Mud Flap Frame Bumper Mounting Vibration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mud flap assemblies for vehicles fail to adequately stabilize the frame against vibration and movement, leading to reduced effectiveness in protecting trailers and equipment from debris and damage during transport.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a frame with a top plate and rear plate, featuring support flanges that rest on the vehicle's bumper, and adjustable stop assemblies that engage the bumper to provide additional points of contact, stabilizing the mud flap assembly and minimizing vibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional mud flap assemblies are mounted to hitch receivers, then they can be easily installed and removed, but the frame experiences excessive vibration and movement during use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a bumper-mounted mounting system as an intermediary between the hitch receiver and the mud flap frame. The mounting bracket attaches to the bumper (a stable, fixed structure) rather than directly to the hitch receiver, providing a more stable foundation that reduces frame vibration and movement while maintaining ease of installation and removal.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the mud flap assembly is securely anchored to reduce vibration, then frame stability improves, but the complexity of the mounting system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is divided into separate modular components: a mounting bracket that attaches to the bumper, a hitch receiver connection component, and the mud flap frame itself. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, providing stable anchoring through the bumper mounting while keeping the overall system relatively simple and manageable.
3Device complexity
If standard-sized flap panels are used, then the assembly remains compact and simple, but protection coverage is insufficient for trailers and equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The mud flap panels are extended in multiple dimensions beyond standard sizes - increasing length, width, and curvature radius to create a larger protective surface area. This dimensional expansion provides comprehensive coverage for trailers and equipment without significantly complicating the assembly, as the panels remain single-piece constructions that attach using standard mounting methods.
Data Source
AI summary
Mud flap assemblies including a frame, a securing assembly and mud flap panels; the securing assembly enabling the frame to be secured to a hitch assembly having a shaft, for further attachment to a hitch receiver secured to a vehicle; the frame having a rear plate that includes a hitch opening for receiving the shaft of the hitch assembly. The frame is preferably configured to rest on a portion of a bumper of the vehicle to minimize vibration of the frame during use. The mud flap assembly preferably including a pair of stops that are preferably adjustable and are constructed and arranged to rest against the bumper. The mud flap assembly preferably includes enlarged mud flap panels and mud flap support members for additional support of the enlarged mud flap panels. Methods of installing mud flap assemblies are also disclosed.