Abstract:
A stabilizer for flexible guards provides for the stabilization and control of flexible flaps, brush type devices, and the like as used in motor vehicle mud flaps, car washes, and in conveyor systems. The present stabilizer includes a rigid structure which completely surrounds the guard(s), and which is loosely and flexibly suspended from an overlying structure. The rigid portion of the device is preferably constructed of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe or tubing, or any other suitable elongate structural material (e.g., electrical metal tubing, pipe, and/or extruded metallic or non-metallic shapes, such as Tees, channels, angles, etc.). The rigid structure is preferably suspended from the overlying structure by chains at at least both ends of the device, with an additional chain(s) optionally installed at the center area of the device. The chains (or other suitably flexible attachments) provide longitudinal, lateral, and vertical movement or compliance in the event the stabilizer or stabilized guard strikes or is struck by another object, thus precluding damage to the stabilizer and/or transfer of the impact and resulting damage to the vehicle or attachment structure. The rigid portion of the device which surrounds the guard, may be weighted in order to adjust the periodic frequency of the suspended assembly, to avoid any resonant frequencies with the guard with which the device is installed. Width adjustment may be provided by forming the elongate lateral members of telescoping components.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/156,437, filed on Sep. 28, 1999. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to flexible brushes, flaps, and the like for preventing or reducing scatter of loose materials and/or wiping down an object over which they pass, and more specifically to a stabilizer bar for such devices. The present stabilizer bar is adaptable to mud guards and the like on the rear of motor vehicles, as well as to brushes and flaps used in car washes, conveyor systems, etc., to stabilize such devices and to prevent excessive movement of the devices. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     The use of relatively thin, flexible sheet or strand materials depending from an overhead structure for catching scattered materials, is well known. Perhaps the most commonly known of such devices is the “mud flap” which is nearly universally found behind the rear tires on larger vehicles (buses, trucks, etc.) for reducing or precluding the scatter of sand, small stones, water spray, etc. from the rear tires of such vehicles. 
     However, such flexible flaps, brushes, and the like are also used in other environments for slightly different purposes. Flexible fabric flaps are often found in so-called “brushless” car washes, where they are used in lieu of relatively stiff fiber rotary brushes, and are considered to be easier on vehicle finishes. Relatively large flaps, as well as brushes and the like, are also used in the conveyor industry for brushing off a conveyor or for precluding the carriage of undesirable articles beyond the brush or flap installation. 
     A potential problem which all such brush and flap installations have, is that they are prone to move about excessively due to their flexibility. For example, the relative wind produced as a result of motor vehicle movement, often causes mud flaps or stone guards to flex upwardly to the extent that they allow debris to be sprayed upwardly and rearwardly toward following vehicles. Such action can potentially lead to windshield and paint damage to a following vehicle, and is especially hard on a vehicle which is being towed closely behind the larger vehicle, as in the case of a large recreational vehicle or motor home which is towing a smaller car, boat, etc. Flexible flaps in car washes are also prone to excessive movement due to air movement caused by relatively high velocity sprays and blow dryers, and flexible guards and flaps used in conveyor lines may also catch upon an article or be flipped up momentarily, thus causing them to lose contact with the conveyor for at least a brief time. 
     Many people have recognized these problems in the past, and have attempted to provide solutions in the form of various guards, stabilizing devices, etc. to reduce excessive movement of such flexible brushes, flaps, and the like. However, for various reasons, the stabilizing devices of the prior art have not proven to be completely satisfactory in reducing movement of such flexible guards. In most instances, they fail to completely surround the guard, thus allowing the guard to flex forwardly excessively, or perhaps comprise a rigid structure which cannot flex or move without damage in the event the device contacts an immovable object (e.g., high curb or parking lot wheel stop, edge of deep potholes, etc.). 
     Accordingly, a need will be seen for a stabilizer for reducing or precluding excessive movement of flexible brush and flap type guards of various types. The present stabilizer completely surrounds the flexible guard device, to reduce or preclude excessive movement either forwardly or rearwardly relative to the direction of travel of the guard or adjacent moving object. The present stabilizer also includes a novel suspension system, allowing the stabilizer device to move longitudinally, laterally, and/or vertically in the event of contact with another relatively immovable object, thus precluding damage to the stabilizer and/or to the structure to which the stabilizer is attached. 
