Abstract:
A mudflap assembly comprising a bracket for connection to a vehicle and a swiveling support is claimed. A mudflap hanger arm rotatably couples with the bracket via a hinged pin joint. A ramping sleeve is coupled to the pin between the hanger arm and bracket on one end, and a spring installed on the other end provides compressive force against the hanger arm when it travels up the ramping sleeve in response to a horizontal force.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/887,940, entitled “Ramping Mudflap Assembly,” filed on Feb. 2, 2007, which is fully incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates generally to the field of spray suppression in commercial trucking. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a mudflap assembly. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Mudguards or mudflaps are used primarily behind single or dual rear-wheeled truck and trailer vehicles, particularly heavy duty class 6, 7, and 8. Typically, the mudflap assemblies have the ability to flex in horizontal and vertical directions in order to withstand forces placed upon them during normal operation. Some mudguard mounting structures comprise a single piece of spring-like bar stock bent in a shape for supporting the mudguards and for flexing in all directions. 
         [0004]    Other mounting assemblies for mudflaps use a rigid hanger assembly and resiliently bias the hanger assembly to a seat which is attached to a vehicle. In such assemblies, devices are often provided for restraining rotational movement of the hanger assembly with respect to the seat so that the mudflap always remains in its vertical orientation. If the hanger rotates so that the flap moves toward the wheels, the wheels may prematurely wear the mudflap away. If the hanger rotates in an opposite direction, the effectiveness of the mudflap may be diminished. 
         [0005]    Mudflap brackets having a horizontal tube with a longitudinal mudflap mounting flange on its underside are known. Such brackets comprise a vehicle frame-mounted plate having bolts or studs of a predetermined, fixed separation, often selected to match existing manufacturer provided apertures in the vehicle frame. A proximate end of the horizontal tube is held against the frame-mounted plate, generally in an abutting relationship, by the bias of an elongate spring residing in the tube, the spring connected at one end to the frame-mounted plate and at the other end to the tube, at a location on the tube distal from the vehicle frame. 
         [0006]    The abutting relationship of the horizontal tube and mounting plate to the frame-mounted plate may result in misalignment of the tube, which occurs when the tube is struck or subjected to the forces experienced by the vehicle traveling down the road. The bias of the elongate spring may not overcome the misalignment by itself. Corners or edges between the mounting plate, or tube, and the frame-mounted plate catch or hang up on each other, preventing realignment of the tube. Furthermore, such devices can be expensive to manufacture and replace, and are difficult to install and assemble. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present disclosure is directed to a mudflap assembly device. This is accomplished by providing a mudflap hanger, a mudflap bracket, a pin, a ramping sleeve, and a compressive spring. 
         [0008]    For purposes of summarizing the disclosure, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the disclosure have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the disclosure. Thus, the disclosure may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. 
         [0009]    The present disclosure discloses a ramping mudflap assembly. The mudflap bracket contains a universal bolting pattern for attachment to any vehicle frame, and can be made from any material such as metal, composites, or high-density plastics which are capable of withstanding normal operational forces. A mudflap hanger is inserted within the bracket leaving the mudflap projecting away therefrom. The mudflap hanger is also made of durable material such as metal, composites, or high-density plastics, capable of withstanding normal operational forces. The mudflap itself is known in the art and made from standard industrial material. The mudflap can either be molded into the mudflap hanger or can otherwise be secured to the hanger using traditional means such as bolts or fasteners. In an alternative embodiment, the mudflap may be secured to the hanger via a slot along the length of the hanger for receiving a mudflap. In such an embodiment, the top of the mudflap is wedged such that when the bottom of the mudflap is inserted through the top of the hanger through the slot, the wedged portion of the mudflap sets securely within the mudflap slot. The wedge can be preformed into the mudflap, or can be created by mudflap retainers—accomplished by providing two halves of a mudflap retainer, wherein each half of the retainer has protrusions which extend through the standard hole placements of the mudflap. The halves are mated together through the mudflap creating a wedge at the top of the mudflap. The mudflap can then be inserted through a slot in a mudflap hanger assembly wherein the wedge created by the retainer couples with the mudflap hanger. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment, the mudflap hanger is secured to the assembly by a pin which is inserted through the mudflap bracket and mudflap hanger, representing a hinged joint. The pin is also inserted through a spring and a ramping sleeve placed on either side of the hanger between the hanger and the bracket. Any device or material capable of providing compressive force may be used in the place of the spring. The ramping mechanism is oriented such that a horizontal force placed upon the mudflap hanger causes the hanger to rotate about the hinged joint and displaced upward and away from such force. The upward displacement of the hanger further compresses the spring such that when the horizontal force is removed, the hanger returns along the ramping sleeve to its resting position. In an alternative embodiment, the ramping mechanism can be molded or machined into the bracket at either the top portion, bottom portion, or both. 
