Tilting dump truck mud flap assembly

Claim 2

For use with a vehicle having a frame and a tilting dump box pivotally mounted on said frame for movement between lowered and raised position, and apparatus for supporting a mud flap comprising: A support element carrying a mud flap; First support means attachable to said dump box to carry said support element when said dump box is in said lowered position; Second support means independent of said first support means attachable to said frame to carry said support element when said dump box is in raised position and to maintain said support element at a predetermined distance above ground.

Claim 3

The invention as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by: Said first support means comprising at least one flexible member suspending said support element from said dump box so that the support element lowers and raises therewith.

Claim 4

The invention as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by: Said second support means comprising a rockable member connected to said support element; Means pivotally connecting said rockable member to said vehicle frame to permit the lowering of said rockable member with said support element; Stop means on said frame for limiting downward movement of said rockable member after said support element has been lowered a predetermined distance as the dump box is moved into raised position for dumping.

Claim 5

The invention as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by: Said rockable member comprising an arm having end portions, one end portion being fixed to said support element, the other end portion being free; Said means pivotally connecting said rockable member to the frame including a bracket fixed to said frame and a pin interconnecting said arm with said bracket.

Claim 6

The invention as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by: A stop plate carried by said bracket and presented within the path of movement of said arm, said arm being adapted to engage said stop plate after said support element has moved downward a predetermined distance.

Claim 7

The iNvention as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by said stop plate being located adjacent the free end portion of said arm.

Claim 8

The invention as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by: A stop mounted on the free end portion of said arm and projecting normally outwardly therefrom, said stop being adapted to engage the stop plate of said bracket when the arm has swung through a predetermined arc.

Claim 9

The invention as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by: A spacer sleeve received over said pin; Flange means provided on the opposed ends of said spacer sleeve; Said arm having an opening for receiving said spacer sleeve, said opening being of greater diameter than the diameter of said spacer sleeve for permitting said arm to move laterally therealong during rockable movement.

Claim 10

The invention as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by: Said support element comprising an elongate transverse bar extending across said vehicle; A mud flap presented on opposed ends of said transverse bar; Said second support means comprising a pair of arms fixed to said bar at a point spacedly inwardly of said mud flaps; Means rockably mounting each arm to said vehicle frame; Stop means located within the path of movement of each arm for limiting downward movement thereof when said dump box is moved into raised position for dumping.

Claim 11

A mud flap assembly for attachment to a vehicle having a frame supported by wheels and a tilting dump box pivotally mounted to said frame for movement between raised and lowered position comprising: An upper mud flap suspended from said dump box, said upper mud flap having a lower edge normally presented spacedly upwardly of the center line of said wheels; A lower mud flap suspended from said dump box, said lower flap having an upper end edge presented in substantial horizontal alignment with said upper flap lower edge; A support element connected to said upper end edge of said lower flap; A rockable member having end portions, one end portion being fixed to said support element; the other end portion being free; A bracket fixed to said frame; Means pivotally mounting said rockable member to said bracket at a point spacedly from said free end portion; A stop plate fixed to said bracket and presented in the arc of movement of said free end portion; A stop fixed to said free end portion adapted for engagement with said stop plate to preclude downward movement of said support element after same has been lowered a predetermined distance.

Claim 12

A mud flap assembly for attachment to a vehicle having a frame supported by wheels and a tilting dump box pivotally mounted to said frame for movement between raised and lowered position comprising: An upper mud flap suspended from said dump box, said upper mud flap having a lower edge normally presented spacedly upwardly of the center line of said wheels; A lower mud flap suspended from said dump box, said lower flap having an upper end edge presented in substantial horizontal alignment with said upper flap lower edge; A support element connected to said upper end edge of said lower flap; A rockable member having end portions, one end portion being fixed to said support element; the other end portion being free; A bracket fixed to said frame; Means pivotally mounting said rockable member to said bracket at a point spacedly from said free end portion; A stop plate fixed to said bracket and presented in the arc of movement of said free end portion; A stop fixed to said free end portion adapted for engagement with said stop plate to preclude downward movement of said support element after same has been lowered a predetermined distance.