Abstract:
A trailer guard is disclosed having a right brush assembly having a right brush support, a right mount, and a left brush assembly having a left brush support and a left mount wherein the right support and the left support are joined by a connector and the right mount and left mount are capable of fixedly and removably engaging the existing vehicle trailer hitch support. The right brush and left brush comprise a plurality of flexible plastic strands capable of deflecting stones and dirt.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus for protecting a trailer or towed Recreational Vehicle from damage caused by stones or dirt cast up by the tires of the towing vehicle. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The prior art discloses two types of guard devices for preventing stones and dirt from being cast by vehicle tires. The first type of guard device consists of mud guards or mud flaps that are affixed to the vehicle directly in line behind the tires so that stones or dirt cast by the tires will be deflected by the guard. Normally, the guards are made of rubber or other durable and flexible material. U.S. Pat. No. 4,319,764 discloses a mud flap mounting device with a horizontal swing arm pivotally mounted on a longitudinal structural member of the vehicle. U.S. Pat. No. 3,388,884 discloses a mud flap attached to a support frame having a vertical leg adapted for sliding engagement in an upwardly open socket. U.S. Pat. No. 2,683,612 discloses removable mud flaps molded with a “T” head for slidable mounting in an open channel permanently affixed under the body of the truck. U.S. Pat. Des. 330,692 discloses a removable mud flap. 
     The second type of guard device is affixed to the wheel housing and is mounted parallel to the outside of the wheel and perpendicular to the direction of travel. The second type of guard device is used to prevent spray from being cast out from the wheel housing when driving in rain. U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,547 (the &#39;547 patent) discloses a mounting member and a brush adapted for engagement to a vehicle fender. The &#39;547 patent further discloses a spray brush having a plurality of filaments attached to a base and a mounting member having a spray brush holder adapted to be mounted on an elongated rolled edge of a vehicle fender. 
     What is needed beyond the prior art is a trailer guard that will prevent liquid and objects from being cast by the rear tires of a towing vehicle onto a trailer or recreational vehicle that is being towed behind the vehicle. What is further needed beyond the prior art is a trailer guard that can be installed using the existing trailer mount fixture. Finally, what is needed beyond the prior art is a trailer guard that can be easily installed and removed as desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention meets the needs and solves the problems identified above by providing a trailer guard having a right brush assembly having a right brush support and a right mount, and a left brush assembly having a left brush support and a left mount wherein the right support and the left support are joined by a connector and the right mount and left mount are capable of fixedly and removably engaging the existing vehicle trailer hitch support. The right brush and left brush comprise a plurality of flexible plastic strands capable of deflecting stones and dirt. 
     The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numbers represent like parts of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 depicts a front view of trailer guard affixed to a vehicle. 
     FIG. 2 depicts a detail view along line  2 — 2  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 depicts a detail view along line  3 — 3  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 depicts a detail view along line  4 — 4  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 depicts a right side perspective view of a first adapter. 
     FIG. 6 depicts a right side perspective view of a second adapter. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 depicts a view of trailer guard  100  mounted to trailer hitch support  10  of vehicle  30 . Trailer hitch support  10  has left hitch support  14 , right hitch support  12  and hitch post  20 . Right brush assembly  120  has a plurality of strands  170  affixed to right brush plate  176 . Right brush plate  176  is affixed to right brush support  124  by a plurality of rivets  180 . Right brush assembly  120  has right mount  130  fixedly engaged to right brush support  124  by first right support connector  134  and second right support connector  135 . Left brush assembly  122  has a plurality of strands  170  affixed to left brush plate  177 . Left brush plate  177  is affixed to left brush support  126  by a plurality of rivets  180 . Left brush assembly  122  has left mount  132  fixedly engaged to left brush support  126  by first left support connector  136  and second left support connector  137 . Right brush support  124  and left brush support  126  are fixedly engaged by connector  150  and bolts  152 . Right mount  130  and left mount  132  are capable of fixedly and removably engaging right hitch support  12  and left hitch support  14  respectively. Strands  170  are positioned sufficiently close together to catch and deflect stones, dirt, objects or liquids thrown up by the tires of vehicle  30 . In the preferred embodiment, right mount  130  and left mount  132  are approximately 27″ long and are approximately 2 inch by 2 inch square box tubing made of steel or other suitable metal similar in geometry to right hinge support  12  and left hinge support  14 . Also, in the preferred embodiment, right brush support  124  and left brush support  126  are approximately 38 ½ inches long. In the preferred embodiment, right mount  130  slides into right hitch support  12  and is secured by bolt  152  and nut  154 . Left mount  132  is secured to left hitch support  154  in a similar manner. 
     FIG. 2 depicts a view along line  2 — 2  of FIG.  1 . Connector  150  is seen fixedly engaged to right brush support  124  and left brush support  126  by bolts  152 . Nuts  154  rotatably engage bolts  152  and are tightened to bring connector  150  into contact with right brush support  124  and left brush support  126 . 
     FIG. 3 is a view along line  3 — 3  of FIG.  1  and shows the “L” shape of first left support connector  136 . First left support connector  136  is fixedly engaged to left brush support  126 . Although not shown, second left support connector  137  is fixedly engaged to left brush support  126  in the same manner as shown for first left support connector  136 . In the preferred embodiment, first left support connector  136  is made of angle iron, steel or other suitable metal, and left brush support  126  is made of angle iron made of steel or other suitable metal. Although not shown, first right support connector  134  and second right support connector  135  are fixedly engaged to right brush support  124  in the same manner as shown for first left support connector  136  in FIG.  3 . Likewise, in the preferred embodiment, first right support connector  134  is made of angle iron, steel or other suitable metal, and right brush support  124  is made of angle iron made of steel or other suitable metal. In the preferred embodiment, first right support connector  134 , second right support connector  135 , first left support connector  136  and second left support connector  137  have legs approximately 1 ¼ inch wide at 90 degree angles to each other. 
     FIG. 4 is a detail view along line  4 — 4  of FIG.  1 . Strand  170  is affixed to keeper  172 . Keeper  172  is affixed to left brush plate  177  by brush plate rivet  174 . Left brush plate  177  is affixed to left brush support  126  by rivet  180 . As used herein, strand means a flexible fiber or bristle which may be made of plastic or other suitable material. 
     FIG. 5 depicts first adapter  200 . First adapter  200  has first adapter first section  210  and first adapter second section  220 . First adapter second section  220  is smaller than first adapter first section  210 . First adapter first section  212  is sized for sliding engagement with right mount  130  and left mount  132  so that right mount  130  and left mount  132  can engage right hitch support  12  and left hitch support  14  when right hitch support  12  and left hitch support  14  are smaller than right mount  130  and left mount  132 . 
     FIG. 6 depicts second adapter  300  having a second adapter first section  310  and a second adapter second section  320 . Second adapter second section  320  is larger than second adapter firstsection  310 . Second adapter first section  310  is sized for sliding engagement with right mount  130  and left mount  132  so that right mount  130  and left mount  132  can engage right hitch support  12  and left hitch support  14  when right hitch support  12  and left hitch support  14  are larger than right mount  130  and left mount  132 . 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.