Manual tire carrier with travel switch
First Claim
1. A tire carrier assembly for storing a spare tire on a vehicle, said tire carrier assembly comprising, in combination:
- a carrier adapted for supporting the spare tire;
a winch operatively connected to the carrier to raise and lower the carrier between a stowed position wherein the carrier is inaccessible and a deployed position wherein the carrier is accessible;
a sensor located to be activated when the carrier is in the stowed position;
a warning indicator operably connected to the sensor so that the warning indicator is activated when the carrier is out of the stowed position and the sensor is not activated;
wherein the winch includes a flexible member connected to the carrier to raise and lower the carrier;
a monitoring device adjacent the flexible member to measure tension in the flexible member; and
a control module operably connected to the monitoring device to monitor a tension force level in the flexible member.
22 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tire carrier assembly for storing a spare tire on a vehicle which includes a carrier adapted for supporting the spare tire and a winch operatively connected to the carrier to raise and lower the carrier between a stowed position wherein the carrier is inaccessible and a deployed position wherein the carrier is accessible. The winch has a flexible member secured to the carrier and one of an electric motor and a manual device which selectively raises and lowers the carrier between the stowed and deployed positions. A sensor is activated when the carrier is in the stowed position. A warning indicator is operably connected to the sensor so that the warning indicator is activated and provides the operator with a warning when the carrier is out of the stowed position and the sensor is not activated.
47 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A tire carrier assembly for storing a spare tire on a vehicle, said tire carrier assembly comprising, in combination:
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a carrier adapted for supporting the spare tire; a winch operatively connected to the carrier to raise and lower the carrier between a stowed position wherein the carrier is inaccessible and a deployed position wherein the carrier is accessible; a sensor located to be activated when the carrier is in the stowed position; a warning indicator operably connected to the sensor so that the warning indicator is activated when the carrier is out of the stowed position and the sensor is not activated; wherein the winch includes a flexible member connected to the carrier to raise and lower the carrier; a monitoring device adjacent the flexible member to measure tension in the flexible member; and a control module operably connected to the monitoring device to monitor a tension force level in the flexible member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification