Dura Global Technologies, Inc.

Derek Lee Oxyer

Bruce Daniel Kingsbury

Ramakrishna Putumbaka

Madhu Posani

Garrett J Wize

Scott Matthew Markiewicz

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. In one embodiment, a single latch member moves along a linear path while in other disclosed embodiments a pair of hooks pivot in opposite directions. Other embodiments are disclosed having actuators which automatically pivot a pair of hooks between the locking and unlocking positions.

Secondary latch for a tire carrier

A tire carrier assembly for storing a spare tire of a motor vehicle includes a tire carrier for supporting the spare tire and having a swivel with a shank portion and a head portion along the shank portion, a winch assembly operably connected to the tire carrier with a cable or rope to raise and lower the tire carrier between upper and lower positions, a housing assembly forming a horizontal support surface, and a secondary latch assembly secured to the housing assembly and adapted to selectively confine the tire carrier in the upper position. The secondary latch assembly includes a sliding latch member supported by the horizontal support surface and an actuator adapted to selectively move the latch member along a linear path between a locking position and an unlocking position. The latch member is adapted to permit passage of the of the shank portion but not the head portion past the latch member when the latch member is in the locking position and to permit passage of both the shank portion and the head portion past the latch member when the latch member is in the unlocking position. The actuator includes an arm pivotable between a locking position and an unlocking position and having one end extending through an opening formed in the latch member such that pivotal movement of the arm linearly moves the latch member. The actuator further includes a spring member biasing the arm to the locking position. Various alternative embodiments are also disclosed wherein the actuator arm is connected to the latch member with a pin-and-slot connection and wherein the latch member has resilient fingers.

Growing community of inventors

Farmington Hills, MI, United States of America

Derek Lee Oxyer