Patent US3894668A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3894668A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wheel mounting structure for vehicles
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1971-10-18
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Granted: 1975-07-15
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Expires: 1991-10-18
Abstract
Abstract A supporting structure for mounting a spare wheel and tire on a vehicle, including upper and lower bracket members each secured at one end to vehicle structure or to a secondary mounting plate or plates, in turn secured to vehicle structure, the bracket members extending outwardly from the vehicle and connected at their other ends by intermediate web members which lie in vertical planes extending normal to air flow through a wheel which is secured to the assembly. Modifications include single and double intermediate web members, bracket members which extend from the vehicle in parallel spaced planes or are sloped toward each other, wheel connecting bolt elements which are secured to wheel lug bolt holes and are adjustable for adaptation to various sized wheels, secondary supporting brackets which are adaptable for mounting to different parts of the vehicle structure, and secondary support brackets which are hinged to permit the wheel to swing either downwardly or to the side from the normal carrying position.
Inventors
- 👤 George P Chapman
- 👤 Lucian L Chapman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 23:30
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D43/00; B62D43/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
A structure for mounting on a vehicle a spare wheel having a central aperture through which air may flow, said structure comprising spare wheel securing means, a bracket in part extending across said aperture and adapted for supporting connection to the vehicle and to said securing means, and substantially all portions of said bracket which extend across said aperture being formed of one or more elongated planar members disposed substantially normal to the plane of said aperture to offer a minimum resistance to air flow therethrough, wherein the securing means comprises bolt elements adapted for securing opposite ends of said planar member to mounting lug holes on opposite sides of said wheel central aperture, at least one end of said planar member has an aperture therein and at least one of said bolt elements has an L-shaped shank with a head on one end and adapted to fit through said planar member aperture to extend the other end parallel to the plane of said planar member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
A structure for mounting on a vehicle a spare wheel having a central aperture through which air may flow, said structure comprising spare wheel securing means, a bracket in part extending across said aperture and adapted for supporting connection to the vehicle and to said securing means, and substantially all portions of said bracket which extend across said aperture being formed of one or more elongated planar members disposed substantially normal to the plane of said aperture to offer a minimum resistance to air flow therethrough, wherein the securing means comprises bolt elements adapted for securing opposite ends of said planar member to mounting lug holes on opposite sides of said wheel central aperture, at least one end of said planar member has an aperture therein and at least one of said bolt elements has an L-shaped shank with a head on one end and adapted to fit through said planar member aperture to extend the other end parallel to the plane of said planar member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein said bracket is formed to hold said wheel spaced from the vehicle a distance to avoid interference between vehicle structure and a tire carried by said wheel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein said bracket has two spaced end portions connected to and extending from opposite ends of said planar member, the end of each end portion remote from said planar member having means adapted for securing to vehicle structure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The structure of claim 1 including means adjustably varying the spacing of said bolt elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The structure of claim 4 wherein one of said bolt elements is immovably affixed to said bracket and the other of said bolt elements is adjustable toward and away from the affixed bolt element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein said planar member aperture is elongated in the direction of extension of said planar member across said wheel aperture.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein each end of said planar member has an aperture therein and said bolts each include an L-shaped shank with a head on one end and adapted to fit through a planar member aperture to extend the other end parallel to the plane of said planar member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein said bracket includes a pair of spaced elongated support plates each adapted for securing to and extending outwardly of vehicle structure, and said planar member comprises a flat elongated plate having its ends connected respectively with the ends of said support plates most remote from said vehicle structure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The structure of claim 8 wherein said support plates are formed to extend in parallel planes outwardly from the vehicle structure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The structure of claim 8 wherein saId support plates are formed to extend convergingly outwardly from the vehicle structure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein said bracket comprises a pair of spaced elongated support plates each adapted for securing to and extending outwardly of vehicle structure, and said planar member comprises a single elongated plate having its ends connected respectively with the ends of said support plates most remote from said vehicle structure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein said bracket includes a pair of spaced elongated support plates each adapted for securing to and extending outwardly of vehicle structure, and said planar member comprises a pair of spaced parallel flat elongated plates each having its ends connected respectively with the ends of said support plates most remote from said vehicle structure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The structure of claim 12 wherein said securing means comprises bolt holes, and said structure includes a pair of spaced bolt elements adapted for securing to bolt holes on opposite sides of said wheel aperture.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The structure of claim 13 including means adjustably varying the spacing of said bolt elements.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The structure of claim 14 wherein one of said bolt elements is immovably affixed to said bracket and the other of said bolt elements is adjustable toward and away from the affixed bolt element.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The structure of claim 13 wherein said bolt elements are adapted for securing to opposite ends of one of said elongated plates.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
