Abstract:
An arrangement for storing a spare tire includes a cable coupled to the spare tire. A winch device is disposed between the motor vehicle and the cable and is operative for raising and lowering the tire in response to actuation thereof. A spring device is coupled between the bottom surface of the motor vehicle and the spare tire. The spring device is operative for positioning the spare tire in an accessible position when the spare tire is being lowered.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to motor vehicles. More particularly, the present invention relates to an arrangement for storing a spare tire under the floor of a motor vehicle. 
     2. Discussion 
     An example of a prior art vehicle spare tire mounting arrangement is shown in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,629, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. The arrangement positions the spare tire immediately below the floor panel of a motor vehicle and includes an elongated carrier member suspended from the vehicle. First and second holding rods cooperate with the carrier member for storing the spare tire. The carrier member includes a main tire support portion having first and second connectors adjacent each end thereof with each connector offset a predetermined dimension from one side of the main support portion. The first holding rod lower end is attached to the first end connector by a universal hinge assembly enabling the carrier member, upon release of the second holding rod from the second connector, to be pivoted about a transverse horizontal axis from a horizontal tire stowage position to a downwardly angled tire removal position. A universal hinge assembly enables the operator to rotate the downwardly angled carrier member about its longitudinally extending axis of rotation, which includes the end connectors between a pair of tire stowage modes. 
     The end connectors are oriented below the main support portion such that a tire is adapted to be supported on one side of the main support portion. To attain an alternate stowage mode, the universal hinge assembly is unlocked and the carrier member rotated 180 degrees. The end connectors are oriented above the main support portion enabling a maximum thickness tire to be supported on the opposite side thereof. 
     Arrangements of the type shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,629 remove the spare tire from other known mounting locations, such as within the vehicle or on a rear panel of the vehicle. In this manner, the cargo carrying capacity of the motor vehicle is not impeded and access to the vehicle is not restricted. However, access to the spare tire may be difficult. Primarily in this regard and insofar as the present invention is concerned, typical arrangements for mounting a spare tire to the underside of a floor panel may be difficult to access. 
     Thus, need remains in the art for an arrangement which mounts the spare tire to the underside of a floor panel which is operative for lowering the spare tire to a position more readily accessed by a user. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an advantage of the present invention to provide an arrangement for storing a spare tire under the floor pan of a vehicle which rearwardly displaces the spare tire upon release. 
     In one form, the present invention provides a mounting arrangement for storing a spare tire under a floor panel of the motor vehicle. The arrangement includes a cable coupled to the spare tire. A winch device is disposed between the motor vehicle and the cable and is operative for raising and lowering the tire in response to actuation thereof. A spring device is coupled between the bottom surface of the motor vehicle and the spare tire. The spring device is operative for biasing the spare tire rearward relative to the motor vehicle when the spare tire is being lowered. 
     In another form, the present invention provides a method of lowering a spare tire from a stored position adjacent an underside of a floor panel of a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle includes a cable interconnecting the spare tire and the underside of the floor panel and a winch device for winding and unwinding the cable to raise and lower the spare tire, respectively. The method includes the step of interconnecting the underside of the motor vehicle and the spare tire with a biasing mechanism. The method further includes the step of rearwardly biasing the spare tire relative to the motor vehicle against a gravitational force as the spare tire is lowered. 
     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 
     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is an arrangement for storing a spare tire of a motor vehicle shown operatively associated with a portion of a motor vehicle, the spare tire shown in a raised position. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1, illustrating the spare tire in a lowered position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a mounting arrangement for storing a spare tire under a floor panel of a motor vehicle constructed in accordance with the teachings of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated and generally identified at reference numeral  10 . The mounting arrangement  10  is shown operatively associated with an exemplary motor vehicle  12 . In the embodiment illustrated, the exemplary motor vehicle  12  is a pickup truck. However, it will become apparent to those skilled in the art that the teachings of the present invention are not limited to any particular type of vehicle. 
     The present invention is specifically directed to an arrangement including a biasing mechanism  14  which cooperates with an otherwise conventional arrangement to assist with the lowering of the spare tire  16  from a raised or stored position to a lowered or released position. The raised position of the spare tire  16  is illustrated in FIG.  1 . The lowered position of the spare tire  16  is shown in FIG.  2 . Now turning to the construction and operation of the biasing mechanism  14 , the conventional aspects of its exemplary use environment will be described. 
     A cable  18  couples the spare tire  16  with an underside of the motor vehicle  12 . As shown, a first end  20  of the cable  18  is secured to a mounting bracket  22  which is, in turn, fixedly attached to an underside of a floor pan or panel  24  of the motor vehicle  12 . A second end  26  of the cable  18  is secured to the spare tire  16 . A winch device  28  is operative for raising and lowering the spare tire  16  in response to actuation thereof. The winch device  28  includes a rotatable element  30  mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis. When the rotatable element is rotated in a first direction (as indicated by arrow A in FIG. 2) the cable  18  is coiled and the spare tire  16  is moved to its raised position. For purpose of rotating the rotatable member  30 , the winch device  28  further includes a removable handle or crank  32  which is inserted into an aperture  34  provided proximate a rear bumper or fascia  36  of the motor vehicle. Lowering of the spare tire  16  is accomplished in an opposite manner. 
     It will again be understood that the winch device  28  and the cable  18  which interconnects the floor panel  24  and the spare tire  16  are conventional in construction. One suitable arrangement is commercially available on the 2000 Dodge Durango manufactured by the Assignee of the subject application. It will be understood that other functionally equivalent arrangements may be incorporated within the scope of the teachings of the subject invention. 
     With continued references to FIGS. 1 and 2, the biasing mechanism  14  is illustrated as a spring device which interconnects an underside of the motor vehicle  12  and the spare tire  16 . In the exemplary embodiment, the spring device is a coil spring  14 . A mounting bracket  38  is secured to the underside of the motor vehicle  12  proximate the rear bumper  36  through welding or any other conventional manner. A first end  40  of the spring device  14  is secured to the mounting bracket  38 . As shown most particularly in FIG. 2, the first end  40  of the spring device  14  engages an aperture  42  provided in the mounting bracket  38 . A second end  44  of the spring device is connected to the cable  18  proximate the end  26  of the cable  18  which is secured to the spare tire  16 . In the embodiment illustrated, the end  44  of the spring  14  is shown secured to a mounting member  45  which is in turn secured to the cable  18 . Alternatively, it will be understood that the spring  14  may be directly secured to the spare tire  16 . While not specifically shown, it will be understood that in certain applications it may be desired to cover the tensioning mechanism  14  with a sleeve to protect the biasing mechanism  14  from corrosion. 
     In operation, the biasing mechanism  14  provides a biasing force for rearwardly biasing the spare tire  16  against a gravitational force as the spare tire  16  is moved to the lowered position. Without the biasing mechanism, the gravitational force would direct the spare tire downward along a vertical axis  46  passing through the attachment point of the cable  18  to the motor vehicle  12 . The biasing mechanism  14  rearwardly displaces the spare tire  16  such that the spare tire  16  is substantially positioned beneath the rear bumper or fascia  36  in its lowered position and thereby more readily accessible. 
     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.