GB2365396A

GB2365396A - Mudguard fastening system

Info

Publication number: GB2365396A
Application number: GB0116279A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roni Jukakoski; Kari Sillantaka
Original assignee: PARLOK Oy AB
Current assignee: PARLOK Oy AB
Priority date: 2000-08-01
Filing date: 2001-07-04
Publication date: 2002-02-20
Anticipated expiration: 2021-07-04
Also published as: FI20001730L; FI20001730A0; DE20112559U1; CZ11598U1; ITTO20010761A1; FI110249B; NL1018676C1; FR2812609A3; GB2365396B; GB0116279D0; FR2812609B3

Abstract

A mudguard fastening system 10 for fastening a mudguard 56 to a supporting bar 72 comprises an arched top bracket member 12 and a substantially planar bottom member 36 such that when attached the mudguard is sandwiched between the two. The bracket, mudguard and bottom member are fastened at one end 14 by means of a nut and bolt 22. The other end 28 of the bracket is adapted such that it is passed through an elongate hole in the mudguard and bottom member prior to fastening the end 14. The bracket includes a portion 30 at the top of the arch that is substantially weaker than the rest of the bracket to allow for bending.

Description

2365396 Mudguard fastening system The invention relates to a mudguard

fastening system according to the preamble of the independent claim presented below and particularly applicable for lorries and their trailers. The system according to the invention enables fastening of mudguards on the supporting bar of the mudguard in a manner which is easier and faster than 5 previously.

Traditionally a mudguard of a lorry is fastened to one or more horizontal bars, which are fastened to the chassis of the car, transversally to the travelling direction of the vehicle. Generally the mudguard is fastened to two supporting bars located in front of and behind the wheel axis, to both bars with at least two arc-like fasteners extending around the supporting bar. Thus a system like this comprises at least four fasteners, which traditionally are fastened to the mudguard at both ends of the arc with the aid of fastening means, such as bolts. If the mudguard is short, it may be fastened to only one supporting bar. Such a system is mounted in its place for instance so that the fasteners are loosely fastened at their both ends to the mudguard, and then the fasteners are threaded into the end of the supporting bar along a horizontal motion path and into their places. Then the mudguard is placed in its correct position and the bolts of the fastener are tightened. Sometimes it is not possible to slip a mudguard of said type into its place from the side. Then it is possible to fasten only one of the fastener bolts, and even this only in a loose fashion, so that the supporting bar can pass between the fastener and the mudguard. Then also the other end of the arc of the fastener is fastened, and the bolts are tialitened.

0 Previously mudguard fasteners were attached directly to the mudguard. for instance with bolts in holes made in the mudguard. It is also known to fasten a backing to the mudguard and then to fasten the actual fastener to the backing. Such a backing may have a control member, such as a slide bar, to which the fastener is attached, and on which the position of the fastener can be changed. A mechanism of this kind enables a fine adjustment of the mudguard in relation to the tyre, which is often required.

It is often a cumbersome and time consuming operation to mount the known 0 fastenina mechanisms of the type described above. Generally the fastener has two c bolts, and it is difficult and time consumina to fasten and tiahten them in the space 0 0 between the chassis and the tyre of the car, which often is narrow. The bolts and other fastening means are also a cost factor. Still more inconvenience and costs are 2 caused by all auxiliary equipment, such as the above mentioned slide bars or other backings, which must be attached to the mudguard before the fasteners are installed. The complicated mechanisms are susceptible both to mechanical damages and damages caused by corrosion.

The object of the present invention is to provide a system and a method which minimise the above mentioned problems present in prior art.

An object is particularly a fastening system for a mudguard which can be installed easier and faster, and where the mudguard can be mounted with less work steps than previously, for instance, with less bolts or corresponding fastening members. A 10 simple installation requires less time, and thus it saves costs.

A particular object is also a mudguard fastening system, which is more advantageous than the previous ones, and which saves material costs due to its simple structure. An object is also a structure, which is more durable than the previous ones.

The above mentioned disadvantaaes are eliminated, or they are reduced, and the c above mentioned objects are attained with a system according to the invention, which is characterised in what is defined in the characterising part of the 41Z independent claim presented below.