61 words
The structure of claim 16 wherein at least one end of the elongated plate to which a bolt element is adapted to be secured has an aperture therein and the bolt includes an L-shaped shank with a head on one end and adapted to fit through said plate aperture to extend the other end parallel to the plane of said plate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The structure of claim 17 wherein said plate aperture is elongated in the direction of extension of said plates across said wheel aperture.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
60 words
The structure of claim 16 wherein each end of the elongated plate to which the bolt elements are adapted to be secured has an aperture therein and said bolts each include an L-shaped shank with a head on one end and adapted to fit through a plate aperture to extend the other end parallel to the plane of said plate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The structure of claim 19 wherein said plate apertures are elongated in the direction of extension of said plates across said wheel aperture.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
69 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein said support bracket comprises at least in part an integral plate extending across said wheel aperture and formed to channel shape with a center base portion connecting side edges of a pair of spaced parallel web portions which constitute said planar members of said bracket, said bracket being adapted for securing to said wheel and said vehicle with the web portions disposed therebetween.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The structure of claim 21 wherein said base portion has an aperture between said web portions substantially to the extent of said wheel aperture.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
The structure of claim 21 wherein ends of said base portion are formed to extend angularly from said web portion side edges and in the direction of said web portions.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
105 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein said support bracket comprises a channel shaped member extending across said wheel aperture and having a base web member provided at its ends with means for securing to said wheel at opposite sides of said aperture and a central aperture for air-flow therethrough, said channel including side members constituting the planar members of the bracket and being integral with said base web member and extending normal thereto, and end members extending from opposite ends of said channel base web member in the direction of said side members and having means at the extremities thereof for securing to vehicle structure.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
38 words
The structure of claim 24 wherein the base web, side and end members are formed of an integral plate bent to channel shape and with the end members having side edges abutting end edges of said side members.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The structure of claim 24 wherein the aperture in said web member extends laterally across same between said side members.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
69 words
The structure of claim 3 wherein said means adapted for securing to vehicle structure in part comprises a pair of elongated hanger elements each having one end pivotally secured to one bracket end portion and the other ends adapted to be secured to laterally spaced attachment points of said vehicle, said hanger elements being pivotal to diverge at variably selective angles to adapt to variously spaced vehicle attachment points.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
The structure of claim 27 wherein the ends of said hanger elements have elongated apertures adapted to receive mounting fasteners adjustably for varying the spacing of said bracket from said vehicle.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
The structure of claim 27 wherein the ends of said hanger elements have means selectively removably securable to said bracket and said vehicle attachment points.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
45 words
The structure of claim 3 wherein said means adapted for securing to said vehicle structure in part comprises and elongated plate extending from one of said end portions and pivotally provided on its remote end with a hinge plate adapted for securing to said vehicle.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
The structure of claim 30 wherein said elongated plate is formed for supporting engagement with a vehicle bumper.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
The structure of claim 30 wherein said elongated plate extends in a direction substantially parallel to said bracket elongated planar member.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
21 words
The structure of claim 30 wherein said elongated plate extends in a direction substantially normal to said bracket elongated planar member.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
18 words
The structure of claim 33 wherein said elongated plate is formed for supporting engagement with a vehicle bumper.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
36 words
The structure of claim 34 wherein said elongated plate at least in part is channel shaped with a center base portion and side webs spaced to embrace the top and bottom sides of a vehicle bumper.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
32 words
The structure of claim 35 including a securing element connected between said side webs to retain said bumper between the center base portion and said securing element and between said side webs.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
15 words
The structure of claim 34 including means locking said elongated plate to such vehicle bumper.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-07-14 | 1979-01-13 | 1979-07-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-14 | 1983-01-13 | 1983-07-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-14 | 1987-01-13 | 1987-07-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |