Abstract: A rotatable spare wheel carrier is provided for a rear compartment of a vehicle. The rotatable spare wheel carrier includes a base portion adapted to engage a spare wheel and be spaced above a base wall of a recess in a rear compartment of a vehicle. The rotatable spare wheel carrier also includes a leg portion extending downwardly and longitudinally from the base portion and a foot portion extending longitudinally from the leg portion and adapted to be secured to the base wall. The rotatable spare wheel carrier further includes a living hinge between the base portion and the leg portion to allow the base portion to rotate relative to the leg portion upon an impact on a rear of the vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention provides an adjustable thigh support pivotal joint apparatus and method of the utilization of the same for vehicle seats. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a first sector gear is fixably attached to a femur portion of the vehicle seat and is in constant mesh with a second planet gear rotatively attached with the thigh support. A third gear has a locking position in mesh with both the first and second gears and a nonlocking position in mesh with no more than one of the other gears allowing the thigh support to be adjusted.