Mud flaps and underbody structure

Abstract

To provide a mud flap that can reduce air stagnation in the wheel well, in a configuration where the mud flap is connected to the vehicle body on the rear side relative to the wheel. [Solution] The mud flap comprises a connecting plate portion and an opposing plate portion. The connecting plate portion is connected to the vehicle body on the rear side relative to the wheel. The opposing plate portion has a front surface that faces the wheel from the rear side, below the connecting plate portion. The front surface of the opposing plate portion is inclined toward the rear as it moves inward in the width direction of the vehicle body, and is inclined in the width direction along its entire width from the outer edge to the inner edge.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a mud flap and a vehicle underbody structure.

Background Art

[0002] Vehicles with mud flaps attached to the vehicle body are known. In such vehicles, the adhesion of mud etc. splashed by the wheels to the vehicle body is suppressed by the mud flaps. As a mud flap attached to the vehicle body, a mud flap connected to the vehicle body on the rear side with respect to the wheel is known (see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In a vehicle in which a mud flap is connected to the vehicle body on the rear side with respect to the wheel as described above, it is required to reduce the stagnation of air caused by the mud flap in the wheelhouse. In particular, in the wheelhouse, it is required to reduce the stagnation of air that has flowed around to the rear side of the wheel.

[0005] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a mud flap and a vehicle underbody structure capable of reducing the stagnation of air in the wheelhouse in a configuration in which a mud flap is connected to the vehicle body on the rear side with respect to the wheel.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In one aspect of the present invention, the mud flap comprises a connecting plate portion and an opposing plate portion. The connecting plate portion is connected to the vehicle body on the rear side relative to the wheel. The opposing plate portion has a front surface that faces the wheel from the rear side, below the connecting plate portion. The front surface of the opposing plate portion is inclined in the width direction as it approaches the inside in the width direction of the vehicle body, and is inclined with respect to the width direction over its entire width from the outer edge to the inner edge. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, in a configuration in which the mud flap is connected to the vehicle body on the rear side of the wheel, it is possible to provide a mud flap and a vehicle understructure that can reduce air stagnation in the wheel well. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the undercarriage structure of a vehicle according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a cross-section along the dashed line α1 in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a cross-section along the dashed line α2 in Figure 1. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view showing a mud flap according to this embodiment. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view showing the mud flap according to the embodiment, viewed from a different direction than in Figure 4. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the mud flap according to the embodiment in a cross-section perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the width direction of the vehicle body. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the mud flap according to the embodiment, which is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the width direction of the vehicle body and passes inside the width direction of the vehicle body relative to the cross-section in Figure 6. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0010] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a vehicle understructure 1 in a vehicle according to an embodiment. Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a cross section along the dashed line α1 in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a cross section along the dashed line α2 in Figure 1. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the vehicle including the vehicle understructure 1 comprises a vehicle body 2.

[0011] In the vehicle and body 2, the longitudinal direction (directions indicated by arrows X1 and X2), the height direction (directions indicated by arrows H1 and H2) that intersects (orthogonal or nearly orthogonal to) the longitudinal direction, and the width direction (directions indicated by arrows W1 and W2) that intersects (orthogonal or nearly orthogonal to) both the longitudinal and height directions are defined. The longitudinal and width directions of the vehicle and body 2 are, for example, along the horizontal plane, and the height direction of the vehicle and body 2 is along the vertical direction. In the vehicle and body 2, one side in the longitudinal direction is defined as the front side (arrow X1 side), and the side opposite to the front side is defined as the rear side (arrow X2 side). In addition, in the vehicle and body 2, one side in the height direction is defined as the upper side (arrow H1 side), and the side opposite to the upper side is defined as the lower side (arrow H2 side). In the vehicle and body 2, one side in the width direction is defined as the left side (arrow W1 side), and the side opposite to the left side is defined as the right side (arrow W2 side). Figure 1 shows the vehicle and body 2 as viewed from the left side. Figures 2 and 3 show cross-sections perpendicular or nearly perpendicular to the height direction as viewed from above (vertically above).

