Spare tire hoist

Claim 1

A spare tire hoist intended for use with a tire of a vehicle and adapted to be mounted intermediate a pair of opposed horizontal frame members of the vehicle, said hoist comprising, in combination: a pair of parallel spaced apart support members each of an identical configuration and each having its end portions adapted to be affixed between said vehicle frame members to extend transversely therebetween; a pair of ball bearing members mounted in associated housings, each housing associated with one of said support members affixed centrally thereof and extending upwardly therefrom; an elongated cylindrically shaped shaft extending axially through said ball bearings and rotatably supported thereby for rotation in opposite directions about its axis, said shaft having a rectangular socket disposed in one end thereof and extending axially thereinto; means for effecting rotation of said shaft in either direction about its axis including a drive bar member of rectangular cross-sectional configuration adapted to be removably inserted into said socket and to project outwardly therefrom, a lever arm having one end affixed to said drive bar with the opposite end extending outwardly radially therefrom and a hand grip handle member affixed to the free end of said lever arm and projecting outwardly normal thereto in a direction opposite of said drive bar for gripping by an individual hand to effect rotation of said lever arm about the axis of said drive bar to effect rotation of said shaft; means for permitting unhindered rotation of said shaft in a first direction about its axis and for preventing rotation of said shaft in an opposite direction about its axis including a toothed sprocket type gear wheel affixed concentrically to said shaft positioned outwardly of said ball bearing housing adjacent one of said support members, a cog member pivotally secured at one end to said support member for pivotal rotation relative thereto in the vertical plane of said gear wheel between a position engaging said teeth of said gear wheel and a position free of said teeth of said gear wheel, a plate member affixed to said support member and extending upwardly therefrom, a boss member having one end affixed to said plate member with the opposite end thereof projecting into said plane of said cog member and a spring having one end connected to said boss member with its opposite end connected to said cog for resiliently biasing said cog into engagement with the teeth of the gear wheel; three diametrically extending bores spaced longitudinally apart and disposed in said shaft between said support members; three independent lengths of flexible cables each having one end extending through an associated one of said shaft bores and affixed thereto with the opposite end extending downwardly therefrom; three hook members, each associated with the free end of one of said cables and affixed thereto; means positively securing said tire to said support members after being hoisted thereto by operation of said shaft; said tire hoist being further characterized by a cylindrical bore extending diametrically through said shaft parallel to said three cable bores and centrally of said shaft intermediate said support members; a safety bolt having an enlarged head member and an elongated threaded shank member, said shank member being of a diameter to be removably inserted through said shaft aperture to project downwardly therefrom; a safety plate of a diameter to engage the bottom surface surrounding the interior periphery of the rim of said tire; an aperture extending centrally through said safety plate of a diameter to receive said safety bolt shank therethrough; and a nut threadably received on said safety bolt when said tire is in an elevated position supported by said hook members and engaging said support members, said nut retaining said safety plate positively secure to said safety bolt for positive retention of said tire with respect to said hoist.