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Spare tire carrier

  • US 5,186,371 A
  • Filed: 05/02/1991
  • Issued: 02/16/1993
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/02/1991
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A spare tire carrier for a vehicle, the spare tire carrier adapted to swing from a latched position wherein the carrier is located adjacent to a rear closure member of the vehicle to an open position wherein the carrier extends outwardly from the rear portion, the spare tire carrier comprising:

  • a generally U-shaped tubular frame member pivotally attached to the vehicle by a pair of hinge members located to one side of the closure member;

    a first latching mechanism for latching the frame member to the closure member when the former is in the latched position;

    a bracket fixedly connected to the frame member;

    a swing-down device having a pivot arm pivotally attached to the bracket and supporting a spare tire for movement between a raised position wherein the spare tire is located above the ground and a lowered position wherein the spare tire contacts the ground;

    a tire support plate fixedly connected to the pivot arm for mounting the spare tire;

    the tire support plate having a second latching mechanism for maintaining the spare tire in the raised position relative to the frame member;

    an assist arm pivotally coupled to the tire support plate for movement between a stowed position and an open position;

    the assist arm having means engaging the tubular frame member when in the stowed position;

    the support plate having stop means for preventing the assist arm from pivoting past a predetermined point;

    the second latching mechanism serving to unlatch the support plate from the frame member to allow the spare tire to swing-downward from the raised position under the control of the assist arm when in the open position so that the tire can abut the ground and can be removed from the tire support plate.

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