[0012] The vehicle body 2 includes a lower body portion 3, which corresponds to the lower part of the vehicle body 2 in the height direction. The lower body portion 3 includes a lower body surface 5 that forms the lower end of the vehicle body 2. The lower body surface 5 faces downward and faces the road surface 6. The lower body surface 5 is formed from, for example, the front bumper, rear bumper, floor panel, and side sill. In one example, the parts forming the lower body surface 5 include, in addition to the aforementioned parts, side outer panels such as cargo side outer panels. In a vehicle, the lower body surface 5 is located above the road surface 6, and a space 7 is formed between the lower body surface 5 and the road surface 6.

[0013] The lower part 3 of the vehicle body is equipped with fenders 10, and the fenders 10 are recessed upward relative to the lower end surface 5 of the vehicle body. In the vehicle, a wheelhouse 11 is formed between the fender 10 and the road surface 6. A wheel (tire) 12 is placed in the wheelhouse 11, and the wheelhouse 11 is defined as the space in which the wheel 12 is placed. In a four-wheeled vehicle equipped with a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels as wheels 12, a pair of front fenders and a pair of rear fenders are formed as fenders 10 in the lower part 3 of the vehicle body. The front wheels are placed between each of the front fenders and the road surface 6, and the rear wheels are placed between each of the rear fenders and the road surface 6. In this case, in the lower part 3 of the vehicle body, one of the pair of front fenders and one of the pair of rear fenders are formed on the left side, and the other of the pair of front fenders and the other of the pair of rear fenders are formed on the right side. In Figures 1 and 2, the rear fender formed on the left side is shown as fender 10, and in Figures 1 to 3, the left rear wheel is shown as wheel 12.

[0014] The following describes the structure of the fender 10 and its vicinity as part of the vehicle understructure 1. In the following description, the structure of the left rear fender and its vicinity will be described as an example of the vehicle understructure 1. In the left rear fender and its vicinity, the left side (arrow W1 side) corresponds to the outside in the width direction of the vehicle body 2, and the right side (arrow W2 side) corresponds to the inside in the width direction of the vehicle body 2. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, a mud flap 13 is attached to the fender 10 of the lower part 3 of the vehicle body. The mud flap 13 suppresses the adhesion of mud and other debris splashed up by the wheels 12 to the vehicle body 2. In this embodiment, the mud flap 13 is connected to the fender 10 in the wheelhouse 11 on the rear side relative to the wheel 12. The mud flap 13 is also positioned close to the rear side of the wheel 12. A gap is formed between the mud flap 13 and the wheel 12.

[0015] Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view showing the mud flap 13 according to the embodiment, and Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view showing the mud flap 13 according to the embodiment viewed from a different direction than that shown in Figure 4. Furthermore, Figure 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the mud flap 13 according to the embodiment in a cross section perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the width direction of the vehicle body 2, and Figure 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the mud flap 13 according to the embodiment in a cross section perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the width direction of the vehicle body 2 and passing inside the cross section of Figure 6 in the width direction of the vehicle body 2.

[0016] As shown in Figures 1 to 7, the mud flap 13 comprises a connecting plate portion 15, an intermediate plate portion 16, and an opposing plate portion 17. The connecting plate portion 15 is connected to the fender 10 on the rear side of the vehicle body 2 relative to the wheel 12. By connecting the connecting plate portion 15 to the fender 10, the mud flap 13 is attached to the fender 10. The connecting plate portion 15 is connected to the fender 10, for example, via one or more screws. The connecting plate portion 15 also abuts against the fender 10 from the front side, and on the fender 10, the connecting plate portion 15 abuts against the portion on the rear side relative to the wheel 12. The connecting plate portion 15 connected to the fender 10 is located in the wheel well 11, and a gap is formed between the connecting plate portion 15 connected to the fender 10 and the wheel 12 in the wheel well 11. The cross-section shown in Figure 2 passes through the connecting plate portion 15.

