Truck spare tire locking rod

A new and improved spare tire locking rod for a truck prevents rotation of a rotatable shaft which controls motion of a hoisting assembly for lifting and lowering the spare tire so that the spare tire can be removed and replaced. The apparatus includes a first end assembly which includes a first noncircular inner portion and a second noncircular inner portion connected to the first noncircular inner portion. A midportion is connected to the first end assembly. A second end assembly is connected to the midportion. The second end assembly includes a lock-receiving portion which is capable of receiving a lock assembly for preventing the second end assembly and the midportion from being disconnected from the fixed portion of the truck. The lock-receiving portion of the second end assembly is an aperture.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates generally to locking devices for preventing 
theft of property associated with a truck and, more particularly, to 
devices especially adapted to prevent theft of a spare tire from a truck. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
In certain trucks, especially certain pickup trucks, a spare tire is 
carried under the bed of the pickup truck. The spare tire is retained by a 
bracket that can be lowered or raised by a hoist. The hoist has a 
rotatable member, such as a rotatable shaft, that is rotated in one 
direction to lower the spare tire and that is rotated in the opposite 
direction to elevate the spare tire. Such conventional spare tire 
retention devices have a disadvantage wherein they are vulnerable to 
unauthorized operation resulting in theft of the spare tire. In this 
respect, it would be desirable if a security device were provided which 
prevented unauthorized use of a spare tire retention device and prevented 
theft of the spare tire. 
In the vicinity of a rotatable shaft used to raise and lower the spare tire 
retention bracket, there are numerous stationary portions of the truck 
that may be employed to help arrest motion of the rotatable shaft. In this 
respect, it would be desirable if a device for preventing theft of a spare 
tire were provided which utilized a stationary portion of the truck to 
help arrest motion of the rotatable shaft which is used to raise and lower 
the spare tire retention assembly. 
When devices include locks for providing security, a choice can be made 
between using built-in locks or using portable padlocks. Built-in locks 
require careful attention to be paid to the region which receives the 
lock:. In the case of a retrofitted securing device for a spare tire 
retention assembly, no lock receiving area would have been initially 
designed into the construction of the spare tire retention assembly. In 
this respect, it would be desirable if a device for preventing theft of a 
spare tire were provided which employed a portable padlock for providing 
security against theft of the spare tire. 
Some locking devices employ large numbers of moving parts that interact in 
complex ways. Such complex devices are undesirable both because of their 
relatively high cost and because of their potential for breakdown and 
failure. In this respect, it would be desirable if a device for preventing 
theft of a spare tire were provided which was simple in structure and 
includes no moving parts. 
There are a wide variety of trucks on the road that have flat beds. Trucks 
vary widely in their size and shape and in the spatial relationships 
between their component parts. For example, the spatial relationship 
between a rotatable shaft for rotating a spare tire hoist and a fixed 
frame member for the truck may vary widely from one truck to another. 
In normal use, the rotatable shaft for the hoist assembly for the spare 
tire retention assembly must be turned by some sort of cranking device 
when the spare tire retention assembly is raised and lowered. 
In view of the discussion provided above, it would be desirable if a truck 
spare tire locking rod would have the following combination of desirable 
features: (1) prevents unauthorized use of a spare tire retention device 
and prevents theft of the spare tire; (2) utilizes a stationary portion of 
the truck to help arrest motion of the rotatable shaft which is used to 
raise and lower the spare tire retention assembly; (3) employs a portable 
padlock for providing security against theft of the spare tire; and (4) is 
simple in structure and includes no moving parts. The foregoing desired 
characteristics are provided by the unique truck spare tire locking rod of 
the present invention as will be made apparent from the following 
description thereof. Other advantages of the present invention over the 
prior art also will be rendered evident. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
To achieve the foregoing and other advantages, the present invention, 
briefly described, provides a new and improved spare tire locking rod for 
a truck which prevents rotation of a rotatable shaft which controls motion 
of a hoisting assembly which is used for lifting and lowering the spare 
tire so that the spare tire can be removed and replaced. The apparatus 
includes a first end assembly which includes a first noncircular inner 
portion and a second noncircular inner portion connected to the first 
noncircular inner portion. A midportion is connected to the first end 
assembly. The midportion is adapted to be connected to a fixed portion of 
the truck. A second end assembly is connected to the midportion. The 
second end assembly includes a lock-receiving portion which is capable of 
receiving a lock assembly for preventing the second end assembly and the 
midportion from being disconnected from the fixed portion of the truck. 