In this text a mudguard fastening system refers to such members, with which the 20 mudguard is fastened to a supporting bar of the mudguard fastened to the chassis of a vehicle or a trailer. In cross-section the supporting bar is advantageously a substantially complete circle, but also supporting bars with other shapes can be suitably used in the system according to the invention. However, advantageously at least the main part of the surface of the cross-section of the supporting bar is substantially arched. The first side of an installed mudguard means that side which is away from the wheel, and its second side refers to that side which is towards the wheel. A top component is a fastener formed by a substantially plate-like material, and in its central part there is formed an arched bracket part, with which the system accordina to the invention is fastened to the supporting bar. The end parts of the top component are arranged outwards from at both ends of the arched bracket part of the top component. The diameter of the supporting bar of the mudguard means the diameter of an imaginary plane defined by a perpendicular cross-section of the supporting bar, in that part which the outer surface of the supporting bar is intended to be located against the arched bracket of the top component. The bottom 3 component is kind of a counterpart for the top component and intended to be located against the mudguard on that side which is towards the tyre. The bottom component is made of a substantially plate-like material. The fastening members are for instance bolts and nuts, but they may also be members of a different kind, with the aid of which ' different bodies can be attached to each other. The elongated and substantially narrow opening formed in the mudguard for the first and second fastening members is for instance an elongated opening which is formed in the mudguard in the rotation direction of the tyre, and through which the fastening members are intended to be positioned. A weakening portion means a weakening made in the arched bracket part, such as thinning, a hole or a portion made of a weaker material, which can be slightly bent more easily than the surrounding material. However, the weakening portion must be able to withstand normal use of the system. A reinforcement formed in some portion means an arrangement with which said part is made less bendable than its surrounding.

The fastening system according to the invention is intended for the fastening of a mudguard to a supporting bar of a mudguard, which advantageously has a substantially circular cross-section. The fastening system comprises at least a top component and a bottom component, and first and second fastening means. The top component is placed on that side of the planar mudguard, made for instance of plastics, which side is directed away from the tyre, and the bottom component is placed against the top component, on that side of the mudguard which is directed towards the tyre. Openings for the fastening members are formed both in the top and bottom components and in the mudguard. The opening formed in the mudguard is elongated, i.e. the length is typically 15 to 20 centimetres in the rotational direction of the tyre of the vehicle and the width is about one centimetre. A mudguard may have more such openings, i.e. one opening for each fastening member, whereby the openings may be shorter. With the aid of said fastening members the top and bottom components are fastened to each other and at the same time to the mudatiard. The first fastening members are 'mounted throuah the first ends of the top and bottom components, the fastening members being typically a bolt and a nut. In the fastening system according to the invention the second end part of the top component is formed as second fastening members, and in the bottom of the second end of the component an opening for these second fastening members is arranged. During installation of the system the second fastening members, i.e. the second end of the top component, are arranged at least partly through the elongated opening of the mudguard and through the second fastening members' opening in the bottom component, to the second side of the mudguard, in 4 order to fasten the top and bottom components and the mudguard to each other. The fastening effect of the second fastening members is based on the fact that opposing pressing forces are directed at the first side of the mudguard and at the bottom component, as the second end part of the top component is intended to be turned in relation to the mudguard. Then at least one point of the second end part of the top component presses the mudguard from its first side against the bottom component, and at least one point of the second fastening members presses the bottom component against the mudguard. Very advantageously the second fastening members form an integral part with the top component, whereby they are arranged to be stationary regarding the second end part of the top component. Advantageously the components of the system are of metal, such as stainless steel.

A typical top component comprises an arched bracket part known as such and intended to be mounted around the supporting bar of the mudguard, so that the supporting bar is kept between the arc of the bracket part and the mudguard. The arc of the inner surface of the bracket part must have an arc radius which is slightly larger than the radius of the supporting bar of the mudguard, so that the supporting bar at least partly fits in the bracket part. The arc of the inner surface of the bracket part and the surface of the supporting bar must not necessarily be portions of a circular arc. The most important thing is that the bracket part is adapted to the supporting bar, so that they can be fastened to each other in a dependable way. The end parts are located on both sides of the bracket part, and the first end part is substantially planar. The second end part is also mainly planar, but very advantageously it is formed with one or more bends, so that the second end part has at least two planes which are substantially parallel with the plane of an installed mudguard. One of these planes is intended to be located against the first side of the installed mudguard, and the other,plane to be located on the second side of the mudguard and the bottom component, against the bottom component. The arch of the bracket part is typically formed to differ so much from the plane of the first end part, which is intended to be located against the mudguard, and from the surface of the second end part, which is intended to be located against the mudguard, so that the cross-section of the supporting bar at least almost totally fits in the space defined by the arch and the plane of said first part and that surface of the second end part, which is intended to be located against the mudguard. In the arched bracket part of the top component of the system according to the invention there is arranged a weakening portion, at which the bracket part is arranged to bend, when it is tightened tightly around the supporting bar. Thus two main contact points are formed between the bracket part and the supporting bar, one point on each side of 0 the weakening portion. A third contact point is formed between the supporting bar and the surface which supports it from the direction of the wheel of the vehicle.

