Abstract: An apparatus is provided that has a skirt (18) with an inner surface (32), and a rib cover (12) that engages the skirt (18). The skirt (18) and rib cover (12) are two separate parts and are not integrally formed with one another. The skirt (18) has a height in a vertical direction that is taller than a height of the rib cover (12) in the vertical direction. A bending member (14) is present and is configured for being deflected from an at rest position upon application of force to the skirt (18), and wherein the bending member (14) is configured for returning on its own to the at rest position upon the removal of the force from the skirt (18).

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that has a skirt (18) that has an inner surface (32). A bending member (14) is present that engages the skirt (18) and is located inboard from the skirt (18) in a lateral direction. The bending member (14) has a vertical length that extends in a vertical direction. A connection is present between the skirt (18) and the bending member (14) that is a sliding connection. The connection has a slot (44) and a fastener (54) that is disposed through the slot (44). Relative movement between the skirt (18) and the bending member (14) causes the fastener (54) to slide along the slot (44).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) is provided that has a skirt (18) that has an inner surface (32). A rib cover (12) engages the skirt (18) and is integrally formed with the skirt (18). The skirt (18) has a height in a vertical direction that is taller than a height of the rib cover (12) in the vertical direction. A bending member (14) is present and is configured for being deflected from an at rest position upon application of force to the skirt (18). The bending member (14) is configured for returning on its own to the at rest position upon the removal of the force from the skirt (18).

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that has a skirt (18) with an inner surface (32), and a bending member (14) that has a vertical length. At least 30% of the vertical length of the bending member (14) does not have any surfaces parallel to the inner surface (32). The bending member (14) is longer in the vertical direction than in a lateral direction or in a longitudinal direction. The bending member (14) is configured for being deflected from an at rest position upon application of force to the skirt (18), and is configured for returning on its own to the at rest position upon the removal of the force from the skirt (18).

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure include a mud flap for a vehicle having a mounting section and a barrier section. The barrier section is configured to deflect matter discharged from a tire during vehicle operation. The width of the mounting section is greater than the width of the barrier section. The mounting section optionally includes a first set of mounting features, each of the mounting features forming a recess or aperture. One mounting feature of the first set of mounting features is arranged at and/or beyond a widthwise extent of the barrier section width. The one mounting feature is also arranged at least partially within a portion of the mounting section width extending outwardly from a widthwise extent of the barrier section width. Further embodiments include mounting a single wide mud flap on a vehicle configured to receive a dual wide mud flap.

Abstract: An I-beam clamp (10) is provided that has a first clamping member (26) having a first flange engagement surface (28) configured for engagement with a first flange surface of a flange of an I-beam. The first clamping member has a first web engagement surface (30) configured for engagement with a first web surface of a web of the I-beam. A second clamping member (32) is provided and configured for engagement with the first flange surface and a second web surface of the web. The first and second clamping members are configured for movement relative to one another in a direction (28) perpendicular to the first and second web surfaces. A third clamping member (40) is present and has a third flange engagement surface (42) configured for engagement with a second flange surface of the flange. The third clamping member is configured for movement toward the second flange surface of the flange of the I-beam.

Abstract: Embodiments include a mud flap having a barrier section configured to intercept and deflect matter discharged from the tire when rotating during vehicle operation. The barrier section including a plurality of horizontal louvers, each horizontal louver forming an elongate member having a length extending primarily in a direction of the mud flap width, where the plurality of horizontal louvers are spaced apart in the direction of the mud flap height in the form of an array, where the plurality of horizontal louvers are configured to intercept and deflect matter of a minimum size traveling along any linear trajectory path from the outer circumference of the tire/wheel assembly towards the front side of the mud flap while substantially maximizing the spacing between adjacent louvers to minimize aerodynamic drag. Other embodiments provide a method of using the mud flap.

Abstract: An fairing for a trailer is provided that has a transition zone with a corrugation receiving feature that defines a corrugation receiving void that increases in size forward to rearward in a longitudinal direction of the fairing. The corrugation receiving void receives a corrugation of the trailer. A main portion is also present and extends rearward from the transition zone in the longitudinal direction. The transition zone and the main portion define an aerodynamic surface of the fairing.