[0017] The connection plate portion 15 has an upper edge 21 forming the upper end and a lower edge 22 forming the lower end. The connection plate portion 15 extends along the outer surface of the fender 10 from the upper edge 21 to the lower edge 22. Therefore, in the connection plate portion 15 connected to the fender 10, the thickness direction of the connection plate portion 15 is orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the outer surface of the fender 10. The upper edge 21 of the connection plate portion 15 forms the upper end of the mud flap 13. Also, the connection plate portion 15 has an outer edge 25 and an inner edge 26. The connection plate portion 15 connected to the fender 10 extends along the width direction of the vehicle body 2 over the entire width from the outer edge 25 to the inner edge 26. Also, in the connection plate portion 15 connected to the fender 10, the inner edge 26 is located on the inner side in the width direction of the vehicle body 2 with respect to the outer edge 25. Therefore, in the connection plate portion 15 of the mud flap 13 attached to the left rear fender, the inner edge 26 is located on the right side with respect to the outer edge 25.

[0018] Since the connection plate portion 15 is connected to the fender 10 as described above, the connection plate portion 15 connected to the fender 10 is not inclined or hardly inclined with respect to the width direction of the vehicle body 2. The connection plate portion 15 connected to the fender 10 extends, for example, parallel or substantially parallel to the width direction of the vehicle body 2. Also, since the connection plate portion 15 follows the outer surface of the fender 10, it is inclined with respect to the height direction of the vehicle body 2. The connection plate portion 15 connected to the fender 10 is inclined so as to go toward the rear side more downward, and is inclined with respect to the height direction (vertical direction). That is, the connection plate portion 15 is inclined such that the lower edge 22 is located on the rear side with respect to the upper edge 21, and is inclined with respect to the height direction.

[0019] In the mud flap 13, a relay plate portion 16 is connected to the lower edge 22 of the connection plate portion 15. The relay plate portion 16 has a front edge 31 forming the front end and a rear edge 32 forming the rear end. In the mud flap 13, the front edge 31 of the relay plate portion 16 is connected to the lower edge 22 of the connection plate portion 15. In the mud flap 13 attached to the fender 10, the relay plate portion 16 bends rearward with respect to the connection plate portion 15 toward the rear side of the vehicle body 2. And the relay plate portion 16 extends along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body 2 from the front edge 31 to the rear edge 32. Further, the relay plate portion 16 has an outer edge 35 and an inner edge 36. In the mud flap 13 attached to the fender 10, the relay plate portion 16 extends along the width direction of the vehicle body 2 over the entire width from the outer edge 35 to the inner edge 36. And in the relay plate portion 16, the inner edge 36 is located on the inner side in the width direction of the vehicle body 2 with respect to the outer edge 35.

[0020] As described above, in the mud flap 13 attached to the fender 10, the relay plate portion 16 extends along both the longitudinal direction and the width direction of the vehicle body 2. For this reason, the thickness direction of the relay plate portion 16 is orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the height direction (vertical direction) of the vehicle body 2. Also, in the mud flap 13 attached to the fender 10, the relay plate portion 16 is disposed in the space 7 between the lower end surface 5 of the vehicle body and the road surface 6. And the relay plate portion 16 abuts against the lower end surface 5 of the vehicle body from below (vertically downward). The mud flap 13 attached to the left rear fender abuts against, for example, a portion formed from either the rear bumper or the side outer panel at the lower end surface 5 of the vehicle body from below. Also, a gap is formed between the relay plate portion 16 disposed in the space 7 and the road surface 6.

[0021] In the mud flap 13, the opposing plate portion 17 is connected to the rear edge 32 of the intermediate plate portion 16. The opposing plate portion 17 has an upper edge 41 that forms the upper end and a lower edge 42 that forms the lower end. In the mud flap 13, the upper edge 41 of the opposing plate portion 17 is connected to the rear edge 32 of the intermediate plate portion 16. In the mud flap 13 attached to the fender 10, the opposing plate portion 17 bends downward (vertically downward) relative to the intermediate plate portion 16. The opposing plate portion 17 extends from the upper edge 41 to the lower edge 42 along the height direction (vertical direction) of the vehicle body 2. The lower edge 42 of the opposing plate portion 17 forms the lower end of the mud flap 13. The opposing plate portion 17 has an outer edge 45 and an inner edge 46. In the opposing plate portion 17 of the mud flap 13 attached to the fender 10, the inner edge 46 is located inward in the width direction of the vehicle body 2 relative to the outer edge 45.

