Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to an apparatus to reduce splash and spray for motor vehicles.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    During a thunderstorm or a cloud burst, rainwater falls to the road where the water pools or collects in indentations, tire tracks and channels in the road surface. This pooled water is dangerous, as it can allow hydroplaning of motor vehicles.  
           [0005]    Equally dangerous is the spray of water from the roadway splashing motor vehicles. The motor vehicles generate clouds of spray beside or behind the vehicle as they drive down the road. The tire tread of the rotating tires contacts the road surface to lift the water and flings the water onto the fender. A lot of the splashed water ricochets off the fender back onto the tire, while some water ricochets laterally out of the well. Some of the splashed water droplets collide with other water droplets to break apart and atomize into a fine spray. This fine spray produces a fog flowing laterally from the well to decrease visibility. Spray may also include other objects on the road, such as ice, salt, pebbles and dust.  
           [0006]    This spray residue is also thrown onto the steps, cab and vertical exhaust or exhaust stack. The thrown spray residue is a slick hazard for a driver stepping out of the cab. Furthermore, road salt and other debris can pockmark the steps, cab and exhaust tank leading to corrosion. This corrosion reduces the life of the part.  
           [0007]    To reduce dangerous spray, various splash guards and fenders have been proposed. While these splash guards address some of the problems of splash and spray by motor vehicles, none of them adequately and efficiently protect the steps, cab and exhaust system from excessive water spray.  
           [0008]    Outwardly extending side mounted extruded rubber fender extensions on the hood and fender, for example, extend protection beyond the width of the front tires. Side mounted fender extensions, however, create a gap between the hood mounted extension and the fender mounted extension. This gap allows splash and spray onto the hood and rear fender panel, as well as the steps and exhaust system.  
           [0009]    Overlapping injection molded extensions mounted to the fender and hood close the gap. Due to the manufacturing constraints of injection molding, as well as their shape, these injection molded extensions cannot extend outwardly as far as the previously discussed side mounted fender extensions.  
           [0010]    Fender extensions may also enclose the wheel well. While they reduce spray, these enclosures cause other problems. These enclosures are located outside the fenders which may increase drag on the vehicle. This increased drag decreases the vehicle&#39;s mileage.  
           [0011]    Therefore, it is one object of the invention to provide a device to reduce splash and spray thrown rearwardly onto the steps, cab and exhaust system.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0012]    According to the invention, there is provided an apparatus to suppress splash and spray thrown rearward from the tire of a wheeled motor vehicle, especially trucks. The invention includes a panel fastened to a bracket. The panel has opposite first and second faces. The bracket has first and second sides on the first panel face and fastens to the panel at one of the sides. A connector projects from the bracket away from the panel.  
           [0013]    Another apparatus of the invention has a panel fastened to a bracket. A connector projecting from the bracket connects the bracket to a first support. The panel has opposite first and second faces, while the bracket has at least two sides on the first panel face and is fastened to the panel at one of the sides.  
           [0014]    Additional effects, features and advantages will be apparent in the written description that follows. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus of the invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 is a side view of an apparatus of the invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an apparatus of the invention as part of a step module; and  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an apparatus of the invention assembled to a motor vehicle. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]    Turning to the figures where like reference numerals refer to like structures, the splash and spray suppressor is designed for a wheeled motor vehicle, especially for trucks. As shown in FIG. 1, first  12  and second  13  sides of bracket  10  are located on a face  32  of panel  22 . In this embodiment, first  12  and second  13  sides are approximately perpendicular to each other to define first frame  16  of bracket  10 . First side  12  can be parallel to second side  13  (not shown). Panel  22  can extend outside of bracket  10 .  
         [0021]    Third side  14  of bracket  10  is approximately perpendicular to either first  12  or second  13  side. Preferably, third side  14  is parallel to first side  12  and second side  13  is therebetween. Bracket  10  can also have a fourth side (FIG. 3) approximately perpendicular to either first  12  or second  13  side.  
         [0022]    First connector  18  projects from side  12  of bracket  10  away from panel  22 . First connector  18  connects to first support  26 . Preferably second connector  20  projects from either second  13  or third  14  side of bracket  10  away from panel  22  to connect to second support  28 .  
         [0023]    As shown in FIG. 3, bracket  10  can have second frame  17  on second face  33  of panel  22 . Second frame  17  has first  12  and second  13  sides, and can also have third and fourth sides. Panel  22  fits between first  16  and second  17  frames of bracket  10 . Alternatively, first  16  and second  17  frames of bracket  10  can be at least partially assembled before sliding panel  22  into bracket  10 .  
         [0024]    Panel  22  fastens to bracket  10 , typically with fasteners  24 , such as bolts, Christmas tree fasteners, lag screws, and the like. The panel could also fasten to the frame by molding the panel to the frame, fusing the panel to the frame, or by welding the panel to the frame.  
         [0025]    Panel  22  can be reinforced by a brace molded within or fused to panel  22 . If a brace is used, panel  22  can fasten to bracket  10  at brace  34 .  
         [0026]    [0026]FIGS. 3 and 4 show bracket  10  with step module  30 . Step module  30  has first support  26  and second support  28 , both of which are preferably horizontal. Connectors  18 ,  20  can mount directly to supports  26 ,  28  respectively using fasteners. Alternatively, connector  18  and/or connector  20  can mount to mounting bracket  34  which is then fastened to at least one of the supports. Once step module  30  is assembled with bracket  10 , the entire assembly attaches to motor vehicle  36  behind tire  38 .  
         [0027]    The apparatus of the invention has a number of advantages. The design of the apparatus is versatile, yet protects the step, cab and exhaust tank independent of the axle and tire widths. The same size of panel can be used with different sizes of brackets. This allows the apparatus to be used with motor vehicles of different sizes and having different axle and tire widths. In some trucks, the apparatus may eliminate the use of a mud flap.  
         [0028]    Alternatively, different sizes of panels can be used with similar sizes of brackets, especially if the panels are reinforced. A larger panel, for example, could protect the full width of the tires.  
         [0029]    The apparatus of the invention is efficiently assembled. The bracket and panel could be assembled independent of the motor vehicle assembly. After the apparatus is assembled, the apparatus can mount directly to the motor vehicle or to the step module. The latter allows the bracket and the step module to be mounted together to the motor vehicle during the assembly of the motor vehicle.  
         [0030]    While the invention is shown in only one of its forms, it is not thus limited but is susceptible to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Category: 7