Abstract: Embodiments include a mud flap having a barrier section configured to intercept and deflect matter discharged from the tire when rotating during vehicle operation. The barrier section including a plurality of horizontal louvers, each horizontal louver forming an elongate member having a length extending primarily in a direction of the mud flap width, where the plurality of horizontal louvers are spaced apart in the direction of the mud flap height in the form of an array, where the plurality of horizontal louvers are configured to intercept and deflect matter of a minimum size traveling along any linear trajectory path from the outer circumference of the tire/wheel assembly towards the front side of the mud flap while substantially maximizing the spacing between adjacent louvers to minimize aerodynamic drag. Other embodiments provide a method of using the mud flap.

Abstract: Embodiments include a mud flap having a barrier section configured to intercept and deflect matter discharged from the tire when rotating during vehicle operation. The barrier section including a plurality of horizontal louvers, each horizontal louver forming an elongate member having a length extending primarily in a direction of the mud flap width, where the plurality of horizontal louvers are spaced apart in the direction of the mud flap height in the form of an array, where the plurality of horizontal louvers are configured to intercept and deflect matter of a minimum size traveling along any linear trajectory path from the outer circumference of the tire/wheel assembly towards the front side of the mud flap while substantially maximizing the spacing between adjacent louvers to minimize aerodynamic drag. Other embodiments provide a method of using the mud flap.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a gap reducer and a method of mounting the gap reducer to a vehicle. Such method includes attaching operably a bi-modulus bending member to a first vehicle in a cantilevered configuration along a vertical side of the first vehicle, where a cantilevered end of the bi-modulus bending member is arranged to extend within a gap arranged between the first vehicle and a second vehicle when the first and second vehicles are coupled. The bi-modulus bending member comprises an elongate bending element configured to elastically buckle and bend to a buckled configuration when a force component exceeds a threshold buckling force, and to elastically return to an unbuckled configuration when the force component is reduced below the threshold buckling force. A gap reducer panel is operably coupled to the bi-modulus bending member, the gap reducer panel having a length extending primarily in a vertical direction.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a gap reducer and a method of mounting the gap reducer to a vehicle. Such method includes attaching operably a bi-modulus bending member to a first vehicle in a cantilevered configuration along a vertical side of the first vehicle, where a cantilevered end of the bi-modulus bending member is arranged to extend within a gap arranged between the first vehicle and a second vehicle when the first and second vehicles are coupled. The bi-modulus bending member comprises an elongate bending element configured to elastically buckle and bend to a buckled configuration when a force component exceeds a threshold buckling force, and to elastically return to an unbuckled configuration when the force component is reduced below the threshold buckling force. A gap reducer panel is operably coupled to the bi-modulus bending member, the gap reducer panel having a length extending primarily in a vertical direction.

Abstract: An fairing for a trailer is provided that has a transition zone with a corrugation receiving feature that defines a corrugation receiving void that increases in size forward to rearward in a longitudinal direction of the fairing. The corrugation receiving void receives a corrugation of the trailer. A main portion is also present and extends rearward from the transition zone in the longitudinal direction. The transition zone and the main portion define an aerodynamic surface of the fairing.

Abstract: Embodiments include a mud flap having a barrier section configured to intercept and deflect matter discharged from the tire when rotating during vehicle operation. The barrier section including a plurality of horizontal louvers, each horizontal louver forming an elongate member having a length extending primarily in a direction of the mud flap width, where the plurality of horizontal louvers are spaced apart in the direction of the mud flap height in the form of an array, where the plurality of horizontal louvers are configured to intercept and deflect matter of a minimum size traveling along any linear trajectory path from the outer circumference of the tire/wheel assembly towards the front side of the mud flap while substantially maximizing the spacing between adjacent louvers to minimize aerodynamic drag. Other embodiments provide a method of using the mud flap.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure include a mud flap for a vehicle having a mounting section and a barrier section. The barrier section is configured to deflect matter discharged from a tire during vehicle operation. The width of the mounting section is greater than the width of the barrier section. The mounting section optionally includes a first set of mounting features, each of the mounting features forming a recess or aperture. One mounting feature of the first set of mounting features is arranged at and/or beyond a widthwise extent of the barrier section width. The one mounting feature is also arranged at least partially within a portion of the mounting section width extending outwardly from a widthwise extent of the barrier section width.