WO2017008124A1

WO2017008124A1 - Mud flap support assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2017008124A1
Application number: PCT/AU2016/050623
Authority: WO
Inventors: Allan Martin James
Original assignee: Truck & Bus Technology Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Truck & Bus Technology Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2015-07-15
Filing date: 2016-07-15
Publication date: 2017-01-19
Anticipated expiration: 2018-01-15

Abstract

A support assembly for securing a mud flap to a vehicle, including: a backing member securable to the vehicle, the backing member extending in the width direction across the mud flap and against which the mud flap is received, the backing member having at least one support boss extending therefrom for supporting the mud flap; and a resilient fixing member for fixing the mudflap to the backing member, the fixing member being elongate and configured for retaining the backing member at a first end and releasably securable relative to the backing member at a second end which is opposite from the first end, wherein the fixing member is curved along its length prior to attachment and resiliently deformable to apply pressure to the mud flap upon securing the second end relative to the backing member.

Description

MUD FLAP SUPPORT ASSEMBLY FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a mud flap support assembly and a mud flap assembly. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As part of regular maintenance, mud flaps on heavy vehicles are required to be changed when worn or damaged. Presently, a service technician is required to manually unbolt 4 to 5 bolts to remove the mud flap and, for installation, apply the same number of bolts. Access to these bolts can be difficult, requiring a technician to crawl under the vehicle.

Examples of the invention seek to solve, or at least ameliorate, one or more disadvantages of previous mud flaps.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, there is provided a support assembly for securing a mud flap to a vehicle, including:

a backing member securable to the vehicle, the backing member extending in the width direction across the mud flap and against which the mud flap is received, the backing member having at least one support boss extending therefrom for supporting the mud flap; and

a resilient fixing member for fixing the mudflap to the backing member, the fixing member being elongate and configured for retaining the backing member at a first end and releasably securable relative to the backing member at a second end which is opposite from the first end,

wherein the fixing member is curved along its length prior to attachment and resiliently deformable to apply pressure to the mud flap upon securing the second end relative to the backing member. According to preferred embodiments of the invention, the fixing member is non linear along its length and configured to straighten to apply pressure to the mud flap. Preferably, the fixing member is configured at the first end for releasable interlocking engagement with the backing member. The releasable interlocking engagement may be performed by a lug extending from the backing member, the lug having an opening in which the first end of the fixing member can be received. Preferably, the fixing member includes one or more apertures in which the or each support boss can be received. Preferably, the backing member is configured to be secured to a wheel arch.

In alternative embodiments, the backing member in coupled to a support member extending from a chassis of the vehicle. The backing member and the support member may be integrally formed.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mud flap assembly on a vehicle, including a support assembly of the above described type and a mud flap attached thereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention will be further described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a support assembly of one embodiment of the invention, the support assembly being fixed to a vehicle;

Figure 2 is another perspective view of the assembly;

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the assembly in use;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the assembly in a partially removed condition; Figure 5 is another perspective view of the assembly in a partially removed condition;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a support member of another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of an alternative support assembly using the support member of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the support assembly in a partially removed condition; and

Figure 9 is a partially exploded view of the alternative assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 illustrates a support assembly 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The support assembly 10 is configured for securing a mud flap 12 to a vehicle. In Figure 1, the support assembly 10 is fixed to a wheel arch 14 of a vehicle, though as will be described further below, the support assembly 10 can be fixed to other parts of a vehicle.

From Figure 3 it can be seen that the support assembly 10 includes a backing member 16 securable to the vehicle. The backing member 16 extends in the width direction across the mud flap 12 so that the mud flap 12 is received against the backing member 16. The backing member 16 has at least one support boss 18 extending therefrom for supporting the mud flap 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the at least one support boss 18 is in the form of three cap head screws 18a, 18b, 18c which are held in position through engagement with corresponding nuts 20a, 20b, 20c which are received behind wheel arch 14.

As will be illustrated in other embodiments, the backing member 16 may be secured directly to a part of the vehicle, though in the present embodiment, it cooperates with a support plate 17 received behind the wheel arch to prevent nuts 20a, 20b, 20c pulling through and damaging the wheel arch 14. In use, the wheel arch 14 is sandwiched between the backing member 16 and the support plate 17, as illustrated in Figure 3.

In use, the backing member 16 and support plate 17 are fixed to the wheel arch 17 and intended to permanently remain on the vehicle. With reference to Figure 5, it can be seen that once the backing member 16 and support plate 17 are fixed to the wheel arch 17, the heads of the cap head screws 18a, 18b, 18c form mounting bosses, on which the mud flap 12 can be mounted. The cap head screws 18a, 18b, 18c conveniently serve the dual purposes of fixing the backing member 16 to the wheel arch 14 and providing support bosses, though it will be appreciated that the support bosses could be otherwise formed and may be separate from the parts used to fix the backing member 16 to the wheel arch 14.