     A discussion of the related art of which the present inventor is aware, and its differences and distinctions from the present invention, is provided below. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,830,520 issued on Aug. 20, 1974 to John J. Kelly, titled “Combined Mud Flap And Stabilizer Therefor,” describes a cable type stabilizer attached at both ends to the attachment bracket for the mud flap (not to the vehicle structure, as in the case of the present stabilizer) and secured to the back of the mud flap in a U shaped configuration. The Kelly device is not adaptable to brush type guards comprising multiple small strands of material, due to the attachment means. Kelly provides for vertical adjustment of his stabilizer, but such adjustment is cumbersome, as a series of cable clamps must be loosened for the length of the cable to be adjusted as desired. It must also be noted that the Kelly specifies the diameter of the cable as being from one quarter to five eighths inch (column 2, lines 44-45). Even the smaller diameter cable is not particularly flexible, and would not readily flex to allow for compression in the event the flap were jammed upwardly by a curb or the like. Also, the Kelly stabilizer attaches only to the back of the flap, rather than loosely surrounding the guard, as in the present invention. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,877,722 issued on Apr. 15, 1975 to Harold V. Conner, titled “Mud Flap Apparatus For Trucks,” describes a mud flap assembly having an inflexible strap extending down the back of each flap and secured thereto, thus rendering the flaps inflexible. While the straps are pivotally attached to the mud flap carrier, they cannot bend or compress when encountering a solid object, as can the present stabilizer. Moreover, the present stabilizer is not attached directly to the mud guard, as is the Conner device. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,413,839 issued on Nov. 8, 1983 to Thomas S. McCain, titled “Mud Flap Stabilizer Device,” describes a complex assembly including lighting means mounted in a lower pivotally attached portion. The upper portion is rigidly mounted to the vehicle structure, unlike the present stabilizer assembly, with only the lower portion being pivotally mounted. However, the motion of the pivotally mounted lower portion is extremely limited, to only about fifteen to twenty degrees rearwardly and even less forwardly (column 3, line 29). Contact with a curb during backing maneuvers would likely damage the device, resulting in costly repairs due to its complexity. The flexible mounting of the present stabilizer, allowing longitudinal, lateral, and vertical motion, allows inadvertent contact with immovable objects with no damage resulting to the vehicle, mud guard, or stabilizer. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,572,532 issued on Feb. 25, 1986 to William C. Early et al., titled “Mud Flap Holder For Trucks,” describes a clamp arrangement for removably securing the upper edge(s) of the mud flap(s) to the rear of a truck trailer or the like. The holder includes rigid rod elements which extend downwardly behind the flaps and extend partially across the flaps, with secondary elements which may be installed to the opposite (front) side of the flaps and which extend partially over the opposite portion of the flaps. The rod elements allow flexure of the mud flaps only beyond their extremities, and the same potential problems of rigid mud guard stabilizers or retainers noted above with other devices, are seen to apply here as well. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,050,908 issued on Sep. 24, 1991 to William M. Betts, titled “Mud Flap Anti-Sail Bracket,” describes a pair of rigidly mounted rods which extend downwardly in front of each edge of a mud flap and slightly below the bottom edge thereof. The rods have upturned portions to which a crossmember may be adjustably clamped, with the crossmember extending across the back of the mud flap. However, the crossmember does not completely surround the mud flap, whereas the present stabilizer does. The rigid mounting of the Betts bracket does not provide any compliance or resilience if struck, and would thus be damaged, or transfer damage to the structure to which it is mounted, in the event of contact with a curb or the like. The present loosely mounted stabilizer cannot transfer damage to the vehicle structure, due to its longitudinal, lateral, and vertical play. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,734 issued on Jan. 26, 1993 to Terry L. Brown, titled “Adjustable Gravel Shield For A Towed Boat,” describes a lateral bar pivotally attached to a trailer tongue, with a pair of mud flaps depending from the bar. The ends of the bar are also secured to the back of the towing vehicle by elastic cords, thus holding the bar and mud flaps generally parallel to the back of the towing vehicle as the bar translates from side to side as the trailer tongue pivots arcuately during turning maneuvers. The Brown assembly places the mud flaps between the wheels of the towing vehicle and the trailer being towed, regardless of the angle of the trailer relative to the towing vehicle, but does nothing to control any forward or rearward movement of the flaps themselves. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,617 issued on Oct. 6, 1998 to Nan Huang, titled “Adjustable Mud Flap Holder,” describes an arrangement more closely related to the device of the &#39;908 U.S. Patent to Betts, discussed further above, than to the present invention. The Huang device comprises a pair of rigidly mounted rods, each bent double to form a narrow channel therebetween. A transverse retaining member is adjustably clamped to the two rods for adjustment up and down the length of the mud flap retained thereby. However, the Huang assembly cannot move if the vehicle strikes a curb or the like, and will thus be bent or otherwise damaged, or transfer damage to the vehicle. The loosely mounted stabilizer of the present invention, precludes such damage by allowing movement in any of three dimensions. Moreover, the present stabilizer completely surrounds the brush or flap, unlike the Huang device which only partially surrounds the flap. 
