US4264083A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Splash guard
Assignee: Plantronics Inc
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Filing: 1979-08-22
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Granted: 1981-04-28
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Expires: 1999-08-22
Abstract
Abstract A splash guard or mud flap comprising a flexible, splash-intercepting body portion which may be fabricated of a material such as rubber or plastic or metal, and which is supported on and maintained in a preselected position on the fender of a vehicle by means of anchoring members adapted to be engaged along the fender of the vehicle. The anchoring members have a projection or pin-like member thereon for engaging and retaining the flexible, splash-intercepting body portion on the anchoring members. In a preferred embodiment of the splash guard, the body portion is fabricated of a material such as rubber or plastic which can be fully penetrated by the pin-like member utilizing only finger pressure. Locking means in the form of a push-on type nut advantageously is provided for the members. The splash guard, in its preferred form, can quickly and properly be positioned on the fender of a vehicle without the need for any tool.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth S. Matthew
- 👤 Harry J. Dickey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 03:35
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D25/00; B62D25/08; B62D25/16; B62D25/18; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T24/00; Y10T24/34; Y10T24/3427; Y10T24/46; Y10T24/4604; Y10T24/4605; Y10T24/4609; Y10T24/4621; Y10T24/4627
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
A splash guard or mud flap for attachment to the fender of a vehicle, comprising: a flexible, splash-intercepting body portion, resilient anchoring means for supporting the body portion and being adapted to be engaged along the fender of a vehicle for positioning the body portion thereon, said anchoring means including a front wall and a back wall resiliently integrally joined along one side in substantial overlying relation to one another, the free ends of said walls being separable a distance to enable the anchoring means to be snugly frictionally engaged on a vehicle fender, the resiliency of the anchoring means being such that the front wall and the back wall thereof provide substantially the total gripping force for maintaining the anchoring means on a vehicle fender while providing a rigid support base for the splash-intercepting body portion of the splash guard, and an outwardly extending pin-like member carried on the front wall of the resilient anchoring means for engaging and retaining said body portion on the anchoring means, said pin-like member being provided with means for securing and maintaining the body portion on the anchoring means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
186 words
A splash guard or mud flap for attachment to the fender of a vehicle, comprising: a flexible, splash-intercepting body portion, resilient anchoring means for supporting the body portion and being adapted to be engaged along the fender of a vehicle for positioning the body portion thereon, said anchoring means including a front wall and a back wall resiliently integrally joined along one side in substantial overlying relation to one another, the free ends of said walls being separable a distance to enable the anchoring means to be snugly frictionally engaged on a vehicle fender, the resiliency of the anchoring means being such that the front wall and the back wall thereof provide substantially the total gripping force for maintaining the anchoring means on a vehicle fender while providing a rigid support base for the splash-intercepting body portion of the splash guard, and an outwardly extending pin-like member carried on the front wall of the resilient anchoring means for engaging and retaining said body portion on the anchoring means, said pin-like member being provided with means for securing and maintaining the body portion on the anchoring means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A splash guard or mud flap according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the walls of the anchoring means is provided with inwardly extending retention means struck from said wall and adapted to resist disengagement of the anchoring means from a fender of a vehicle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
A splash guard or mud flap according to claim 1 wherein the body portion is fabricated of a material capable of being penetrated by the pin-like member of the anchoring means under finger-applied pressure, and the pin-like member of the anchoring means has a tapered end to facilitate penetration of the body portion by the pin-like member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
A splash guard or mud flap according to claim 1 wherein locking means is provided for the pin-like member, said locking means being adapted to be engaged on the pin-like member for securing and maintaining the body portion on the anchoring means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
A splash guard or mud flap according to claim 4 wherein the locking means comprises a cap member having a plurality of pin-engaging finger means which enable the cap member to be readily engaged on the pin-like member of the anchoring means while resisting disengagement of the cap member from the pin-like member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A splash guard or mud flap as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pin-like member of the anchoring means is provided with external threads for receiving a nut-like retaining member for securing and maintaining the body portion on the anchoring means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
A splash guard or mud flap as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pin-like member of the anchoring means is formed with spreadable body portion engaging means which when spread serve to secure and maintain the body portion on the anchoring means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
A splash guard or mud flap according to claim 7 wherein the body portion engaging means of the pin-like member comprises a pair of bendable legs which when bent into overlying relation with respect to the body portion act to secure and maintain the body portion on the anchoring means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
A splash guard or mud flap according to claim 1 wherein the body portion is provided with guide means for enabling the body portion both to be properly positioned on the anchoring means and oriented in relation to the fender of a vehicle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
72 words
A splash guard or mud flap according to claim 1 wherein the body portion is formed of a material capable under pressure of being penetrated by the pin-like member of the anchoring means and is provided with guide means comprising spaced rows of areas of reduced thickness to enable the body portion to be properly positioned on the anchoring means and to facilitate penetration of the body portion by the pin-like member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A splash guard or mud flap according to claim 1 wherein the body portion is provided with substantially vertically spaced openings along one margin thereof for receiving the pin-like member of the anchoring means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A splash guard or mud flap according to claim 11 wherein the body portion comprises a flexible, metal splash-intercepting unit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A splash guard or mud flap according to claim 1 wherein the body portion is fabricated of rubber, or rubber-like or plastics material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
