a  having hanger rail receiver tubes  24   a  fixed to opposing sides thereof. It is contemplated that hanger rail receiver tubes  24   a  will be welded to hitch receiver  12   a , however, any well known mechanisms for securing one metallic component to another may be utilized to secure hanger rail receiver tubes  24   a  to hitch receiver  12   a . Hanger rail receiver tubes  24   a  are sized to accommodate placement of debris flap hanger rails  18  therein. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , debris flap hanger rails  18  include debris flaps  16  secured thereto via fasteners  22 . Fasteners  22  can be, e.g., bolt and nut combinations. 
   Hitch receiver  12   a  illustrated in  FIG. 1  is particularly adaptable to situations in which the top or bottom portions of hitch receiver  12   a  are not accessible because of the configuration of hitch receiver  12   a  with respect to truck  10 , e.g., hitch receiver  12  may be fixed to truck  10  whereby the top portion of hitch receiver  12   a  abuts a lower portion of rear bumper  50 . In such an arrangement, the collar configuration of the prior art could not be positioned about hitch receiver  12   a.    
     FIG. 2  illustrates a second embodiment ball mount  14   b  of the present invention. Ball mount  14   b  includes a pair of hanger rail receiver tubes  24   b  secured to opposing sides of drawbar  52 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , hanger rail receiver tubes  24   b  are welded to drawbar  52 . 
   Ball mount  14   b  illustrated in  FIG. 2  is particularly useful in situations in which a portion of drawbar  52  protrudes from the associated hitch receiver when ball mount  14   b  is secured thereto. Moreover, ball mount  14   b  illustrated in  FIG. 2  is useful in situations in which vehicle structure including, e.g., the rear bumper prohibits access to either or both of the top and bottom surfaces of drawbar  52  when ball mount  14   b  is secured in a hitch receiver. 
     FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate ball mount  14   c  in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , ball mount  14   c  includes hanger rail receiver tube  24   c  secured thereto. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a corner of hanger rail receiver tube  24   c  is welded to ball mount  14   c , while an adjacent corner of hanger rail receiver tube  24   c  is welded to tab connector  26   c , with tab connector  26   c  further being welded to ball mount  14   c . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , ball mount  14   c  may further include tapped aperture  54  aligned with lag bolt apertures  56  in the front and rear walls of hanger rail receiver tube  24   c . If apertures  54  and  56  are formed in ball mount  14   c  and hanger rail receiver tube  24   c , then a lag bolt may be utilized to further secure hanger rail receiver tube  24   c  to ball mount  14   c . In such an arrangement, a lag bolt traverses lag bolt apertures  56  and is thereafter engaged with tapped aperture  54 . Lag bolt apertures  56  and tapped aperture  54  are optional additions to the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Multiple cooperating lag bolt apertures and tapped apertures may be utilized to accommodate a plurality of lag bolts to secure hanger rail receiver tube  24   c  to ball mount  14   c . In embodiments utilizing a lag bolt to secure hanger rail receiver tube  24   c  to ball mount  14   c , tab connector  26   c  may not be required, and hanger rail receiver tube  24   c  will not need to be welded to ball mount  14   c.    
     FIG. 5  illustrates a further alternative embodiment in which ball mount connector  32  is secured to ball mount  14   d  via tab connector  26   d , with tab connector  26   d  being welded to both ball mount connector  32  and ball mount  14   d . Ball mount connector  32  may also be welded to ball mount  14   d  directly, e.g., at a lower corner of ball mount connector  32 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5 , ball mount connector  32  includes set screw  34  positioned in a central aperture formed in a top wall thereof. Extension connector  30  is positioned within ball mount connector  32  and secured thereto via set screw  34 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5 , ball mount connector  32  and extension connector  30  combine to form hanger rail receiver tube  24   d.    
     FIG. 6  illustrates another alternative embodiment in which hanger rail receiver tube  24   e  is positioned on a rearwardly facing portion of ball mount  14   e . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6 , angle connector  36  is interposed between hanger rail receiver tube  24   e  and a front face of ball mount  14   e . Angle connector  36  is welded or otherwise secured to ball mount  14   e , and hanger rail receiver tube  24   e  is bolted to angle connector  36  via bolts  38 . Bolts  38  traverse apertures in the front and back faces of hanger rail receiver tube  24  as well as corresponding apertures in angle connector  36  before nuts are tightened thereon. The alternative embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 3-6  provide a similar advantage as ball mount  14   a  illustrated in  FIG. 1 , i.e., universal applicability. 
