Abstract: A platform for use in loading and supporting a gas cylinder onto a movable welder undercarriage which platform comprises a lower cylinder support pate with a rear end, a front end and a normal level cylinder supporting position; means for mounting the platform on the rear of the undercarriage to pivot about a transverse axis in a first pivot direction to a cylinder loading position with the rear end of the support plate tilted downward against the floor and in a second pivot direction with the support plate in the cylinder support position, where the weight of said cylinder is one the side of the pivot axis toward the front end of the support plate; and, stop means for preventing rotation of the platform abut the pivot axis in the second direction beyond the normal position of the support plate of the platform.

Abstract: A device to assist in lowering and raising the spare tire on a pickup truck. The device consists of a winch operated by a ratchet assembly to wind or unwind a strap to raise or lower the spare tire relative to a stored position. The device is installed on the pick up truck by a strap and hook assembly on the rear bumper, or on the bumper support bracket by an integral hanger.

Abstract: A gas cylinder lifting system is useful for loading and unloading heavy tanks of gases onto and off of a welding power supply running gear. The gas cylinder lifting system comprises one or more sliders that are constrained for vertical reciprocation on a frame mounted to the running gear. The slider includes a pan for supporting a gas cylinder. A crank lever is pivotally mounted to the frame by a pivot pin, and a linkage is pivotally connected between the crank lever and the slider. The linkage has a crook in it. Pivoting the crank lever to a first angular position lowers a slider and places the linkage crook remote from the pivot pin. Rotating the crank lever to a second angular position raises the slider and places the linkage crook adjacent the pivot pin. The crank lever and linkage cooperate to place the gas cylinder lifting system in an over-center self-locked condition when the crank lever is in its second angular position.

Abstract: A carrier apparatus for use on a motor vehicle to store a spare tire mounted on a rim beneath the undercarriage of the vehicle. The apparatus including a spring rod having an upper end and a lower end with the upper end being connected to the vehicle via a mounting assembly. A cradle bar having a forward end attached to the lower end of the spring rod is received in a cradle receiver member to form a telescoping cradle. A rear end of the cradle receiver member is connected to a bracket assembly which is adapted to be secured to the vehicle.

Abstract: A safety mechanism for a winch assembly when storing a load, in a raised or stored position, such as a tire under a vehicle, or a boat on a trailer. The safety mechanism maintains a load in a retained position using a latching device that is activated by a lever when a cranking member engages a detent portion proximate the winch.

Abstract: A storage bumper (10) is secured to a mounting frame (54) which in turn is secured to vehicle frame members (56, 58). The storage bumper (10) includes a hollow interior and a central access opening (20, 24) which is formed partly in the bumper top (22) and partly in the bumper rear wall (26). A door (14) normally closes the opening (20, 24). The door (14) is swingable in position about a hinge line (30) between a closed position (FIG. 1) and an open position (FIG 2). A drawer mount (12) is supported forwardly of an upper portion of the bumper (10). A drawer (48) is slidably received within the drawer mount (12). The rear end (50) of the drawer (48) is substantially flush with the rear wall (40) of the bumper (10) when the drawer (48) is closed. The drawer (48) includes a handle (52) which is used for opening and closing the drawer (48).

Abstract: An apparatus is set forth wherein a central, elongate support bar includes a rear pivot pin mounted to a cross frame that is in turn integrally mounted between spaced frame rails of an associated truck. The support bar includes a through-extending aperture adjacent its forwardmost end to receive a pin, wherein the pin is integrally secured to a lower rear flange of the rear bumper of the vehicle. Upon release of the bar relative to the pin, the bar is pivoted downwardly to release the tire slidingly towards an individual subsequent to its being sandwiched between the bar and bottom surface of the truck bed. A modification of the instant invention includes the tire mounted upon a slide to securely maintain the tire in its downwardly sliding position relative to the support bar, and may further include an air cylinder to dampen dropping of the bar upon release relative to the pin.

Abstract: A spare tire storage apparatus which pivots about a pivot point near the bumper of a vehicle and simultaneously pivots up or down between ground level and frame level on the vehicle. Vertical pivoting is accomplished by a cam roller following a cam surface as horizontal pivoting occurs. The spare tire is latched in the storage position by having a roller roll up a pivotable ramp, passing the ramp pivot point, causing the ramp to pivot upwardly, trapping the roller.

