Abstract: An assembly for mounting a cab skirt fairing panel over a truck's fuel tank region. The panel is attached to a cab step at the front end of the fuel tank and a step arrangement at the back end of the fuel tank. The cab step, and thus the panel, is supported by a V-shaped structure which remains rigid vertically, but flexes horizontally. Similarly, the connection for the step arrangement, and thus the panel, includes bolting assemblies with flexible members which provide rigid vertical support, but flex in response to pressures in the horizontal direction. Thus, the panel is able to support weight and at the same time, flexibly withstand destructive counteractive forces imposed upon it. An additional feature of the invention is that a number of mounting positions are provided for securing the step arrangement to the truck. This feature enables a minimal number of embodiments of the step arrangement to uniformly accommodate a single panel which can cover all fuel tank sizes.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a novel manner of mounting a fairing panel which covers the area beneath the sleeper box of a truck so that the fairing panel experiences minimal impact and stress from surrounding cab skirt fairing panels and other truck chassis components. The distal region of the panel is fixedly secured by a bolt and nut rigid assembly connected to the sleeper steps, the sleeper steps, in turn, are fixedly secured by a bolt and nut rigid assembly to the bottom of the sleeper box assembly. The proximate region of the panel is secured by a pair of flexible assemblies each comprising a bolt, a flexible spacer, and a nut. The two flexible assemblies serve to isolate other regions of the truck from the motion of the mounted fairing panel by absorbing the variety of forces imposed upon the mounting fairing panel. In addition, the two flexible assemblies serve to isolate the panel from the motion of truck chassis components.

Abstract: An assembly for mounting a cab skirt fairing panel over a truck's fuel tank region. The panel is attached to a cab step at the front end of the fuel tank and a step arrangement at the back end of the fuel tank. The cab step, and thus the panel, is supported by a V-shaped structure which remains rigid vertically, but flexes horizontally. Similarly, the connection for the step arrangement, and thus the panel, includes bolting assemblies with flexible members which provide rigid vertical support, but flex in response to pressures in the horizontal direction. Thus, the panel is able to support weight and at the same time, flexibly withstand destructive counteractive forces imposed upon it. An additional feature of the invention is that a number of mounting positions are provided for securing the step arrangement to the truck. This feature enables a minimal number of embodiments of the step arrangement to uniformly accommodate a single panel which can cover all fuel tank sizes.

Abstract: A breakaway/swingaway mirror mounting assembly is provided that conveniently attaches to the side of a vehicle's door panel. The mirror assembly includes a mounting plate, a breakaway swing plate, a mirror strut, and a mirror. The mounting plate is securely fastened to the vehicle in a conventional manner. The mirror strut and the mirror are conventional but instead of attaching directly to the mounting plate, the mirror strut attaches to the swing plate. The improvement in the present invention relates to the attachment of the swing plate to the mounting plate. An attachment means for releasably engaging the mirror assembly to the mounting plate is provided. The attachment means preferably includes a pair of bolts each having an associated rubber bushing. The bolts attach to the swing plate while the bushings are press fit into the mounting plate. Upon sustaining any substantial impact, the bushings pop free from the mounting plate thereby allowing the mirror assembly to swing or breakaway.