     FIG. 7  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which ball mount  14   f  includes upwardly extending tab  58 . In this embodiment, upwardly extending tab  58  includes a pair of apertures accommodating bolts  38   f . The front and rear side walls of hanger rail receiver tube  24   f  includes similarly configured apertures to accommodate bolts  38   f . To assemble the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 7 , hanger rail receiver tube  24   f  is positioned atop drawbar  52   f , whereby the apertures in the front and rear side walls of hanger rail receiver tube  24   f  are aligned with the apertures formed in upwardly extending tab  58  so that bolts  38   f  may traverse the apertures in upwardly extending tab  58  as well as the corresponding apertures in hanger rail receiver tube  24   f  to secure hanger rail receiver tube  24   f  to ball mount  14   f.    
   Ball mount  14   f  illustrated in  FIG. 7  is advantageous in ball mount/hitch receiver combinations in which a portion of drawbar  52   f  protrudes from the associated hitch receiver when ball mount  14   f  is operatively positioned therein and in which the sides and bottom of drawbar  52   f  are not accessible, precluding the use of, e.g., a collar surrounding drawbar  52   f.    
     FIGS. 8 and 9  illustrate ball mount  14   g  having hanger rail receiver tube  24   g  secured thereto. Similar to the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 7 , hanger rail receiver tube  24   g  is placed in abutting relationship with the top wall of drawbar  52   g . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , ball mount  14   g  does not include an upwardly extending tab as in FIG.  7 . With this in mind, tab connectors  26   g  are secured to opposing sides of drawbar  52   g  via, e.g., welds. Tab connectors  26   g  include central apertures through which bolts  38   g  may be positioned to secure hanger rail receiver tube  24   g  thereto. The top and bottom walls of hanger rail receiver tube  24   g  include similarly oriented apertures through which bolts  38   g  may pass to allow for securement of hanger rail receiver tube  24   g  to ball mount  14   g  via tab connectors  26   g . As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , nuts  40   g  are secured to bolts  38   g  to securely affix hanger rail receiver tube  24   g  to ball mount  14   g  via tab connectors  26   g . In an alternative embodiment, a tab connector having a similar width to drawbar  52   g  may be welded to the top of drawbar  52   g  and transversely oriented with respect thereto. In this embodiment, tab connectors  26   g  illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9  are unnecessary and the aforementioned alternative embodiment tab connector connected to the top of drawbar  52   g  will include one or more apertures through which bolts  38   g  may pass to connect hanger rail receiver tube  24   g  to ball mount  14   g  via the tab connector. In this alternative embodiment, the front and rear walls of hanger rail receiver tube  24   g  will include apertures aligned with apertures in the tab connector to allow bolts  38   g  to be utilized to connect hanger rail receiver tube  24   g  to the aforementioned alternative embodiment tab connector. 
   While hanger rail receiver tube  24   g  illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9  is illustrated as a one piece tube connected to the top of drawbar  52   g , it is contemplated that a pair of hanger rail receiver tubes may be utilized, whereby tab connectors  26   g  may be welded at any position on the opposing sides of drawbar  52   g , with the pair of hanger rail receiver tubes being positioned at various heights along the opposing sides of drawbar  52   g.    
     FIGS. 10 and 11  illustrate ball mount  14   h  having hanger rail receiver tube  24   h  secured thereto. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , U-shaped connector  42  is bolted to ball mount  14   h , with wedge  46  interposed therebetween. Wedge  46  include front face  62  and rear face  64 . Front face  62  is flush with U-shaped connector  42 , while rear face  64  is flush with ball mount  14   h . Bolts  38   h  traverse apertures in U-shaped connector  42 , aligned apertures in wedge  46  and are fixably secured in tapped apertures formed in ball mount  14   h  to effect fixation of U-shaped connector  42  to ball mount  14   h . As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , U-shaped connector  42  includes connection tabs  44  useful in securing hanger rail receiver tube  24   h  thereto. Connection tabs  44  include apertures  66  through which bolts  38   h ′ (only one of which is illustrated in  FIG. 10 ) may be positioned to secure hanger rail receiver tube  24   h  to ball mount  14   h . This embodiment is particularly advantageous in situations in which the bottom of drawbar  52   h  is not accessible, e.g., when gusset  60  is provided as a part of ball mount  14   h.    