         [0011]    These and other embodiments of the present disclosure will also become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the embodiments having reference to the attached figures, the disclosure not being limited to any particular embodiment(s) disclosed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The present disclosure is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. Additionally, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the drawing in which the reference number first appears. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the mudflap assembly according to the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the mudflap assembly of  FIG. 1  in an assembled configuration. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a mudflap assembly according to the present disclosure. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged side view of the mudflap assembly of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a frontal perspective view of the bracket illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a front view of the bracket illustrated in  FIG. 5   
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a top view of the bracket illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a top partial plan view of the mudflap assembly of  FIG. 1  in its initial position installed on a vehicle. 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a top partial plan view of the mudflap assembly of  FIG. 7 , illustrated in a position wherein the mudflap is being acted on by a horizontal force. 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a top partial plan view of the mudflap assembly of  FIG. 7 , wherein the mudflap assembly has been rotated a full 90 degrees from its initial position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    The various embodiments of the present disclosure and their advantages are best understood by referring to  FIGS. 1 through 10  of the drawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Throughout the drawings, like numerals are used for like and corresponding parts of the various drawings. 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exploded view of one embodiment of mudflap assembly  101 , and  FIG. 2  illustrates this embodiment in an assembled configuration. Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a mudflap hanger  110  is disposed between a ramping sleeve  115  and a compressive spring  120 , all of which are set within the mudflap bracket  105  and coupled by a substantially cylindrical pin  125 . A mudflap  133  is attached to the hanger  110 . A ramping mechanism is created by a ramping sleeve  115  and a corresponding mudflap hanger  110 . In its resting position ( FIG. 2 ), the hanger  110 , bracket  105 , sleeve  115 , and spring  120  fit securely together. However, as described in more detail with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a horizontal force placed upon the mudflap hanger  110  will cause the hanger  110  to rotate about the pin  125  and up the ramping sleeve  115 , compressing the spring  120  between the hanger  110  and bracket  105 . When the horizontal force is removed, the compressed spring  120  forces the hanger  110  back down along the ramping sleeve  115  to its resting position. The ramping sleeve  115  will not rotate about the pin  125  by virtue of the channel  230  incorporated into the ramping sleeve  115  which couples with the corresponding channel  235  of the mudflap bracket  105 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 3  shows the side view of the mudflap assembly according to the present disclosure, and  FIG. 4  shows an enlarged view thereof. In its resting position, two downward-sloping portions  415 ,  405  of the hanger  110  create a v-shape wedge  425  which couples with a corresponding v-shaped crevice  430  of the ramping sleeve  115 , which is created by two upward-sloping portions  410 ,  420  of the sleeve. A horizontal force perpendicular to the plane of the  FIGS. 3 and 4 , and toward the observer thereof which acts on the hanger  110  will cause the v-shaped wedge  425  of the hanger  110  to travel up the upward-sloping portion  420  of the ramping sleeve  115  further compressing the spring  120  which generates a downward force on the hanger  110 . When the force is removed, the downward compressive force of the spring  120  on the hanger  110 , causes the v-shaped wedge  425  of the hanger  110  to travel back down the upward-sloping portion  420  of the ramping sleeve  115 , back to the hanger&#39;s  110  resting position. Conversely, a horizontal force perpendicular to the plane of the  FIGS. 3 and 4 , and away from the observer thereof which acts on the hanger  110  will cause the v-shaped wedge  425  of the hanger  110  to travel up the upward-sloping portion  410  of the ramping sleeve  115  further compressing the spring  120  which generates a downward force on the hanger  110 . When the force is removed, the downward compressive force of the spring  120  on the hanger  110 , causes the v-shaped wedge  425  of the hanger  110  to travel back down the upward-sloping portion  410  of the ramping sleeve  115 , back to the hanger&#39;s  110  resting position. This same mechanism is evident on both sides of the assembly to ensure vertical movement of the hanger in relation to the bracket. 
         [0026]      FIGS. 5 ,  6 , and  7  illustrate perspective front and top views, respectively, of one embodiment of bracket  120 . A top opening  121 , and a bottom opening  122  of the bracket  105  are substantially vertical and substantially cylindrical and correspond with the substantially vertical and substantially cylindrical openings of the hanger  110  ( FIG. 1 ), ramping sleeve  115  ( FIG. 1 ), and compressive spring  120  ( FIG. 1 ). When installed, the pin engages the top opening  121 , followed by the opening of the spring, hanger, sleeve, and bottom opening  122  to create a hinged joint. Fastener holes  145  in substantially flat rear side  126  receive standard fasteners (not illustrated) for attaching bracket  105  to a vehicle (not illustrated). Fastener holes are illustrated in a universal bolt pattern, but may be provided in any practicable pattern, number, and size. 
         [0027]      FIGS. 8-10  illustrate the orientation of the mudflap assembly  101  during operation. Specifically,  FIG. 8  is a top partial view of a vehicle  102  with a mudflap assembly  101  installed behind a wheel  103 , wherein the mudflap assembly  101  is in its initial or “resting” orientation (i.e., when no force has been applied to the mudflap (not shown) or hanger  110  sufficient to move hanger  110  from its starting position perpendicular to the side  104  of the vehicle  102 ). As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , upon contact by an obstacle or object  111 , hanger  110  may experience sufficient horizontal force to rotate in either a forwards or backwards direction as it swivels within bracket  105 . When the force is removed from the hanger  110 , the hanger will return to its initial or resting position.  FIG. 10  illustrates the hanger  110  after it has rotated a full 90 degrees from its initial position. 
         [0028]    This disclosure may be provided in other specific forms and embodiments without departing from the essential characteristics as described herein. The embodiments described above are to be considered in all aspects as illustrative only and not restrictive in any manner. The following claims rather than the foregoing description indicate the scope of the disclosure. 
         [0029]    As described above and shown in the associated drawings, the present disclosure comprises a mudflap assembly. While particular embodiments of the disclosure have been described, it will be understood, however, that the disclosure is not limited thereto, since modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. It is, therefore, contemplated by the appended claims to cover any such modifications that incorporate those features or those improvements that embody the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.