The first noncircular inner portion of the first end assembly is connected 
to the second noncircular inner portion of the first end assembly by a 
curved connection member. 
The rotatable shaft includes a noncircular portion adapted to be straddled 
by the first end assembly. The noncircular portion of the rotatable shaft 
includes flat planar surfaces. The first noncircular inner portion and the 
second noncircular inner portion of the first end assembly also include 
flat planar surfaces. The midportion of the apparatus is in the form of a 
straight shaft. 
The lock-receiving portion of the second end assembly is an aperture. The 
fixed portion of the truck is a frame member of the truck. The lock 
assembly is comprised of a padlock assembly. 
The above brief description sets forth rather broadly the more important 
features of the present invention in order that the detailed description 
thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the 
present contributions to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of 
course, additional features of the invention that will be described 
hereinafter and which will be for the subject matter of the claims 
appended hereto. 
In this respect, before explaining at least one preferred embodiment of the 
invention in detail, it is understood that the invention is not limited in 
its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangements 
of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in 
the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being 
practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood, 
that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose 
of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon 
which disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for 
designing other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the 
several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, 
that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions 
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present 
invention. 
Further, the purpose of the foregoing Abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent 
and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the 
scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar 
with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a 
cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of 
the application. Accordingly, the Abstract is neither intended to define 
the invention or the application, which only is measured by the claims, 
nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any 
way. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved truck spare tire locking rod which has all of the advantages of 
the prior art and none of the disadvantages. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved 
truck spare tire locking rod which may be easily and efficiently 
manufactured and marketed. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved truck spare tire locking rod which is of durable and reliable 
construction. 
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved truck spare tire locking rod which is susceptible of a low cost 
of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which 
accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming 
public, thereby making such truck spare tire locking rod available to the 
buying public. 
Still yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved truck spare tire locking rod which prevents unauthorized use of a 
spare tire retention device and prevents theft of the spare tire. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved truck spare tire locking rod that utilizes a stationary portion 
of the truck to help arrest motion of the rotatable shaft which is used to 
raise and lower the spare tire retention assembly. 
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved truck spare tire locking rod which employs a portable padlock for 
providing security against theft of the spare tire. 
Even another object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved truck spare tire locking rod that is simple in structure and 
includes no moving parts. 
These together with still other objects of the invention, along with the 
various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed 
out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this 
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating 
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should 
be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there 
are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference to the drawings, a new and improved truck spare tire locking 
rod embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention will be 
described. 
Turning initially to FIGS. 1-4, there is shown a first exemplary embodiment 
of the track spare tire locking rod of the invention generally designated 
by reference numeral 10. In its preferred form, the truck spare tire 
locking rod 10 is for a truck 11 and prevents rotation of a rotatable 
shaft 12 which controls motion of a hoisting assembly for lifting and 
lowering the spare tire 14. The apparatus includes a first end assembly 16 
which includes a first noncircular inner portion 18 and a second 
noncircular inner portion 20 that is connected to the first noncircular 
inner portion 18. A midportion 24 is connected to the first end assembly 
16. The midportion 24 is adapted to be connected to a fixed portion 28 of 
the truck 11. A second end assembly 26 is connected to the midportion 24. 
