Abstract:
A carrier for a spare tire of a vehicle includes a base, a mount, and a locking member. The base is configured to be coupled to the vehicle. The mount is coupled to the base and pivotable relative to the base about a pivot axis. The mount is configured to support the spare tire for common rotation with the mount about the pivot axis. The pivot axis is offset from a central axis of the spare tire when the spare tire is supported by the mount. The locking member is movable between a locked position wherein the locking member engages the mount and the base to prevent relative movement therebetween, and an unlocked position wherein the mount is pivotable relative to the base.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to an adjustable spare tire carrier. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    This section provides background information related to the present disclosure and is not necessarily prior art. 
         [0003]    Vehicles, especially those designed for off-road applications, typically have a spare wheel and tire assembly (commonly referred to simply as a spare tire) mounted to an exterior of the vehicle. The spare tire is typically mounted to a rear of the vehicle and has a fixed vertical position on the vehicle relative to the ground. In some instances, the vertical position of the spare tire undesirably reduces rear ground clearance. In other instances, the vertical position of the spare tire undesirably reduces visibility through the rear windshield of the vehicle. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features. 
         [0005]    In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, a carrier for a spare tire of a vehicle includes a base, a mount, and a locking member. The base is configured to be coupled to the vehicle. The mount is coupled to the base and pivotable relative to the base about a pivot axis. The mount is configured to support the spare tire for common rotation with the mount about the pivot axis. The pivot axis is offset from a central axis of the spare tire when the spare tire is supported by the mount. The locking member is movable between a locked position wherein the locking member engages the mount and the base to prevent relative movement therebetween, and an unlocked position wherein the mount is pivotable relative to the base. 
         [0006]    In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, the locking member includes a lug bolt. When the locking member is in the locked position, the lug bolt is received through the mount and is fixedly coupled to the base. 
         [0007]    In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, the lug bolt is configured to be received through a lug aperture of the spare tire. 
         [0008]    In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, the mount includes a plurality of lug studs, each of the lug studs being configured to be received through a respective lug aperture of the spare tire. 
         [0009]    In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, the carrier includes a resilient member coupled to the mount and to the base, the resilient member inhibiting rotation of the mount relative to the base when the locking member is in the unlocked position. 
         [0010]    In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, the mount is rotatable between a high position and a low position relative to the base. The mount positions the spare tire to have a greater maximum height relative to the base when in the high position than when in the low position. The resilient member rotationally biases the mount toward the high position. 
         [0011]    In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, the resilient member is a clockspring having one end coupled to the mount and another end coupled to the base. 
         [0012]    In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, the carrier includes a detent. The detent engaging the mount when the mount is in a predetermined rotational position relative to the base to inhibit rotation of the mount away from the predetermined rotational position. 
         [0013]    In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, the detent includes a detent member and a detent resilient member that biases the detent member into contact with the mount. The mount includes a groove that receives the detent member when the mount is in the predetermined position. 
         [0014]    In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, the detent resilient member is a torsion spring having opposite ends respectively coupled to the base and the detent member. 
         [0015]    In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, the base defines a pivot aperture and the mount includes a mount plate and a pivot member. The mount plate is configured to support the spare tire. The pivot member is fixedly coupled to the mount plate and is disposed about the pivot axis. The pivot member is rotatably received in the pivot aperture of the base and including a surface that defines the groove that receives the detent member. 
         [0016]    In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, an outer radial surface of the pivot member defines the groove. 
         [0017]    In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, the detent member is a wheel configured to roll along the surface of the pivot member. 
         [0018]    In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, the mount includes a stop member and the base includes a mating stop member. The stop member engages the mating stop member to limit rotation of the mount relative to the base to a predetermined angular range. 
         [0019]    In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, one of the mount and the base includes an upper stop member and a lower stop member, and the other of the mount and the base includes a mating stop member. The upper stop member engages the mating stop member when the mount is in a high position to inhibit rotation of the mount in a first rotational direction. The lower stop member engages the mating stop member when the mount is in a low position to inhibit rotation of the mount in a second rotational direction that is opposite the first rotational direction. 
         [0020]    Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  is a rear plan view of an example vehicle including a spare tire and a spare tire carrier in accordance with the present teachings; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the spare tire carrier of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a different exploded perspective view of the spare tire carrier of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of a portion of the spare tire carrier of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is a partial sectional view of a portion of the spare tire carrier of  FIG. 1 , taken generally along line  5 - 5  shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is a rear plan view of the spare tire carrier of  FIG. 1 , illustrating a mount in a high position; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  is a rear plan view similar to  FIG. 6 , illustrating the mount in a low position. 