[0022] In the mud flap 13 attached to the fender 10, the opposing plate portion 17 is positioned in the space 7 between the lower end surface 5 of the vehicle body and the road surface 6. The opposing plate portion 17 is positioned below (vertically below) the connecting plate portion 15. The opposing plate portion 17 protrudes downward in the height direction relative to the lower end surface 5 of the vehicle body and protrudes toward the road surface 6. A gap is formed between the opposing plate portion 17 positioned in the space 7 and the road surface 6. Therefore, a gap is formed between the lower edge 42 of the opposing plate portion 17 and the road surface 6. Note that the cross-section shown in Figure 3 passes through the opposing plate portion 17 and passes below the cross-section shown in Figure 6.

[0023] The opposing plate section 17 comprises a front surface 47 and a rear surface 48 as a pair of main surfaces. The front surface 47 faces one side in the thickness direction of the opposing plate section 17, and the rear surface 48 faces the opposite side from the side that the front surface 47 faces. In the opposing plate section 17, each of the front surface 47 and the rear surface 48 extends across the entire width of the opposing plate section 17 from the outer edge 45 to the inner edge 46. Therefore, at each of the front surface 47 and the rear surface 48 of the opposing plate section 17, the outer end in the width direction of the vehicle body 2 is connected to the outer edge 45, and the inner end in the width direction of the vehicle body 2 is connected to the inner edge 46.

[0024] Furthermore, in the opposing plate portion 17, the front 47 and rear 48 each extend from the upper edge 41 to the lower edge 42. In the mud flap 13 attached to the fender 10, the front 47 and rear 48 of the opposing plate portion 17 each extend along the height direction (vertical direction) of the vehicle body 2 and are not inclined with respect to the height direction, or are hardly inclined. The front 47 and rear 48 extend, for example, parallel or approximately parallel to the height direction of the vehicle body 2. In addition, in the mud flap 13 attached to the fender 10, the outer edge 45 and inner edge 46 also extend along the height direction (vertical direction) and are not inclined with respect to the height direction, or are hardly inclined.

[0025] In the mud flap 13 attached to the fender 10, the front surface 47 of the opposing plate portion 17 faces the front side of the vehicle body 2, and the rear surface 48 faces the rear side of the vehicle body 2. In the opposing plate portion 17 positioned in the space 7 between the lower end surface 5 of the vehicle body and the road surface 6, the front surface 47 faces the wheel 12 from the rear. Therefore, the front surface 47 of the opposing plate portion 17 faces the wheel 12 from the rear, below (vertically below) the connecting plate portion 15 and the lower end surface 5 of the vehicle body. The opposing plate portion 17 is positioned close to the rear of the wheel 12. In addition, in the opposing plate portion 17 positioned in the space 7, there is a gap between the front surface 47 and the wheel 12.

[0026] In the opposing plate portion 17 positioned in space 7, the front surface 47 is inclined with respect to the width direction of the vehicle body 2 from the outer end to the inner end in the width direction of the vehicle body 2. That is, the front surface 47 is inclined with respect to the width direction of the vehicle body 2 across the entire width of the opposing plate portion 17 from the outer edge 45 to the inner edge 46. Furthermore, the front surface 47 is inclined with respect to the width direction of the vehicle body 2 with the inner end positioned towards the rear relative to the outer end. That is, the front surface 47 is inclined with respect to the width direction of the vehicle body 2 with the inclination towards the rear as it moves inward in the width direction of the vehicle body 2. In the mud flap 13 attached to the left rear fender, the front surface 47 of the opposing plate portion 17 is inclined with respect to the width direction of the vehicle body 2 with the inclination towards the rear as it moves towards the right side of the vehicle body 2. The inclination angle θ of the front surface 47 with respect to the width direction of the vehicle body 2 is 45° or less. It is also preferable that the inclination angle θ of the front surface 47 is 10° or more and 25° or less. In one preferred example, the inclination angle θ of the front surface 47 is 10°, and in another preferred example, the inclination angle θ of the front surface 47 is 20°.