One of the most important advantages of the mudguard fastening system according to the invention is that the installation of the mudguard on the supporting bar can be made more easily and rapidly. When a mudguard fastened to the supporting bar with the aid of one or more systems according to the invention has been preinstalled loosely on the supporting bar, roughly in its correct position, then the first fastening members of each system are tightly secured. Each fastening system according to the invention can be rapidly fastened in its place as it has only one bolt and nut or corresponding fastening members.

One advantage of the mudguard fastening system according to the invention is that the elongated opening in the mudguard enables a simple way to adjust the attitude and position of the mudguard in the direction of this opening. The fine adjustment of the attitude of the mudguard is simply made by moving the fasteners in the elongated opening of the mudguard before the fastening members are tightened to their final tightness. No rail structures or the like are required for this attitude adjustment.

It is typical for a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention that the second fastening members comprise a neck part, which is arranged at the end of the second end part of the top component and which is narrower than the elongated opening of the mudguard, whereby a planar widened part, which is wider than said elongated opening, is attached to the neck part. When the system has been installed the neck part will be positioned through the elongated opening of the mudguard and the opening in the bottom component for the second fastening members, and the widened part is arranged to be located against the surface of the bottom component directed away from the mudguard. Thus the mudguard and the bottom component are pressed between the second end part of the top component and the widened part. The advantage of this system is its simple, but at the same time well operating construction. The widened part is easily shaped so that when it is pressed against the bottom component it will at the same time cover the opening of the bottom component, and thus it prevents water from passing from the tyre side of the mudguard to its outer side. An advantage of a top component of this kind is also that the system is held in its place already when the fastening members of the second end part are first mounted through the mudguard and the top component is turned into its correct position. Then a mechanic does not need his or her hands to keep the components in their places.

6 In an advantageous embodiment of the invention the bottom component is provided with a bulge, which fits into the elongated opening of the mudguard and which has a height corresponding roughly to the thickness of the mudguard, whereby the supporting bar is arranged to abut the bulge when the system is being installed.

Such a bulge is substantially inelastic, whereby the contact point formed between the bulge, which supports the supporting bar from the direction of the wheel of the vehicle, and the supporting bar will be firm, and during the installation the contact point will enable the arched bracket to bend in the designed manner at the weakening portion so that it can be fuTnly tightened on the supporting bar. The bulge will also prevent the mudguard from being pressed too tightly between the supporting bar and the bottom component. Thereby it improves the durability of the mudguard.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention a reinforcement is arranged on both sides of the arched bracket part of the top component. When the to- component is firmly tightened this reinforcement prevents the top component fron.bending at other places than desired, along the arch of the bracket part, on both sides of the weakening portion.

Still another advantageous fastening system according to the invention comprises a cover plate in order to prevent water from passing through the elongated opening of the mudguard, from the side of the mudguard which is against the tyre, to its first side. The standards require that the mudguards must not have holes that would pass water. The cover plate according to the invention can be mounted either on the first side or on the second side of the mudguard. For instance, the cover plate can be mounted to cover the whole system, i.e. to pass over the top component and the supporting bar of the mudguard. The cover plate is advantageously mounted between the mudguard and the top component. Thus the openings are formed in the cover plate for the first and second fastening members. In addition to preventing the passage of water the cover plate can protect the system from dirt, and it gives a better appearance to the system.