     U.S. Pat. No. D-308,958 issued on Jul. 3, 1990 to Ronald A. Knox, titled “Vehicular Mudflap,” illustrates a design for a flap and stabilizer similar to the devices of the &#39;908 and &#39;617 U.S. Patents respectively to Betts and Huang, discussed further above. However, the Knox device cannot be adjusted vertically, as can the present stabilizer, and does not extend completely around the flap, unlike the present completely surrounding stabilizer. Moreover, it appears from the Figure Descriptions of the Knox device, that the portion of the stabilizer extending completely across the flap is to the front side of the flap (i.e., toward the tire), rather than to the back, where the greatest control would normally be required. 
     Finally, British Patent Publication No. 2,269,349 published on Feb. 9, 1994 to Roger Kay, titled “Devices For Controlling Spray From Vehicles,” describes a relatively small shield having an arm for mounting to the axle of a vehicle and extending behind the vehicle tire. Kay notes that the lower or deflector portion may be resilient (page 1, line 18), but the remainder of the structure is rigid, and Kay does not provide any means for controlling movement of the lower resilient deflector portion. In another embodiment, the support structure is attached to the vehicle structure behind the wheel(s), with vertical motion being controlled by a master and slave hydraulic cylinder system actuated by relative motion between the vehicle structure and axle. Such relative motion compresses or extends both cylinders simultaneously, thus raising the mud flap as the rear of the vehicle is lowered, and lowering the flap when the rear of the vehicle rises. However, this vertical compensation cannot provide for clearance or resilience when the structure strikes a curb, parking lot bumper, etc. during a backing maneuver, and would thus be damaged, or transfer damage to the vehicle, in such conditions. Moreover, the rest of the mounting is rigid, and cannot provide lateral or longitudinal compliance under any conditions, whereas the present loosely mounted stabilizer is free to move longitudinally, laterally, and vertically. 
     None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises a stabilizer for flexible guards such as flexible brushes and flaps, as in mud flaps extending from the rear of motor vehicles, flap type cleaning cloths used in automated “brushless” car washes, and for control of material on conveyor belts and the like. The present stabilizer comprises a rigid structure which completely surrounds the flap(s) or brush(es), with the rigid structure being loosely and flexibly suspended from a structure above the depending flap(s) or brush(es). The rigid portion of the device is preferably formed of a relatively light weight material, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic pipe or the like, but may be formed alternatively of a wide variety of elongate materials, such as electrical metal tubing (EMT), metal plumbing pipe, and/or T-sections, square sections, channels, and other shapes of steel, aluminum, and/or other metals or materials. Lighter materials may be weighted, if so desired, to adjust the resonant frequency as desired. 
     The rigid assembly is flexibly and adjustably suspended to surround the guard, as by chains or other suitable means attached to each end thereof. An additional attachment or attachments may be used at the centerpoint of the rigid assembly for additional security, if desired. The use of chains or equivalent attachments permits the rigid assembly to swing forwardly and rearwardly, to either side, and to be displaced upwardly in the event the assembly strikes an immovable object, such as if the vehicle to which the present assembly is attached, backs into a curb or the like. 
     Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an improved stabilizer for flexible guards, such as mud flaps, brushes, and the like, for loosely and flexibly suspending from an overlying structure to surround completely the flexible guard and thereby control flexure and movement of the guard. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide an improved stabilizer for flexible guards which is particularly adapted for the control of motion of mud flaps or brushes on a motor vehicle, with the device including a rigid structure surrounding the guard, with the rigid structure being loosely and flexibly suspended from an overlying structure supporting the guard and permitting longitudinal, lateral, and vertical motion of the rigid portion for compliance in the event that an immovable object is struck by the vehicle. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved stabilizer for flexible guards which may be formed of polyvinyl chloride plastic tubing or pipe, or other non-metallic or metallic elongate structural material as desired. 