[0027] Due to this configuration, the front surface 47 is inclined with respect to the width direction of the vehicle body 2 by an inclination angle θ obtained by rotating a virtual upper surface along the width direction of the vehicle body 2 around a pivot axis along the height direction. In other words, the front surface 47 is inclined with respect to the width direction of the vehicle body 2 by an inclination angle θ obtained by rotating a virtual upper surface along the width direction of the vehicle body 2 in the yaw angle direction of the vehicle body 2. For example, the front surface 47 is inclined with respect to the width direction of the vehicle body 2 by an inclination angle θ obtained by rotating a virtual upper surface along the width direction of the vehicle body 2 around the outer edge 45 as the pivot axis. Also, as mentioned above, the front surface 47 is inclined with respect to the width direction of the vehicle body 2 by an inclination angle θ obtained by rotating a virtual upper surface along the width direction of the vehicle body 2 clockwise by an inclination angle θ obtained when viewed from above.

[0028] In the mud flap 13 attached to the fender 10, the outer edge 45 of the opposing plate portion 17 is located outside the width direction of the vehicle body 2 relative to the wheel 12. The inner edge 46 of the opposing plate portion 17 is located inside the width direction of the vehicle body 2 relative to the wheel 12. Therefore, the total width of the wheel 12 is contained within the range between the outer edge 45 and the inner edge 46 of the opposing plate portion 17 in the width direction of the vehicle body 2. Furthermore, the total width of the wheel 12 is contained within the range in the width direction of the vehicle body 2 where the front surface 47 of the opposing plate portion 17 extends. Due to this configuration, when the opposing plate portion 17 and the wheel 12 are viewed from the rear side of the vehicle body 2, the total width of the wheel 12 is covered by the opposing plate portion 17.

[0029] Furthermore, in the example shown in Figures 1 to 7, the thickness of the opposing plate portion 17 of the mud flap 13 is consistent or nearly constant across its entire width from the outer edge 45 to the inner edge 46. In the opposing plate portion 17, the dimension between the front surface 47 and the rear surface 48, i.e., the thickness between the front surface 47 and the rear surface 48, corresponds to the plate thickness. In the example shown in Figures 1 to 7, since the plate thickness of the opposing plate portion 17 is consistent or nearly constant, the pair of main surfaces of the opposing plate portion 17, the front surface 47 and the rear surface 48, extend parallel or nearly parallel to each other. For this reason, in the example shown in Figures 1 to 7, in addition to the front surface 47, the rear surface 48 is also inclined with respect to the width direction of the vehicle body 2 across its entire width from the outer edge 45 to the inner edge 46. The rear surface 48 is inclined with respect to the width direction of the vehicle body 2 with its inner end positioned towards the rear relative to the outer end in the width direction of the vehicle body 2. In other words, the rear surface 48 slopes towards the rear as it moves inward in the width direction of the vehicle body 2, and is inclined with respect to the width direction of the vehicle body 2 across its entire width. The rear surface 48 is inclined with respect to the width direction of the vehicle body 2 at an inclination angle θ that is the same as or approximately the same as that of the front surface 47.

[0030] Furthermore, the opposing plate portion 17 has sufficient strength to prevent vibration in the longitudinal direction due to the airflow of the vehicle. The thickness of the opposing plate portion 17 is formed to the thickness necessary to ensure sufficient strength to prevent vibration in the longitudinal direction due to the airflow. In addition, the opposing plate portion 17 has a certain degree of flexibility. In one example, when driving over an uneven road surface 6 with steps, the opposing plate portion 17 has enough flexibility to be elastically deformed by the impact on the opposing plate portion 17 caused by the steps in the road surface 6.

[0031] Furthermore, in the example shown in Figures 1 to 7, the front 47 and rear 48 of the opposing plate portion 17 are inclined with respect to the width direction of the vehicle body 2, as described above. For this reason, in the mud flap 13 attached to the fender 10, the rear edge 32 of the intermediate plate portion 16 is inclined with respect to the width direction of the vehicle body 2 over its entire width. The rear edge 32 is inclined with respect to the width direction of the vehicle body 2, with the inclination being towards the rear as it moves inward in the width direction of the vehicle body 2. In addition, in the intermediate plate portion 16, the front edge 31 extends along the width direction of the vehicle body 2. For this reason, in the intermediate plate portion 16, the distance from the front edge 31 to the rear edge 32 along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body 2 increases as it moves inward in the width direction of the vehicle body 2.

