An article of manufacture for providing a leak resistant facemask according to the present invention is an automated accessory for a spare tire hoist for an automotive vehicle having a direct current power source and a spare tire stored in a horizontal orientation beneath the underside of a vehicle body and including a hoist with a rotatable drive input for raising and lowering said spare tire. The automated spare tire hoist includes a bidirectional direct current motor for mounting beneath said underside of the vehicle body proximate the spare tire hoist and having a motor output drive shaft and electrical input leads, speed reduction gearing coupled to the motor output drive shaft and having a gear output drive shaft, a coupler extending from the gear output drive shaft for engagement with said hoist drive input, a load-actuated circuit breaker coupled in circuit with the electrical input leads to said motor and having accessory power leads for connection to the direct current power source of the vehicle; and an actuating electrical switch coupled in circuit with the accessory power leads and located remotely from the motor for alternatively driving the motor in opposite directions and for cutting power to the motor entirely.

A spare tire mount for the rear of a motor vehicle has a first outer support frame with a second, inner support frame nested inside and releasably connected to the first frame. Both frames extend laterally across the back of the vehicle and extend upward at an angle. Both frames rotate about a vertical joint at the rear bumper so the frames rotate toward and away from the vehicle. The second frame holds the spare tire and rotates about a horizontal axis. A wire rope winds around a reel on the first frame with the rope connected to the second frame to raise and lower the second frame and tire as they rotate about the first horizontal axis—toward and away from the first frame and ground. The reel is rotated by a worm screw and worm wheel.

A lifting system for generating a lifting force on a portion of a vehicle includes a vehicle wheel and a force-generating mechanism structured to be received inside a rim cavity of the wheel. The force-generating mechanism is also structured to be operably connected to a frame of a vehicle. A bearing member is operably connected to the force-generating mechanism. The bearing member is structured to transmit a force generated by the force-generating mechanism to a surface in physical contact with the bearing member. The bearing member is also structured for operably connecting the wheel to the force-generating mechanism. Force applied by the force-generating mechanism may be sufficient to lift a portion of the vehicle off of a ground surface, or the force may only be sufficient to apply a parking brake force without lifting the vehicle.

A modular accessory attachment system for a tire carrier, a bike rack, container, or other structure that can be selectively attached to either a bedslide, cargo box bed, or tailgate hitch, is provided. The modular accessory attachment system may include a plurality of receivers disposed through the deck of the bedslide. Correspondingly sized posts may be extend from the tire carrier, bike rack, other racks, or accessories, and be disposed into the receivers. Pins, detents, or other like attachment means may be employed to secure the posts to the receivers.

A tire storage device includes a base plate, a frame, and a storage container. The base plate secures the device to the frame of a semi-truck behind the cab. The storage container is also coupled to the base plate and includes a door and latch to provide selective access to an internal volume for the storage and access of tools used to facilitate changing tires on the truck. The frame supports one or more wheels. A lifting mechanism is included to raise and lower the wheels to and from the ground. A motor is selectively operated to facilitate movement. A guard is optionally included to maintain hoses at safe distances from the storage device.

A cable hoist system for a spare tire carrier in a vehicle includes a housing; a drive cable; a reel assembly; and a drive mechanism. A first gear assembly of the drive mechanism includes a control plate member connected to a first gear using at least two frangible connectors. The at least two frangible connectors connecting the control plate member and the first gear provides a frangible connection in the first gear assembly such that, when the first gear assembly is subject to a force exceeding a predetermined value caused by momentum of a spare tire applied through the reel assembly and a second gear of a second gear assembly, the at least two frangible connectors break to allow the first gear to move relative to the control plate member such that the second gear and the reel assembly can rotate to allow for pay out of the drive cable.

A wheel jack holder for a vehicle may include a holder base having at least one sliding member formed at each of first and second side portions of the holder base, whereby a wheel jack is configured for being placed on the holder base; and a pair of holder arms, each having a sliding rod formed at a first surface thereof, wherein the sliding rod is slidably inserted into a hole of the sliding member. The pair of holder arms may move away from each other when receiving force from the wheel jack to be fixed to a wheel rim of a wheel.

Exemplary spare tire cover systems for motor vehicles may include features for assisting in raising/lowering a spare tire to/from a vehicle mounted position. Exemplary system features may include, but are not limited to, a deployable ramp, a wheel stop, a wheel catcher, and a strut assembly for moving the deployable ramp between stowed and deployed positions. The spare tire cover systems may additionally include features designed for increasing the functionality of the system, including but not limited to integrated deployable steps and handrails, lighting, sensors, etc.

A spare wheel carrier for a vehicle includes a wheel frame having an upright axis, a rotary bearing, and multiple surface-mountable linear slides. The wheel frame includes a hub and multiple outboard generally planar wheel-bearing wheel faces. The wheel faces have circumferentially-spaced respective inclined orientations whereby the wheel faces are inclined towards one another in a converging relationship, and each wheel face is configured to support a spare wheel on its side in its inclined orientation. The rotary bearing is configured to support the wheel frame, by its hub, for axial rotation. The linear slides, on the other hand, are configured to carry a bridge between them, and support the rotary bearing, and the wheel frame, via the rotary bearing, on the bridge for radial movement.

A spare tire release device is provided for a motor vehicle. That spare tire release device includes a wheel cradle, a first slider mechanism to displace the wheel cradle in a first direction and a second slider mechanism to displace the wheel cradle in a second direction whereby the wheel cradle may be maneuvered for easy access to a spare tire and wheel held in the cradle.