Abstract: An improved tire rack (10) is disclosed for use on any vehicle, but which is particularly suitable for use on a pickup truck (12). Brackets (24, 26) are mounted on the frame members of the truck and support a rod (28) and arms (32, 36) for pivotal motion between a storage position and a release position. In the storage position, the spare tire is held horizontally against the bottom of the bed of the truck. When moved to the release position by rotating a worm gear (72) to pivot the sector gear (66) on the rod (28), the tire rack moves the spare tire below and behind the bumper of the vehicle for ready access.

Abstract: A wheel and tire carrier for a vehicle such as a van includes a base assembly transversely affixed to a hinged door and which pivotally supports a swing arm to which a wheel is mounted. A latch mechanism normally secures the mounted wheel juxtaposed the door and when actuated, allows the arm and wheel to be arcuately displaced about a pivot point adjacent the free edge of the door thereby allowing the door to be opened about its hinges, no less than 90 degrees as the arm maintains the wheel free and clear of the body of the vehicle.

Abstract: A spare tire carrier is described for attachments to a vehicle (e.g., to the bumper). The carrier includes an elongated leg member which can be moved between an upward position and a lowered position. Bias means (e.g., a spring) biases the leg member toward its upward position. A tire support arm is secured to the leg member, and the spare tire can be detachably secured to the support arm. Lock means is used to secure the leg in either the upward or the lowered position, as needed.

Abstract: A tire carrier employs a parallelogram suspension and incorporates a simple screw-and-lever mechanism which is manually actuatable by a standard lug wrench to move between a securely held storage position and an easy-access position, whereby the tire carrier is swung out into its latter position from under the vehicle body, simultaneously releasing the tire from its secured storage position, to a convenient access position extending somewhat beyond the rear of the vehicle proximate and below the rear bumper.

Abstract: Disclosed is a spare tire carrier adapted for supporting a spare tire on an underside of a vehicle. The carrier comprises a pair of fixed track members attached to the vehicle underside for pivotably and slidably mounting a carriage adapted to receive the spare tire. Each of the tracks members has an inclined guide slot for receiving rollers and guide pins of the carriage. The rollers and guide pins are disposed in the guide slots and secured to the carriage approximately intermediate the front end and rear end of the carriage. The carriage is movable relative to the track members in the guide slots between a retracted elevated position and a projected lowered position enabling convenient access to the tire. An improved locking mechanism is disclosed comprising a rotatable carriage locking bar.

Abstract: A wheel manipulator for engaging and retaining the hub of a wheel thereto, having a base frame with a vertical column, a carriage slidably mounted on the column and adapted to be vertically adjustably positioned thereon, a turret rotatably mounted on the carriage and a retainer for securing the wheel to the turret for manipulation of the wheel on the base frame.

Abstract: A combined spare tire support and rear step bumper assembly is provided wherein the rear step bumper assembly is mounted from the associated vehicle in the conventional manner but includes a center downwardly and rearwardly opening recess formed therein in which the outer face plate of a drawer-type support extendible rearwardly of the bumper assembly is receivable when the support is in the forward retracted position. The support is in the form of an upwardly opening drawer in which a spare tire assembly (or any other suitable load) may be received and structure is provided for releasably securely locking the face plate assembly of the drawer-type support in a forwardly retracted closed position.

Abstract: The spare tire of a motor vehicle is placed in a holder which (1) can be lifted to or lowered from a storage position under the vehicle, (2) rolled on running wheels to carry the tire to a position adjacent an axle hub, and (3) operated to raise or lower a tire relative to an axle hub. The holder has a pair of horizontal, spaced rollers upon which a tire is carried. These rollers are mounted on a vertically raisable frame which in one embodiment has vertical slide bars slidingly extending through vertical tubular guides mounted on a wheeled dolly frame. Hand wheel operated screws and hydraulic jacks are provided in respective embodiments for raising and lowering the frame supporting the tire. In attaching the holder at a storage location on the vehicle, the upper end of the holder is first attached and then a winch is used to raise the lower end so that the holder pivots to a horizontal storage position under the vehicle.