       
    
    
       [0029]    Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0030]    The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
         [0031]    The present teachings are directed toward a carrier for a spare wheel and tire assembly (collectively referred to herein as a spare tire). The carrier adjustably mounts a spare tire to a vehicle. The carrier allows the spare tire to be positioned in a low position and a high position, relative to the ground. The carrier allows the spare tire to move between the low and high positions without removing the spare tire from the carrier. 
         [0032]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , a rear of an example of a vehicle  10  is illustrated and has a spare tire  14  and a spare tire carrier  18 . The spare tire  14  includes a wheel  22  and a tire  26  mounted to the wheel  22 . The wheel  22  includes a plurality of lug apertures  30  equally spaced about a central axis  34  of the spare tire  14 . In the example provided, the wheel includes five lug apertures  30  and the carrier  18  is mounted to a tailgate  42  of the vehicle  10 . The spare tire  14  is mounted to and supported by the carrier  18  such that the central axis  34  of the spare tire  14  is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle  10 . 
         [0033]    As discussed in greater detail below, the carrier  18  allows the spare tire  14  to be fixed in place in a plurality of positions. In a low position (shown in solid lines in  FIG. 1 ), the spare tire  14  has a low ground clearance. In a high position (shown in dashed lines in  FIG. 1 ), the spare tire  14  has a higher ground clearance than when the spare tire  14  is in the low position. The spare tire  14  overlaps less area of a rear windshield  46  of the vehicle  10  when in the low position than when in the high position to allow greater visibility through the rear windshield  46  when in the low position. 
         [0034]    With additional reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the carrier  18  is illustrated in greater detail. The carrier  18  includes a base  210 , a mount  214 , and at least one locking member  218 . In the example provided, the carrier  18  also includes a spacer  222 , a detent  226  and a resistance device  230 . 
         [0035]    The base  210  includes a flange  234 , an extension body  238 , and a support wall  242 . The flange  234  is a generally flat member, or series of flat members, that include a plurality of mounting apertures  246 . The flange  234  generally abuts the tailgate  42  ( FIG. 1 ) and screws or bolts (not specifically shown) are received through the mounting apertures  246  to fixedly couple the flange  234  to the tailgate  42  ( FIG. 1 ). In the example provided, the flange  234  is separated into three segments that are fixedly coupled together by the extension body  238 . The extension body  238  is fixedly coupled to the flange  234  and extends therefrom in the aft direction of the vehicle  10  to the support wall  242  to define a cavity  250 . 
         [0036]    The support wall  242  is fixedly coupled to the extension body  238  and spaced apart in the aft direction from the flange  234  by the extension body  238 . The support wall  242  is generally flat and parallel to the flange  234 . The support wall  242  includes a pivot aperture  254 , an upper locking aperture  258 , and a lower locking aperture  262 . In the example provided, the support wall  242  also includes an upper stop  266  and a lower stop  270  and includes two of the upper locking apertures  258  and two of the lower locking apertures  262 . 
         [0037]    The pivot aperture  254  is a circular bore disposed about a pivot axis  274  and extending through the support wall  242 . In the example provided, the locking member  218  is a lug bolt having external threads and the upper locking aperture  258  and lower locking aperture  262  have internal threads configured to mate with the external threads of the locking member  218 . In the example provided, the carrier  18  includes two locking members  218  configured to mate with the two upper locking apertures  258  and the two lower locking apertures  262 . 
         [0038]    The upper stop  266  and the lower stop  270  generally protrude in the aft direction from an aft surface  278  of the support wall  242 . The pivot aperture  254  is disposed between the upper stop  266  and the lower stop  270 . In the example provided, the upper stop  266  is diametrically opposed to the lower stop  270  relative to the pivot aperture  254  such that the upper stop  266  and lower stop  270  are spaced apart by 180° about the pivot axis  274 . 
         [0039]    The mount  214  includes a mount plate  282 , a plurality of lug studs  286 , and a pivot member  290 . In the example provided, the mount  214  also includes a stop member  294 . The mount plate  282  includes at least one lug bore  298  extending through the mount plate  282 . The lug studs  286  are fixedly coupled to the mount plate  282  and extend in the aft direction from the mount plate  282 . Each of the lug studs  286  is externally threaded and configured to mate with a lug nut (not specifically shown). In the example provided, the mount plate  282  is a generally disc shaped body, includes two lug bores  298 , and three lug studs  286  that extend in the aft direction from the mount plate  282 . 
         [0040]    The lug bores  298  and lug studs  286  are equally circumferentially spaced about a central axis  310  of the mount plate  282  and each lug bore  298  and lug stud  286  aligns with a respective one of the lug apertures  30  of the spare tire  14 . Each lug stud  286  is received through one of the lug apertures  30  when the spare tire  14  is supported by the carrier  18  and a respective lug nut is threadably received on each lug stud  286  to secure the spare tire  14  to the carrier  18 . Each lug bore  298  aligns with a respective one of the upper locking apertures  258  when the carrier  18  is in the high position. Each lug bore  298  aligns with a respective one of the lower locking apertures  262  when the carrier  18  is in the low position. The central axis  310  of the mount plate  282  is coaxial with the central axis  34  of the spare tire  14  when the spare tire  14  is supported by the carrier  18 . 
         [0041]    In an alternative construction, not specifically shown, the lug studs  286  on the mount  214  are replaced with threaded bores. In such a construction, a plurality of lug bolts are received through the lug apertures  30  and threaded into the threaded bores of the mount  214  to secure the spare tire  14  to the mount  214 . 
         [0042]    The pivot member  290  is fixedly coupled to the mount plate  282  and extends therefrom in the fore direction of the vehicle  10 . The pivot member  290  is a generally cylindrical shape disposed about the pivot axis  274  and received through the pivot aperture  254  of the support wall  242 . The pivot axis  274  is parallel to and offset from the central axis  310  of the mount plate  282 . An outer radial surface  314  of the pivot member  290  includes a pair of grooves  318  at predetermined angular positions. In the example provided, the grooves  318  are diametrically opposed to each other. 
         [0043]    The spacer  222  is an annular shape disposed about the pivot member  290  and includes a main body  322  and a lip  326 . The main body  322  is disposed radially between the support wall  242  and the pivot member  290  and within the pivot aperture  254  to facilitate rotation of the pivot member  290  relative to the support wall  242 . The lip  326  extends radially outward from the main body  322  to be axially between the aft surface  278  of the support wall  242  and the mount plate  282  to space the mount plate  282  axially apart from the aft surface  278 . In another aspect of the present invention, the spacer  222  could be understood as either a bushing or as a bearing. 
         [0044]    The stop member  294  extends in the fore direction from the mount plate  282  and is configured to engage the upper stop  266  and the lower stop  270  to prevent rotation of the mount plate  282  past the upper or lower stops  266 ,  270 . 
         [0045]    With additional reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the detent  226  is illustrated in greater detail. The detent  226  is generally disposed within the cavity  250 . The detent  226  is generally configured to inhibit rotation of the mount  214  when the mount  214  is positioned in a predetermined rotational position (e.g., the high or low position). In the example provided, the detent  226  is a mechanism that includes an arm  410 , a detent resilient member  414  and a detent member  418 . The arm  410  is pivotably coupled to the support wall  242  by a pin  422  that extends in the fore direction from the support wall  242 . In the example provided, the detent member  418  is a wheel coupled to an end of the arm  410  that is distal to the pin  422  and is coupled to the arm  410  for rotation relative to the arm  410  about a pin  426 . The detent member  418  is configured to be received in the grooves  318  of the pivot member  290 . The detent resilient member  414  is configured to bias the arm  410  toward the pivot member  290  to cause the detent member  418  to contact (and in the example provided, roll along) the outer radial surface  314  of the pivot member  290  and be received in the grooves  318  when in the predetermined positions. In the example provided, the detent resilient member  414  is a torsion spring disposed about the pin  422  and having opposite ends that respectively engage the support wall  242  and the arm  410  to rotationally bias the arm  410  such that the detent member  418  remains in contact with the outer radial surface  314  of the pivot member  290 . 
         [0046]    The resistance device  230  is generally configured to rotationally bias the mount  214  toward the high position. In the example provided, the resistance device  230  is a clockspring having one end  430  coupled to the support wall  242  (e.g., via the pin  422 ), and an opposite end  434  coupled to the pivot member  290  for common rotation about the pivot axis  274 . In the example provided, the opposite end  434  is received in a slot  438  in the outer radial surface  314  of the pivot member  290 . 