Below the invention is described in more detail with reference to the enclosed Figures, in which:

Figure 1 shows schernatically the top component according to the invention as seen from one side; Figure 2 shows schematically the top component of Figure 1 as seen from above; 0 Figure 3 shows schematically the top component of Figure 1 as seen from the front 7 side; Figure 4 shows schematically in an enlargement a part of the top component of Figure 1; Figure 5 shows schematically a bottom component according to the invention as seen from one side; Figure 6 shows schematically the bottom component of Figure 5 as seen from above; Figure 7 shows schematically the cross-section of the bottom component of Figure 5; Figure 8 shows schematically the mudguard fastening system according to the invention and a mudguard fastened with the system, as seen from one side; Figure 9 shows schematically the mudguard fastening system of Figure 8 and the mudguard, from the second side of the mudguard and seen towards the rear regarding the travelling direction of the vehicle; Figure 10 shows schematically the mudguard fastening system of Figure 8 and the mudguard, from the first side of the mudguard and seen towards the front regarding the travelling direction of the vehicle; Figures 11, 12 and 13 show schematically the fastening system according to the invention and the different steps of the installation of a mudguard fastened with the system, partly cut, and seen from one side; Figure 14 shows schematically, as seen from one side, a system according to the invention comprising a cover plate mounted between the mudguard and the top component; Figure 15 shows schematically the system of Figure 14 as seen from above; Figure 16 shows schematically, as seen from one side, the system according to the invention comprising a cover plate mounted over the system; and Figure 17 shows schematically the system of Figure 16 as seen from above.

Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 show the top component 12 of an advantageous mudguard fastening system 10 according to the invention, the top component having a first end part 14 and a second end part 16, and between them an arched bracket part 18.

An opening 20 is formed in the first end part 14 for first fastening members, i.e. for the bolt 22. Second fastening members 24 are formed in the second end part 16, the second members comprising a neck part 26 and a widened part 28. A weakening opening 30 is formed in the centre of the arch of the bracket part 18. A first reinforcement 32 is formed in the joint between the bracket part 18 and the first end part 14 by shaping the portion 12 so that the centre of the first end part 14 is higher than its edges. In the same way, a second reinforcement 34 is formed in the joint 8 between the bracket part 18 and the second end part 16 by shaping the centre of the second end part 16 to be located higher than its edges. The weakening portion 30 could also be something else than an opening. For instance, the bracket part 18 could be formed so that it has a portion that is thinner than the surrounding portions.

The most important thing is that the bracket part 18 can be bent at its weakening portion 30 more easily than at other portions.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 show an advantageous bottom component 36 of the mudguard fastening system 10 according to the invention, where the bottom component has a first end part 38 and a second end part 40. An opening 42 for first fastening members, i.e. the bolt 22, are formed in the first end part 38. In the Figures the bolt 22 is fixedly welded to the opening 42, i.e. as a fixed part of the bottom component 36. Thus, when the system 10 is installed a mechanic has to handle all the less separate components. An opening 44 for the second fastening members 24 is formed in the second end part 40. Roughly at the centre of the bottom componer 36, between the openings 42 and 44 there is formed a platform 46. For any auxiliary fastening requirements, e.g. for pop-rivets, there is formed openings 48 and 50 in the end parts 38 and 40 of the bottom component. In order to stiffen the planar bottom component 36 its longitudinal edges 52 and 54 are bent downwards. The opening 44 and the widened part 28 are shaped so that the widened part 28 can pass through the opening 44 only when the top component 12 is in an almost vertical position regarding the bottom component 36. When the widened part 28 has been threaded through the opening 44, and when the top and bottom components are turned to be in parallel, then the widened part 28 is wider than the opening 44, so that for instance in a position shown in Figure 1 the top and bottom components will be locked to each other. When the widened part 28 has been installed it will cover the opening 44, and thus it. will prevent water from passing through the opening 44.

0 The plane of that surface 58 of the installed mudguard 56 which is away from the tyre, as well as that plane 60 which is towards the tyre, is marked by broken line in the Figures 1, 4 and 5. Figure 5 shows how the platform 46 is roughly as high as the thickness of the mudguard 56. Advantageously the platform 46 is formed slightly higher, e.g. 0.5 mm higher, than the thickness of the mudguard. Otherwise the supporting bar 72 abutting the platform 46 would contact the surface 58 of the mudguard when the attitude of the mudguard 56 is adjusted, and would impede the installation. In addition it can be seen how the surfaces 62, 64, 66 and 68 of the top and bottom components are shaped so that they are arched in a similar way as the 9 mudguard 56. The surfaces 62 and 64 of the top component are intended to be positioned against the convex surface 58 of the mudguard, and they are advantageously arched slightly more than the surface 58. The top surface 68 of the bottom component is intended to be placed against the concave surface 60 of the mudguard, and thus it is slightly less arched than the surface 60. In this way the surfaces are attached to each other in a tighter manner as the system 10 is installed in its place. The lower surface 70 of the bottom component towards the tyre of the vehicle is marked by a dotted line in the Figures 1, 4 and 5. The surface 66 of the widened part 28 of the second fastening members is intended to be located against the lower surface 70 of the bottom component 36, and it is shaped so as to be pressed against it as tightly as possible.

