GB2045706A - Mud flap for a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The mud flap has a flat, main flap member (1) a projection (2) forming an extension of the main flap member, either in the same plane, or curved out of this plane. The projection has a concave marginal strip (5) which merges into the top edge (4) of the main flap member and, as viewed in section, the strip (5) is inclined at 10 DEG to 15 DEG to the body (7) of the projection. This strip is secured by clamps (8) to a turned flange of the body of a vehicle, which flange is inclined to the wheel axis, such that the main flap member (1) is orientated parallel to the wheel axis. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Mud flap for a motor vehicle The invention relates to a mud flap for a motor vehicle.

Such a flap is known, which is made of flexible material and comprises a main flap member a shapable member for shaping to the pattern of the vehicle body work in the region of fixing of the flap, and a fixing device in the form of marginal strip and fixing clamps which engage around a turned over edge of the body work, or screws which pass through the marginal strip and the turned over edge of the body work.

Such a mud flap is known from German Patent Specification No. 2529718. In that case, the shapable member incorporates a strip of sheet metal which serves as a reinforcing member. The sheet metal strip extends more or less in the central zone of the shapable member and has two stamped out fixing locations, which can be secured to variously designed body work parts, especially a turned over edge of the body work.

German Patent Specification No. 2342365 likewise shows a similarly constructed mud flap in which there is a reinforcing member consisting of a sheet metal strip, the inside edge of which coincides with an edge of the shapable member and which also protudes into the zone of the main flap member, along the top edge of the latter. In conjunction with fixing clamps or self-tapping screws, this known mud flap can be fixed to bodies of different types of motor vehicles as have in the region of the wheel cut-outs of the wings a turned over body work edge which is angled at about 90 to a substantially vertical part.

By bending the sheet metal strip, it is possible to align the plane of the main flap member in relation to a vertical plane through the wheel axis. However, this is only possible if the flat, bendable, sheet metal strip extends at least along a part of the top edge of the mud flap, so that in the flap part of the mud flap, which consists of a soft and elastic material, achieves by reason of the reinforcing member such a rigidity that the entire mud flap is held in a substantially stable and clearly defined position.

Furthermore, it is known from DT-OS No.

2,352,472, in the case of types of motor vehicles which do not have such a bent over edge to the body work to use a special fixing device together with a flap made of flexible material. The fixing devices, consisting of clamps, are, in the region of the sheet metal strip, which is also provided in this case, adapted to be fitted to this latter, so that their clamping faces are directed substantially at a right angle to the plane of the flap.

The edge of the body work on which a mud flap is secured does not always extend parallel to, or at a right-angle to the wheel axis, but in many cases at an acute angle of about 10 to 15 in relation to the wheel axis, If the abovedescribed three mud flaps are mounted on such motor vehicles, then it is necessary, for proper orientation of the main flap member in relation to the wheel axis, or a vertical plane through it, to bend the sheet metal strip not only in accordance with the cut-out in the wheel area, but in addition, during the bending operation, to twist it, so that the main flap member has its plane in a parallel location to the wheel axis or in a parallel location in respect of the vertical plane through the wheel axis. Twisting of the sheet metal strip is tiresome and requires corresponding care and skill in completion.It often happens that the correct and desired fitment of the mud flap against the motor vehicle is not achieved.

The invention is based on the problem of developing a mud flap that can easily be used and correctly fitted in relation to the wheel axis, in those types of motor vehicle in which the turned over edge of the body work, in the region of the wheel cut-out, extends at an acute angle to the wheel axis. Often, different motor vehicles are similar in that they have similarly shaped body work edges, so that it should be possible to equip these vehicles with a single universally applicable mud flap.

According to the invention there is provided a mud flap for a motor vehicle, comprising a main flap member and an integral projection, forming an integral extension of the main flap member, the member and the projection being made of flexible material, the projection having a marginal strip which, as viewed in cross-section, is inclined at an oblique angle to the body of the projection, whereby the strip can be secured to a marginal edge of a vehicle body, which is inclined to the wheel axis, with the main flap member orientated parallel to the wheel axis.

It is therefore, unnecessary to use a separate reinforcing strip of sheet metal. By virtue of this shaping, the mud flap acquires in the region of the projection adequate strength, which has its effect on the direction stability of the main flap member. Furthermore, simple assembly is assured since the angling of the marginal strip can readily be chosen according to the acute angle between the turned over edge of the body work and the wheel axis.

This acute angle need not vary, since many motor vehicles have the same angle, which is determined by the mould removal capacity of the portion of body work which is pressed from sheet metal.

A particular strengthening effect occurs if the marginal strip, while merging into the rest of the projection, forms a concave edge and has a more or less constant thickness, preferably that of the rest of the projection.

The marginal strip can merge into the top edge of the main flap member and end there. Such a construction is not necessary, however, except in the case of body work which is trough-shaped.

