US Patent 8146949 Mud flap

Mud flap having a plurality of laterally spaced, vertically extending vanes defining a plurality of vertically extending channels on the front side of the flap for directing water and debris from a wheel in a downward direction toward the roadway and not to the rear or sides of the flap, and vertically extending slotted openings in the channels of a size permitting air to pass through the openings to the rear of the flap and preventing water and debris from doing so. In some embodiments, vertically extending deflectors are positioned to the rear of the slotted openings for directing any water and debris passing through the openings in a downward direction toward the roadway.