[0032] In one example, in the space 7 between the lower end surface 5 of the vehicle body and the road surface 6, in addition to the opposing plate portion 17 of the mud flap 13, there are other protruding portions that project downward from the lower end surface 5 of the vehicle body. Examples of protruding portions other than the opposing plate portion 17 include mud flaps other than the mud flap 13. Even when protruding portions other than the opposing plate portion 17 are placed in the space 7, there are no other protruding portions other than the opposing plate portion 17 in the area adjacent to the opposing plate portion 17 on the inside in the width direction of the vehicle body 2 in the space 7. Therefore, the opposing plate portion 17 of the mud flap 13 is placed in the space 7 without any other protruding portions that project downward from the lower end surface 5 of the vehicle body being adjacent to the opposing plate portion 17 from the inside in the width direction of the vehicle body 2.

[0033] As described above, in the mud flap 13 of this embodiment, the connecting plate portion 15 is connected to the fender 10 on the rear side of the vehicle body 2 relative to the wheel 12, and the front surface 47 of the opposing plate portion 17 is below the connecting plate portion 15 and faces the wheel 12 from the rear. The front surface 47 is inclined toward the rear as it moves inward in the width direction of the vehicle body 2, and is inclined with respect to the width direction of the vehicle body 2 over its entire width from the outer edge 45 to the inner edge 46. When the vehicle is running, air flows from the front to the rear of the vehicle due to the wind generated by the vehicle. In this embodiment, because the front surface 47 of the opposing plate portion 17 is configured as described above, the air that passes over the wheel 12 and collides with the opposing plate portion 17 on the front side is guided inward in the width direction of the vehicle body 2 by the front surface 47 (arrow F in Figure 3). In particular, the air that wraps around to the rear side of the wheel 12 is guided inward in the width direction of the vehicle body 2 by the front surface 47.

[0034] As described above, the front surface 47 of the opposing plate portion 17 causes air to flow from the wheelhouse 11 inward in the width direction of the vehicle body 2, thereby reducing air stagnation in the wheelhouse 11. In particular, the stagnation of air that has wrapped around to the rear side of the wheel 12 in the wheelhouse 11 is reduced. By reducing air stagnation in the wheelhouse 11, airflow turbulence caused by the mud flap 13 is appropriately suppressed, and air resistance to the vehicle during driving is reduced. In other words, the drag coefficient such as the CdA value decreases during driving, and aerodynamic performance is improved. Improved aerodynamic performance leads to improved fuel efficiency and quietness of the vehicle.

[0035] Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, the entire width of the wheel 12 is contained within the range between the outer edge 45 and the inner edge 46 of the opposing plate portion 17 in the width direction of the vehicle body 2. With this configuration, air that wraps around to the rear of the wheel 12 is more likely to collide with the front surface 47 of the opposing plate portion 17. As a result, air that wraps around to the rear of the wheel 12 is more likely to flow from the wheel house 11 inward in the width direction of the vehicle body 2, further reducing air stagnation in the wheel house 11.

[0036] Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, other protruding portions projecting downward from the lower end surface 5 of the vehicle body do not adjoin the opposing plate portion 17 from the inside in the width direction of the vehicle body 2, and the opposing plate portion 17 is positioned in the space 7 between the lower end surface 5 of the vehicle body and the road surface 6. Therefore, the airflow from the wheelhouse 11 to the inside in the width direction of the vehicle body 2 is not blocked by any protruding portions other than the opposing plate portion 17. Consequently, air stagnation in the wheelhouse 11 is further reduced.

[0037] Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, the thickness of the opposing plate portion 17 is constant or substantially constant across its entire width from the outer edge 45 to the inner edge 46. Therefore, even if the front surface 47 is inclined with respect to the width direction of the vehicle body 2, no portion of the opposing plate portion 17 with increased thickness is formed. This makes it possible to achieve a configuration that reduces air stagnation in the wheel well 11 without increasing the weight of the mud flap 13 including the opposing plate portion 17.

