GB2321037A

GB2321037A - Vehicular tool mounting construction

Info

Publication number: GB2321037A
Application number: GB9722135A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tatsuhiko Fujii
Original assignee: Suzuki Motor Corp
Current assignee: Suzuki Motor Corp
Priority date: 1997-01-10
Filing date: 1997-10-20
Publication date: 1998-07-15
Anticipated expiration: 2017-10-20
Also published as: GB9722135D0; GB2321037B; JPH10194053A; DE19757268B4; DE19757268A1; JP3463491B2

Abstract

A vehicular tool mounting construction in which a spare tire can be fixed stably while tools are mounted and noise is not generated even if a tool mounting portion in a spare tire storage concave portion (1a) formed on a rear floor of a vehicle does not have a special shape, or even if the plate thickness of a spare tire support bracket is not increased. Tools (5,6) are mounted parallel with an axis (L) passing through the center of a spare tire fixing portion in the longitudinal direction of vehicle and at both sides of that axis.

Description

1 DESCRIPTION

VEHICULAR TOOL MOUNTING CONSTRUCTION 2321037 The present invention relates to a construction for mounting tools (on- vehicle tools) equipped on a vehicle.

General examples of constructions for mounting tools on a vehicle are disclosed in FIGS. 9 and 10 of the accompanying drawings, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 57-8500, Japanese Utility Model Provisional Publication No. 62-22150, and Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 129153.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a construction in which a jack handle 14 used for replacing a tire is mounted at the bottom of a rear floor 13 of a vehicle 12, a spare tire 15 is mounted on the jack handle 14, and subsequently the spare tire 15 is fixed to the rear floor 13 with a bolt (not shown) etc. For this construction, since the jack handle 14.is mounted on the bottom surface of the rear floor 13, the spare tire 15 is fixed while being tilted by the jack handle. Therefore, since a cover (not shown) put on the spare tire 15 is also tilted, the appearance is marred, the fixation of the spare tire is incomplete, and noise may be caused.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 57-8500 discloses a construction in which a jack handle is engaged 4 with a groove formed on a vehicle floor at a spare tire storage section, and the handle is fixed by a spare tire. For this construction, however, since the handle is fixed so as to be shifted to one side (rear) with respect to the axis passing through the spare tire fixing center, the spare tire is also fixed while being tilted. As a result, an excessive force is applied to a spare tire support bracket, causing a problem of decreased durability. To avoid this problem, plate thickness of the bracket is increased or the shape 10 thereof is changed, which results in an increased cost.

Japanese Utility Model Provisional Publication No. 6222150 discloses a construction in which a reinforcing bead of a concave shape is formed on the floor panel in a trunk so as to match the shape of jack handle, and the handle is stored in the reinforcing bead. For this construction, however, since the reinforcing bead is larger than the shape of the handle, the handle cannot be fixed by the spare tire only. Therefore, a special-purpose clip is necessary for fixing the handle. This leads to an increase in costs and number of parts, and further it takes much time to fix the handle.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 1-29153 discloses a construction in which a jack handle storage groove is formed in a spare tire storage concave portion formed on a vehicle, and the handle is stored in the groove. For this construction, however, the handle storage groove is formed in the center of a spare tire fixing portion, and further a specific method for fixing the spare tire is not disclosed, so that it is difficult to fix the spare tire in a horizontally stable state.

A f eature of the present invention is to provide a vehicular tool mounting construction in which a spare tire can be fixed stably while tools are mounted stably and noise is not generated even if a tool mounting portion in a spare tire storage concave formed on a rear floor of a vehicle does not have a special shape, or even if the plate thickness of a spare tire support bracket is not increased.

According to the present invention, the tools are mounted at opposite sides of an axis passing through the is center of a spare tire fixing portion in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

Preferably, each tool mounting portion is formed as a concave portion or recess, and a silencer sheet can be provided at that portion. in use of a tool mounting construction of the present invention, each tool is held and fixed between the spare tire fixed to the spare tire fixing portion and the rear floor of vehicle. Therefore, the tool mounting portion need not have a special shape, and noise can be prevented from being generated.