In Figures 1 and 4 the broken line represents the location of the mudguard 56 and the dotted line the location of the lower surface 70 of the bottom component 36, in a situation where the second fastening members 24 of the top component are threaded into their places via the opening 44, and the top component 36 rests in its place due to its own weight. Then the substantially planar surface 64 of the second end part 16 of the top component is pressed against the convex surface 58 of the mudguard, and the surface 66 of the widened part 28 of the second fastening members is pressed against the lower surface 70 of the bottom component. In this state, when the first fastening members 22 are not yet fastened, there is a substantial space between the surface 62 of the first end part 14, which is intended to be placed against the mudguard 56, and the convex top surface 58 of the mudguard, the space being a few millimetres in the advantageous embodiment of the invention, for instance 3 to 6 Mm.

If, in the situation according to Figure 1, an attempt is made to bend the first end part 14 of the top component towards the surface 58 of the mudguard, then the surfaces 64 and 28 press the top component 12, the mudguard 56 and the bottom component 36 even more tightly against each other. When the bolt 22 and the nut 22b seen in Figures 12 and 13 are firmly tightened, the top component 12, the 30 mudguard 56 and the bottom component 36 will be tightened also at the first fastening members 22. As Iona as the bolt 22 and the nut 22b are not tightened the position of the system 10 and the mudguard 56 can be adjusted relatively easily. The Figures 8, 9 and 10 show a mudguard 56 fastened by a system 10 according to the invention to the supporting bar 72 having a substantially circular cross-section. 35 The mudguard 56 is fastened to two supporting bars 72. The mudguard 56 is intended to be fastened to both supporting bars 72 with the aid of two systems 10 according to the invention, but the Figures 9 and 10 show the fastening with only one system 10, in order to more clearly show the elongated opening 74 formed in the plastic mudguard 56. The bolt 22 and the second fastening members 24 are arranged to go through the opening 74. Due to the elongated form of the opening 74 the position of the fastening system is easily adjusted in the plane of the surface of the mudguard 56. Advantageously there is onI one opening 74 for the first and y c second fastening members 22 and 24, but of course there may be more openings.

Figures 11, 12 and 13 show the different steps of the installation of the mudguard fastening system 10 according to the invention to a supporting bar 72. In Figure 11 the second fastening members in the second end part 16 of the top component are arranged through the elongated opening 74 of the mudguard and the opening 44 in C tP the bottom component, and the top component 12 is turned to be parallel with the bottom component 36 and the mudguard 56. The top component 12 is in a vertical position, leaning as it is supported by the hinge-like entity formed by the surface 64 of the top component, the second fastening members 24 and the openings 74 and 44. In this position the supporting bar 72 can be brought below the arch of the top component 12, so that the bar passes between the top component 12 and the bolt 22 1 The platform 46 of the bottom component is placed through the elongated opening 74 of the mudguard, so that its surface is roughly on the same level as the convex surface 58 of the mudguard. The lower surface 70 of the bottom component is shown by a dotted line.

Figure 12 shows a situation corresponding to that of Figure 1, where the top component 12 is turned into a horizontal plane. The bolt 22 is guided through the opening 20 of the top component and the nut 22b is loosely threaded on the threads of the bolt 22. The supporting bar 72 is fitted below the arch of the bracket part 18 of the top component. The bar is brought either between the top component 12 anci the bolt 22 in the situation shown in Figure 11, or the system 10 is threaded into tht.. bar 72 with a transversal motion in relation to the travellino, direction of the vehicle. The Figure shows how the arch radius of the outer surface of the supporting bar 72 is slightly smaller than the arch radius of the inner surface 76 of the bracket part. In this situation the bracket part 18 and thus also the mudguard 56 can be moved in the direction of the bar 72. As the second fastening members 24 are not yet tightly pressed the system 10 can at the same time be moved in relation to the mudguard 56 in the direction of the elongated opening 74 of the mudguard. In the situation of Figure 12 the position of the mudguard 56 can thus be adjusted in relation to the supporting bar 72.

