GB2503083A

GB2503083A - Hinged spare wheel carrier for vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2503083A
Application number: GB1306758.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Gough
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-05-16
Filing date: 2012-05-16
Publication date: 2013-12-18
Anticipated expiration: 2032-05-16
Also published as: GB2503083B; GB201306758D0; GB2502097A; GB2502097B; GB201208581D0

Abstract

A swing-away spare wheel carrier 12 for a vehicle comprises a frame having a transverse upper limb 16 and a lower limb 17 extending from one end of the upper limb 16 at an acute angle, a pivot axis passing through the free ends of the limbs 16, 17 and being defined by upper and lower hinges 13, 14. The upper hinge 16 comprises a mounting flange (31 see fig 2) for attachment to a vehicle body at the waistline thereof. The upper hinge 13 defines an upwardly facing open-mouthed slot between the flange and pivot axis. Three mounting studs 22 may be provided for a five stud wheel. The slot defines a gap (39 see fig 2) adapted to receive a canvas tilt or the lower edge of a hard top.

Description

Hinge for a Spare V/heel Carrier For Vehicle This invention relates to a spare wheel carrier for a vehicle, in particular a swing-away wheel carrier pivoted about a vertical axis.

It is imown to provide a so-called swing-away spare wheel carrier on off-road vehicles, and the like. Such a wheel carrier is mounted externally of the vchicle, and is adapted to be pivoted away from the vehicle body in order to give access to the place which is normally behind the wheel carrier. Wheel carriers of this kind are typically provided at the rear of vehicles, and swing away through an angle of greater than 900 in order to give access to a rear door or tailgate arrangement.

Many such off-road vehicles can be adapted to a wide variety of purposes for which any protrusion above the waistline may be disadvantageous. In particular, a swing-away wheel carrier should be below the waistline of the vehicle so as not to impede fitting or removal of a canvas tilt or detachable hard top.

Preferably hinges of a swing-away carrier should be at the upper and lower extremities, where a generally stiff mounting point can be assured; in particular the upper hinge should be at or adjacent the waistline.

One difficulty with rear mounting of a swing-away spare wheel carrier is that clearance for a tow hitch must often be provided, and thus requires that the lowest part of thc sparc wheel bc sufflcicntly above thc tow hitch to pcrmit attachmcnt and detachment of a trailer, and articulation of the trailer drawbar in use.

Tdoally a suitable dcsign of swing-away carrier should also bc economical to produce, and thus have a minimum number of manufacturing steps in the production thereof According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a swing-away spare wheel carrier for a vehicle, and comprising an upper transverse limb, a lower limb cxtcnding from thc upper limb at an acutc angle, and a pivot axis passing through the ends of the limbs and defined by upper and lower hinges, the upper hinge comprising a mounting flange for attachment to a vehicle body at the waistline thereof, and said upper hinge defining an upwardly facing open-mouthed slot between said flange and pivot axis.

The slot provides a space into which can be inserted the lower edge of a canvas tilt or cover, or an overlapping edge of a detachable hard top or the like, thus permitting a more secure fitting together with ready interchangeability ofupper body type.

In one embodiment the upper hinge comprises a non-moving one-piece member for mounting at the vehicle waistline and comprising an L' section comprising the flange, and a C, section of which the upper and lower arms define the hinge axis.

The slot is defined between the upright limbs of the U and C'. The upper arm of the wheel carrier typically includes a tubular member at the free end thereof, having an upright through axis and sized to fit closely within the limbs of the C' section, thereby to define the moving hinge member, in use.

Preferably the upper limb is straight, and preferably the lower limb is straight. The upper limb and lower limb may be conveniently formed from a bent tube. A support may bridge the limbs, and is preferably also a tube, typically welded in the included angle defined by the limbs. The straight tube arrangement gives an economical and strong construction with the minimum number of bends. A plate may be fixed within the included angle, and in the preferred embodiment provides direct support for three mounting studs of a five stud spare wheel. The plate is preferably welded to the limbs and to the support.

Tn one embodiment, the plate is inset so as to allow a vehicle spare wheel assembly, in particular the tyre, to bear against the upper and lower limbs when mounted. This arrangement gives a somewhat resilient attachment whilst avoiding metal to metal contact of the wheel rim and wheel carrier. In one embodiment a transverse tubular extension projects away from the region of the junction of the limbs, in the same plane, so as to provide an additional bearing for the tyre. This arrangement allows the upper and lower limbs to be somewhat shorter, and thus saves both material and weight.

A further advantage of a straight upper limb is that an upper tailgate can open when a spare wheel is dismounted, which may in certain circumstances be advantageous.

