Abstract:
A storage system for a vehicle spare tire having a tool retaining cover. The cover includes a main body defining tool retaining portions. The tool retaining portions frictionally retain tools placed in them.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Technical Field  
           [0002]    The present invention generally relates to a storage system for a vehicle spare tire. More particularly, the present invention relates to a storage system for a spare tire of a vehicle having a rearwardly located storage area, the storage system including a storage tub located below the floor of the vehicle and a tool retaining cover therefore.  
           [0003]    2. Discussion  
           [0004]    Automotive vehicles, such as minivans, vans, station wagons, sport utilities and the like are often purchased for their carrying capacity. These types of vehicles typically include a rear storage area accessible from a lift gate or tail gate. Because such vehicles are not provided with a trunk, packaging issues frequently arise concerning storage of the spare tire. Frequently, the spare tire is mounted in an upright position within the rearward storage area and adjacent to one of the vehicle side walls. However, this type of storage significantly impacts the carrying capacity of the vehicle.  
           [0005]    It is also known to mount the spare tire to the underside of the vehicle body. Here, access to the spare tire is difficult. In other arrangements, the spare tire is mounted to the lift gate or on a swing gate positioned adjacent the lift gate. Such arrangements are disadvantageous in that additional weight is carried by the lift gate or the swing gate must be moved out of the way before access to the lift gate may be obtained. Furthermore, there are no inherent areas in these designs for storing tools necessary to remove or install the spare tire.  
           [0006]    It is also known to store the spare tire within a storage compartment or tub provided below the vehicle&#39;s floor. A cover is typically provided for concealing the tub. One known arrangement is described in a commonly assigned U.S. patent application filed Sep. 15, 1998 and assigned U.S. Ser. No. 09/153,708 which is hereby incorporated by reference as fully set forth herein. While arrangements of the type shown in U.S. Ser. No. 09/153,708 do not limit the carrying capacity of the rearward storage area, a need remains for suitably securing associated tools in such an arrangement. In this regard, a crowbar and other tools which are needed for tire changing are often difficult to access.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    It is a general object of the present invention to provide a storage system for a vehicle spare tire having a tool retaining cover.  
           [0008]    In one form, the present invention provides a cover for a spare tire storage system including a tub located beneath a floor of a vehicle. The cover includes a main body defining at least one tool retaining portion.  
           [0009]    In an extension of the above form, the tools received within the tool retaining portions provide support for the cover over the tub.  
           [0010]    Additional benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates from a reading of the subsequent description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is an environmental view of storage system for a spare tire constructed in accordance with the teachings of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the storage system shown operatively incorporated into an exemplary motor vehicle with a cover of the storage system articulated to an open position.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  2 - 2  of FIG. 1.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1, illustrating the cover articulated to a closed position.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  4 - 4  of FIG. 1. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0015]    Turning first to the environmental view of FIG. 1, a spare tire storage system constructed in accordance with the teachings of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown and generally identified at reference number  10 . The spare tire storage system  10  is illustrated incorporated into a motor vehicle  12 . In the embodiment illustrated, the spare tire storage system  10  is shown operatively installed within a rear storage area  14  of the vehicle  12 . The particular vehicle partially shown in FIG. 1 is a minivan, sport utility vehicle, or the like. However, it will be understood that the teachings of the present invention are widely applicable to various other vehicles.  
         [0016]    The spare tire storage system  10  of the present invention is shown to include a tub  16  located below the floor  18  of the vehicle  12 . The tub  16  defines a storage recess or area  20  for storing a spare tire  22 . Extending out from the tub  16  is a peripheral flange  17  which is located below the floor  18  of the vehicle  12 , but not to as great a depth as the tub  16 . The spare tire  22  illustrated is a full-size spare, but alternatively a reduced-size spare may be stored. The spare tire  22  is secured within the storage area  20  by a conventional clamping mechanism  24 . The spare tire storage system  10  is further shown to include a cover  26  for selectively providing access to the storage area  20 .  
         [0017]    With continued reference to FIG. 1 and additional reference to FIGS. 2 through 4, the cover  26  will now be further described. In general, the cover  26  has a main body including an upper side  28  and a lower or underside  30 . As partially shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2, a carpet  31  is attached to the upper side  28 . The cover  26  is also shown to generally include a pair of handle areas  32  (shown in FIG. 1) and a pair of conventional hinges or pivot tabs  34  (again, shown in FIG. 1). The pivot tabs  34  are adapted to engage recesses (not specifically shown) carried by the vehicle  12  to facilitate pivotal movement of the cover  26  from a closed position (as shown in FIG. 3) and open position (partially shown in FIG. 1). The direction of movement is indicated in FIG. 3 by arrow A. The pivot tabs  34  also permit quick and easy withdrawal of the cover  26  from the vehicle  12 .  
         [0018]    Referring further to FIGS.  1 - 2  and  4 , the underside  30  of the lid  26  will be detailed. The underside  30  includes a generally toroidal-shaped recess  36  adapted to receive a side of the spare tire  22  when located in the tub  16 . This recess  36  will allow the spare tire  22  to support the cover  26  thus allowing a greater load carrying capacity. Additionally, the underside  30  will contain at least one integrally formed tool-retaining recess indentation  38  to retain one or more tools  40 . FIG. 1 shows the underside  30  formed to include three such recesses  38  having generally C-shaped cross sections with downwardly extending sides and individually retaining three tools  40  in a snap-fit relationship. In the preferred embodiment, the recesses  38  are injection molded with the cover  26 . FIG. 4 shows the recesses  38  in the underside  30  to extend substantially across the cover  26 , either longitudinally or laterally with a first end and a second end extending beyond the storage recess  20  when the cover  26  is closed. As a result, one or more of the tools  40  extend onto and are directly supported by the flange  17 . Thus, one or more of the tools  40  provide further support for the cover  26 .  
         [0019]    The tools  40  are frictionally retained within their respective recesses  38  by retaining members  42 . The retaining members  42  are integrally formed with the cover  26  and extend into the associated recesses  38 . The retaining members  42  are preferably arranged in opposing pairs. Each of the retaining members  42  terminates in a convexly shaped lobe. The convex shape of the lobes on the retaining members  42  allow for frictional retention of the tools  40 , but also allow for ease of removal when needed.  
         [0020]    While the invention has been described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment illustrated by the drawings and described in the specification as the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include any embodiments falling within the description of the appended claims.