Abstract: A spare tire carrier for a vehicle with a tailgate or other rear access assembly characterized in that the spare tire carrier is adapted to swing away outwardly from the vehicle and is provided with a swing-down device which allows a spare tire to be lowered into ground contact for easy removal of the spare tire. The swing-down device includes a tire support plate and an assist arm is pivotally coupled to the tire support plate for controlling the movement of the tire support plate when the latter is unlatched from the spare tire carrier.

Abstract: A compression resistor assembly for use with a steerable suspension strut includes a canister mounted on a reciprocating piston rod of the strut. A plurality of longitudinal slots are provided in a cylindrical wall of the canister. An outwardly-projecting flange of the canister provides a camming surface for engaging guide pins of pivotable stoppers mounted on an upper end of the strut. For a predetermined steer angle of the strut, the guide pins are aligned with the slots to permit full compression of the strut. When the preselected steer angle is exceeded, the camming surface engages the guide pins so that the stoppers pivot to limit the compression of the strut.

Abstract: A side mounted wiper uses independently pivoted pairs of longer and shorter support beams that are specially designed to operate within shared horizontal and vertical space, thus providing even blade support and pressure distribution within a compact height and area.

Abstract: A wind deflector for swing-out side windows in a van includes first and second generally rectangular clear plastic deflector panels which overlie one another. The inner panel is attached to the leading edge of the window pane and extends forwardly therefrom. The outer panel is attached to the vehicle body along a vertical line forward of the forward edge of the window opening and extends rearwardly therefrom to overlie the inner panel. When the window is closed, the panels overlie one another in closely spaced streamlining relation with the side of the vehicle body. When the window is open, the outward swinging movement of the bottom of the window causes the panels to flex one another so that the panels continue to overlie one another and bridge the gap between the leading edge of the window pane and the vehicle body to streamline and deflect the oncoming airflow.

Abstract: According to the invention a follower member is mounted on the door adjacent the door mounted roller and extends into the body mounted track further than the roller. A spring-like leaf is mounted in the track along at least a portion of the path of travel of the follower member along the track during the back and forth movement of the door. The leaf projects into the path of the follower member to interfere therewith so that the leaf is flexed and thereby impedes travel of the door along the track. A block of elastic material is mounted in a space between the track and the leaf to yieldably support the leaf against the flexure by the follower member during the back and forth movement of the door. The elasticity of the block of elastic material may vary along its length and determines the extent to which the movement of the door is impeded by the engagement of the follower member with the leaf.

Abstract: A swingable and slidable vehicle door assembly opened by an initial laterally outward swinging movement followed by a sliding movement along the exterior side of the vehicle. The vehicle door assembly is supported at three points with a suspension mechanism on the leading edge combined with a lateral guide mechanism to produce the aforementioned lateral movement of the door, followed by sliding movement. A pivotal support member is mounted on the side of the door opening adjacent the door's leading edge and has rollers mounted thereon adapted to engage track means on the door. The pivotal member rotates from an initial closed-door position characterized by substantial fore and aft alignment with the plane of the door to a laterally outward position, thereby moving the leading edge of the door laterally outward from the vehicle body to permit subsequent sliding movement.