The invention is described further hereinafter by way of only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rear floor to which the present invention can be applied; FIG. 2 is a plan view of a rear floor to which the present invention can be applied; FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 2, in which a state in which two different types of spare tires are stored is assumed; FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 2; FIG. 2; FIG. 2; FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line C-C of FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line D-D of FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line E-E of FIG. 2; FIG. 8 is a plan view of a silencer sheet to which the present invention is applied; FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an entire vehicle using a conventional tool mounting construction; and FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of a principal portion of FIG. 9, viewed in the direction of X.

A spare tire storaqe concave portion la is formed on a rear floor 1 of a vehicle, and the spare tire storage concave portion la - 5 is provided with a spare tire fixing bracket 2, a wheel wrench storage concave portion 3, and a jack handle storage concave portion 4.

The spare tire storage concave portion la has a shape such that either of two types of spare tires 8 and 9 with a different shape and size can be stored. Usually, either one of plural spare tires is mounted according to the destination of shipment.

A hole for a spare tire fixing bolt 7 is formed at the center of the spare tire fixing portion, that is, at the center of the spare tire fixing bracket 2.

The aforesaid concave Portions 3 and 4 for mounting the tools equipped on the vehicle, such as a wheel wrench 5 and a j ack handle 6, are shaped so as to match the stored tools 5 and 6, respectively (see the hatched portions in FIG. 2). The depth of the concave portions 3,4 need not be so great that the tools 5,6 are covered completely. It is preferable that a part of the tools 5,6 Protrudes from the concave Portions 3,4.

The places at which the concave portions 3,4 are formed is set at a position where the spare tire 8, 9 is not fixed while being tilted by the tools 5,6 whichever one of the two types of spare tires 8 and 9 is mounted, and also it is set in parallel with an axis L passing longitudinally through the center of the spare tire fixing bracket 2 and at both sides of the axis L. It is preferred that the centers of the concave Portions 6 - 3 and 4 be positioned at an equal distance from the axis L.

A silencer sheet 10 shown in FIG. 8 is a plate-shaped sheet generally provided on the floor of vehicle for sound and vibration isolation. Actually, it is fixed along the shape of floor as shown in FIG. 3.

A specific mounting method will now be described.

First, the wheel wrench 5 and the jack handle 6 are stored in the wheel wrench storage concave portion 3 and the Jack handle storage concave portion 4, respectively. Next, after the spare tire 8 or 9 is mounted, the spare tire is fixed to the spare tire fixing bracket 2 with the spare tire fixing bolt 7. Thereby, the tools 5 and 6 come into contact with the spare tire and the silencer sheet 10 and are fixed. Finally, the whole of the spare tire storage concave la is covered with a spare tire cover 11.

Although an example in which the wheel wrench and jack handle are used as on-vehicle tools has been described in the above embodiment, the same construction can be used when other tools are used.

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, since the tool is fixed between the spare tire and the silencer sheet, both of which are of nonmetal, noise and vehicle vibration caused by the contact with other metallic portions are prevented.

Since the tool mounting places are provided at both 7 - sides of the axis passing through the center of spare tire fixing portion, there is no fear that the spare tire is fixed while being tilted in storing, and the failure to store a tool can be prevented because the spare tire cannot be fixed horizontally if only either one of the tools is stored in the respective concave portion.

Also, since the tool mounting places are provided at positions corresponding to the spare tires of a different size, one spare tire storage construction can be used, which contributes to a reduction in design manpower and parts control manpower.

Further, since each concave portion 3,4 is formed to correspond to the shape of tool, the tool can be prevented from being stored at an erroneous place when the tool is stored.

Claims

8 CLAIMS

1. A vehicular tool mounting construction comprising a spare tire storage concave portion provided on a rear floor of a vehicle, and vehicular tool mounting portions which extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle in said spare tire storage concave portion and are provided at opposite sides of an axis passing through the center of said spare tire storage concave portion.

2. A vehicular tool mounting construction according to claim 1, wherein each said tool mounting portion is a concave recess matching the shape of the associated vehicular tool.

3. A vehicular tool mounting construction according to claim 1, wherein a silencer sheet is provided at said tool mounting portion.

4. A vehicular tool mounting construction, wherein a spare tire storage recess is provided on a rear floor of a vehicle and vehicular tool mounting portions are provided in said spare tire storage recess at opposite sides respectively of an axis passing through the centre of a spare tire fixing portion in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

5. A vehicular tool mounting construction substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

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