Abstract: A locking device, particularly for a spare wheel cradle 12 mounted to pivot under the floor 14 of an automobile, the cradle being able to be released from inside the automobile by a control mechanism 28-34 connected to a locking mechanism 16 including a housing 18 mounted under the floor, a retaining hook 36 for retaining the cradle 12 and a safety hook 38, the cradle causing being automatically locked by the retaining hook when the cradle is put in place under the floor. The locking mechanism 16 includes a mechanism for retaining the safety hook in a retracted position when the cradle is in the released position, release of the retaining mechanism 100 being controlled by the automatic locking of the cradle 42 by the retaining hook 36.

Abstract: A spare wheel carrier includes a spare wheel support member mounting brackets adjacent one end thereof having L-shaped slots. Pivots mounted on the vehicle are engageable with the ends of either legs of the slots to locate the support member different distances from the floor of the vehicle so as to support different thickness spare wheels.

Abstract: A spare tire carrier attachable to the underside of a trailer or other vele not equipped with an interior spare tire storage space. The carrier includes three or more transversely extending roller support units located to underlie a surface of the tire when it is in its stored position. During manual movement of the spare tire to or from its stored position the rollers turn on their rotational axes to facilitate tire motion. The carrier can be constructed in different sizes for use with different vehicles and spare tire sizes. The carrier is preferably formed from standard commercially-available structural components, such as rods, bars and tubes, thereby facilitating use on military vehicles where the low volume usage does not warrant an expensive tooling investment.

Abstract: A new and improved combination bumper and spare tire carrier is disclosed adapted to be affixed to a tailgate of a vehicle without inhibiting the operation of the tailgate. The subject carrier includes a bracket member which projects rearwardly from the vehicle. A generally planar frame is pivotally connected to the bracket member at a point offset from the hinge of the tailgate. A planar attachment plate is provided, having one end thereof slidably received within channels formed in a pair of spaced apart guide members attached to the frame. The upper end of the attachment plate is connected to the upper edge of the tailgate to define a telescoping configuration. By this arrangement, the tailgate and the frame may be simultaneously moved between the open and closed positions. In the preferred embodiment, a pair of bumper segments are provided and disposed on either side of the frame. The bumper segments and spare tire combination define a relatively continuous bumper configuration.

Abstract: The disclosed spare tire hanger comprises a main member for holding a spare tire substantially horizontally below a vehicle, which main member has one end thereof swingably secured to the vehicle and a connector secured to a free end thereof, and a holding rod depending from the vehicle and adapted to be disengageably connected to said connector of the main member at lower end thereof, wherein the connector has a portion engageable with a wheel wrench or a like tool.

Abstract: A spare wheel carrier for a motor vehicle, especially a truck, comprises a rotatable spindle 1 carrying a cable 6 the free end of which passes through the center of the wheel 8 and is attached to a cross-bar 7 bolted to the wheel 8 and a supporting beam 9 which is in turn normally bolted to the underside of the vehicle. The wheel is lowered with the beam 9 and cross-bar 7 by unwinding the cable 6 from the spindle 1. Unwinding is controlled by an escapement comprising a ratchet wheel 12 and an anchor plate 19 which is reciprocated by a jack handle inserted in an aperture 23 in the anchor plate.

Abstract: A spare wheel carrier for vehicles has a channel type support member arranged to be mounted on a vehicle bumper. A channel type tire carrier member is pivotally mounted at its lower end on the support member, with the pivotal axis being offset from the longitudinal center line of the carrier member. The support member has an abutment member at one side and a latching mechanism at the other side. The latching mechanism when tightened urges the carrier member into engagement with the abutment to lock the carrier in stored position. The carrier member is rotatable in a vertical plane and is adapted to be lowered so that the tire mounting means on the carrier member may be moved into registration with a tire resting on the ground in a vertical position.

