Patent ID: 7537243

Claim:
A method of installing a mud flap onto a vehicle having a fender, said fender having a fender fastener aperture bearing a fender fastener and also having a contour, said method of installing said mud flap including, installing said mud flap in a predetermined position, and comprising: (a) providing a mud flap installation kit, having: (i) a mud flap having a set of at least three first apertures, each of said apertures positioned along a curve that parallels said fender contour and having a second aperture positioned to align with said fender fastener aperture; and (ii) a set of flat clip assemblies equal in number to said first apertures, each said flat clip assembly having a bolt, a leaf, said leaf having a leaf aperture, and a nut adapted to be threaded on said bolt; and (iii) a first bolt adapted to fit through said second aperture and said fender fastener aperture and a first nut adapted to be threaded onto said first bolt; (b) removing said fender fastener from said fender fastener aperture; (c) aligning said second aperture to said fender fastener aperture and threading said first bolt through said second aperture and said fender fastener aperture and threading and tightening said first nut onto said first bolt; (d) threading each said flat clip assembly bolt through a first aperture and a leaf aperture; (e) aligning said mud flap so that each said first aperture is a predetermined distance from said fender, thereby placing said mud flap in said predetermined position; and (f) threading and tightening said flat clip assembly nuts on said flat clip assembly bolts, thereby using said flat clip assemblies to clamp said mud flap to said fender.