A spare wheel carrier intended to be mounted on a motor vehicle comprising a chassis for storing a spare wheel, the spare wheel carrier comprising: a mounting bracket intended to be mounted on the chassis of the motor vehicle; a latch mounted on the mounting bracket, the spare wheel being intended to be attached to the latch, wherein the latch is movable, with at least a rotation movement relative to the mounting bracket, between a storage position in which the spare wheel is intended to extend in a horizontal plane, in a horizontal position and a release position in which the spare wheel is intended to extend in a vertical plane perpendicular to the horizontal plane, in a vertical position perpendicular to the horizontal position.

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 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.

An apparatus comprises a mounting plate configured to couple to a holder of an motor vehicle and a mounting arm integrally formed with the mounting plate to receive a motor vehicle tire. The apparatus further comprises a plurality of gaskets to couple to the mounting plate at the mounting arm. Additionally, the apparatus comprises a puck lock to couple to the mounting plate at the mounting arm.

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.

A tire hoist system mounted beneath a vehicle body and supporting a spare tire for raising and lowering. The tire hoist system comprises a take-up reel rotatable about a reel axis; a flexible support member; and a tire support for a spare tire. The flexible support member is coupled to the take-up reel. A reduction gear system includes a plurality of meshed gears, including a reduction input gear. An input gear system has (a) an output gear coupled to the reduction input gear of the reduction gear system such that rotation of the output gear drives the reduction input gear, (b) a driving input gear meshed with the output gear, and (c) an input element fixed with the driving input gear and engageable by a drive tool. The output gear is rotated about an output axis parallel or coincident with the reel axis and the input element and the driving input gear is rotatable about an input axis oriented at an angle to the reel axis. The input gear system is an adapter input gear system comprising an input gear system housing, and is assembled separately from the reduction gear system and mounted by the input gear system housing being mounted to an exterior surface of the reduction gear system housing. A method for adapting a tire hoist system is also disclosed.

An assembly for connecting a spare wheel to a motor vehicle with a tether, the spare wheel having at least one bolt hole, includes an eyelet bracket having a first member angled with respect to a second member, the first member connectable to the tether and the second member defining an eyelet, a rod that defines an axis and is connected to the first member, the rod configured to be disposed in the bolt hole of the spare wheel, and a clip connected to the second member, the clip having a retaining feature extended towards the rod and a tab extended through the eyelet. The second member of the eyelet bracket prevents the eyelet bracket from rotating about the axis and the retaining feature of the clip prevents the eyelet bracket from moving in one direction along the axis.

The present invention involves a spare tire carrier and handling device for mounting on a vehicle. The device is adapted for moving a spare tire between a stored position under a vehicle to an accessible position. The device may be mounted so as to be accessible from the rear, side, or front of a vehicle as desired.