[0038] Furthermore, in a preferred example of the embodiment, the inclination angle θ of the front surface 47 with respect to the width direction of the vehicle body 2 is 45° or less. This makes it possible to achieve a configuration in which the entire width of the wheel 12 fits within the range between the outer edge 45 and the inner edge 46 of the opposing plate portion 17 in the width direction of the vehicle body 2 without excessively increasing the dimensions along the front surface 47 from the outer edge 45 to the inner edge 46. This makes it possible to achieve a configuration in which the entire width of the wheel 12 fits within the range between the outer edge 45 and the inner edge 46 of the opposing plate portion 17 in the width direction of the vehicle body 2 without increasing the weight of the mud flap 13 including the opposing plate portion 17. In fact, in the example of an inclination angle θ of 10° and the example of an inclination angle θ of 20°, it is possible to achieve a configuration in which the entire width of the wheel 12 fits within the range between the outer edge 45 and the inner edge 46 of the opposing plate portion 17 in the width direction of the vehicle body 2 without increasing the weight of the mud flap 13. In both the example with an inclination angle θ of 10° and the example with an inclination angle θ of 20°, air stagnation at the mud flap 13 is appropriately reduced.

[0039] Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, the thickness of the opposing plate portion 17 is formed to the thickness necessary to ensure sufficient strength to prevent vibration in the longitudinal direction due to the airflow while driving. Because the opposing plate portion 17 does not vibrate in the longitudinal direction due to the airflow while driving, the air that wraps around to the rear of the wheel 12 collides appropriately with the front surface 47 of the opposing plate portion 17. As a result, the air that wraps around to the rear of the wheel 12 flows more easily from the wheel well 11 to the inside in the width direction of the vehicle body 2, further reducing air stagnation in the wheel well 11.

[0040] Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, the opposing plate portion 17 has enough flexibility to be elastically deformable in response to impacts caused by steps in the road surface 6. When traveling on an uneven road surface 6 with steps, even if the wheels 12 repeatedly go over and off the steps, the impact on the opposing plate portion 17 is appropriately reduced.

[0041] In the embodiments described above, the rear surface 48 of the opposing plate portion 17 is inclined with respect to the width direction of the vehicle body 2, but this is not the only possible configuration. In one modified example, the rear surface 48 of the opposing plate portion 17 extends along the width direction of the vehicle body 2 and is not inclined with respect to the width direction of the vehicle body 2, or is hardly inclined at all. However, even in this modified example, the front surface 47 of the opposing plate portion 17 is inclined towards the rear as it approaches the inside in the width direction of the vehicle body 2, and is inclined with respect to the width direction of the vehicle body 2 over the entire width of the opposing plate portion 17 from the outer edge 45 to the inner edge 46.

[0042] Furthermore, although the above-described embodiments mainly described a mud flap attached to the left rear fender, the above configuration can also be applied to a mud flap attached to the right rear fender. That is, in the mud flap 13 attached to the right rear fender, the connecting plate portion 15 is connected to the fender 10 on the rear side of the vehicle body 2 relative to the wheel 12, which is the right rear wheel, and the front surface 47 of the opposing plate portion 17 faces the wheel 12 from the rear side, below the connecting plate portion 15. The front surface 47 is inclined towards the rear as it moves inward in the width direction of the vehicle body 2, and is inclined with respect to the width direction of the vehicle body 2 over the entire width from the outer edge 45 to the inner edge 46 of the opposing plate portion 17. Note that in the right rear fender and its vicinity, the right side corresponds to the outside in the width direction of the vehicle body 2, and the left side corresponds to the inside in the width direction of the vehicle body 2. Therefore, in the mud flap 13 attached to the right rear fender, the front surface 47 of the opposing plate portion 17 is inclined toward the rear as it moves toward the right side of the vehicle body 2, and is inclined with respect to the width direction of the vehicle body 2.

[0043] Furthermore, the mud flaps 13 with the configuration described above may be attached to the left and right front fenders. When the mud flaps 13 are attached to the front fenders, the connecting plate portion 15 is connected to the fender 10 on the rear side of the vehicle body 2 relative to the front wheel 12, and the front surface 47 of the opposing plate portion 17 is below the connecting plate portion 15 and faces the wheel 12 from the rear. The front surface 47 is inclined with respect to the width direction of the vehicle body 2, with the inclination increasing towards the rear as it moves inward in the width direction of the vehicle body 2, and is inclined with respect to the width direction of the vehicle body 2 across the entire width of the opposing plate portion 17 from the outer edge 45 to the inner edge 46.