     An additional object of the invention is to provide an improved stabilizer for flexible guards including vertical adjustment means therefor. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved stabilizer for flexible guards which may include weight means therewith for adjusting the periodic frequency of the device. 
     Yet another object of the invention is to provide a improved stabilizer for flexible guards including width adjustment means. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
     These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an environmental perspective view of the present stabilizer device, showing its installation on a recreational vehicle for control of the brush type flap extending therefrom. 
     FIG. 2 is a bottom and rear perspective view of the stabilizer device of FIG. 1, showing further details thereof. 
     FIG. 3 is an environmental perspective view of the present stabilizer device in a car wash installation, for control of the cleaning cloth flaps of the car wash. 
     FIG. 4 is an environmental perspective view of another embodiment of the present stabilizer device in a conveyor installation, for controlling a conveyor flap. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the present brush stabilizer having width adjustment means. 
     FIG. 6 is a lower perspective view of the stabilizer of FIG. 5 with the mud guard brush removed, showing further details. 
     FIG. 7 is a detail perspective view of the lower end attachment means for the stabilizer assembly of FIGS. 5 and 6, showing the height adjustment means provided. 
     FIG. 8 is a detail perspective view of the upper end attachment means for the stabilizer assembly of FIGS. 5 and 6, showing the height adjustment provided at that attachment point. 
     FIG. 9 is a detail perspective view of the central suspension means for the stabilizer assembly of FIGS. 5 and 6. 
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention comprises a stabilizing device  10  for use with various types of relatively thin, flexible brushes and flaps of material, such as used to reduce splash and scatter from the rear tires of motor vehicles, for controlling spray in a car wash, controlling material being conveyed on a conveyor belt, etc. All such brushes and flaps are related in that they comprise relatively thin and flexible elements, either in sheet or strand form, and are compliant to pass over any hard, solid objects which they may encounter during operation. As such devices are related in structure and to a certain extent in function in that they serve to guard the nearby environment from spray and scattered materials from relatively moving objects (tires, conveyors, etc.), they are all termed “guards” for the purposes of the present disclosure, and referred to as such throughout the present disclosure. 
     FIG. 1 illustrates the present stabilizer  10  installed upon the rear bumper B of a recreational vehicle V, for controlling the movement of a brush type guard  12  depending from the lower rear portion of the vehicle V for controlling the scatter and spray of liquid and solid particles from the rear tires. Such brush type guards  12  are known in the art, and may extend across the entire lower rear portion of the vehicle V, or may be installed only behind the rear wheels and tires. Regardless of the extent of the brush type guard  12 , the present guard retainer  10  reduces oscillation and wind blown movement of the guard  12 , thus greatly reducing damage to towed or following vehicles from thrown particles. 
     The stabilizer  10  basically comprises an elongate guard retainer, preferably extending completely across the width of the vehicle V to completely encompass the guard  12 . The guard retainer is formed of rigid materials, and includes a front element  14 , an opposite rear element  16 , and opposite first and second end elements  18  and  20 . These elements  14 ,  16 ,  18 , and  20  are connected by a series of elbows  22  to form a continuous structure, with the structure defining a guard passage  24  therethrough and completely surrounding the flexible guard  12  as shown clearly in FIG. 1 of the drawings. 
     The guard retainer may be formed of a variety of different types of material as desired, such as aluminum or steel tubing, etc. Other hollow tubular materials may be used as desired, such as polyvinyl chloride pipe, electrical metal tubing (EMT), conventional iron pipe as used in the plumbing industry, etc. These materials are differently weighted from one another, with iron pipe being considerably heavier than PVC and EMT pipe and aluminum tubing. Such weight may provide certain advantages in that the present guard retainer is pendulously suspended from an overlying structure (rear bumper, etc.), and different masses or weights for the device may beneficially effect the movement of the device under various conditions. It should be noted that other materials (e.g., metal and plastic tee, angle, and channel extrusions, etc.) may be used, but the use of hollow tubular material permits ballast to be added to the interior of the tubes or pipes, as shown by ballast  26  in the broken away section of the rear element  16  in FIG.  1 . 
