Patent ID: 8956101
Filing Date: 2015-02-17
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for storing a spare wheel on a motor vehicle comprising: a first mechanism attached to the motor vehicle comprising a support that is adapted to support the load of the spare wheel, the support moveable between a first vertical position where the spare wheel is in a stored position and second vertical position lower than the first vertical position where the spare wheel is in an accessible position; a second mechanism comprising a winding assembly having a rotating shaft with a first end adapted to receive a tool, the rotating shaft rotatable upon the application of a rotational force applied by the tool, the rotating shaft comprising a gear with spaced-apart teeth circumferentially disposed about the rotating shaft; the first and second mechanisms coupled by a cable having a first end and a second end, the first end of the cable coupled to the support of the first mechanism, the second end of the cable coupled to the winding assembly of the second mechanism, the cable capable of being wound in the second mechanism upon a rotation of the rotating shaft in a first direction to move the support of the first mechanism towards the first vertical position, the cable capable of being unwound in the second mechanism upon a rotation of the rotating shaft in a second direction opposite the first direction to move the support of the first mechanism towards the second vertical position; the apparatus further comprising a safety device that is capable of assuming an active position and a non-active position, the safety device comprising a cam that is pivotable about an axis between a first angular position that corresponds to the active position and a second angular position that corresponds to the non-active position, in the first angular position an engaging portion of the cam is urged towards the gear of the rotating shaft by action of a spring element so that the engaging portion resides in a space between the spaced-apart teeth to prevent rotation of the rotating shaft in at least the second direction, in the second angular position the engaging portion of the cam is positioned away from the gear of the rotating shaft against the action of the spring element so that the engaging portion does not engage with the spaced-apart teeth to permit rotation of the rotation shaft in at least the second direction, the cam adapted to assume the second angular position when the tool is received on the first end of the rotating shaft, the cam comprising a first end portion and a second end portion, the pivot axis residing in the first end portion and the engaging portion forming a part of the second end portion, the first end portion of the cam comprising a projection situated to be acted upon and moved by the tool when the tool is received on the first end of the rotating shaft, the movement being in a direction that causes the cam to be urged against the action of the spring element towards the second angular position.