Abstract:
An apparatus for mounting a license plate to a motor vehicle having a spare tire mounted to a rear panel. The apparatus includes a mounting portion, a display portion and a latch assembly. The mounting portion is adapted to be pivotally interconnected to the motor vehicle for rotation about a pivot axis to selectively provide access to the spare tire. The display portion is carried by the mounting portion and is adapted to be oriented in a substantially vertical plane and spaced apart from a rear surface of the motor vehicle such that the spare tire is mounted to the motor vehicle interbetween the rear surface and the display portion. The latch assembly is operative for releasing/engaging a striker interconnected to the rear panel. The latch assembly is attached to the display portion.

Description:
This application claims priority to the provisional application filed Jan. 11, 2000 having Ser. No. 60/175,541. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention generally pertains to motor vehicles. More particular, the present invention pertains to a spare tire and license plate mounting system for a motor vehicle having a swing-away license plate carrier. More specifically, but without restriction to the particular embodiment and/or use which is shown and described for purposes of illustration, the present invention relates to a spare tire and license plate mounting system having a latch assembly for releasing/securing a swing-away license plate carrier. 
     2. Discussion 
     It is well known in the motor vehicle field to mount a spare tire to a rear panel. This spare tire mounting technique is commonly employed for sport utility vehicles and the like which do not have a conventional trunk for storage. By mounting the spare tire to the exterior surface of a rear gate, the interior of the vehicle is not encumbered by the tire. Additionally, access problems associated with mounting the spare tire to an underside of the frame are avoided. 
     Mounting of a spare tire to the gate presents two concerns. First, the area for mounting of a license plate is effectively reduced. This concern becomes particularly problematic in view of today&#39;s global marketplace. In this regard, it is desirable that a motor vehicle accommodate all export license plate sizes and satisfy homologation requirements. Secondly, a rear mounted spare tire may detract from vehicle styling. Thus, in addition to providing a suitable area for license plate mounting, it is also desirable to at least partially conceal the spare tire and thereby present an improved aesthetic appearance while retaining easy access to the spare tire. 
     One arrangement for mounting a spare tire and license plate to a motor vehicle is shown and described in commonly assigned U.S. Ser. No. 09/121,622, entitled License Plate Carrier for a Motor Vehicle, and filed Aug. 10, 1998. U.S. Ser. No. 09/121,622, which is hereby incorporated by reference as is fully set forth herein, discloses an arrangement including a bracket fixedly attached to a rear surface of the motor vehicle and a license plate carrier pivotally connected to the bracket for rotation about a pivot axis. The license plate carrier includes a display portion oriented in a substantially vertical plane and spaced from the rear surface of the motor vehicle. A plurality of threaded shafts rearwardly extend from the tire mounting member for mounting the spare tire thereto. The license plate carrier includes a boss portion for receiving one of the threaded shafts to thereby selectively prevents rotation of the license plate carrier about the pivot axis. 
     It remains desirable in the art to provide a swing-away license plate carrier with a latching arrangement for releasing/securing the carrier relative to a body of a motor vehicle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a general object of the present invention to provide a spare tire and license plate mounting system including a manually operated latch for releasing/securing a swing-away license to a body of a motor vehicle. 
     In one form, the present invention provides an apparatus for mounting a license plate to a motor vehicle having a spare tire mounted to a rear panel. The apparatus includes a mounting portion, a display portion and a latch assembly. The mounting portion is adapted to be pivotally interconnected to the motor vehicle for rotation about a pivot axis to selectively provide access to the spare tire. The display portion is carried by the mounting portion and is adapted to be oriented in a substantially vertical plane and spaced apart from a rear surface of the motor vehicle such that the spare tire is mounted to the motor vehicle interbetween the rear surface and the display portion. The latch assembly is operative for releasing/engaging a striker interconnected to the rear panel. The latch assembly is attached to the display portion. 
     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 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a spare tire and a license plate mounting arrangement constructed in accordance with the teaching of a preferred embodiment of the present invention operatively installed on a motor vehicle. 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged exploded view illustrating the spare tire and license plate mounting arrangement constructed in accordance with the teachings of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view a swing-away license plate carrier of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a front and bottom perspective view of the swing-away license plate carrier of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of a latch assembly of the present invention illustrated in the position in which the latch assembly is molded. 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of the latch assembly of the present invention operatively engaged with a striker, the socket portion shown in an engaged position. 
     FIG. 7 is a rear view of the latch assembly of the present invention shown. 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged front and side perspective view of a portion of the latch assembly of the present invention. 
     FIG. 9 is a side view similar to FIG. 6, illustrating the latch assembly displaced form the striker and with the socket portion shown in a release position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With initial reference to the environmental view of FIG. 1, a system for mounting a spare tire and a license plate to a motor vehicle constructed in accordance with the teachings of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is generally identified with reference numeral  10 . The system  10  of the present invention is shown operatively associated with a motor vehicle  12  having a rear gate  14 . It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the particular vehicle  12  shown is merely exemplary and that the teachings of the present invention have applicability to a wide range of vehicles. 
     With continued reference to FIG. 1, and additional reference to FIGS. 2-9, the system of the present invention is shown to generally include a tire mounting member  16  and a license plate carrier  18 . As particularly shown in FIG. 2, the tire mounting member  16  includes a mounting portion  20  and a longitudinally extending portion  22 . The mounting portion  20  is provided with a plurality of apertures  24  for receiving fasteners (not specifically shown). The fasteners function to secure the mounting member  16  to the gate  14 . Alternatively, it will be understood that the mounting member  16  may be welded or otherwise suitably secured to the gate  14 . 