     The rigid guard retainer portion of the present stabilizer  10 , comprising elements  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22 , is loosely and pendulously suspended from an overlying structure such as the rear bumper B of the vehicle V, as shown in FIG.  1 . The use of flexible suspension elements for pendulously and loosely suspending the rigid structure, permits longitudinal, lateral, and vertical movement of the guard retainer for compliance when the guard retainer is struck, e.g., when the vehicle V encounters a particularly deep pothole, or backs into a parking lot bumper or curb, etc., for precluding damage to the guard retainer and any overlying structure from which the guard retainer is suspended, as the retainer is free to move and cannot transmit impact loads to its attachment structure. 
     Preferably, the flexible suspension elements used for the attachment of the rigid structure of the guard retainer to the vehicle V, comprise chains  28  secured to and supporting the opposite first and second end elements  18  and  20  of the rigid structure. These chains  28  may be secured beneath the rear bumper B of the vehicle V by a clevis  30  or other anchor means permanently and securely attached (e.g., screws, etc.) to the underside of the rear bumper B, with an S-hook  32  or other suitable means linking each chain  28  to the clevis  30 . An eye bolt  34  or other suitable attachment is secured to or through each end element  18  and  20 , with one of the chain links being installed therein. Other alternative attachment means may be used as desired. 
     The use of chains  28  also provides for the adjustment of the height of the rigid guard retainer portion of the present brush and flap stabilizer  10 . For example, some additional chain length may be provided, with the additional free end  36  of the chains  28  permitting the guard retainer to be lowered, if so desired. The vertical adjustment of the device is easily accomplished by opening the S-hooks  32  slightly, and passing the open end of the S-hook through the desired link in the free end  36  of the chain  28  (or through a link in the chain  28  to raise the device), as desired. Alternatively, the adjustment may be made at the lower end of the chain  28  and its eye bolt attachment with the end elements  18  of the guard retainer, as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. Other chain attachment means (conventional snap hooks, etc.) may be used as desired. 
     It will be noted that an additional centrally disposed crossmember element  38  is provided in the guard retainer of FIGS. 1 through 3. This central element  38  is joined to the forward and rearward elements  14  and  16  by tee fittings  40 , and provides an additional element of support for the device. A central chain  42  secures to a central eye bolt  44  or other suitable attachment fitting secured to the central element  38 , with the upper portion of the chain  42  being wrapped and secured about the trailer hitch H which extends rearwardly from the vehicle V. In the event that the vehicle V has no hitch, then the central chain  42  may be secured beneath the central part of the bumper B by the same or equivalent means used to secure the ends of the device to the bumper. 
     While FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the present stabilizer  10  being used to retain and stabilize a brush type mud guard  12  suspended from the rear of a motor vehicle V, it will be seen that the present invention may be applied to many other areas in which similar thin, flexible brush and flap type guards are used. FIG. 3 illustrates the use of the present stabilizer  10  in a car wash environment, where the device is suspended from an overhead structure S and serves to control the movement of the flexible guard flap elements  46  which are used to control water spray and to provide some frictional cleaning contact with a vehicle, such as the automobile A, passing through the car wash system. It will be noted that the various elements comprising the stabilizer  10  of FIG. 3, are essentially identical to those illustrated and described in FIGS. 1 and 2, with only the type of guard (i.e., multiple flap elements  46 ) and the environment differing. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates another operating environment for the present brush and flap guard stabilizer  10 , in which the device is installed in a conveyor line. The stabilizer  10  is suspended from an overhead structure S 2 , with the guard retainer comprising components  14  through  22  defining a guard passage  24  and completely surrounding the single piece, continuous flap type guard  48  which bears against the underlying conveyor belt C. As the single piece flap type guard  48  spans essentially the entire width of the guard passage  24 , it will be seen that no central crossmember is provided for the stabilizer  10  of FIG.  4 . Otherwise, the stabilizer  10  of FIG. 4 is identical to the stabilizers  10  of other Figures. 
