IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0214203
(2011-08-21)
|
등록번호 |
US-8579314
(2013-11-12)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Prazen, Frank Dan
- Cross, Raymond S.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Leyendecker & Lemire, LLC
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
3 인용 특허 :
25 |
초록
▼
A removable mud flap assembly adapted to rapid and facile removal of a flap member from a wheeled vehicle or trailer is described. The removable mud flap assembly includes a bracket assembly having a fixed structure affixed to the vehicle or trailer, and a removable structure affixed to the flap mem
A removable mud flap assembly adapted to rapid and facile removal of a flap member from a wheeled vehicle or trailer is described. The removable mud flap assembly includes a bracket assembly having a fixed structure affixed to the vehicle or trailer, and a removable structure affixed to the flap member. The removable structure securely engages the fixed structure to form an intact bracket assembly, and is adapted to readily disengage from the fixed structure, thereby enabling the flap member to be quickly and easily removed from the vehicle. The flap member is typically, but not necessarily, removed from the vehicle by one person in a few seconds, without the use of tools.
대표청구항
▼
1. A removable mud flap assembly comprising: a removable structure coupled to a flap member, the flap member being suspended below the removable structure and the removable structure including an upper edge, a first notch, and a second notch, the first and second notches residing at opposite ends of
1. A removable mud flap assembly comprising: a removable structure coupled to a flap member, the flap member being suspended below the removable structure and the removable structure including an upper edge, a first notch, and a second notch, the first and second notches residing at opposite ends of the removable structure and below the upper edge;a fixed structure removably coupled to the removable structure, the fixed structure including: a first pin including a portion residing within the first notch;a second pin including a portion residing within the second notch;a receiving slot within which resides the upper edge, wherein the upper edge is confined within the receiving slot while the first pin portion resides within the first notch and the second portion resides within the second notch;wherein: the second pin is a release pin having a home position and a retracted position, the home position including the release pin having a portion residing within the first notch, and the retracted position including the release pin being retracted from within the second notch while the upper edge resides within the receiving slot;the second notch comprises an upper notch boundary and a lower notch boundary, the upper notch boundary being shorter than the lower notch boundary; andthe release pin is spring loaded, a spring tension of the spring loading applying force to the release pin, the force being toward the home position and away from the retracted position. 2. The removable mud flap assembly of claim 1, wherein the flap member is adapted to be uncoupled from the fixed structure without using hand tools. 3. A removable mud flap assembly combination comprising: a vehicle including a chassis supported by a wheel;the removable mud flap assembly of claim 2, wherein: the fixed structure is coupled to the chassis; andthe flap member resides behind the wheel and proximate thereto. 4. A method of using the removable mud flap assembly combination of claim 3 comprising: moving the release pin from the home position to the retracted position;lowering the second notch away from the fixed structure while a portion of the upper edge vacates the receiving slot, the removable structure rotates about the first pin, and a portion of the upper edge remains within the receiving slot. 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising removing the upper edge entirely from within the receiving slot and uncoupling the flap assembly from the vehicle. 6. The method of claim 5, further comprising inserting a portion of the upper edge into the receiving slot and inserting at least a portion of the first pin into the first notch. 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising lifting the second notch until at least a portion of the release pin enters the second notch, wherein the removable structure rotates about the first pin during said lifting the second notch. 8. A removable mud flap assembly comprising: a removable structure including: a horizontal rod including a rod aperture;a flange projecting from the horizontal rod, the flange being coupled directly to the horizontal rod and to a flap member, the flap member being coupled directly to the removable structure;a fixed structure removably coupled to the removable structure, the fixed structure including: a horizontal tube including a longitudinal cavity, a longitudinal gap and a tube aperture leading from outside the horizontal tube into the longitudinal cavity, wherein the horizontal rod resides within the longitudinal cavity and the flange extends through the longitudinal gap from within the longitudinal cavity to outside the horizontal tube;a locking assembly including; a spring member coupled directly to an external surface of the horizontal tube; anda jut coupled directly to and projecting from the spring member, the jut having a ramped edge;wherein the locking assembly includes a home position and a retracted position, the home position including the spring member residing flat against the horizontal tube and the jut projecting through the tube aperture into the rod aperture to restrict movement of the horizontal rod in the horizontal tube, and the retracted position including the jut residing outside the rod aperture with the spring member being deflected away from the horizontal tube. 9. The removable mud flap assembly of claim 8, wherein the horizontal rod is generally cylindrical and the flange projects radially therefrom. 10. The removable mud flap assembly of claim 8, wherein the flap member is adapted to be non-destructively uncoupled from the fixed structure without using hand tools. 11. A removable mud flap assembly combination comprising: a vehicle including a chassis supported by a wheel;the removable mud flap assembly of claim 8, wherein: the fixed structure is coupled to the chassis; andthe flap member resides behind the wheel and proximate thereto; andthe horizontal tube is open at an end and adapted to receive the horizontal rod therethrough. 12. A method of using the removable mud flap assembly of claim 11 comprising: moving the locking assembly from the home position to the retracted position;removing the horizontal rod from within the tube cavity through the horizontal tube open end. 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: inserting the horizontal rod into the tube cavity through the horizontal tube open end;inserting the jut into the rod aperture, thereby securing the horizontal rod in the tube cavity. 14. A removable mud flap assembly comprising: a removable structure coupled to a flap member, the flap member being suspended below the removable structure and the removable structure including an upper edge, a first notch, and a second notch, the first and second notches residing at opposite ends of the removable structure and below the upper edge;a fixed structure removably coupled to the removable structure, the fixed structure including: a fixed pin including a portion residing within the first notch;a release pin having a home position wherein at least a portion of the release pin resides within the first notch, anda receiving slot within which resides the upper edge, wherein: the upper edge is confined within the receiving slot while the fixed pin portion resides within the first notch and the release pin portion resides within the second notch;the retracted position includes the release pin being retracted from within the second notch while the upper edge resides within the receiving slot; andthe release pin is spring loaded, the spring tension of the spring loading applying force to the release pin toward the home position and away from the retracted position. 15. A method of using the removable mud flap assembly of claim 14 comprising: moving the release pin from the home position to the retracted position;adjusting the second notch away from the fixed structure while a portion of the upper edge vacates the receiving slot, the removable structure rotates about the first pin, and a portion of the upper edge remains within the receiving slot; andremoving the upper edge entirely from within the receiving slot; anduncoupling the flap assembly from the fixed structure.
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