As a rule, the marginal strip of the projection is inclined in the direction of the back of the mud flap. The angle corresponds to the body work shaping in which the turned over edge of the body work is bent in relation to the adjacent part of the body work through an angle of more than 90 , for example 100 or 105", so that the portion of body work can easily be removed from the mould as a deep drawn part. If however the body work is differently designed, then it may also be logical and may even be necessary for the marginal strip to be inclined in the opposite direction, towards the front of the mud flap.

As a rule, the rest of the projection is flat in construction and is substantially co-planar with the main flap member. It is however also possible for the projection to be curved out of the place of the main flap member. This curving is to adapt the flap to a curved pattern of the wheel cut-out in the body work.

However, since the main flap membr and the projection are made of flexible material, usually rubber, such shaping is generally unnecessary.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a left-hand mud flap according to the invention, Figure 2 shows a section on the line ll-ll in Fig. 1; Figure 3 shows a section on the line Ill-Ill in Fig. 1; Figure 4 shows a section on the line IV-IV in Fig. 1; Figure 5 shows a section on the line V-V in Fig. 1, but showing a modification of the section shown in Fig. 4; and Figure 6 shows a partial section through a right-hand mud flap, applied to the turned over edge of the body work of a vehicle.

The mud flap shown in Fig. 1 is adapted to be mounted on the left-hand side of the body work of a vehicle. The Figure shows the back of the mud flap, which consists of a main flap member 1 and, extending from the top thereof, a mounting projection 2. The mounting projection 2 has an edge 3, which is concave and merges into a top edge 4 of the main flap member 1. A marginal strip 5 of the mounting projection along the concave edge 3, is bent out of the general plane of the body 7 of the projection and th'e main flap member 1 and has a concave edge 6 adjoining the body 7. The marginal strip 5 has, for most of its length, a width sufficient for receiving fixing clamps 8 which are fixed to this marginal strip 5. The marginal strip 5 does not have a constant width over its entire length, but tapers to the point of merging with the top edge 4 of the main flap member 1.

The inclination of the marginal strip 5 to the general plane of the body 7 of the projection 2 is, for example, 10 to 15 (as seen in Figs. 2 or 3) according to the corresponding inclination of the edge of the body work of a vehicle in relation to the wheel axis or a plane through the wheel axis. As a result of this inclining of the strip 5 the provision of a sheet metal strip becomes unnecessary. The mud flap, when it is fitted, automatically acquires a correct and properly orientated fit, whereby, in particular, the main flap member 1 extends in a plane parallel to the wheel axis.

On the back, the main flap member 1, and also the body of the projection 2, have raised ribs 9, which serve to counteract a lateral flow of water which is thrown against the mud flap, but also act as reinforcements for the mud flap, which is usually made of rubber.

As Fig. 4 shows the body 7 of the projection 2 usually lies in the same general plane as the main flap member 1. The marginal strip 5 is angled out of this plane. The wheel cut-out in the body work of a vehicle extends arcuately, but the arc is usually slight and can be regarded as a straight line for our purposes, since the projection can readily adapt to the shape of the body work and the desired location of the main flap member 1 is not adversely affected thereby. If, however, the arc of the wheel cut-out extends with a more marked curvature, then it may be desirable or necessary for the body 7 of the projection 2 to be curved as well. Such an example is shown in Fig. 5. in this case, too, the marginal strip 5 is obliquely inclined to the body 7 of the projection 2, as viewed in cross-section, but the body 7 is curved out of the plane of the main flap member 1.

Fig.6 shows a partial section through the mud flap mounted on the turned over edge part 10 of body work 11 in the region of a wheel cut-out. The edge part 10 is angled in relation to the adjacent part of the body work 11, the angle being greater than 90 to facilitate removal of the deep drawn part from its mould. The marginal strip 5 rests against the turned over edge part 10 of the body work. A fixing clamp 8, of channel form, engages around both parts and has a screw 12, tightening of which clamps the strip 5 to the edge part 1 0. This mounts the main flap member in its properly orientated position parallel to the wheel axis.

Claims (9)

1. A mud flap for a motor vehicle, comprising a main flap member and an integral projection, forming an integral extension of the main flap member, the member and the projection being made of flexible material the projection having a marginal strip which, as viewed in cross-section, is inclined at an oblique angle to the body of the projection, whereby the strip can be secured to a marginal edge of a vehicle body which is inclined to the wheel axis, with the main flap member orientated parallel to the wheel axis.

2. A mud flap according to Claim 1, wherein the marginal strip is concave, merges into the body of the projection and has a substantially constant thickness.

3. A mud flap according to Claim 2, wherein the body of the projection and the marginal strip are of substantially constant thickness.

4. A mud flap according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the marginal strip terminates at the top edge of the main flap member.

5. A mud flap according to any preceding Claim, wherein the marginal strip is inclined to the body of the projection, such that the strip extends in the direction of the rear of the mud flap.

6. A mud flap according to any preceding Claim, wherein the projection is curved out of the plane of the main flap member.

7. A mud flap according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the projection is coplanar with the main flap member.

8. A mud flap according to any preceding claim, wherein the inclination of the strip to the body of the projection is from 10 to 15 .

9. A mud flap constructed substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 and 6, or to Figs. 1 to 3, 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.