Abstract:
A fender having an inner side wall depending downwardly therefrom, wherein at least one advertising indicium is disposed on the inner side wall, the advertising indicium encompassing substantially the entire surface area of the inner side wall.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to fenders, such as trailer fenders, and more particularly to a trailer fender having a surface with at least one indicium disposed thereon. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A trailer typically includes one or more pairs of wheels and a plurality of fenders that at least partially enclose the wheels of the trailer. The fenders typically have a curved upper surface and flat side walls. Although the walls and upper surface of the fender perform the primary function of protecting the wheels of the trailer, they presently are not otherwise utilized. 
     A need exists for a fender that usefully employs its external surface area. A need also exists for a trailer that includes such fenders. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fender having at least one surface, and at least one indicium disposed on said surface. 
     Preferably, the inventive fender includes a curved upper portion and at least one side wall, more preferably two side walls, and at least one indicium disposed on at least one of said curved upper portion and said at least one side wall. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the indicium is an advertisement for a product or service. More preferably, the advertisement is disposed on an area which encompasses substantially the entire surface area of the at least one surface. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a combination of a trailer and at least one fender as described herein. 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. It is to be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present invention, are given by way of illustration and not limitation. Many changes and modifications within the scope of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention may be more readily understood by referring to the accompanying drawings in which 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a fender including an advertisement mounted on a trailer in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the fender of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a rear view of an auto trailer having two fenders which include an indicium in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a beveled edge fender including an advertisement in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevation of an alternative embodiment of a fender according to the invention. 
    
    
     Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Conventional fender shapes and designs are well known in the art, and the fender illustrated herein is to be considered exemplary and not limiting in any way. As illustrated herein, the fender is provided in combination with a trailer for towing objects, such as automobiles. However, neither the type of trailer nor the object which can be towed thereon is meant to be a limitation on the present invention. The fender can be used on trailers having any number of wheels or axles, for example, a TOW DOLLY SM , commercially available from U-Haul International, Inc., which has two wheels rotatably mounted on one axle, or an AUTO TRANSPORT SM , commercially available from U-Haul International, Inc., which has four wheels, two each rotatably mounted on two axles. The fender can be used on trailers provided for towing automobiles, trucks, boats, motorcycles, personal watercraft, heavy equipment, motor homes, etc. 
     In FIGS. 1 and 2, fender  10  includes top portion  20  and opposed outer and inner vertical walls  24  and  26 . At least one of the surfaces  20 ,  24  and  26  (inner surface  26  is illustrated in FIG. 1, top portion  20  in FIG. 2) includes an area  28  in which an indicium  29  is disposed. Area  28  can encompass substantially the entire surface (see FIG. 1) or a portion of the surface (see FIG.  2 ). “Substantially the entire surface area” as used herein denotes that only an insignificant portion of the surface, for example a narrow border strip, is not covered by the selected indicium. 
     FIG. 1 also shows the appearance of fender  10  as mounted on a trailer  12 , including a frame  14 , an axle  16  and a mounting bracket  17 . 
     As best shown in FIG. 2, the top portion  20  includes first and second ends  51 ,  52 , and inner and outer edges  53 ,  54 . The inner vertical wall  26  has a first surface  55  and a second surface  56 . As best shown in FIG. 3, the tires  30  each have an inner face  57  and outer face  58 . 
     An “indicium” as used herein denotes any visual representation or depiction, and includes, without limitation, letters, numbers, words, phrases, pictorial representations, etc., that convey visual information to an observer other than information pertaining to the operation of the vehicle to which the fender is attached. Preferably, the indicium is an advertisement for a product or a service. The advertisements can be directed to products or services of the vehicle owner, such as a depiction of the name of the vehicle to which the fender is attached or a solicitation to rent or purchase the vehicle. The advertisements can also be directed to products or services of one or more parties other than the vehicle owner. 
     In a particular embodiment, the area  28  on which the indicium  29  is disposed can be a color different from the fender, thus forming a background for the indicium. 
     The elements of the fender  10  (the top portion  20 , the outer vertical wall  24 , and the inner vertical wall  26 ) preferably are comprised of a rigid material, for example, a metal such as stainless steel or aluminum, a plastic, fiberglass, etc. Also, fender  10  can be formed as one continuous piece, or two or more separate elements can be attached to one another by a conventional attachment method such as welding, fastening with bolts or the like. 
     As shown in FIG. 3, the conventional auto trailer  12  includes frame  14  having at least one axle  16  with wheels  18  and tires  30  rotatably mounted at opposite ends thereof. Fenders  10  are secured to the frame  14  and over the tires  30  by a conventional method, such as welding. Alternatively, the fender  10  can be secured to the frame by using securing means, such as threaded fasteners, rivets or the like. The fenders  10  also can be integral with the trailer. It should be understood that a right-side fender is typically a mirror image of a left-side fender. 
     As best shown in FIG. 4, the clearance increasing portion  122  has first and second ends  60 ,  61  and bottom edge  62 . The inner and outer vertical walls  126 ,  128  each have a bottom edge  63 . 
     In an alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, fender  110  includes a clearance increasing portion  122  between top portion  120  and inner vertical wall  126  in the manner described in copending, commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/557,459. The clearance increasing portion  122  allows wider objects, such as a car, to fit onto the trailer than would otherwise be possible without it. Fender  110  includes at least one indicium  28  disposed on at least one of the surfaces  120 ,  122 ,  124  and  126 . 
     Another alternative embodiment according to the invention is illustrated in FIG.  5 . Fender  210  is provided for at least partially surrounding two tires  30 . The fender  210  includes a top portion  212  that preferably has a substantially flat middle section  214  and curved end sections. Alternatively, the top portion  212  can include a plurality of planar sections that connect at angles. The fender  210  can also include a clearance increasing portion as described above.