The second end assembly 26 includes a lock-receiving portion 30 which is 
capable of receiving a lock assembly 32 for preventing the midportion 24 
from being disconnected from the fixed portion 28 of the truck 11. The 
lock-receiving portion 30 is positioned sufficiently close to the fixed 
portion 28 of the truck 11 so that the first end assembly 16 of the 
apparatus will not slip off of the rotatable shaft 12. The first 
noncircular inner portion 18 of the first end assembly 16 is connected to 
the second noncircular inner portion 20 of the first end assembly 16 by a 
curved connection member 22 whereby the first end assembly 16 is in the 
form of a U-shaped structure. 
The rotatable shaft 12 includes a noncircular portion 34 adapted to be 
straddled by the first end assembly 16. The noncircular portion 34 of the 
rotatable shaft 12 includes fiat planar surfaces. If fiat planar surfaces 
are not already present on the rotatable shaft 12, than the fiat planar 
surfaces can be provided. Either round portions of the rotatable shaft 12 
can be filed or ground to be fiat, or a clamp which has flat planar outer 
surfaces can be damped onto the rotatable shaft 12. The first noncircular 
inner portion 18 and the second noncircular inner portion 20 of the first 
end assembly 16 include flat planar surfaces which fit adjacent to 
complementary fiat planar surfaces of the noncircular portion 34 of the 
rotatable shaft 12. The midportion 24 of the apparatus is in the form of a 
straight shaft. 
The lock-receiving portion 30 is an aperture 30 located in the second end 
assembly 26 of the apparatus. The fixed portion 28 of the truck 11 is a 
frame member 28 of the truck 11. The frame member 28 includes an aperture 
29 through which the second end assembly 26 and a portion of the 
midportion 24 extend. If an existing aperture 29 is present in the fixed 
portion 28, the existing aperture can be used. Otherwise, an aperture 29 
can be drilled into the frame member 28. The lock assembly 32 is comprised 
of a padlock assembly 32. 
The first noncircular inner portion 18 and the second noncircular inner 
portion 20 of the first end assembly 16 are adapted to straddle the 
noncircular portion 34 of the rotatable shaft 12. When the noncircular 
portion 34 of the rotatable shaft 12 is straddled by the noncircular inner 
portions of the first end assembly 16, the rotatable shaft 12 is prevented 
from being rotated. When the rotatable shaft 12 is prevented from being 
rotated, the spare tire 14 cannot be raised or lowered and cannot be 
stolen. 
The truck spare tire locking rod 10 of the invention can be provided in a 
variety of colors, but an inconspicuous color is recommended. The truck 
spare tire locking rod 10 of the invention can be made from a wide variety 
of materials, but steel rod material is preferred. 
The components of the truck spare tire locking rod of the invention can be 
made from inexpensive and durable metal materials. 
As to the manner of usage and operation of the instant invention, the same 
is apparent from the above disclosure, and accordingly, no further 
discussion relative to the manner of usage and operation need be provided. 
It is apparent from the above that the present invention accomplishes all 
of the objects set forth by providing a new and improved truck spare tire 
locking rod that is low in cost, relatively simple in design and 
operation, and which may advantageously be used to prevent unauthorized 
use of a spare tire retention device and prevents theft of the spare tire. 
With the invention, a truck spare tire locking rod is provided which 
utilizes a stationary portion of the truck to help arrest motion of the 
rotatable shaft which is used to raise and lower the spare tire retention 
assembly. With the invention, a truck spare tire locking rod is provided 
which employs a portable padlock for providing security against theft of 
the spare tire. With the invention, a truck spare tire locking rod is 
provided which is simple in structure and includes no moving parts. 
With respect to the above description, it should be realized that the 
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to 
include variations in size, form function and manner of operation, 
assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to those skilled 
in the art, and therefore, all relationships equivalent to those 
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are 
intended to be encompassed only by the scope of appended claims. 
While the present invention has been shown in the drawings and fully 
described above with particularity and detail in connection with what is 
presently deemed to be the most practical and preferred embodiments of the 
invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that 
many modifications thereof may be made without departing from the 
principles and concepts set forth herein. Hence, the proper scope of the 
present invention should be determined only by the broadest interpretation 
of the appended claims so as to encompass all such modifications and 
equivalents.