[0044] When the mud flap 13 with the aforementioned configuration is attached to the front fender, the drag coefficient is reduced and aerodynamic performance is improved during driving, just as when the mud flap 13 is attached to the rear fender. Furthermore, when the mud flap 13 is attached to the rear fender, the drag coefficient is reduced even further and aerodynamic performance is further improved compared to when the mud flap 13 is attached to the front fender.

[0045] Furthermore, in the configuration described above, the connecting plate portion 15 of the mud flap 13 is connected to the fender 10, but this is not the only configuration. The configuration of the mud flap 13 described above can be applied as long as the connecting plate portion 15 is connected to the vehicle body 2 (lower part of the vehicle body 3) on the rear side of the vehicle body 2 relative to the wheel 12, and the front surface 47 of the opposing plate portion 17 faces the wheel 12 from the rear side below the connecting plate portion 15. In one example, in the mud flap 13, the connecting plate portion 15 is connected to the rear bumper or side outer panel, and the front surface 47 of the opposing plate portion 17 faces the rear wheel from the rear side. However, in all cases, the front surface 47 of the opposing plate portion 17 is inclined toward the rear as it moves inward in the width direction of the vehicle body 2, and is inclined with respect to the width direction of the vehicle body 2 over the entire width from the outer edge 45 to the inner edge 46 of the opposing plate portion 17.

[0046] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be modified in various ways during implementation without departing from its essence. The embodiments may also be combined as appropriate as possible, and the combined effects can be obtained in such cases. Moreover, the embodiments described above include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriate combinations of the multiple disclosed constituent elements. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0047] 1...Understructure of the vehicle, 2...Vehicle body, 3...Underside of the vehicle body, 5...Lower end surface of the vehicle body, 10...Fender, 11...Wheel house, 12...Wheel, 13...Mud flap, 15...Connecting plate section, 16...Intermediate plate section, 17...Opposite plate section, 21...Upper edge, 22...Lower edge, 25...Outer edge, 26...Inner edge, 31...Front edge, 32...Rear edge, 35...Outer edge, 36...Inner edge, 41...Upper edge, 42...Lower edge, 45...Outer edge, 46...Inner edge, 47...Front, 48...Rear, θ...Angle of inclination.

Claims

1. A connecting plate portion that connects to the vehicle body on the rear side relative to the wheel, The connecting plate portion is provided with a front surface below it that faces the wheel from the rear side, and the front surface is sloped toward the rear as it moves inward in the width direction of the vehicle body, and the opposing plate portion is sloped with respect to the width direction over the entire width from the outer edge to the inner edge, Mud flaps equipped with [features / equipment].

2. The mud flap according to claim 1, wherein the entire width of the wheel is contained within the range between the outer edge and the inner edge of the opposing plate portion in the width direction.

3. The mud flap according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the opposing plate portion is constant over the entire width from the outer edge to the inner edge.

4. The mud flap according to claim 1, wherein the front surface of the opposing plate portion is inclined with respect to the width direction at an inclination angle of 45° or less.

5. The front surface of the opposing plate portion is aligned with the height direction of the vehicle body, as per claim 1.

6. The lower part of the vehicle body equipped with fenders, The wheel positioned between the fender and the road surface, A mud flap attached to the lower part of the vehicle body, It is equipped with, The aforementioned mud flaps are A connecting plate portion that is connected to the lower part of the vehicle body at the rear side of the vehicle body relative to the wheel, The opposing plate portion has a front surface below the connecting plate portion that faces the wheel from the rear side, and the front surface is inclined with respect to the width direction as it approaches the inside in the width direction of the vehicle body, with the front surface inclined with respect to the width direction over the entire width from the outer edge to the inner edge, A vehicle understructure that includes the following features.

7. The lower portion of the vehicle body includes a lower end surface that forms the lower end of the vehicle body, The other protruding portions projecting downward from the lower end surface of the vehicle body are not adjacent to the opposing plate portion from the inside in the width direction, and the opposing plate portion is positioned in the space between the lower end surface of the vehicle body and the road surface. The vehicle understructure according to claim 6.

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