     The longitudinally extending portion  22  of the mounting member  16  includes a generally cylindrical wall which tapers slightly in a rearward direction and terminates at a face  28 . The face  28  is adapted to abut an inner surface of a wheel of a spare tier  30 . The spare tire  30  may be secured to the mounting member  16  by a plurality of threaded shafts (not shown) extending therefrom. The particular manner of attachment of the spare tire  30  is beyond the scope of the present invention. However, one suitable manner is shown and described in commonly assigned U.S. Ser. No. 09/121,622, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,855, referenced above. 
     The license plate carrier  18  is shown to generally include a mounting portion  32  oriented generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle  12  and a display portion  34  oriented generally perpendicular to the mounting portion  32 . In the preferred embodiment, the mounting portion  32  is illustrated to include first and second vertically spaced apart arms  36  and  38 . To provide means for pivotally interconnecting the license plate carrier  18  with the motor vehicle  12 , the first arm or upper arm  36  of the mounting portion  32  defines an aperture  40  vertically extending therethrough. The second arm or lower arm  38 , defines a similar aligning aperture (not shown) passing therethrough. A pivot bracket  42  is secured to the mounting portion  20  of the mounting member  16  with a plurality of fasteners  44 . The pivot bracket  42  defines a pair of horizontally oriented flanges  46  each having an aperture  48 . The apertures  40  and  48  cooperate with the apertures  40  to receive a pivot pin  50 . In this regard, the pivot pin  50  is received with bushings  52  press fit into the apertures  48 . A lower end  54  of the pivot pin  50  is engaged by a Tinnerman clip  56 . The pivot pin  50  defines a vertical pivot axis. 
     In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the display portion  34  of the license plate carrier  18  has a generally circular overall shape with a diameter substantially equal to that of the spare tire  30 . As a result, the display portion  34  conceals the spare tire  30  in rear view and provides an aesthetically improved appearance. The display portion  34  includes a central mounting area  58  to which a license plate  60  (in phantom lines in FIG. 2) is secured. The license plate  60  is secured in a conventional manner with threaded fasteners  62  which engage internally threaded apertures  64  (shown in FIG.  1 ). 
     To provide means for selectively preventing rotation of the license plate carrier  18  about the pivot axis defined by the pivot pin  50 , the system  10  includes a latching arrangement, the latching arrangement includes a latch assembly  66  and a striker  70 . As will become apparent below, the latch assembly  66  is attached to a rear surface  68  of the display portion  34  and is adapted to releasably engage the striker  70  which rearwardly extends from the face  28 . In one application, the latch assembly  66  is constructed of glass filled nylon. However, it will be understood that alternative materials may be employed. 
     The latch assembly  66  is illustrated to generally include a first member  72  and a second member  74 . The first member  72  includes a first portion  76  defining a socket  78  for receiving the striker  70  and acting as a stopper. The first member  72  further includes a second portion  80  which is secured to a rear surface  81  of the display portion  34 . The first portion  76  includes a plurality of fingers  82 A,  82 B,  82 C and  82 D. In the exemplary embodiment, the plurality of fingers includes four FIGS. 82A-82D. An upper one of the FIG.  82 A and side ones of the FIGS. 82B and 82C extend from the second portion  80  of the first member  72 . A lower one  82 D of the plurality of fingers is connected to both the side fingers  82 B and  82 C through a vertically extending segment  84  that act as fixed pivots. 
     The second portion  80  of the first member  72  as a generally half circle shape and defines a plurality of holes  86 . The holes are adapted to receive fasteners  87  (shown in FIG. 3) for securely attaching the first member  72  to the rear surface  81  of the display portion  34 . 
     The second member  74  includes a vertically extending portion  88 , a horizontally extending portion  90  and a manually engageable handle portion  92 . The second portion  80  of the first member  72  is disposed within a half circle opening  95  defined by the vertically extending portion  88 . The lower finger  82  extends from a lower peripheral edge  94  of the vertically extending portion  88 . In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, a metal reinforcing clip  96  connects the lower peripheral edge  94  and the lower finger  82 D. 
     The manually engageable handle  92  is connected to the horizontally extending portion  90  through a living hinge  97 . In FIG. 5, the latch assembly  66  is illustrated in solid lines in the position in which it is uniformly molded. In phantom lines, FIG. 5 illustrates the manually engageable handle  92  in its operative position. As specifically shown in FIG. 7, a rear surface  98  of the vertically extending portion  88  is formed to include a plurality of ribs  100  which function to retain the manually engageable handle  92  in its operative position. 
     In the exemplary embodiment, the second member  74  is attached to the rear surface  81  of the display portion  34  by a pair of fasteners  102 . The fasteners pass through apertures (not specifically shown) provided in a mounting portion  104  formed with the horizontally extending portion  90 . It will be understood that other manners of attachment may be alternatively employed. 
     With particular reference to FIG. 4, the manually engageable handle  92  is shown accessible through an opening  106  provided in the display portion  34 . In operation, a manual force upwardly applied to the manually engageable handle  92  functions to upwardly translate the vertically extending portion  88  and thereby cantilever the lower finger  82 D about the vertically extending segments  84  that act as fixed pivots. As a result, the socket  78  defined by the plurality of the fingers  82 A- 82 D enlarges sufficiently to permit the striker  70  to be released from the socket  78 . In this regard, the first portion  76  of the first member  72  is selectively operable in a striker retention mode (shown specifically in FIG. 6) and a striker release mode (shown specifically in FIG. 9) in response to upwardly translation of the vertically extending portion  88  of the second member  74 . 
     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.