Patent ID: 7597222

Claim:
An apparatus for carrying a spare tire that is configured to interface with a vehicle hitch, said apparatus comprising: a hitch receiver configured to interface with the vehicle hitch that is connected to the frame of a vehicle, wherein the hitch and the hitch receiver are configured to be fastened to one another; a bumper frame fixedly coupled to said hitch receiver, said bumper frame on a horizontal axis; a spare tire holder rotatably coupled to said bumper frame with two hinged elements that are configured to swing vertically about said horizontal axis, each of said hinged elements further comprising a first aperture that receives a locking pin that locks said spare tire holder in an upright position, each of said hinged elements configured to interface with a shaft, in which each shaft end includes a second aperture that is in alignment with the first aperture in the hinged elements; said locking pin configured to pass through the first aperture corresponding to the hinged element and the second aperture corresponding to the shaft when the spare tire holder is in the upright position, said locking pin in a substantially vertical position when the spare tire holder is in the upright position; a slotted plate coupled to the spare tire holder and the shaft, wherein the slotted plate includes a channel that is substantially vertical when the spare tire holder is in the upright position; an adjustable bolt configured to slidably interface with the slotted plate said adjustable bolt configured to receive different size spare tires; an adjust cone that interfaces with said adjustable bolt, said adjust cone configured to receive different sized wheels to secure said spare tire; and a nut adjacent the adjust cone and configured to receive the adjustable bolt to secure the spare tire to the spare tire holder.