Spare tire and wheel carrier

Claim 2

A vehicle roof carrier for a spare tire and wheel comprising a base and cover therefor, a chamber for housing and supporting the spare tire and wheel formed withiN and by the inner structure of the base and cover, cooperative rotatable cover and fixed base means comprising latch bolts and latches having wedge-clamping means for latching and engaging the cover under progressive wedge-clamping pressure to the base in a closed fixed position when the cover is partially rotated, the base having stop means for limiting the rotary movement of the said rotatable cover and to limit the progressive wedge-clamping pressure of the cover to the base and to stop the rotation at a given point and means for fixedly engaging the carrier to a supporting surface therefor, the said cover comprises a circumferential base engaging outer edge and said base comprising an upper circumferential top edge and a lower outwardly projecting circumferential step, the latchclamping means being positioned circumferentially about circumferential interengaging areas of the cover and base which produce by the rotation of the cover a pressure-binding engagement of said outer edge of the cover and the said circumferential step of the base.

Claim 3

A vehicle roof carrier for a spare tire and wheel comprising a base and cover therefor, a chamber for housing and supporting the spare tire and wheel formed within and by the inner structure of the base and cover, cooperative rotatable cover and fixed base means comprising latch bolts and latches having wedge-clamping means for latching and engaging the cover under progressive wedge-clamping pressure to the base in a closed fixed position when the cover is partially rotated, the base having stop means for limiting the rotary movement of the said rotatable cover and to limit the progressive wedge-clamping pressure of the cover to the base and to stop the rotation at a given point and means for fixedly engaging the carrier to a supporting surface therefor, the pressure exerting latch-clamping means comprises the latch bolts attached to, positioned and spaced about an inner circumferential area of the cover in juxtaposition to a lower circumferential edge of the cover for interengagement with latch keepers attached to, positioned and similarly spaced about an outer circumferential step area of the base and in juxtaposition to the upper circumferential edge of the base, the latch bolts having top upwardly facing inclined surfaces and the latch keepers having bottom downwardly facing inclined surfaces, the full engagement of the inclined surfaces of the bolts and keepers having a wedge effect and tending to make a predetermined sealing engagement between the said lower circumferential edge of the cover and the said circumferential step of the base.

Claim 4

A vehicle roof carrier for a spare tire and wheel comprising a base and cover therefor, a chamber for housing and supporting the spare tire and wheel formed within and by the inner structure of the base and cover, cooperative rotatable cover and fixed base means comprising latch bolts and latches having wedge-clamping means for latching and engaging the cover under progressive wedge-clamping pressure to the base in a closed fixed position when the cover is partially rotated, the base having stop means for limiting the rotary movement of the said rotatable cover and to limit the progressive wedge-clamping pressure of the cover to the base and to stop the rotation at a given point and means for fixedly engaging the carrier to a supporting surface therefor, the pressure exerting latch-clamping means comprises the latch bolts attached to, positioned and spaced about an inner circumferential area of the cover in juxtaposition to a lower circumferential edge of the cover for interengagement with latch keepers attached to, positioned and similarly spaced about an outer circumferential step area of the base and in juxtaposition to the upper circumferential edge of the base, the latch bolts having top upwardly facing inclined surfaces and the latch keepers having bottom downwardly facing inclined surfaces, the full engagement of the inclined surfaces of the bolts and keepers having a wedge effect and tending to make a predetermined sealing engagement between the said lower circumferential edge of the cover and the said circumferential step of the base.

