Abstract: A tire carrier assembly for storing a spare tire of a motor vehicle includes a tire carrier adapted for supporting the spare tire, a winch assembly operably connected to the tire carrier to raise and lower the tire carrier between a stowed position wherein the tire is inaccessible and a deployed position wherein the tire is accessible, and a latch assembly. The latch assembly includes at least one latch member and an actuator adapted to selectively move the latch member between a locking position wherein the latch member prevents movement of the tire carrier from the stowed position to the deployed position and an unlocking position wherein the latch member permits movement of the tire carrier from the stowed position to the deployed position. The actuator includes a push-pull cable and a pull handle such that the operator manually pulls the cable to move the latch member from the locking position to the unlocking position.

Abstract: The invention provides a device for securing the upper terminal position of a liftable and lowerable object, comprising cable means having a hoist-side end and an object-side end; a stationary bracket having an aperture disposed in a substantially horizontal plane; a housing supported by the object-side end of the cable means and carrying the object, the housing having a lower portion and an upper portion, at least the upper portion being configured to pass through the aperture, a first opening at the top of the upper portion and a second opening at the bottom of the lower portion facilitating the passage of the cable means through the housing, and two oppositely located, elongated slots extending along at least parts of the upper portion; lever means located inside, and extending through a substantial portion of, the housing, the lever means being pivotably mounted in the lower portion of the housing and being provided with catch means and camming means, the lever means having a first limit position in which

Abstract: The present invention relates to a removal aid for a spare wheel of a motor vehicle having at least one strap which, at one end, is fastened to a vehicle body section, extends from there under the spare wheel and beyond it and can be braced at the other end with another vehicle body section, a spare wheel receiving device being slidably constructed with respect to the strap.

Abstract: A connector for automobile winches comprises a generally cylindrical body with a winch drive shaft receiving end and a crank receiving end. The drive shaft receiving end is provided with a pair of opposed openings through which a retaining pin, attached to the winch drive shaft is passed, thereby creating an universal joint. The crank receiving end is provided with an insert adapted to receive an end of the crank. The connector is designed to extend outside of the vehicle body and at an upward angle to facilitate operation of the winch. The invention also eliminates the need for carrying long cranks.