Figure 13 illustrates the system of Figure 12 when the nut 22b has been firmly tightened. The bolt 22 and the nut 22b press the mudguard 56 tightly between the first end part 14 of the top component and the first end part 38 of the bottom component. The tightening of the bolt 22 and the nut 22b causes at the same time the mudguard 56 and the second end part 40 of the bottom component to be pressed between the surface 64 abutting the mudguard and the widened part 28.

When the first end part 14 of the top component is lowered towards the mudguard 56 the inner surface 76 of the bracket part will contact the surface of the supporting bar 72 of the mudguard. The supporting bar 72 is also in contact with the substantially inelastic platform 46. As the pressing of the first end part 14 of the top component is continued the bracket part 18 tends to bend. The weakening opening formed in the bracket part is the first to yield, and the bracket part is bent at said opening 30. In order to prevent the joints between the bracket part andend parts of the top component to be straightened these points are provided with reinforcements 32 and 34. The weakening opening 30 and the reinforcements 32 and 34 cause two main contact points 78 and 80 to be formed between the bracket part and the supporting bar 72 of the mudguard, between the opening 30 and the reinforcements 32 and 34. The third contact point 82 of the supporting bar 72 is located between the supporting bar 72 and the platform 46 which supports the bar from the wheel direction. The platform 46 is not necessary for the system 10, but the bar 72 can also contact the actual surface 58 of the mudguard. The supporting bar 72 of the mudguard is thus tightened against the system 10 at three contact points. Without the inventive bending of the bracket part 18 the arched bracket part would press the supporting bar 72 only from above towards the platform 46, whereby the holding force would be weaker. By shaping the system 10 according to the invention or the supporting bar 72, it is possible to create even more contact points.

Figures 14 and 15 present schernatically a system 10 according to the invention where a cover plate 84 is mounted between the mudguard, 56 and the top component 12 in order to prevent water from passing from the tyre side of the mudguard 56 to the first side of the mudguard. The cover plate 84 is provided with a hole 86 for the bolt 22 and a hole 88 for the second fastening members 24. The supporting bar 72 does not contact the platform 46 in the application shown in the Figures. This would be easy to realise by forming a suitable hole in the cover plate 84 and by increasing the height of the platform 46.

Figures 16 and 17 show a system 10 where the cover plate 90 is mounted to cover the whole system 10. Except for the cover plate 90 the system 10 of the Figures 16 0 12 and 17 is identical with that presented in Figure 13. In the edge 92 of the cover plate there is formed a deep recess 94 at the supporting bar 72, the recess being slightly smaller than the supporting bar 72 when the cover plate 90 is not yet installed. The cover plate 90 is made of a slightly resilient material, such as plastics, whereby the recess 94 will yield so that the supporting bar 72 can be pressed into the recess 94, whereby the cover plate 90 is fum-dy and tightly fixed to the supporting bar 72. A cover plate 90 of this kind can be designed to have a desired shape, for instance to improve its appearance and to reduce the air drag. The edge 92 of the cover plate is arranged as tightly as possible against the mudguard 56 in order to prevent water passage.

The cover plate can also be formed so that it can be installed between the mudguard 56 and the bottom component 36. Then it should again have openings for the first and second fastening members. The cover plates according to the invention I, advantageously made of plastics or of metal.

To a person skilled in the art it is obvious that the invention is not limited only to the above presented examples, but that the invention can be varied within the scope of the claims presented below.

13

Claims

1. A mudguard fastening system (10) for the fastening of a mudguard (56) to a supporting bar (72) of a mudguard, which fastening system (10) comprises - a top component (12) mainly intended to be located on the first side (58) of the 5 installed mudguard, the top part having a substantially planar first end part (14) and a second end part (16), and between the end parts a bracket part (18), arching away from the installed mudguard, for fastening the system (10) to the supporting bar (72) of the mudguard, whereby the arch formed by the inner surface (76) of the bracket part is slightly larger, advantageously 1 to

