A mounting mechanism for mounting a moveable bearing part relative to a counter-bearing part, including the moveable bearing part with a plurality of bearing elements, the counter-bearing part with counter-bearing elements which are locally moveable relative to the remaining counter-bearing part from a starting position into a deformation position and vice versa, wherein the bearing elements a contact surface each lie on a counter-contact surface of the counter-bearing elements each for the force transmission from the bearing elements to the counter-bearing elements so that the bearing elements are in mechanical operative connection with the counter-bearing elements because of the contact between bearing elements and the counter-bearing elements and a movement of the bearing part with the bearing elements causes a local relative movement of those counter-bearing elements from the starting position into the deformation position, which counter-bearing elements are in mechanical operative connection with the bearing elements and the local relative movement of the counter-bearing elements from the starting position into the deformation position causes an elastic deformation of elastic components and following the termination of the mechanical operative connection an elastic recovery of the elastic component causes a return movement of these counter-bearing elements from the deformation position into the starting position.

A mounting mechanism for mounting a moveable bearing part relative to a counter-bearing part, including the moveable bearing part with a plurality of bearing elements, the counter-bearing part with counter-bearing elements which are locally moveable relative to the remaining counter-bearing part from a starting position into a deformation position and vice versa, wherein the bearing elements a contact surface each lie on a counter-contact surface of the counter-bearing elements each for the force transmission from the bearing elements to the counter-bearing elements so that the bearing elements are in mechanical operative connection with the counter-bearing elements because of the contact between bearing elements and the counter-bearing elements and a movement of the bearing part with the bearing elements causes a local relative movement of those counter-bearing elements from the starting position into the deformation position, which counter-bearing elements are in mechanical operative connection with the bearing elements and the local relative movement of the counter-bearing elements from the starting position into the deformation position causes an elastic deformation of elastic components and following the termination of the mechanical operative connection an elastic recovery of the elastic component causes a return movement of these counter-bearing elements from the deformation position into the starting position.

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 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.

An apparatus for stowing and deploying a vehicle tire from a rear portion of a vehicle, the apparatus including: a raising and lowering mechanism for moving the tire a stowed position to a deployed position, wherein the tire when in the deployed position is lowered and extended laterally in order to provide access to the tire. An apparatus for stowing and deploying a vehicle tire from a rear portion of a vehicle, the apparatus including: a raising and lowering mechanism for moving the vehicle tire a stowed position to a deployed position, wherein the raising and lowering mechanism has a feature that is configured to be engaged by an adapter of a hand held power driver so that the vehicle tire can be stowed and deployed via the hand held power driver. An apparatus for stowing and deploying a vehicle tire from a rear portion of a vehicle, the apparatus including: a raising and lowering mechanism for moving the vehicle tire between a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein the raising and lowering mechanism has a fixture that releasably engages a rim of the vehicle tire, the feature having a first configuration where the fixture engages opposite sides of the rim of the vehicle tire and a second configuration where portions of the fixture can pass through an opening in the rim of the vehicle tire.

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.

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 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 hose reel system, comprising a housing, a hose reel disposed within the housing, and a bracket receiving element. The bracket receiving element is configured to receive a spare tire mounting bracket. The bracket receiving element is configured to retain the spare tire mounting bracket when tension is applied to a cable associated with the spare tire mounting bracket to secure the hose reel system within a spare tire cavity of a vehicle.

Barriers for rear frame mounted spare tires are disclosed. An example vehicle disclosed herein includes a frame including a cross member, a spare tire, a skid plate, and a barrier extending between the skid plate and the cross member, the barrier abutting the spare tire, the barrier including a first surface having a first curvature, the first curvature concave relative to a rear of the vehicle.