     FIG. 12  illustrates an alternative embodiment hitch receiver  12   b  having hanger rail receiver tube  24   i  secured thereto. As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , tab connector  26   i  is welded to a bottom surface of hitch receiver  12   b  and includes an aperture through which bolt  38   i  may be positioned to secure hanger rail receiver tube  24   i  thereto. Hitch receiver  12   b  is particularly useful in vehicles in which the top or sides of the hitch receiver are not accessible. 
     FIGS. 13 and 14  illustrate ball mount  14   j  having hanger rail receiver tube  24   j  secured thereto. Similar to the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , hanger rail receiver tube  24   j  is placed in abutting relationship with the top wall of drawbar  52   j . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , tab connectors  24   j  are formed by a leg of angle brackets  68 . Angle brackets  68  are secured to drawbar  52   j  via bolt  70  and nut  72  as illustrated in FIG.  14 . In all other respects, the embodiment of  FIGS. 13 and 14  is identical to the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
     FIG. 15  illustrates an embodiment in which a pair of bolts  38   k  are utilized to directly secure hanger rail receiver tube  24   k  to drawbar  52   k . In this embodiment, drawbar  52   k  includes a pair of apertures through the top and bottom walls thereof as illustrated in FIG.  15 . 
     FIG. 16  illustrates yet another alternative embodiment in which the side walls of drawbar  52   m  include apertures into which the heads of J-shaped bolts  39  can be positioned. The threaded ends of J-shaped bolts  39  are positioned through apertures formed in hanger rail receiver  24   m  and nuts  41  are secured thereto to affect securement of hanger rail receiver  24   m  to drawbar  52   m.    
     FIG. 17  illustrates debris flap hanger rail  18  prior to insertion into hanger rail receiver tube  24 . Hanger rail receiver tube  24  illustrated in  FIG. 17  can be any of the hanger rail receiver tubes described above.  FIG. 17  illustrates an embodiment in which bolt  76  is vertically inserted through hanger rail receiver tube  24  and debris flap hanger rail  18  to secure debris flap hanger rail  18  within hanger rail receiver tube  24 . While alternative embodiments of the present invention are illustrated with a horizontally oriented pin or bolt used to secure a hanger rail to a hanger rail receiver tube, the vertical orientation illustrated in  FIG. 17  may be utilized with any of the above described embodiments of the present invention. As illustrated in  FIG. 17 , bolt  56  includes enlarged head  78  and threaded shaft  80 . Enlarged head  78  forms a flange  82 . In use, bolt  76  traverses head aperture  86  formed in hanger rail receiver tube  24 , thereafter traverses bolt aperture  74  of hanger rail  18 , and finally shaft aperture  88  of hanger rail receiver tube  24 . As illustrated in  FIG. 17 , bolt aperture  74  and shaft aperture  88  are smaller in size than head aperture  86 . Bolt aperture  74  and shaft aperture  88  are sized to accommodate shaft  80  of bolt  76 , whereas head aperture  86  is sized to accommodate enlarged head  78  of bolt  76 . With enlarged head  78  traversing head aperture  86 , flange  82  contacts upper surface  84  of hanger rail  18 . When a wing nut or other securing device is threadedly secured to threaded shaft  80  of bolt  76 , flange  82  applies force to upper surface  84  of hanger rail  18  and acts to level hanger rail  18  relative to hanger rail receiver tube  24 . If a wing nut is used, a securing mechanism may extend from enlarged head  78  to the wing nut and engage the wing nut to prevent rotation thereof. 
   Advantageously, the components of the selectively attachable road debris flash/splash guard of the present invention may be formed from stainless steel or other corrosion resistant materials.