Claim 5

A vehicle roof carrier for a spare tire and wheel comprising a base and cover therefor, a chamber for housing and supporting the spare tire and wheel formed within and by the inner structure of the base and cover, cooperative rotatable cover and fixed base means comprising latch bolts and latches having wedge-clamping means for latching and engaging the cover under progressive wedge-clamping pressure to the base in a closed fixed position when the cover is partially rotated, the base having stop means for limiting the rotary movement of the said rotatable cover and to limit the progressive wedge-clamping pressure of the cover to the base and to stop the rotation at a given point and means for fixedly engaging the carrier to a supporting surface therefor, means for fixedly positioning and supporting the tire and wheel within the chamber comprising a frustoconical supporting structure with a plurality of bolts attached to the top thereof for engagement with stud openings in the wheel for fastening the wheel to the support, the top of the support comprising centered and upwardly extending wheel guide means for initial engagement with the wheel by engagement with a center opening in the wheel to initially center the wheel with the support.

Claim 6

A vehicle roof carrier for a spare tire and wheel comprising a base and cover therefor, a chamber for housing and supporting the spare tire and wheel formed within and by the inner structure of the base and cover, cooperative rotatable cover and fixed base means comprising latch bolts and latches having wedge-clamping means for latching and engaging the cover under progressive wedge-clamping pressure to the base in a closed fixed position when the cover is partially rotated, the base having stop means for limiting the rotary movement of the said rotatable cover and to limit the progressive wedge-clamping pressure of the cover to the base and to stop the rotation at a given point and means for fixedly engaging the carrier to a supporting surface therefor, means for fixedly positioning and supporting the tire and wheel within the chamber comprising a frustoconical supporting structure with a plurality of bolts attached to the top thereof for engagement with stud openings in the wheel for fastening the wheel to the support, the top of the support comprising centered and upwardly extending wheel guide means for initial engagement with the wheel by engagement with a center opening in the wheel to initially center the wheel with the support.

Claim 7

A vehicle roof carrier for a spare tire and wheel comprising a base and cover therefor, a chamber for housing and supporting the spare tire and wheel Formed within and by the inner structure of the base and cover, cooperative rotatable cover and fixed base comprising latch bolts and latches having wedge-clamping means for latching and engaging the cover under progressive wedge-clamping pressure to the base in a closed fixed position when the cover is partially rotated, the base having stop means for limiting the rotary movement of the said rotatable cover and to limit the progressive wedge-clamping pressure of the cover to the base and to stop the rotation at a given point and means for fixedly engaging the carrier to a supporting surface therefor, the cover and base are provided with locking means for locking the cover to the base after the cover has been rotated clockwise to full stop and closed position by engagement with the said stop means to prevent unauthorized rerotating the cover counterclockwise for its removal comprising a hasp pivotally mounted at one end between hasp engaging opposed walls of a base recess in an extension of the base, a lock attached to and carried at the opposite end of the hasp, a cover extension positioned above the base extension having a cover recess positioned in alignment with the base recess when in full stop position for receiving said opposite lock carrying end of the hasp, said locking means having means for locking the hasp within the cover recess.

Claim 8

A vehicle roof carrier for a spare tire and wheel comprising a base and cover therefor, a chamber for housing and supporting the spare tire and wheel Formed within and by the inner structure of the base and cover, cooperative rotatable cover and fixed base comprising latch bolts and latches having wedge-clamping means for latching and engaging the cover under progressive wedge-clamping pressure to the base in a closed fixed position when the cover is partially rotated, the base having stop means for limiting the rotary movement of the said rotatable cover and to limit the progressive wedge-clamping pressure of the cover to the base and to stop the rotation at a given point and means for fixedly engaging the carrier to a supporting surface therefor, the cover and base are provided with locking means for locking the cover to the base after the cover has been rotated clockwise to full stop and closed position by engagement with the said stop means to prevent unauthorized rerotating the cover counterclockwise for its removal comprising a hasp pivotally mounted at one end between hasp engaging opposed walls of a base recess in an extension of the base, a lock attached to and carried at the opposite end of the hasp, a cover extension positioned above the base extension having a cover recess positioned in alignment with the base recess when in full stop position for receiving said opposite lock carrying end of the hasp, said locking means having means for locking the hasp within the cover recess.