Abstract:
A fender flare includes a side portion and an inner portion. The inner portion includes troughs at a front area of the inner portion.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/720,407, filed Oct. 31, 2012, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Fender is a part of an automobile, motorcycle or other vehicle body that frames a wheel well. A fender flare may be added to the fender to accommodate a larger wheel and tire combination in the fender or simply accentuate the fender. A mud flap may be used in combination with the fender to protect the vehicle from mud and other flying debris thrown into the air by the rotating tire. It is typically made from a flexible material such as rubber that is not easily damaged by contact with flying debris, the tire, or the road surface. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a fender flare in one example of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates troughs of the fender flare in  FIG. 1  in one example of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates gutters of the fender flare in  FIG. 1  in one example of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a retracted mud flap of the fender flare in  FIG. 1  in one example of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a comparison between a conventional fender flare and the fender flare of  FIG. 1  in one example of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     Use of the same reference numbers in different figures indicates similar or identical elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a fender flare in  100  one example of the present disclosure. Fender flare  100  may be an original feature or an aftermarket accessory of a vehicle. Fender flare  100  is fastened to a fender and has a shape that follows the form of a wheel well. For example, fender flare  100  has a semicircular or U-shape. Fender flare  100  has an interior portion  102  that is substantially parallel to the wheel well (e.g., 0 to 30 degrees), and an exterior side  104  that is substantially parallel to the side of the fender (e.g., 0 to 30 degrees). 
     Interior portion  102  has troughs  106  (only some are labeled) along on a front area  108 , gutters  110  (only some are labeled) along a top area  112 , a retractable mud flap  114  on a back area  116 . Exterior portion  104  has lights  118  along a top perimeter  120 . Lights  118  may be yellow LED lights. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , troughs  106  are stacked wedges-shaped pockets in one example of the present disclosure. Each trough  106  has a top opening  122  (only some are labeled in  FIG. 1 ), and each trough is orientated diagonally downward towards the inside of the wheel well. The rotating tire throws water towards front area  108 , which enter openings  122  and drain along the inside of fender flare  100 . As troughs  106  are slanted, the water drains inward towards the vehicle. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , gutters  110  are spaced out J-shaped channels in one example of the present disclosure. Each gutter  110  has an open front end, an open interior side, and an open back end. From its front to its back, each gutter  110  is oriented diagonally inward towards the inside of the wheel well. Water that bounces off front area  108  towards top area  112  enter gutters  110 . As gutters  110  are slanted, the water drains inward towards the vehicle. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , mud flap  110  is pivotally secured by a fastener  124  to fender flare  100  in one example of the present disclosure. Mud flap  110  has a circular guide  126  that receives a pin  128  from fender flare  100  to guide the rotation of mud flap  110 . When in use, mud flap  110  is rotated downward to extend it as shown in  FIG. 1 . When not in use, mud flap  110  is rotated upward to retract it as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a comparison between a conventional fender flare  500  and fender flare  100  in one example of the present disclosure. Due to features such as troughs  106 , gutters  110 , and mud flap  110 , fender flare  100  reduces the water spray outward from the vehicle as compared to conventional fender flare  500 . 
     Various other adaptations and combinations of features of the embodiments disclosed are within the scope of the present disclosure. Numerous embodiments are encompassed by the following claims.