The support assembly 10 also includes a resilient fixing member 20 for fixing the mudflap 12 to the backing member 16. The mudflap 12, once mounted on the support bosses, is sandwiched between the resilient fixing member 20 and the backing member 16. The fixing member 20 is elongate and configured for retaining the backing member 16 at a first end and releasably securable relative to the backing member 16 at a second end which is opposite from the first end.

To releasably secure the fixing member 20 to the backing member 16, threaded fastener 22 and nut 24 are provided. To facilitate installation and straightening of the fixing member 20 during use, the threaded fastener 22 may be provided with a long shank.

In the illustrated embodiment, the fixing member 20 is curved along its length prior to attachment and resiliently deformable to apply pressure to the mud flap 12 upon securing the second end relative to the backing member. In this regard, the fixing member 20 is non linear along its length and configured to straighten to apply pressure to the mud flap 12 upon installation. By bending the fixing member 20 to install the mud flap 12, pressure is placed on the mud flap 12 to retain it in position on the support bosses. As illustrated in Figure 5, the fixing member 20 is configured at the first end for releasable interlocking engagement with the backing member 16. In this regard, the releasable interlocking engagement is performed by a lug 28 extending from the backing member 16, the lug 28 having an opening 30 in which the first end of the fixing member 20 can be received. So that the first end of the fixing member 20 can be received in the opening 30, the first end has a protuberance 32 extending therefrom which is received in the opening 30. Although described as an opening and a protuberance, it will be appreciated that the interlocking engagement may be performed by other interengaging features, such as a slot/hook combination, for example.

During installation, the mudflap 12 mounted on bossed 18a, 18b, 18c and the protuberance 32 of the fixing member 20 inserted into opening 30. Once inserted, pressure is applied to the fixing member 20 by a user to straighten the fixing member 20. Once almost completely straight, the fastener 24 may be applied to the assembly 10. Once fastener 24 has been started, final fixing pressure may be provided to the assembly through tightening the fastener 24 with a tool to ensure adequate mounting force.

So as to retain the mud flap 12 closely in position, the fixing member 20 includes one or more apertures, which in the illustrated embodiment are four apertures 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d, in which the or each support boss can be received. In use, the apertures extend around the support bosses, which services to support vertical loads applied to the mudflap 12 and keep it in position, during the rigours of use.

In the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, the backing member 16 is configured to be secured to a wheel arch. Figures 6 to 9 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the invention wherein an alternative support member 117 is provided. In these embodiments, the support member 117 is a member configured to extend from a chassis of the vehicle using mounting bolts 1 15a, 155b, though it will be appreciated that it may not extend directly from the chassis and that intermediate mounting members may also be used.

As illustrated in Figure 9,the backing member 16 is configured for fixing to the support member 117, though it will be appreciated that the support member 117 and the backing member 16 may be integrally formed as a single component or the support member 117 configured to perform the function of the backing member 16.

Installation and removal of a mudflap 12 from the support member 117 of the embodiment of Figures 6 to 9 is as per the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1 to 5.

It will be appreciated that once the backing member 16 is in place, a service technician is only required to remove and reapply a single bolt to remove and replace a mudflap. Also, because the bolt is at a single end of the fixing member 20, the service technician can perform the operation of removing and replacing the mudflap from a more convenience position beside the vehicle, without having crawl under the vehicle to access the support assembly 10, 110. Also, the same support assembly 10, 110 can be used on either side of the vehicle by simply rotating it, which allows mudflaps on both sides of the vehicle to be convenient changed on fitting the support assembly 10, 110 of the present invention. The embodiments have been described by way of example only and modifications are possible within the scope of the invention disclosed. For example, although shown as having a gradual, generally constant curve, the fixing member 20 may be other wise formed. For example, its curvature may be non-constant, or alternatively it may be formed of generally linear segments with a plurality of kinks provided in between.

Claims

1. A support assembly for securing a mud flap to a vehicle, including:

wherein the fixing member is curved along its length prior to attachment and resiliently deformable to apply pressure to the mud flap upon securing the second end relative to the backing member.

2. A support assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixing member is non linear along its length and configured to straighten to apply pressure to the mud flap.

3. A support assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the fixing member is configured at the first end for releasable interlocking engagement with the backing member.

4. A support assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the releasable interlocking engagement is performed by a lug extending from the backing member, the lug having an opening in which the first end of the fixing member can be received.

5. A support assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the fixing member includes one or more apertures in which the or each support boss can be received.

6. A support assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the backing member is configured to be secured to a wheel arch.

7. A support assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the backing member in coupled to a support member extending from or near to a chassis of the vehicle.

8. A support assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the backing member and the support member are integrally formed.

9. A mud flap assembly on a vehicle, including a support assembly according to any preceding claim and a mud flap attached thereto.