Patent ID: 6851717

Claim:
A mud flap that is adapted to be attached to a vehicle behind or outside a wheel thereof; said mud flap comprising: (a) an integrally-formed, mesh panel, said panel comprising: (i) a front face; (ii) a top edge; (iii) a plurality of strands; (iv) a plurality of openings defined by said plurality of stands, each of said plurality of openings having a minimum dimension of no more than ⅛ (0.125) inch; wherein the sum of the areas of the plurality of openings represents at least 75% of the surface area of the front face of the panel; wherein the openings in the integrally-formed, mesh panel are adapted to permit air to flow therethrough; and wherein the openings in the integrally-formed, mesh panel are sized such that substantially all water and roadway debris encountered by the panel is deflected by the panel; (b) a means for attaching the panel to the vehicle.