A splash guard or mud flap according to claim 10 wherein the areas of reduced thickness comprising the spaced rows have a cross-sectional area which approximates that of the pin-like member of the anchoring means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
62 words
A splash guard or mud flap according to claim 1 wherein the opposed inner surfaces of the back and the front wall of the anchoring means are provided with inwardly extending spurs adapted to be partially embedded in the surface of a vehicle fender along which the anchoring means is positioned thereby to resist disengagement of the anchoring means from the fender.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
158 words
A splash guard or mud flap for attachment to the fender of a vehicle, comprising: a flexible, splash-intercepting body portion, and resilient anchoring means for supporting the body portion and adapted to be engaged along the fender of a vehicle for positioning the body portion thereon, said anchoring means having a back wall and a front wall interconnected at one end, the free ends thereof being separable a distance sufficient to enable the anchoring means to be snugly engaged along the fender of a vehicle in a preselected position, said anchoring means including a pin-like member extending outwardly from the front wall thereof for engaging and retaining the body portion on the anchoring means, the front wall of the anchoring means having a plurality of pin-engaging finger means for retaining the pin-like member of the anchoring means in position thereon, said pin-like member being provided with means for securing and maintaining the body portion on the anchoring means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
158 words
A splash guard or mud flap for attachment to the fender of a vehicle, comprising: a flexible, splash-intercepting body portion, and resilient anchoring means for supporting the body portion and adapted to be engaged along the fender of a vehicle for positioning the body portion thereon, said anchoring means having a back wall and a front wall interconnected at one end, the free ends thereof being separable a distance sufficient to enable the anchoring means to be snugly engaged along the fender of a vehicle in a preselected position, said anchoring means including a pin-like member extending outwardly from the front wall thereof for engaging and retaining the body portion on the anchoring means, the front wall of the anchoring means having a plurality of pin-engaging finger means for retaining the pin-like member of the anchoring means in position thereon, said pin-like member being provided with means for securing and maintaining the body portion on the anchoring means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
140 words
A splash guard or mud flap for attachment to the fender of a vehicle comprising: a flexible, splash-intercepting body portion capable of being flexed to conform to the extend necessary to the curvature of a vehcile fender, and at least two generally U-shaped clip-like members each having a front wall and a back wall adapted to be resiliently engaged along the fender of a vehicle, a pin-like projection carried on the front wall of each of said members for engaging and retaining the body portion on the the clip-like members, said body portion being fabricated of a material capable under modest pressure of being fully penetrated by the pin-like projection of the clip-like members, and fastening means adapted to be engaged on said pin-like projection of the clip-like members for securing and maintaining the body portion on the clip-like members.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
140 words
A splash guard or mud flap for attachment to the fender of a vehicle comprising: a flexible, splash-intercepting body portion capable of being flexed to conform to the extend necessary to the curvature of a vehcile fender, and at least two generally U-shaped clip-like members each having a front wall and a back wall adapted to be resiliently engaged along the fender of a vehicle, a pin-like projection carried on the front wall of each of said members for engaging and retaining the body portion on the the clip-like members, said body portion being fabricated of a material capable under modest pressure of being fully penetrated by the pin-like projection of the clip-like members, and fastening means adapted to be engaged on said pin-like projection of the clip-like members for securing and maintaining the body portion on the clip-like members.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
A splash guard or mud flap according to claim 17 wherein the body portion is fabricated of rubber, or rubber-like, or plastics material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
A splash guard or mud flap according to claim 17 wherein the fastening means comprises a push-on type nut having a plurality of finger-like extensions for engaging the pin-like projections on the clip-like members.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
A splash guard or mud flap according to claim 17 wherein the pin-like projection of the clip-like members is provided with a tapered end to facilitate penetration of the projection through the material of the body portion.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
79 words
Anchoring means for supporting a splash guard or mud flap on the fender of a vehicle, comprising: a resilient, generally U-shaped fender engaging member having a front wall and a back wall, and a pin-like projection carried on the front wall of the fender engaging member for supporting and retaining a splash guard or mud flap on the anchoring means, said pin-like projection having means for securing and maintaining a splash guard or mud flap on the anchoring means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
79 words
Anchoring means for supporting a splash guard or mud flap on the fender of a vehicle, comprising: a resilient, generally U-shaped fender engaging member having a front wall and a back wall, and a pin-like projection carried on the front wall of the fender engaging member for supporting and retaining a splash guard or mud flap on the anchoring means, said pin-like projection having means for securing and maintaining a splash guard or mud flap on the anchoring means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
46 words
Anchoring means according to claim 21 wherein splash guard or mud flap fastening means is provided for the anchoring means, said fastening means being adapted to be received on the pin-like projection of the anchoring means and to secure the splash guard or mud flap thereon.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
36 words
Anchoring means according to claim 21 wherein the arms of the U-shaped fender engaging member are provided with inwardly extending spurs for preventing the ready disengagement of the anchoring means from the fender of a vehicle.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-04-27 | 1984-10-27 | 1985-04-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-04-27 | 1988-10-27 | 1989-04-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-04-27 | 1992-10-27 | 1993-04-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |