Spare tire retaining clamp and tool kit

A spare tire retainer includes a plurality of studs fixed to and extending from one surface of a supporting wall. A tire is assembled to a wheel that defines a plurality of holes that are adapted to receive the plurality of studs. A clamp is assembled to the plurality of studs to secure the wheel to the supporting wall. The plurality of studs may be weld studs that are welded to the supporting wall. The plurality of studs may each define a notch in one side and the clamp may be received in the notches when the clamp is assembled to the studs. A container for a set of tools used to replace a tire is disclosed that may be assembled to the wheel. A plurality of clips is disclosed for securing the container to the wheel. The clips engage a rim of the wheel radially inside the tire. The container may be assembled to the wheel after the clamp secures the wheel to the studs.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to a combined retaining clamp and tool kit for a spare tire in a vehicle.

BACKGROUND

A spare tire may be carried on the floor pan of the trunk of a vehicle to replace a flat tire. A spare tire tool kit including a jack and lug nut wrench is generally provided and is stored with the spare tire.

One way of securing a spare tire in a vehicle is to insert a central screw into the central hub opening of the wheel that is pivotally attached to the floor pan. This approach is problematic because the tire blocks the view of the connector on the floor pan that the central screw is intended to be attached.

A spare tire on a wheel that includes a central decorative medallion is difficult to attach because the medallion may block or restrict the central screw from being attached to the floor pan.

A spare tire tool kit may also complicate the process of securing the spare tire to the floor pan. If the spare tire tool kit is stacked on top of the wheel of the spare tire, the distance between the top of the tool kit and the floor pan is increased and makes it more difficult to fish the central screw through the spare tire and the tool kit.

This disclosure is directed to solving the above problems and other problems as summarized below.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of this disclosure, a spare tire retainer is disclosed that includes a plurality of studs fixed to and extending from one surface of a supporting wall. A tire is assembled to a wheel that defines a plurality of holes that are adapted to receive the plurality of studs. A clamp is assembled to the plurality of studs to secure the wheel to the supporting wall.

According to other aspects of this disclosure, the supporting wall may be a floor pan of a trunk compartment. The plurality of studs may be weld studs that are welded to the supporting wall. The plurality of studs may each define a notch in one side and the clamp may be received in the notches when the clamp is assembled to the studs.

The spare tire retainer may further comprise a container for a set of tools used to replace a tire that may be assembled to the wheel and a plurality of clips for securing the container to the wheel. The clips may be adapted to engage a rim of the wheel radially inside the tire. The container may be assembled to the wheel after the clamp secures the wheel to the studs.

According to another aspect of this disclosure, a spare tire retainer is disclosed for a vehicle having compartment for a spare tire mounted on a wheel that defines a plurality holes. The retainer includes a plurality of studs affixed to the compartment and a clamp that may be attached to the studs to secure the wheel to a floor of the compartment. The clamp may have an open position for assembling the clamp to the studs and a closed position for locking the clamp on the studs.

According to another aspect of this disclosure, a vehicle is disclosed that includes a tire mounted on a wheel defining a plurality of holes that is secured to a compartment floor. A plurality of studs may be fixed to the compartment floor. A clamp may be provided that defines a plurality of cut-outs for receiving the studs. The clamp may be a split ring clamp that has an open position in which the clamp is fitted onto the studs and a closed position in which the receptacles are locked on the studs to secure the wheel to the compartment floor. The clamp may include a latch that holds the split ring together in the closed position.

The above aspects of this disclosure and other aspects will be described below with reference to the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIG. 1, a spare tire10is shown in position to be stored in a storage compartment12of the trunk compartment14of a vehicle. The storage compartment12includes a supporting wall16that is part of the floor pan of the trunk compartment14. A plurality of studs18are welded to the supporting wall16. The studs18may be weld studs that are adapted to be welded directly to an upper surface20of the supporting wall16in a resistance welding operation.

A ring clamp22is illustrated disposed above the spare tire10that is adapted to receive the studs18to secure the spare tire10to the supporting wall16. The ring clamp may be a continuous ring having cut-outs for providing clearance for the studs18. Alternatively, a split ring clamp may be provided that is opened to receive the studs18and closed to latch onto the studs18. When closed the split ring clap secures the spare tire10to the studs18as will be more fully described with reference toFIG. 4below.

A set of tire changing tools24are stored within a container26that is assembled over the ring clamp22and spare tire10. The container26is secured to the spare tire10with a plurality of clips28as will be more fully described with reference toFIG. 2below.

Referring toFIG. 2, the spare tire10is shown assembled into the storage compartment12inside the trunk compartment14of the vehicle. The spare tire10is mounted on a wheel rim30that includes a plurality of holes32that receive wheel hub studs when assembled to a wheel hub of the vehicle. When stored in the storage compartment12, the studs18are received in the wheel stud holes32to attach the wheel rim30to the supporting wall16.

The studs18each include a notch36on a radially outwardly facing side that cooperates with the ring clamp22or a split ring clamp38, as shown inFIG. 4below. The container26is assembled over the wheel rim30and the ring clamp22(or split ring clamp38). The container26is securely attached to the rim30by the clips28.

Referring toFIG. 3, the storage compartment12is shown in the trunk compartment of the vehicle. The studs18are welded to the top surface20of the floor pan16.

Referring toFIG. 4, the split ring clamp38is illustrated with a plurality of cut-outs40that are provided to facilitate assembly over the studs18. The cut-outs40may be provided in the clamp ring22in which case the ring clamp22may receive the studs through the cut-outs and the ring22may be rotated to cause the notches to be retained by an inner diameter lip42. In the split ring clamp embodiment38, the cut-outs provide clearance for the studs18and the clamp38may be closed to engage the notches36. Alternatively, the split ring clamp may be rotated as with the ring clamp22embodiment and closed to secure the clamp38to the studs18.

The split ring clamp38may be provided with a handle44that is operatively attached to a latch hook46. The latch hook46is oriented to be hooked over a pin48to close the split ring clamp38and be unhooked from the pin48to release the clamp38.

Referring toFIG. 5, the storage compartment12is illustrated to show the studs18as welded to the top surface20of the supporting wall16. The studs18define the notches36in the radially outwardly facing surfaces of the studs18. The notches36are adapted to receive the ring clamp22or split ring clamp38as previously described.

The embodiments described above are specific examples that do not describe all possible forms of the disclosure. The features of the illustrated embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the disclosed concepts. The words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation. The scope of the following claims is broader than the specifically disclosed embodiments and includes modifications of the illustrated embodiments.