A spare tire storage cover assembly a spare tire and a wheel cover. The spare tire has a tire and a metal wheel. The metal wheel defines a central attachment portion encircled by an outer rim with a wheel retaining member of a retraction device is inserted through an opening in the central attachment portion. The wheel cover has a disk portion with a first surface and a second surface, and a cylindrical portion extending from a central area of the first surface of the disk portion. The first surface has a plurality of alignment fins that extend in a radial outward direction from the cylindrical portion with distal edges thereof being dimensioned such that with the cylindrical portion inserted into the metal wheel, contact between the alignment fins and an inner circumferential surface of the outer rim centers the wheel cover relative to the metal wheel.

A device for raising and lowering a spare wheel of a vehicle includes a body to be mounted to the vehicle in a fixed position. The body includes a first indented surface defining an aperture, A lifter mechanism for raising and lowering the spare wheel includes a rotatable element capable of rotating relative to the body. The rotatable element is at least partly housed in the aperture and has a second indented surface. The first and second indented surfaces are configured to mutually interfere, in order to hinder the rotation of the rotatable element relative to the body.

A system includes a computer including a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to actuate a compressor to maintain a spare tire of a vehicle in an uninflated state and, upon receiving data indicating a low pressure of an operating tire of the vehicle, actuate the compressor to inflate the spare tire.

A system includes a computer including a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to actuate a compressor to maintain a spare tire of a vehicle in an uninflated state and, upon receiving data indicating a low pressure of an operating tire of the vehicle, actuate the compressor to inflate the spare tire.

A structure for mounting a spare tire for antitheft may include a carrier support bracket on which a spare tire is mounted, a bracket mounted at a bottom surface of a vehicle and supporting the spare tire, and a carrier winding or unwinding a wire mounted at the carrier support bracket in order for the spare tire to be moved upwardly and downwardly, the carrier further including a carrier housing including a top surface formed with a through hole, and a bottom surface formed with a projecting hole, a shaft bolt rotatably mounted at the carrier housing and adapted to wind or unwind the wire by rotation thereof, and a socket to transmit a torque applied from an outside of the vehicle to the shaft bolt or to block the torque not to be transmitted to the shaft bolt.

A structure for mounting a spare tire for antitheft may include a carrier support bracket on which a spare tire is mounted, a bracket mounted at a bottom surface of a vehicle and supporting the spare tire, and a carrier winding or unwinding a wire mounted at the carrier support bracket in order for the spare tire to be moved upwardly and downwardly, the carrier further including a carrier housing including a top surface formed with a through hole, and a bottom surface formed with a projecting hole, a shaft bolt rotatably mounted at the carrier housing and adapted to wind or unwind the wire by rotation thereof, and a socket to transmit a torque applied from an outside of the vehicle to the shaft bolt or to block the torque not to be transmitted to the shaft bolt.

A motor vehicle has an internal compartment for housing a rolling appliance (such an and unmanned ground vehicle) that is operable separately from the motor vehicle. A lift mechanism is secured to or within the vehicle adjacent to the compartment and is movable between a lowered condition wherein it alternatively receives/engages the rolling appliance when the rolling appliance is located beneath the compartment, and a raised condition wherein it has lifted the rolling appliance into the compartment, thereby moving the rolling appliance between the ground and the compartment. The compartment is immediately below a traditional cargo area of the vehicle and has a pass-through via which objects can be moved between the vehicle cargo area and a loading area of the rolling appliance.

A motor vehicle has an internal compartment for housing a rolling appliance (such an and unmanned ground vehicle) that is operable separately from the motor vehicle. A lift mechanism is secured to or within the vehicle adjacent to the compartment and is movable between a lowered condition wherein it alternatively receives/engages the rolling appliance when the rolling appliance is located beneath the compartment, and a raised condition wherein it has lifted the rolling appliance into the compartment, thereby moving the rolling appliance between the ground and the compartment. The compartment is immediately below a traditional cargo area of the vehicle and has a pass-through via which objects can be moved between the vehicle cargo area and a loading area of the rolling appliance.

An apparatus comprises a retainer to couple to a proximal end of a cable, wherein a distal end of the cable is attached to a motor vehicle. The apparatus further comprises a first tube assembly coupled to a first surface of the retainer. The first tube assembly comprises a first tube, having a first end and a second end, a first length, and a first inner and outer diameter. The first tube assembly further comprises a second tube configured to receive the first tube, with the second tube further comprising a first end and a second end, a second length, a second inner diameter that is greater than the first outer diameter, and a second outer diameter. The apparatus further comprises a second tube assembly coupled to a second surface of the retainer, the second tube assembly comprising a third tube and a fourth tube.

A spare wheel assembly winch having a force dependent cable release mechanism is disclosed. In one embodiment, the sheave includes a series of breakaway features that can be torn if the tension on the spare tire cable exceeds the predetermined level, thus allowing the inner, gear-containing portion of the sheave to rotate independently of the outer, cable-holding portion. In another embodiment, the sheave includes a series of breakaway notches formed on the gear teeth of the internal gear. In a further embodiment, a frangible tab extends from torque plate into a depression formed in the cover plate. In yet another embodiment, a tear feature extends from the housing and is situated adjacent the torque plate arm. In an additional embodiment, frangible tabs extend from the body of the sheave into a geared insert. In still another embodiment, a frangible tab extends from a geared insert into the torque plate.