Abstract: A spare wheel holding apparatus includes a device for winding up a spare wheel with a suspending member. The device includes a rotation restricting plate and a rotation restricting pin having a projecting pin portion. When a winding-off force is applied to the suspending member, the rotation restricting plate abuts on the projecting pin portion, thereby stopping winding-off of the suspending member. A suspending member breakage preventing mechanism also uses the rotation restricting pin as a safety pin. If the winding-off force is larger than that in normal, the projecting pin portion is broken at a root portion, the suspending member is wound off, thereby preventing breakage. The root portion has a smaller thickness than a tip end portion of the projecting pin portion.

Abstract: A suspending member breakage preventing mechanism in a spare wheel holding apparatus. The spare wheel holding apparatus is provided with a wheel support member on which a spare wheel is supported, and a winding device having a suspending member which connects the wheel support member to the falling end of the suspending member. The winding device is provided with a case, a main shaft, and a planetary gear mechanism. In the planetary gear mechanism, an internal gear is provided on the side surface of the winding drum, and an eccentric cam is provided on the main shaft, and an external gear is rotatably fitted to the eccentric cam. A rotation restricting plate is provided to the side surface of the external gear, and a rotation restricting pin is provided on the case and serves also as a safety pin. If the winding-off force applied to the suspending member is larger than at normal state, the rotation restricting pin is broken thereby the breakage of the suspending member is prevented.

Abstract: A spare wheel protecting system, associated with a plurality of spare wheel holding devices each holding a spare wheel under the chassis of a motor vehicle, for preventing any such spare wheel from being stolen, comprises a socket and an interlocking axle which are provided in each such spare wheel holding device and engageable with each other to connect the operating handle and the driving shaft for the winch mechanism of each spare wheel holding device to permit rotation of the operating handle for rotating the driving shaft. Each socket has at least two engaging elements and each interlocking axle has a corresponding number of engaging elements each of which is complementary to a corresponding one of the engaging elements on a corresponding socket.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding a spare wheel under the chassis of a motor vehicle in a horizontally suspended fashion, including a wheel holder supported at its one end on the outer surface of one longitudinal chassis member for both vertical and horizontal rotation to rotate its other end vertically and horizontally. A pin depends from a supporting member on the outer surface of the longitudinal chassis member and is connected to the one end of the wheel holder to permit at least horizontal rotation of the wheel holder. The vertical rotation of the wheel holder is effected by a rotative connective mechanism provided either at the one end of the wheel holder or between the pin and the one end of the wheel holder. A winch mechanism is provided for raising and lowering the other end of the wheel holder. According to one embodiment, the winch mechanism is positioned on the outer surface of the longitudinal chassis member, so that the wheel holder extends in parallel to the longitudinal chassis member for 90.degree.