Abstract: A mudflap-integrated aerodynamic member for improving aerodynamic characteristics of a motor vehicle is described. The motor vehicle includes a vehicle body, a front wheelhouse, and a frame. The mudflap-integrated aerodynamic member includes a mudflap portion configured to attach to the front wheelhouse and cover at least a portion of the front wheelhouse and an elongated air strake attached to and projecting from the mudflap portion. The elongated air strake includes an elongated strake body extending longitudinally with respect to the vehicle body from an outboard edge contiguous with the mudflap portion to an inboard edge adjacent to the vehicle body.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and apparatus for reducing drag. An exemplary apparatus includes a semitrailer having a main frame extending along a longitudinal axis and a subframe movably connected to the main frame between a first position along the longitudinal axis and a second position along the longitudinal axis. The apparatus further includes an axle assembly attached to the subframe, the axle assembly including an axle, a left wheel set, a right wheel set, and a suspension, and a first recapture device located under the main frame behind and separated from the left wheel set along the longitudinal axis by a given spacing. The apparatus still further includes a second recapture device located under the main frame behind and separated from the right wheel set along the longitudinal axis by a second spacing.

Abstract: A top rail secures skirting to a mobile home and comprises a panel back support portion and a top front rail connector portion spaced from one another by an under mount portion. The under mount portion extends between the top front rail connector portion and the panel back support portion. The top front rail connector portion and panel back support portion are generally parallel. The under mount portion extends transversely to the top front rail connector portion and the panel back support portion. The under mount portion is generally flat and allows mounting of the top rail to the underside of a mobile home. The top rail also includes a top front rail that is connectable with the top front rail connector portion. The top front rail and top front rail connector portion have interlocking geometry. The top front rail and top front rail connector portion are connectable.

Abstract: A snow and debris accumulation prevention system for vehicles having a vehicle body and tires, utilizes a flexible, easily removeable, integral continuous length material curtain, or a curtain made up of interconnected material sections. The curtain has a top edge and a bottom edge. A sleeve runs through the length of the top edge. A tautly maintained line extends through the sleeve. The line is configured to be hung on hooks on the vehicle body, such that the curtain is suspended from the hooks, completely circumscribes the vehicle body, and extends over, completely covering the vehicle tires. The bottom edge of the curtain also has a sleeve containing weighted dunnage, to ensure that the curtain is maintained in a fixed position, suspended down from and circumscribing the vehicle body and completely covering its tires.

Abstract: A self-adjusting trailer skirting system provides an insulated and aesthetic appearance to an elevated structure and includes a series of modular panels, each of which having a bottom section slideably connected within an upper panel. An interior of each panel can be filled with foam insulation. The outer edge of each panel can include a flange such that each panel can be interlocked to adjacent panels. Each panel system can also include an interior spring to keep the panel sections forced apart and against grade. The upper portion is fastened into place while the spring forces the lower portion of the panel against the nearby grade.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an auxiliary apparatus of a carrier mounted to a rear portion of a vehicle, including a locking unit fastened to the carrier, the locking unit including a locking pin to be extracted or retracted in response to operation of a switch unit, a rotary plate rotatably coupled to the locking unit, and a fastening member mounted to the rotary plate, the fastening member having at least a fastening hole into which the locking pin is selectively inserted and locked according to the operation of the switch unit.

Abstract: A panel system configured to be circumferentially disposed proximate the base of a recreational camper trailer so as to environmentally isolate the area generally underneath the recreational camper trailer. The panel system is operable to assist a user maintain a temperature within the camper trailer that is different than that of its surroundings. The panel system includes a plurality of panels that are hingedly and releasably secured to each other so as to be configurable to accommodate recreational camper trailers of varying sizes. Each panel of the panel system includes a first layer and a second layer. Furthermore, each panel includes a hinge mounted on the first and second side edges that are operable to facilitate the folding of the panel system in a z-fold pattern for transportation when not in use.

Abstract: A boat hull shield device comprising a bracket member attached to the tongue of a trailer. An adjustable shield-support assembly is fastened to the bracket member and extending upwardly therefrom. A pair of planar shield members is adjustably attached to the shield support assembly, with the shield members each positioned to one side of the bracket member in an open V configuration. A pair of linear brace members further stabilizes the shield members. Each brace member is secured at a first end to one shield member and at a second end to the upright support fastened to the tongue of the trailer. The planar shield members are rotationally adjustable relative to a horizontal axis, which is perpendicular to the trailer tongue and pivotally adjustable relative to a vertical axis, that is perpendicular to the trailer tongue.

Abstract: A motor vehicle chassis skirt panel provides for hiding components attached to the outside of the frame rails of a vehicle chassis in a first, closed position and allowing access when moved to a second open position. The chassis skirt panel is mounted below a truck body on at least one side of the vehicle and is set in a track allowing the panel to be moved back and forth.

Abstract: A trailer which is hitched to an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) to haul cargo. The trailer has a frame of steel tubing, triangular cross bar wings which serve as tree deflectors, a floor bolted down by gussets, a heavy duty axle, large tires, fenders, a long tailgate, and corner angles at the tongue to frame connection.

