Abstract: A tire lock mounts to an opening in the vehicle frame in order to suspend a locking bar down through an opening in the spare wheel. A locking device may then be slid over the distal end of the locking bar in order to lock the spare wheel securely in place. The locking device is designed to accept a lock cylinder from the manufacturer's easily-defeated spare tire lock, so that the locking device of the present invention may be keyed with the remaining locks of the vehicle. The locking mechanism of the present invention also incorporates a spring-loaded resilient boot which engages the vehicle spare wheel lug nut hole, thereby preventing annoying rattling between the spare tire lock of the present invention and the spare tire.

Abstract: A device and method for locking spare tires, such as spare tires which are raised and lowered by a winch mechanism on the undercarriages of vehicles. The device in one embodiment includes first and second flanges, which may be part of a yoke saddled over a support member, such as the shaft connected to the spare tire winch mechanism. The flanges have holes through which an upper segment of a shaft is placed and held. The lower segment of the shaft typically passes through the lug hole of the wheel, below which a lock housing is coupled to the shaft. A plurality of grooves are provided in the shaft to allow the lock housing to be placed at various positions therealong to accommodate various tire and wheel size combinations. The upper segment of the shaft may include core and tab portions which engage a hole in one of the flanges when the upper segment of the shaft is rotated in the hole. This may be accomplished using a tab having a chorded circle shape corresponding to a chorded circle profile of the hole.

Abstract: A latch assembly for removable vehicle roof panels includes a handle for selectively releasably retaining the panel on the vehicle. A bracket pivotally mounts the handle and a first locking member on the panel. The handle is movable between a first latching orientation in which the panel is secured to the vehicle and a second non-latching orientation in which the panel is removable from the vehicle. A second locking member, provided on the handle, cooperates with the first to lock the handle in the latching orientation. The second locking member is key-actuable to be moved out of locking cooperation with the first to permit movement of the handle to the non-latching orientation.

Abstract: A locking mechanism is designed for a vehicle having a spare tire elevator mechanism, wherein the elevator mechanism includes a drive shaft, a gearbox, and a cable or the like for operatively coupling the gearbox to the tire to elevate it between storage and removal positions. The locking mechanism cooperates with a relatively stationary vehicle member such as a body panel or frame member adjacent the drive shaft. The locking mechanism includes a bracket providing a surface for non-rotatably engaging the drive shaft. A locking bracket is provided which is selectively engageable with the drive shaft engaging bracket. A lock having a shackle which passes through openings provided in both the bracket and the locking bracket prevents rotation of the bracket with respect to the locking bracket and thus with respect to the stationary vehicle member.

Abstract: A disposable end closure for pipe and tube ends such as, for example, vehicle fuel filler openings. The disposable end closure includes a cylindrical portion for inserting axially into the open end of the pipe or tube. The cylindrical portion has an outside diameter slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the pipe or tube. At the axially outer end of the cylindrical portion is a first flange which extends radially outwardly from the cylindrical portion. The axially inner end of the cylindrical portion is closed. A second flange extends radially outwardly from the sidewall of the cylindrical portion and engages the inner wall of the pipe or tube axially inwardly from the end thereof.