As noted above, conventional swing-away carriers have the upper hinge mounting at the vehicle waistline. Such a position is structurally beneficial, and contributes to a less complex design of the wheel carrier. However, the mounting itself may prevent a canvas tilt or removable hard top from being properly secured to the vehicle body by overlapping the upper body edge. Accordingly ad-hoc arrangements have been required in order to ensure security of a load within the vehicle, and to prevent ingress of rain and the like.

Other features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment shown by way of example only in the accompanying drawings in which:-Fig. 1 is an elevation of a swing-away spare wheel carrier according to the invention.

Fig. 2 shows isometric views of an upper hinge for the carrier of Fig. 1.

With reference to the drawings, the rear lower body portion of a vehicle is indicated by dotted line 11, and a swing-away sparc wheel carrier 12 is mounted to the body portion 11 by upper and lower hinges 13, 14 defining a generally vertical pivot axis IS. The wheel carrier 12 comprises a tubular, generally horizontal, straight upper limb 16, and an angled downwardly extending lower limb 17 bridged by a tubular support 18. The free ends of the limbs are welded to the hinges, as illustrated, and the support comprises a welded attachment to a bent upper/lower limb. A transverse tubular extension 19, also welded, comprises a handle, and a buffer for a tyre, in use.

Within the angle of the frame is welded an inset plate 21 to which is attached three wheel stud mountings 22 for a five stud wheel. Each stud is threaded and includes two nuts to permit the mounting position of the wheel with respect to the vehicle body to be adjusted and fixed. This arrangement ensures that the nut provides a back stop against which the wheel is held tight by slight compression of the vehicle tyre against the limbs 16, 17 and extension 19. A mid-point of the vehicle tyre is illustrated by chain-dot line 23. Securing nuts to hold the spare wheel on the stud are provided, but not illustrated.

In use, the position of the studs 22 allows maximum ground clearance for the bottom of the spare wheel as compared with an arrangement with a single mounting stud uppermost. Accordingly the departure angle of the vehicle may be increased, and the clearance to the upper part of a tow hitch may be increased.

The upper and lower hinges 13, 14 are respectively mounted adjacent the vehicle waistline and the vehicle chassis, and may also be adjacent a side mounted rear door hinge axis.

The hinges 13, 14 are typically fabricated or bent from metal plate, and pierced to receive mounting bolts or studs. The upper hinge is illustrated in Fig. 2 and comprises a generally U shaped portion and a generally C' shaped portion. The upright arm 31 of the L' shaped portion comprises a mounting flange for the vehicle body, and has for example mounting holes 32 on axes 33. The horizontal arms 34, 35 of the C' shaped portion define mounting hole 36 for the upper limb 16, and a pivot axis 37.

The space between the upright arm 31 and the upright arm 38 of the C' shaped portion is open at the top, and defines a gap 39 to receive the lower edge of a canvas tilt or the like 40. The lower edge can thus be drawn tightly around the vehicle body by means of for example a draw cord, to enclose the internal space. In the alternative, an overlapping flange of a hard top, or other cover may fit within the gap 39.

The swing away wheel carrier may be mounted to the side of a vehicle where the additional ground clearance may allow easier crossing of humps. The advantage of a gap to receive a tilt or hardtop is also provided by a side mounting.

Claims

Claims 1. A swing-away wheel carrier for a vehicle, and comprising a frame having a transverse upper limb, a lower limb extending from one end of the upper limb at an acute angle, a pivot axis passing through the free ends of the limbs and defined by upper and lower hinges, the upper hinge comprising a mounting flange for attachment to a vehicle body at the waistline thereof, and said upper hinge defining an upwardly facing open-mouthed slot between said flange and pivot axis.
2. A carrier according to claim 1, wherein the upper limb is straight.
3. A carrier according to claim I or claim 2, wherein the lower limb is straight.
4. A carrier according to any preceding claim, wherein the upper limb and the lower limb are formed from a bent thbe.
5. A carrier according to any preceding claim, wherein the support is a tube.
6. A carrier according to claim 5, wherein the support tube is welded in the included angle defined by the limbs.
7. A carrier according to any preceding claim, and further including a plate fixed within the included angle defined by the upper and lower limbs, and providing direct support for the three mounting studs.
8. A carrier according to claim 7, wherein the plate is welded to the limbs and to the support.
9. A carrier according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the plate is inset.
10. A carrier according to any preceding claim, and further including a transverse tubular extension projecting away from the junction of the upper and lower limbs, in the same plane.
11. A carricr according to any preceding claim, wherein the uppcr hingc comprises a non-moving one-piece member for mounting at the vehicle waistline and comprising an L' section comprising the mounting flange, and a C' section of which the upper and tower arms define the hinge axis.
12. An upper hinge of a swing-away spare wheel carrier of a vehicle, substantially as described hercin with rcfcrcncc to thc accompanying drawings.