Abstract:
This is directed to systems, processes, machines, and other means that produce portable mud flaps for trucks. The invention can allow a user to easily install and remove truck mud flaps.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       THE NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       INCORPORATION BY REFERNCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
       [0004]    Not Applicable 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    This invention relates to mud flaps that can be used on a truck. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Mud-flaps have existed almost as long as automobiles. In typical use they are fixed to the chassis of a truck, and they cannot be removed or adjusted. On trucks, two standard sizes of mud-flaps exist: 32 inches in width and 42 inches in width. Prior to the disclosed invention there was no method for making a mud-flap apparatus that was portable, could accommodate both sizes of mud-flap, and that had electrical lights to improve safety and visibility. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0007]    The Conner U.S. Pat. No. 3,877,722 teaches a portable mud flap for use on a truck. However, it does not teach a mud flap with electrical lights and it is limited to either a 32 inch or 42 inch mud-flap, the present invention accommodates either. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Methods, systems, and other means are provided for mud flaps on the back of a truck. In accordance with some embodiments, the mud flap device comprises a center bar mechanically coupled to two side bars, the side bars are each mechanically coupled to a flap bar. Notably, the two side bars can be adjusted with the flap bars to accommodate both 32 inch and 42 inch mud-flaps. The flap bars contain mud-flaps and lights. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1 : is a perspective view of the invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2 : is a perspective view of the invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3 : is a detail perspective view of the invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4 : is an exploded view of the invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5 : is a forward perspective view of the frame bracket only. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6 : is a rear perspective view of the frame bracket only. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7 : is a forward perspective view of the alternate frame bracket only. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8 : is a rear perspective view of the alternate frame bracket only. 
           [0018]      FIG. 9 : is a section detail view along line  9 - 9  in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 10 : is a section detail view along line  10 - 10  in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 11 : is a perspective view illustrating the rolled-up configuration. 
           [0021]      FIG. 12 : is a side view of the invention shown encased within the carrying bag. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    Embodiments of the present invention overcome many of the obstacles associated with conventional mud-flaps on a cab and chassis, and now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings that show some, but not all embodiments of the claimed inventions. Indeed, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  shows portable mud flap  10  in use. Truck  12  comprise truck frame  14  which can be mechanically coupled to center bracket  18  as shown below. Center bracket  18  can be mechanically coupled to a left side bracket  20  and a right side bracket  20 . Left side bracket  20  is mechanically coupled to left flap bracket  22  as shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4 . The right side bracket  20  is mechanically coupled to right flap bracket  24  as shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4 . Left flap bracket  22  is mechanically coupled to a first mud-flap  34  and right flap bracket  24  is mechanically coupled to a second mud-flap  34  as indicated in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  shows portable mud flap  10  without truck frame  14 . As noted above portable mud-flap  10  comprises center bracket  18  which further comprises a first plurality of clip holes  52 . Similarly, left side bracket  20  comprises a second plurality of clip holes  52 , right side bracket  20  further comprises a third plurality of clip holes  52 . Center bracket  18  is mechanically coupled to a left side bracket  20  and held in place by first center bracket clip  28  through a first clip hole  52  in left side bracket  20  through a second clip hole in center bracket  18 . Similarly, a right side bracket  20  and held in place by second center bracket clip  28  though a third clip hole  52  in right side bracket  20  and a fourth clip hole  52  in center bracket  18 . 
         [0025]    The left side bracket  20  is mechanically coupled to truck frame  14  (not shown) by a first frame bracket  26  and clamp rubber padding  40  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Similarly, the right side bracket  20  is mechanically coupled to truck frame  14  (not shown) by a second frame bracket  26  and clamp rubber padding  40  as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 3  shows the mechanical couple between the left side bracket  20  and truck frame  14  in more detail. Left side bracket  20  is mechanically coupled to left flap bracket  22  by inserting a first flap bracket clip  32  placed through a fifth clip hole  52  in left side bracket  20  thought a sixth clip hole in left flap bracket  22  forming a third mechanical couple. As shown, left flap bracket  22  further comprises a fourth plurality of clip holes  52  at a variety of locations to adjust the position of left flap bracket  22  to accommodate a user preference. Clamp rubber padding  40  is placed on top of left side bracket  20  and then left side frame bracket U-hook  42  is placed on top of clamp rubber padding  40  such that frame bracket slot  50  is aligned as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0027]    Similarly, right side bracket  20  is mechanically coupled to right flap bracket  24  by a second flap bracket clip  32  placed through a seventh clip hole  52  in right side bracket  20  through an eighth clip hole in right flap bracket  24  forming a fifth mechanical couple. Right flap bracket further comprises a fifth plurality of clip holes  52  drilled into right flap bracket  24  (not shown) at a plurality of locations to adjust the position of right flap bracket  24  to accommodate a user preference. Clamp rubber padding  40  is placed on top of right side bracket  20  and then right side frame bracket U-hook  42  is placed on top of clamp rubber padding  40  such that frame bracket slot  50  is aligned as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 4  shows an exploded view of portable mud-flap  10  in more detail. Center bracket  18  comprises a plurality of clamp holes  52 . Similarly, left side bracket  20  and right side bracket  20  comprise a plurality of clip holes  52 . A user can mechanically couple center bracket  18  to left side bracket  20  by inserting a first center bracket clip  28  through clip hole  52  in left side bracket  20 , though clip hole  52  in center bracket  18  creating a first mechanical couple. Center bracket clip lanyard  30  mechanically couples a first center bracket clip  28  to a second center bracket clip  28 . In a similar manner, a user can mechanically couple center bracket  18  to right side bracket  20  by inserting a second center bracket clip  28  through clip hole  52  in right side bracket  20 , though clip hole  52  in center bracket  18  creating a second mechanical couple. 