         [0047]    With additional reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the mount  214  is shown in the high position ( FIG. 6 ) and the low position ( FIG. 7 ). With the locking members  218  removed, the spare tire  14  ( FIG. 1 ) is mountable to the mount plate  282 . The lug studs  286  are received through the lug apertures  30  ( FIG. 1 ) to support the spare tire  14  ( FIG. 1 ) on the mount  214 . The lug nuts (not specifically shown) are then threaded onto the lug studs  286  to secure the spare tire  14  ( FIG. 1 ) to the mount  214 . With the spare tire  14  ( FIG. 1 ) secured to the mount  214 , the mount  214  is rotatable about the pivot axis  274  ( FIGS. 2-5 ) between the high position and the low position. 
         [0048]    In the example provided, the mount  214  is rotated in a clockwise direction about the pivot axis  274  to move from the high position to the low position, and the mount  214  is rotated in a counterclockwise direction to move from the low position to the high position. The upper stop  266  prevents the mount  214  from rotating in the counterclockwise direction past the high position and the lower stop  270  prevents the mount  214  from rotating in the clockwise direction past the low position. In an alternative construction, the mount  214  is rotated in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot axis  274  to move from the high position to the low position, and the mount  214  is rotated in a clockwise direction to move from the low position to the high position. Similarly, the upper stop  266  prevents the mount  214  from rotating in the clockwise direction past the high position and the lower stop  270  prevents the mount  214  from rotating in the counterclockwise direction past the low position. 
         [0049]    In the high position, the lug bores  298  align with the upper locking apertures  258  ( FIG. 2 ). The mount  214  is rotationally fixed relative to the base  210  in the high position by inserting the locking members  218  through the lug apertures  30  ( FIG. 1 ), through the lug bores  298 , and threading the locking members  218  into the upper locking apertures  258  ( FIG. 2 ). In the example provided, a center of gravity of the spare tire  14  is located along the central axis  310  centered directly above the pivot axis  274  when in the high position such that the weight of the spare tire  14  does not create a rotational moment about the pivot axis  274  toward the low position. In an alternative construction, not specifically shown, the mount  214  is configured such that the center of gravity of the spare tire  14  is slightly offset from the pivot axis  274  when in the high position, to create a moment about the pivot axis  274  toward the upper stop  266 . 
         [0050]    When the mount  214  is in the high position, the detent member  418  ( FIG. 5 ) is received in one of the grooves  318  ( FIG. 5 ) to resist rotation of the pivot member  290  ( FIG. 5 ) when the locking members  218  are not received in the upper locking apertures  258 . The resistance device  230  ( FIG. 5 ) also biases the mount  214  rotationally toward the high position to inhibit the spare tire  14  ( FIG. 1 ) from falling to the low position when the locking members  218  are removed from the upper locking apertures  258  ( FIG. 2 ). The resistance device  230  ( FIG. 5 ) has a biasing force that is sufficient to prevent the mount  214  from freefalling to the low position, while still allowing a person to easily rotate the spare tire  14  ( FIG. 1 ) with the mount  214  between the high and low positions. 
         [0051]    In the low position, the lug bores  298  align with the lower locking apertures  262  and the mount  214  is rotationally fixed relative to the base  210  by inserting the locking members  218  through the lug apertures  30 , through the lug bores  298 , and threading the locking members  218  into the lower locking apertures  262 . When the mount  214  is in the low position, the detent member  418  ( FIG. 5 ) is received in one of the grooves  318  ( FIG. 5 ) to resist rotation of the pivot member  290  ( FIG. 5 ) when the locking members  218  are not received in the lower locking apertures  262 . 
         [0052]    In an alternative construction, not specifically shown, the support wall  242  defines additional locking apertures configured to align with the lug bores  298  when the mount  214  is rotated to additional predetermined positions relative to the base  210  that are different from the high and low positions (e.g., rotationally between the high and low positions). In one such construction, the pivot member  290  includes additional grooves that correspond to the additional predetermined positions and the detent member  418  is also configured to inhibit rotation of the pivot member  290  away from these additional predetermined positions when received in the additional grooves. 
         [0053]    Thus, the spare tire carrier  18  allows a user to mount the spare tire  14  to the vehicle  10  in a plurality of positions (e.g., the high and low positions) and to move the spare tire  14  between these positions without removing the spare tire  14  from the spare tire carrier  18 . 
         [0054]    The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.