Abstract: A boat protection system for protecting the body of a boat during transporting upon a conventional boat trailer. The boat protection system includes a front guard, a bottom guard attachable to the front guard, a first side guard attachable to the front guard, and a second side guard attachable to the front side guard. The front guard is comprised of a front portion, a front opening within the front portion for receiving a winch, and a pair of side portions. The front guard is attached to the front portion of the frame with conventional fasteners. The bottom guard is attached to a lower lip of the front guard. The front guard, bottom guard, and side guards protect the lower body of the boat carried upon the trailer from debris elevated by a motor vehicle pulling the trailer.

Abstract: A wheel retainer for the safety of all motor vehicles, and more particularly for trucks of all types, to prevent wheels or wheel assemblies from flying off moving vehicles in the event of axle breakage or other mechanical failure which would cause a wheel or wheel assembly to fly off. The wheel retainer includes brackets for attachment to a truck frame and a retaining bar which is removably attached to the brackets, the bar and brackets being positioned to prevent the wheel or wheel assembly from flying off of the vehicle. In a further modification of the wheel retainer, a loose wheel indicator is provided. The loose wheel indicator is mounted to a turnable or steerable wheel or wheel assembly such as a front wheel of a vehicle. The loose wheel indicator causes an audible noise, audible to the vehicle driver, by contact created between the indicator assembly and the rim of a tire when the wheel or wheel assembly comes loose thereby warning the driver of the loose wheel hazard.

Abstract: A wheel retention system for use on the chassis of a large motor vehicle such as a tractor-trailer. Three support members are removably secured to the chassis and the support members support a retaining member positioned proximate to and parallel with the outer sidewalls of the wheels of the vehicle, forming a perimeter around the wheels. A pair of cylindrical sleeves axially and rotatably mounted upon the retaining member, the sleeves being positioned to confront a rotating wheel upon dislodging of the wheel from the chassis. The pair of support members comprise square tubing and completely pass from one side of the chassis to the other side of the chassis. The middle portion of each support member comprises an axle-retaining portion to trap an axle of the vehicle, should the axle disengage from the chassis.

Abstract: A safety guard is provided for preventing a wheel from coming off the body of a vehicle. The safety guard includes a first attachment releasably secured to the body on one side of the wheel and a second attachment releasably secured to the body on a transversely opposing side of the wheel. A restraining member is removably secured in a transversely slidable engagement with and between the first and second attachments and immediately adjacent an outer face of the wheel so as to prevent movement of the wheel away from the body.

Abstract: A wheel restraint safety system has a frame having a perimeter size to surround a wheel assembly, and mounted for spacing the frame about the wheel assembly. The frame has a pair of sidebars connected to a pair of end gates forming a generally rectangular outline. The end gates are hingedly connected to one of the sidebars and releasably lockable to the other of the sidebars. The gates provide access to the wheel assembly. The frame has a sensor for detecting unbalanced rotation of a wheel of the wheel assembly.

Abstract: A mounting system for mounting accessories such as external container packages and splash reducing wheel cover skirts on trailers having a body including a floor which is supported on the exterior by longitudinally spaced apart transversely extending I-beams, the mounting system including fixed L-shaped latches for engaging the web and the lower flange at one side of an I-beam and moveable latch members for engaging the web and lower flange at the other side. The moveable latch members are carried by a slide plate on the lower surface of which is secured a rack, the rack being in mesh with a pinion gear. The pinion gear is rotatably mounted within the accessory and may be rotated manually from the exterior of the accessory to move the moveable latches into clamping engagement or to release such engagement.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle safety device wherein the device is pivotally mounted along the lower edge of the vehicle body such that the device may be stored beneath the body when the vehicle is moving and lowered through a pivoting action to block the space between the vehicle body and the ground and in being lowered tends to engage and sweep any object in its path from beneath the vehicle and outwardly of the vehicle wheels.

Abstract: A guard for a school bus which consists of a sheet of flexible material which can be extended into an open planar state and which can be reduced into a compact folded state. A connector is connected to one edge of the sheet and is pivotally connected to a fixed portion of the school bus for movement between a first position in which it is effective to extend the sheet of flexible material and to a second position in which it is effective to cause the sheet of flexible material to be reduced to a its compact state. A selectively actuated driving mechanism moves the connector selectively between to the first and second positions.

Abstract: A continuous skirt for surrounding an elevated building to close the space therebeneath is provided with a series of releasably interconnected panels wherein the interlocks therebetween are, in turn, provided with elongated, upstanding stays capable of rendering the interconnections rigid. The stays operate to present guides or tracks for restraining the panels to vertical reciprocation as the result of changes in the contour of the ground arising from expansion and contraction and also to resist lateral movement of the panels under blowing wind conditions. In each of the embodiments, structure is provided for precluding the panels from gouging into the side of the building and thereby failing to rise properly as needed, all of the improvements being directed toward avoidance of cracking, breakage or other damage to the skirt.

Abstract: A skirt for mobile homes and the like, the skirt comprising substantially rigid sheet material, preferably cold rolled or cold bent sheet aluminum and comprises a top panel consisting of three separate sheets held together by a bridge across the top which top bridge is anchored by fasteners to each of the top sheets. The skirt also comprises a bottom panel consisting of at least three separate bottom sheets anchored together by a bottom bridge using fasteners. The top and bottom panels taken as a whole comprise three U-shaped telescopically related top to bottom segments which are vertically slidably interlocked one segment with the next so that the top panel and the bottom panel may be relatively telescopically displaced thereby changing the overall vertical effective length (height) of the skirt. By anchoring the skirt in depending relation at the periphery adjacent the floor of a mobile home, the skirt is caused to span the distance between the bottom of the mobile home and the ground.