Abstract: An elongated longitudinally extending guide structure supported beneath the rear of a pickup truck with the forward end of the guide structure pivotally supported from the pickup truck frame for oscillation about a horizontal transverse axis. An elongated wheel supporting rack is slidably supported from the guide structure for longitudinal displacement relative thereto and the rack is shiftable between forward and rear positions relative to the guide structure. In the forward position of the rack front and rear ends of the latter are supported from the guide structure and when in the rear position, the rear end of the rack is disengaged from and displaced rearwardly of the rear end of the guide structure. The rear end of the rack and the rear end of the associated vehicle include coacting latching structure effective to latch the rack in its forward position relative to the guide structure and the latter in its raised horizontal position beneath the underside of the rear of the associated pickup truck.

Abstract: A spare tire carrier for use on a motor vehicle. The carrier comprises a swing arm having a spare tire holding a basket attached thereto. The swing arm is pivotally connected to a frame of the motor vehicle by a hinge. The hinge is tilted rearwardly at the top thereof such that gravity urges the swing arm rearwardly. The carrier stows the spare tire under the rear of the pickup bed. A latching mechanism retains the carrier in a stowed position. Upon release of the latching mechanism, the carrier along with the spare tire rotates rearwardly about the hinge and downwardly to a position to the rear of the vehicle allowing the spare tire to be easily removed from the carrier for changing of a flat tire.

Abstract: The present invention constitutes a carrier for maintaining a spare tire to a vehicle, such as a pickup truck so as to be easily accessible, that comprises a lifting arm assembly which is secured to the vehicle bumper or frame and incorporates a screw arrangement therewith. The screw arrangement is turned manually and operates through a linkage to raise or lower a support bar assembly that mounts a platform whereon the spare tire is maintained. The lifting arm assembly can be pivoted to move the platform and tire between a storage area beneath the vehicle frame and to a point beyond the vehicle bumper whereby the tire and platform can serve also as a step for facilitating entry into the back of the truck or into a camper mounted thereon.

Abstract: A combination ladder and spare tire carrier for a vehicle in which the spare tire carrier is connected to the inside of the ladder and the ladder pivotally connected to a wall of the vehicle whereby the ladder may be pivoted from an upright locked position into an inclined lower position to expose the spare tire carrier.

Abstract: A tire mounting bracket for vehicles includes an elongated frame having upstanding side members on the forward end thereof which are pivotally connected to the underside of a vehicle for up and down pivotal movement of the rearward end of the frame between a generally horizontal transport position and a downwardly and rearwardly inclined service position. Collapsible tension members limit downward pivotal movement of the rearward end of the frame to the service position therefor. A second tension member is detachably connected to the rearward end of the frame to secure the frame in the transport position. The spare tire is retained on the frame between the second tension member and upstanding side members. A bracket on the underside of the frame cooperates with the rearward end of the frame to receive one end of a lever for pivotally raising and lowering the frame with a spare tire supported thereon.

Abstract: Apparatus for mounting a spare wheel on a tongue of a trailer including a wheel supporting hub, a first shaft extending from the rear of the wheel supporting hub, the shaft being rotatably carried within a first shaft supporting sleeve, a retainer for retaining the first shaft within the first sleeve, an arm extending from the first sleeve substantially perpendicular to the axis of the first shaft disposed within the first sleeve, the end of the arm remote from the first sleeve being affixed to one end of a second shaft, the second shaft being disposed substantially parallel to the first shaft and extending from the arm in a direction opposite to that from which the wheel supporting hub extends from the first shaft, the second shaft being rotatably carried by a second sleeve, biasing means associated with the second shaft urging the arm toward the second sleeve, locking devices for fixing the arm with respect to the adjacent second sleeve in more than one position, and a mounting assembly associated with the

Abstract: A spare tire carrier for pick-up trucks; pivotable bracket and frame means fixed within a truck body or over a truck bed removably mounting a spare tire and carrying the tire either (alternatively) within the bed or outside the bed.

Abstract: A power-operated tire transfer arm pivotally connected to a wheeled vehicle or swinging movement in the area directly behind the vehicle cab to transfer a large heavy vehicle spare tire to/from a lowered position resting on the ground from/to a raised position supported on the vehicle. The transfer arm is designed to assist the driver of the vehicle in changing a tire in remote locations where crane facilities are not available to lower the spare tire to ground level or to raise the blown tire to a stored position on the vehicle.