Aerodynamic mud flap

1. A motor vehicle mud flap for attachment behind a wheel of a motor vehicle, the mud flap comprising:

a plate-like integral body having an obverse face, a suspension section, a quadrant section, and, optionally, an extension section in a longitudinal alignment;

the suspension section configured for attachment to a mud flap bracket for suspension of the mud flap therefrom and;

the quadrant section having an array of elongate through-openings positioned at an acute angle to a longitudinal axis of the mud flap; and

the optional extension section having an array of elongate through-openings;

wherein the array of elongate through-openings in the obverse face is defined by alternating elongate through-openings and ribs in parallel disposition;

wherein each elongate through-opening in the obverse face is positioned within an elongate shallow recess and has a width less than the width of its respective recess; and

wherein the elongate through-openings are configured so that water and air can flow through the elongate through-openings, and debris larger than the width of the elongate through-openings is deflected by the mud flap.

2. A motor vehicle mud flap according to claim 1 wherein each rib is configured to have a cruciate cross-section, thereby forming the recesses on the obverse face.

3. A motor vehicle mud flap according to claim 1 wherein the quadrant section has a first array of elongate through-openings oriented in a first direction, and a second array of elongate through-openings oriented in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.

4. A motor vehicle mud flap according to claim 3 wherein the extension section has an array of elongate through-openings oriented at an acute angle relative to one of the first array of elongate through-opening and the second array of elongate through-openings.

5. A motor vehicle mud flap according to claim 1 , wherein the quadrant section further comprising an imperforate section oriented at the acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the mud flap.

6. A motor vehicle mud flap according to claim 5 wherein the imperforate section is oriented in a downward direction and away from a central axis of the mud flap.

7. A motor vehicle mud flap according to claim 5 wherein the acute angle is about 45°.

8. A motor vehicle mud flap according to claim 1 wherein the obverse face and a reverse face have symmetry about a parallel plane between them as to at least the array of elongate through-openings and ribs in parallel disposition.

9. A motor vehicle mud flap according to claim 1 wherein the obverse face or a reverse face has a projecting rib and the other of the obverse and reverse faces has a recess corresponding to the rib, whereby multiple mud flaps can be stacked with ribs of one mud flap received in a corresponding recess in an overlying mud flap to reduce sliding of stacked mud flaps with respect to each other.

10. A motor vehicle mud flap according to claim 1 where-in the obverse face has symmetry about a longitudinal central axis.

11. A motor vehicle mud flap according to claim 1 wherein the quadrant section has four quadrants.

12. A motor vehicle mud flap according to claim 11 wherein the four quadrants have bilaterally symmetrical patterning formed by the arrays of elongate through-openings and ribs.

13. A motor vehicle mud flap according to claim 12 wherein the four quadrants are of equal size.

14. A motor vehicle mud flap according to claim 12 wherein the four quadrants are arranged in a quadrilateral configuration.

15. A motor vehicle mud flap for attachment behind a wheel of a motor vehicle, the mud flap comprising:

a plate-like integral body having an obverse and a reverse face, a suspension section, a quadrant section, and, optionally, an extension section in a longitudinal alignment;

the suspension section configured for attachment to a mud flap bracket for suspension of the mud flap therefrom and;

the quadrant section having an array of elongate through-openings positioned at an acute angle to a longitudinal axis of the mud flap; and

the optional extension section having an array of elongate through-openings;

wherein the array of elongate through-openings in the obverse face is defined by alternating elongate through-openings and ribs in parallel disposition;

wherein the elongate through-openings are configured so that water and air can flow through the elongate through-openings, and debris larger than the width of the elongate through-openings is deflected by the mud flap; and

wherein the obverse face and the reverse face have symmetry about a parallel plane between them as to at least the array of elongate through-openings and ribs in parallel disposition.

16. A motor vehicle mud flap for attachment behind a wheel of a motor vehicle, the mud flap comprising:

a plate-like integral body having an obverse and a reverse face, a suspension section, a quadrant section, and, optionally, an extension section in a longitudinal alignment;

the suspension section configured for attachment to a mud flap bracket for suspension of the mud flap therefrom and;

the quadrant section having an array of elongate through-openings positioned at an acute angle to a longitudinal axis of the mud flap; and

the optional extension section having an array of elongate through-openings;

wherein the array of elongate through-openings in the obverse face is defined by alternating elongate through-openings and ribs in parallel disposition;

wherein the elongate through-openings are configured so that water and air can flow through the elongate through-openings, and debris larger than the width of the elongate through-openings is deflected by the mud flap; and

wherein the obverse face or a reverse face has a projecting rib and the other of the obverse and reverse faces has a recess corresponding to the rib, whereby multiple mud flaps can be stacked with ribs of one mud flap received in a corresponding recess in an overlying mud flap to reduce sliding of stacked mud flaps with respect to each other.