         [0029]    Right side bracket  20  is mechanically coupled to right flap bracket  24  by aligning right side bracket  20  with right flap bracket  24  such that a user determined clip hole  52  in right flap bracket  24  aligns with a clip hole  52  in right side bracket  20  and then the user inserts a first flap bracket clip  32  through right side bracket  20  through right flap bracket  24  completing the fifth mechanical couple. Similarly, left side bracket  20  is mechanically coupled to left flap bracket  22  by aligning left side bracket  20  with left flap bracket  22  such that a user determined clip hole  52  in left flap bracket  22  aligns with a clip hole  52  in left side bracket  20  and then the user inserts a flap bracket clip  32  through left side bracket  20  through left flap bracket  22  completing the fourth mechanical couple. 
         [0030]    Right flap bracket  24  comprises a plurality of clip holes  52  so that right flap bracket  24  can be aligned to accommodate user preference. Right flap bracket  24  further comprises a first rear light  38  and a first mud-flap  34 . First rear light  38  is mechanically coupled to right flap bracket  24  and electrically coupled to truck  12  (not shown), such that first rear light  38  can accomplish the same function as a truck brake light. Similarly, left flap bracket  22  comprises a plurality of clip holes  52  so that left flap bracket  22  can be aligned to accommodate user preference. Left flap bracket  22  further comprises second rear light  38  and a second mud-flap  34 , which has the same use and functionality noted above. The second mud-flap is mechanically coupled to left flap bracket  22  with a sixth mechanical couple. 
         [0031]      FIG. 5  shows frame bracket  26  in more detail as it appears on the left side. Left side frame bracket  26  comprises left side frame bracket U-hook  42  mechanically coupled to left frame bracket slot  50 . A user can mechanically couple left side bracket  20  to truck frame  14  (not shown) as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 6  shows frame bracket  26  in more detail as it appears on the right side. Right side frame bracket  26  comprises right side frame bracket U-hook  42  mechanically coupled to right side frame bracket slot  50 . A user can mechanically couple right side bracket  20  to truck frame  14  (not shown) as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 7  shows alternate frame bracket  36  in more detail as it appears on the left side. Left side alternate frame bracket  36  comprises left side alternate bracket hook  54  mechanically coupled to left side alternate bracket slot  56 . A user can mechanically couple alternate frame bracket  36  to truck frame  14  (not shown) in a manner similar to the one shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 8  shows alternate frame bracket  36  in more detail as it appears on the right side. Right side alternate frame bracket  36  comprises right side alternate bracket hook  54  mechanically coupled to right side alternate bracket slot  56 . A user can mechanically couple alternate frame bracket  36  to truck frame  14  (not shown) in a manner similar to the one shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 9  shows a section view of frame bracket  26 . Side bracket  20  is mechanically coupled to truck frame  14  by frame bracket U-hook  42 . As noted above a user can insert side bracket  20  through frame bracket U-hook  42 . After that a user can mechanically couple side bracket  20  to frame bracket U-hook  42  by inserting clamp rod  44  through frame bracket U-hook  42  into left side bracket  20  and completing the mechanical couple with rod handle  48 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 10  shows flap bracket clip  32  in use from a perspective view. A user can mechanically couple side bracket  20  to center bracket  18  by inserting flap bracket clip  32  through clip hole  52 . Similarly, a user can use this technique to mechanically couple side bracket  20  to right flap bracket  24  or to mechanically couple side bracket  20  to left flap bracket  22 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 11  shows user  16  preparing portable mud-flap  10  for storage. User  16  can collapse portable mud-flap  10  into a singular bar with a flap by decoupling left flap bracket  22  from left side bracket  20  by further removing clamp rod  44  from clip hole  52 . At this point, mud flap  34  can be rolled into a portable side and held in place with a snap, clip or other device depending on user preference. 
         [0038]      FIG. 12  shows the device completely collapsed and prepared for portable storage. User  16  has placed invention  12 , which has been collapsed as explained above, into carrying bag  58 . Carrying bag  58  may have logo  60  attached as necessary.