Mud Flap Fringe Extensions for Wider Debris Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for mud flaps that provide functional and/or aesthetic advantages over existing designs.

Innovation Solution

Mud flaps comprising a mud flap body with extensions beyond its edges, incorporating materials like horse hair, leather fringe, synthetic leather fringe, fabric, film, metal foil, or laminates, which can be attached to the body and extend beyond its edges, providing protection and customization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If traditional mud flaps are used, then basic protection is provided, but aesthetic customization and functional enhancement are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaesthetic customizationVSAvoidmud flap structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mud flap is divided into multiple independent components including a main body, fringe elements, and attachment mechanisms. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured separately and assembled later, enabling aesthetic customization without significantly complicating the overall manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mud flap incorporates composite construction combining durable base materials with decorative fringe elements made from various materials. This allows the functional protection aspect to be separated from the aesthetic customization aspect, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If mud flaps with extensions beyond edges are used, then protection coverage is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection coverageVSAvoidmud flap structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mud flap design extends elements beyond the traditional flat plane by adding fringe components that protrude from the edges. This dimensional extension improves protection coverage by creating additional barriers against debris while maintaining a relatively simple base structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

Extensions and fringe elements are strategically positioned at specific locations around the mud flap edges where they are most needed for protection. This localized approach improves coverage without requiring complex structures throughout the entire mud flap surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12545332B1Mud flaps, mud flap kits, mud flap accessories, and methods of making and using the same

Publication Date: 2026.02.10 THOMAS DARRELL

AI summary

Mud flaps having one or more decorative and functional accessories attached to the mud flaps, mud flap kits for forming decorative and functional mud flaps, and mud flap accessories suitable for use with and attachment to mud flaps are provided. Methods of making decorative and functional mud flaps, mud flap kits for forming decorative and functional mud flaps, and mud flap accessories are also provided. Methods of using decorative and functional mud flaps, mud flap kits for forming decorative and functional mud flaps, and mud flap accessories on mud flaps, for example, on a truck having 18 wheels, are also provided.