Adjustable spare tire carrier

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11760429-B2
Application number	US-202117449860-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 4, 2021
Priority date	Oct 27, 2016
Publication date	Sep 19, 2023
Grant date	Sep 19, 2023

Abstract

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a spare tire carrier for a vehicle that can be adjustable for moving the spare tire into different positions. The spare tire carrier can be attached to existing components of a vehicle in order to move the spare tire's position, which can be advantageous for avoiding environmental hazards when off-roading.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable spare tire carrier assembly comprising:
a spare tire mount comprising a rotatable tube configured to be rotatably attached to a bumper such that the spare tire mount is configured to rotate away from a vehicle about a vertical longitudinal axis of the rotatable tube which intersects the bumper and a mounting frame attached to the rotatable tube, the mounting frame including an attachment structure defining an attachment surface, the attachment structure spaced from the vertical longitudinal axis and disposed above the bumper when the spare tire mount is in a storage position; and
an adjustable spare tire carrier removably attached to the spare tire mount, the adjustable spare tire carrier comprising:
a first leg having a first plurality of apertures and configured to removably attach to the attachment surface of the mounting frame; and
a second leg connected with the first leg and having a second plurality of apertures, wherein when the adjustable spare tire carrier is attached to the spare tire mount and the spare tire mount is in the storage position, the second leg is angled relative to the first leg and at least a portion of the second leg extends over the mounting frame;
each of the first leg and the second leg being defined by a rearward facing surface and a frontward facing surface;
wherein the first leg and the second leg are both configured to attach to a spare tire or an extender; and
wherein when the second leg is attached to the spare tire or the extender and the spare tire mount is in the storage position, the spare tire or the extender is angled relative to the first leg such that an upper portion of the spare tire that is above and furthest from a bumper is positioned forward from the remainder of the spare tire.

2. The adjustable spare tire carrier assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first leg and the second leg are connected at an angle.

3. The adjustable spare tire carrier assembly of claim 1 , further comprising the extender attached to the adjustable spare tire carrier.

4. The adjustable spare tire carrier assembly of claim 3 , wherein the extender comprises a pair of plates connected by a beam.

5. The adjustable spare tire carrier assembly of claim 4 , wherein the beam comprises an internal beam and an external beam, the internal beam and external beam configured to slide with respect to one another for adjusting a distance between the pair of plates.

6. The adjustable spare tire carrier assembly of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable spare tire carrier is at least partially hollow.

7. The adjustable spare tire carrier assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first leg and the second leg are connected on a straight plane.

8. The adjustable spare tire carrier assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a bumper which supports the spare tire mount.

9. The adjustable spare tire carrier assembly of claim 1 , wherein the attachment surface faces rearward and the adjustable spare tire carrier is attached to the attachment surface.

10. The adjustable spare tire carrier assembly of claim 1 , wherein the attachment surface faces forward and the adjustable spare tire carrier is attached to the attachment surface.

11. The adjustable spare tire carrier assembly of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable spare tire carrier comprises a cutout section for conforming to the spare tire mount.

12. An adjustable spare tire carrier assembly comprising:
a mounting frame configured to attach the adjustable spare tire carrier assembly to a vehicle; and
an adjustable spare tire carrier removably attached to the spare tire mounting frame, the adjustable spare tire carrier comprising:
a first linear leg comprising a rearward facing side and a forward facing side opposite the rearward facing side, the forward facing side being a first mounting surface configured to removably attach to an attachment surface of the mounting frame; and
a second linear leg comprising a second mounting surface configured to extend forward such that a portion of a second mounting surface is positioned closer to the vehicle than the attachment surface of the mounting frame when the adjustable spare tire carrier is mounted on the vehicle;
wherein the rearward facing side of the first linear leg and the second mounting surface are both configured to attach to a spare tire or an extender; and
wherein when the second mounting surface is attached to the spare tire or the extender and the adjustable spare tire carrier in a storage position, the spare tire or the extender is angled forward relative to the first mounting surface such that an upper portion of the spare tire is positioned closer to the vehicle than the remainder of the spare tire, thereby moving the center of gravity of the spare tire forward from where it would be if it was connected to the first mounting surface.

13. The adjustable spare tire carrier assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first linear leg and the second linear leg of the adjustable spare tire carrier are connected at an angle.

14. The adjustable spare tire carrier assembly of claim 12 , further comprising an extender attached to the adjustable spare tire carrier.

15. The adjustable spare tire carrier assembly of claim 12 , wherein the attachment surface faces rearward and the adjustable spare tire carrier is attached to the attachment surface.

16. The adjustable spare tire carrier assembly of claim 12 , wherein the attachment surface faces forward and the adjustable spare tire carrier is attached to the attachment surface.

17. The adjustable spare tire carrier assembly of claim 12 , wherein the adjustable spare tire carrier comprises a cutout section for conforming to a portion of the vehicle or the mounting frame.

18. The adjustable spare tire carrier assembly of claim 12 , wherein a rotatable tube is rotatably coupled to the mounting frame, the rotatable tube located on one of a right side and a left side of a bumper.

19. The adjustable spare tire carrier assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a bumper.

Assignees

• Lund Motion Products Inc

Inventors

• Gutierrez Carlos

Classifications

• B62D43/02 Primary

  external to the vehicle body · CPC title

• B60P7/135

  Securing or supporting by load bracing means · CPC title