2 mm larger, than the diameter of the supporting bar (72) of the mudguard, and - a substantially planar bottom component (36) intended to be located on the second side (60) of the mudguard and having a first end part (38) and a second end part (40), - first fastening members (22, 22b) for fastening the first end parts (14, 38) of the 15 top and bottom components and the mudguard (56) to each other, and - second fastening members (24) for fastening the second end parts (16, 40) of the top and bottom components and the mudguard (56) to each other, whereby an opening (20, 42) leads through the first end parts (14, 38) of the top and bottom components for the first fastening members, and whereby an opening (44) leads throuah the second end part (40) of the bottom component for the second fastening members (24), and whereby at least one elongated and substantially narrow opening (74) is provided through the mudguard (56) for the first and second fastening members (22, 22b, 24), characterised in that in the arched bracket part (18) of the support there is arranged 25 at least one weakening portion (30) which is substantially weaker than the rest of the bracket part, at which portion the bracket part (18) is arranged to bend when the system (10) is fastened, and that the second fastening members (24) are arranged to be an integral part of the second end part (16) of the top component, whereby during installation the second fastening members (24) are arranged to be at least partly arranged through the elongated opening (74) of the mudguard and through the opening (44) of the bottom component for the second fastening members, to the second side (60) of the mudguard so that the second fastening members (24) are arranged against the surface (70) of the bottom component which surface is directed away from the mudguard, in order to press the mudguard (56) and the bottom component (36) between the second end part (16) of the top component and the fastening members (24).

14 2. A system (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the second fastening 0 members (24) are of one and the same substantially rigid body, and that they are arranged to be stationary in relation to the second end part (16) of the top component.

3. A system (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the second fastening members (24) comprise a neck part (26), which is arranged at the end of the second end part (16) of the top component and which is narrower than the elongated opening (74) of the mudguard, whereby a planar widened part (28), which is wider than said elongated opening (74), is attached to the neck part, and that, when the system (10) has been installed, the neck part (26) will be positioned through the elongated opening (74) of the mudguard and the opening (44) in the bottom component for the second fastening members, and that the widened part (28) is arranged, when the system (10) has been installed, to be located against the surface (70) of the bottom component which surface is directed away from the mudguard, in order to press the mudguard (56) and the bottom component (') (" between the second end part (16) of the top component and the widened part (28) order to prevent water from passing through the elongated opening (74) of mudguard to the first side (58) of the mudguard.

4. A system (10) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that the second end part (16) of the top component is substantially planar on that surface (64) which is intended to be located aaaffist the mudguard (56).

0 Z

5. A system (10) according to any previous claim, characterised in that the bottom component (36) is provided with a bulge (46), which fits into the elongated opening (74) of the mudguard and which has a height corresponding roughly to the thickness of the mudguard (56), whereby the supporting bar (72) is arranged to abLi. the bulge during installation of the system (10).

6. A system (10) according to any previous claim, characterised in that, when the top and bottom components (12, 36) and the mudguard (56) are fastened to each other only with the aid of the second fastening members (24), there is a substantial distance, advantaaeously 3 to 6 millimetres, between the plane of the surface (62) of the first end part (14) intended to be located against the first side of the mudguard and the plane of the surface (58) of the mudguard.

7. A system (10) according to any previous claim, characterised in that a reinforcement (32, 34) is arranged in the joints between - the arched bracket part (18) and the first end part (14) of the top component (12), and - the arched bracket part (18) and the second end part (16) of the top component (12).

8. A system (10) according to any previous claim, characterised in that it further comprises a cover plate (84, 90) in order to prevent water from passing through the 0 elongated opening (74) of the mudguard to the first side (58) of the mudguard.

9. A system (10) according to claim 8, characterised in that openings are formed in the cover plate (84) for the first and second fastening members (22, 24), and that, when the system (10) has been installed, the cover plate (84) is located between the mudguard (56) and the top component (12) .

10. A system (10) according to claim 8, characterised in that the cover plate (90) is arranged to be fastened to the supporting bar (72) of the mudguard with the aid of fastening members (94), on top of the whole installed system (10).

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11. A system (10) according to any previous claim, characterised in that the inner 0 surface (76) of the arched bracket part of the top component is mainly a portion of an imaginary circle.

12. A system (10) according to any previous claim, characterised in that the perpendicular cross-section of the supporting bar (72) is substantially a circle.

13. A system (10) according to any previous claim, characterised in that the top component (12) is made of a substantially elongated, plate-like material, where an arched bracket part (18) is formed in the central part of the material, whereby substantially planar end parts (14, 16) are arranged to extend outwards from both ends of the bracket part.

14. A system (10) according to any previous claim, characterised in that the bottom component (36) is made of substantially elongated, plate-like material, where a platform (46) is formed in the central part of the bottom component (36) for supporting the supporting bar (72) of the mudguard, and that the longer edges (52, 0 0 16 54) of the bottom component (36) are bent in the opposite direction from the platform (46) in order to stiffen the bottom component.

15. A mudguard fastening system, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.