     FIGS. 5 through 9 of the drawings illustrate a further embodiment of the present brush and flap stabilizer, designated as stabilizer  50 . The stabilizer  50  is adaptable for use with flexible brushes or flaps depending from vehicle bumpers, such as the brush type guard  12  depending from the bumper B shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings. The stabilizer assembly  50  of FIGS. 5 and 6 is particularly well suited for use with various types of vehicles, as it provides means for adjusting the width of the device to accommodate different vehicle widths, as discussed in detail further below. However, it will be seen that it is readily adaptable to other environments as well, such as the car wash and conveyor usages illustrated respectively in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings and discussed further above. 
     The stabilizer assembly  50  of FIGS. 5 and 6 basically comprises an elongate guard retainer, preferably extending completely across the width of the vehicle and bumper B to completely encompass the guard  12 . The guard retainer is formed of rigid materials, and includes a two piece front element  52  and  54  (more clearly shown in FIG. 60, an opposite two piece rear element  56  and  58 , and opposite first and second end elements  60  and  62 . Rather than linking the front and rear elements with the end elements by means of separate connectors, as in the case of the stabilizer assemblies of FIGS. 1 through 4, the end elements  60  and  62  are attached (welded, mechanically or adhesively attached, etc.) directly to their respective front and rear elements  52  through  58  to form a closed structure defining a guard passage  64  therethrough to completely surround the flexible guard  12  as shown clearly in FIG. 5 of the drawings. 
     The stabilizer  50  of FIGS. 5 and 6 differs from the stabilizer  10  of FIGS. 1 through 4 primarily in that the stabilizer  50  includes means for adjusting the width of the device. As vehicles with which the stabilizer  50  may be used come in many different widths, it will be seen that a number of different stabilizers would have to be provided if no width adjustment is provided. The present adjustable width stabilizer  50  enables a single device to be manufactured which is adjustable to fit all widths of vehicles, and further to allow the owner of the device to transfer it from one vehicle to another, in the event he or she sells a vehicle and purchases another of a different width. 
     The forward and rearward element assemblies of the stabilizer  50  of FIGS. 5 and 6, each comprise a pair of telescoping tubes, respectively  52  and  54  for the front element, and  56  and  58  for the rear element. It will be seen that in the example of FIGS. 5 and 6, that the first or left hand forward member  52  has a slightly larger diameter than the corresponding second or right hand forward member  54 , with the second member or element adjustably telescoping into the first member or element  52 . Conversely, the second or right hand rearward member or element  58  has a larger diameter than the first or left hand rearward element  56 , with the first element  56  telescoping into the second element  58 . It will be seen that these relative telescoping elements may be reversed, if desired, or both of the larger diameter elements  52 ,  56  placed to one or the other side of the assembly, as desired. 
     Means may be provided for locking the relative extensions of the various elements to fix the overall width of the stabilizer  50 , if so desired, e.g., a series of conventional concentric passages (not shown) through the overlapping portions of each forward and rearward assembly, with a bolt, pin, etc. adjustably placed through a set of the aligned passages as desired to lock the extension and width of the device as desired. It will be seen that only a single such width locking means is required, as the fixed adjustment of one pair of elements (front or rear) automatically retains the opposite pair of elements at the same width, due to the end plates  60  and  62  which secure the elongate forward and rearward elements together. 
     FIG. 7 provides a detailed illustration of the second end plate or element  62 , with it being understood that the first end plate  60  is essentially identical except for its mirror image installation to the stabilizer assembly. The end element  62  includes depending forward and rearward ears or lugs, respectively  66  and  68 , to which the second forward and rearward elements  54  and  58  are permanently affixed. An upper lug or ear  70  includes a hole or passage  72  therethrough, permitting the end element  62  and its attached forward and rearward elements  54  and  58  to be suspended from an overlying structure, e.g., a vehicle bumper. 
     The end elements  60  and  62 , and the forward and rearward elements  52  through  58  extending therebetween, are suspended from a flexible line having an adjustable length, such as the adjustable length chain  74  shown in FIGS. 5 through 8 of the drawings. The chain  74  includes one or more openable links  76 , such as the carabiner type links  76  shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. These links have an open side with a threaded end component on one side of the gap, and a matingly threaded fitting which engages the end component threads. Unscrewing the fitting from the threaded end component opens the gap between the components to allow the link  76  to be removed from or added to another device. FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate chains  74  formed of a series of such openable links  76 , allowing links to be added or removed as desired to adjust the length of each chain  74 . Alternatively, a single openable link  74  may be provided and placed in the chain to gather any of a number of permanently closed links as desired to adjust the chain length. 
