Patent ID: 8840000

Claim:
A heavy duty leveraged spare tire carrier, comprising: a vertical member having a proximal half and a distal half and a horizontal member attached to the distal half of the vertical member at a juncture, with at least a portion of the horizontal member extending to each side of the vertical member such that together the vertical member and the horizontal member form a cross; a first hinge bracket and a second hinge bracket, the hinge brackets configured in parallel and placed vertically and in proximity to each other with a portion of the proximal half of the vertical member positioned therebetween; a hinge bolt extending through the first and second hinge brackets and through the proximal half of the vertical member placed therebetween, the hinge bolt running generally horizontally therethrough and configured so as to provide a hinge point for the vertical member so that the distal half of the vertical member can swing out from between the first and second hinge brackets while the proximal half remains attached to and between the hinge brackets; a plurality of mounting bolts adapted to removably attach a rim of a spare tire to at least one of the distal half of the vertical member and the horizontal member, the plurality of mounting bolts further adapted to allow the spare tire to be adjustably tightened down against the carrier; a plurality of vibration reduction bumpers attached to at least one of the distal half of the vertical member and the horizontal member and adapted to compress as the spare tire is adjustably tightened down against the carrier in order to further secure the spare tire to the carrier via a friction fit; a draw bar attached to a first bottom portion of the first hinge bracket and also attached to a second bottom portion of the second hinge bracket, the draw bar extending generally perpendicular to the first and second hinge brackets and in a rearwards direction, the draw bar being configured to fit within a receiver hitch on a vehicle and attach securely therein; a secondary receiver hitch attached to the draw bar and extending generally parallel with the draw bar and perpendicular to the hinge brackets in a frontwards direction, the secondary receiver hitch having a mouth at a distal end, the mouth configured to receive a second draw bar therein; a hitch pin hole running through the secondary receiver hitch and adapted to accept a hitch pin through the hitch pin hole in order to secure any draw bar inserted within the secondary receiver hitch mouth; and a release pin adapted to hold the vertical member in an upright position between the first and second hinge brackets until the release pin is actuated, thereby releasing the distal half of the vertical member and causing the vertical member to be able to hinge about the hinge bolt, thereby allowing the vertical member to swing downwards from a vertical position so that any spare tire attached thereto is placed at a lower height.