Package and article carriers – Vehicle attached – For rim – tire – or wheel
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-02
2001-02-20
Cronin, Stephen K. (Department: 3727)
Package and article carriers
Vehicle attached
For rim, tire, or wheel
C224S042280, C224S502000, C224S518000, C296S037200, C296S051000, C414S465000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06189748
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to spare tire carriers for vehicles and, more particularly, to a swing-away spare tire carrier for a motor vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Motor vehicles typically include a spare tire in the event of a flat or blowout of one of four tires of the vehicle. The spare tire may be carried interior or exterior to the motor vehicle. For exterior motor vehicle applications, the spare tire is mounted on a spare tire carrier. The spare tire carrier may be stationary or movable. For movable applications, the spare tire carrier has a carrier arm pivotally mounted to a bracket, which is fixedly secured to a rear bumper or hatch door of the motor vehicle by fasteners. The spare tire is mounted by fasteners to the carrier arm, which allows the spare tire to“swing-away” from the motor vehicle.
One disadvantage of the above spare tire carrier is that it places a load on the rear bumper or hatch door of the motor vehicle, which is undesired. Another disadvantage of the above spare tire carrier is that it has a relatively large number of parts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a new and improved swing-away spare tire carrier for a motor vehicle.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a swing-away spare tire carrier that is self-contained and not mounted to a rear bumper or hatch door of a motor vehicle.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a swing-away spare tire carrier for a motor vehicle, which has fewer parts.
To achieve the foregoing objects, the present invention is a swing-away spare tire carrier for a motor vehicle. The swing-away spare tire carrier includes a cross tube extending transversely for attachment to underside vehicle structure of a motor vehicle, preferably of a rear portion of the motor vehicle and, preferably beneath a rear bumper of the motor vehicle, and an arm support bracket secured to the cross tube. The swing-away spare tire carrier also includes a carrier arm having a first arm portion pivotally attached to the arm support bracket and a second arm portion pivotally attached to the first arm portion for pivotal movement between a first position adjacent a vehicle body of the motor vehicle and a second position extending substantially laterally from the vehicle body when the second arm portion is moved toward the first arm portion.
One advantage of the present invention is that a new and improved swing-away spare tire carrier is provided for a motor vehicle. Another advantage of the present invention is that the swing-away spare tire carrier is attached to vehicle structure similar to a trailer towing hitch. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the swing-away spare tire carrier is relatively strong and less in parts. Still another advantage of the present invention is that the swing-away spare tire carrier is of a bi-fold type. A further advantage of the present invention is that the swing-away spare tire carrier is self-contained, no mounting to the rear bumper or hatch door of the motor vehicle.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3753520 (1973-08-01), Bodde
patent: 3845891 (1974-11-01), Becher
patent: 4679717 (1987-07-01), Hansen
patent: 5186371 (1993-02-01), Jozefczak et al.
patent: 5538168 (1996-07-01), Burger et al.
patent: 5967389 (1999-10-01), Hutter et al.
Burchart Christopher G
Hutter Robert B
Lazarus Brian C
Thorne Eric P
Cronin Stephen K.
DaimlerChrysler Corporation
Fuller III Roland A.
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