     The upper end of each end chain  74  attaches to an attachment bracket  78 , which in turn attaches conventionally (bolts, etc.) to a vehicle bumper B or other overlying structure, generally as shown in FIG.  8 . Each bracket  78  includes a passage  80  therethrough, through which an openable chain link  76  may be passed to suspend the guard retainer from the overlying structure. As in the case of the second lower end attachment plate  62  illustrated in detail in FIG. 7 of the drawings, it will be understood that the two upper end attachment brackets  78  are essentially identical, and differ only in their mirror image mounting to the overlying structure. 
     The stabilizer  50  of FIGS. 5 and 6 may also include medial suspension means as well, as in the case of the guard  10  illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4 of the drawings. In the case of the stabilizer  50 , an adjustably positionable medial support bracket  82  is provided along the general center of the device. The upper portion of the bracket  82  comprises a lug  84  with a support attachment hole or passage  86  therethrough, to which a split link  76  of a chain  88  may be attached. The opposite end of the central chain  88  may be wrapped about the central receiver hitch socket H of the vehicle, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, or otherwise secured to the bumper or other overlying structure. The central chain  88  is adjusted to adjust the height of the central portion of the stabilizer  50  in the same manner as that described further above for adjusting the height of ends of the stabilizer  50 , i.e., removing or adding one or more links  76  or adjustably capturing or releasing one or more closed links in a single openable link  76 . 
     Each of the lower lugs or ears  90  and  92  of the central suspension bracket  82  includes a guard element passage therethrough, respectively  94  and  96 . The forward and rearward elements  52  and  58  (i.e., the elements having the larger diameters, into which the other two elements  54  and  56  fit) pass respectively through these two passages  94  and  96 . A grommet or sleeve, respectively  98  and  100 , is inserted into each of the holes or passages  94  and  96  to cushion the respective stabilizer members  52  and  58  as they pass through the two central bracket passages  94  and  96 , and to provide a larger bearing area for the two stabilizer members  52  and  56  to reduce wear thereto. As the tubes or members  52  and  56  are free to slide through their respective holes  94 ,  96  and grommets or sleeves  98 ,  100 , the two telescoping tube assemblies  52 ,  54  and  56 ,  58  may be extended or retracted to adjust the overall width of the guard  50 , without any additional need to reposition the members  52  and  58  relative to the central support bracket  82 . 
     In summary, the present stabilizer embodiments for flexible brushes, flaps, and similar relatively thin and pliable guard type devices, provides a much needed improvement in the control of such devices to prevent or greatly reduce their movement, thereby reducing the scatter of gravel, sand, and other particulate matter, spray, etc. which may be kicked up by tires or other relatively moving objects. 
     While the present stabilizer embodiments may be applied to a wide number of different operating environments, it is particularly valuable in the field of motor vehicles, for the control of brush and flap type guards as installed behind the rear wheels of many larger vehicles. Not only does the present stabilizer reduce damage to the finish and windshields of following vehicles by means of the greater control of the mud guards of the vehicle upon which it is installed, but it also greatly reduces damage to the finish of any vehicles or other objects being towed directly behind a vehicle equipped with the present stabilizer. Also, by better controlling the mud guards of a vehicle, the present stabilizer assists in keeping the rear of the vehicle in a cleaner condition as well. 
     The various embodiments of the present stabilizer device may be constructed of a wide variety of elongate materials, as noted further above, or even cast or molded as a single, unitary piece of appropriate material. The rigid guard retaining element may be painted or otherwise colored to provide an unobtrusive appearance, and/or may be rubberized or otherwise coated with a resilient finish, particularly in the case of metal or harder materials, to reduce damage due to sand, gravel, etc. which is kicked up by the rear wheels of the vehicle. The height and width adjustment means described above for the present stabilizer invention, provide even more versatility for the device for installation in a wide variety of different vehicles and other environments. 
     Accordingly, the various embodiments of the present stabilizer device invention will find widespread acceptance among people who own or drive larger vehicles equipped with mud guard brushes, flaps, or the like, for controlling the motion of such guards and thereby controlling the amount of spray and particulate matter which might otherwise bypass the guards if left uncontrolled. The present stabilizer will also find use in various other environments where guard flaps, brushes, and the like are used, as in car washes, conveyor systems, etc., and will be much appreciated by the owners and operators of such systems. 
     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.