Mud Flap

Abstract

The invention comprises a mud flap for deflecting water and roadway debris, which is adapted to be attached to a vehicle behind a wheel of the vehicle. According to the invention, the mud flap comprises a deflecting panel having a longitudinal axis, a front face, a top edge, and a plurality of openings in the deflecting panel. Each of the openings is defined by a pair of horizontal members and a pair of vertical members. Each horizontal member has an upper side and a lower side. Each horizontal member is substantially parallel to the top edge, and each vertical member is substantially perpendicular to the top edge. The upper side and lower side of each horizontal member is preferably substantially planar. Each vertical member is also preferably substantially planar. The sum of the areas of the plurality of openings represents at least about 75% of the total surface area of the front face of the deflecting panel. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the deflecting panel has a thickness of no more than about ¼ (0.25) inch, the lower side of each horizontal member is disposed rearwardly and downwardly at an angle of about 80° from the longitudinal axis, the total area of the openings is about 85% of the surface area of the front face of the deflecting panel, the opposing vertical members are at least about 10 inches apart, and the lower side of each horizontal member is spaced no more than about ⅛ (0.125) inch away from the lower side of the adjacent horizontal member.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A mud flap that is adapted to be attached to a vehicle behind a wheel thereof, said mud flap comprising a deflecting panel having a longitudinal axis, a front face, a top edge, and a plurality of openings therethrough, with each of said openings being defined by: 
 (a) a pair of horizontal members each having an upper side and a lower side, said upper side and said lower side being substantially parallel to the top edge;    (b) a pair of opposing vertical members, each of which is substantially perpendicular to the top edge;    wherein the sum of the areas of the openings represents at least about 75% of the total surface area of the front face of the deflecting panel.    
     
     
         2 . The mud flap of  claim 1  wherein the deflecting panel has a thickness of no more than about ¼ (0.25) inch.  
     
     
         3 . The mud flap of  claim 1  wherein the opposing vertical members are at least about 5 inches apart.  
     
     
         4 . The mud flap of  claim 1  wherein the deflecting panel is made from a polymeric material.  
     
     
         5 . The mud flap of  claim 1  wherein the lower side of each horizontal member is disposed rearwardly and downwardly from the front face at an angle of about 80° from the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         6 . The mud flap of  claim 1  wherein the lower side and the upper side of each horizontal member is disposed rearwardly and downwardly from the front face at an angle of about 80° from the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         7 . The mud flap of  claim 1  wherein the sum of the areas of the openings represents at least about 85% of the total surface area of the front face of the deflecting panel.  
     
     
         8 . The mud flap of  claim 1  wherein the upper side of each horizontal member is spaced no more than about ⅛ (0.125) inch away from the lower side of the adjacent horizontal member.  
     
     
         9 . The mud flap of  claim 1  wherein the upper side of each horizontal member is disposed rearwardly and upwardly from the front face at an angle of about 80° from the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         10 . The mud flap of  claim 1  wherein the upper side and the lower side of each horizontal member is disposed rearwardly and upwardly from the front face at an angle of about 80° from the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         11 . The mud flap of  claim 1  wherein the opposing vertical members are no less than about 10 inches apart.  
     
     
         12 . The mud flap of  claim 1  wherein the upper side is substantially planar.  
     
     
         13 . The mud flap of  claim 1  wherein the lower side is substantially planar.  
     
     
         14 . The mud flap of  claim 1  wherein the upper side and the lower side are substantially planar.  
     
     
         15 . The mud flap of  claim 1  wherein the vertical members are substantially planar.