US4060270A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for stowing away a spare-wheel on an automobile vehicle
Assignee: Automobiles Peugeot SA
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Filing: 1976-06-22
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Granted: 1977-11-29
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Expires: 1996-06-22
Abstract
Abstract The device ensures in the case of a shock on the rear of the vehicle the withdrawal of the spare-wheel under the fuel tank without this substantially affecting the capacity of the tank. The spare-wheel is carried by a basket mounted on a support to pivot about a first axis. The support is mounted under the floor of the vehicle to pivot about a second axis and is normally maintained in position by rivets or pins. The second axis is placed nearer the center of the vehicle than the first axis and at a higher level.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean Croissant
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:34
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D21/00; B62D21/15; B62D21/152; B62D43/00; B62D43/02; B62D43/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
240 words
A device for stowing away a spare-wheel adjacent an end of a vehicle and comprising, in combination with a floor of the vehicle and a fuel tank carried under the floor, support means mounted under the floor, a basket for carrying and locating the spare-wheel between the tank and said end of the vehicle and mounted on the support means to be pivotable about a first axis extending transversely of the vehicle, the support means being mounted under the floor to pivot about a second axis extending transversely of the vehicle and located with respect to the first axis toward the centre of the vehicle longitudinally of the vehicle and at a higher level than the first axis, and releasable connecting means between the floor and the support means for holding the support means stationary in normal operation of the device and capable of being released in the event of an accident producing an impact capable of displacing the spare-wheel in a direction from said end toward said centre of the vehicle, the support having such position relative to the tank and the first axis and second axis being spaced apart a distance which is such that, upon release of the connecting means, the support means are capable of swinging about the second axis downwardly and toward the centre of the vehicle longitudinally of the vehicle to constrain the basket to move the spare-wheel toward a position under the tank.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
240 words
A device for stowing away a spare-wheel adjacent an end of a vehicle and comprising, in combination with a floor of the vehicle and a fuel tank carried under the floor, support means mounted under the floor, a basket for carrying and locating the spare-wheel between the tank and said end of the vehicle and mounted on the support means to be pivotable about a first axis extending transversely of the vehicle, the support means being mounted under the floor to pivot about a second axis extending transversely of the vehicle and located with respect to the first axis toward the centre of the vehicle longitudinally of the vehicle and at a higher level than the first axis, and releasable connecting means between the floor and the support means for holding the support means stationary in normal operation of the device and capable of being released in the event of an accident producing an impact capable of displacing the spare-wheel in a direction from said end toward said centre of the vehicle, the support having such position relative to the tank and the first axis and second axis being spaced apart a distance which is such that, upon release of the connecting means, the support means are capable of swinging about the second axis downwardly and toward the centre of the vehicle longitudinally of the vehicle to constrain the basket to move the spare-wheel toward a position under the tank.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support means comprise two links each connected to the floor and to the basket by two parallel pivot pins.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting means comprise at least one member adapted to shear upon application of a predetermined force thereon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the links have a triangular shape, the pivot pins being located in the vicinity of two angles of the triangle which are spaced the greatest distance apart.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the connecting means are placed in the vicinity of the third angle of the triangle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting means comprise a tie connecting a lower end of the support means to a region of the floor in the vicinity of the rear end of the vehicle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the tie is contained in a plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the tie is a rod.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the tank is partly defined by an inclined wall adjacent said end of the vehicle and a straight line through the pivot axes being substantially perpendicular to said inclined wall in the normal position of the support means.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
278 words
A device for stowing away a spare-wheel adjacent an end of a vehicle and comprising, in combination with a floor of the vehicle and a fuel tank which is partly defined by an inclined wall adjacent said end of the vehicle and is carried under the floor, support means mounted under the floor, a basket for carrying and locating the spare-wheel between the tank and said end of the vehicle and mounted on the support means to be pivotable about a first axis extending transversely of the vehicle, the support means being mounted under the floor to pivot about a second axis extending transversely of the vehicle and located with respect to the first axis toward the centre of the vehicle longitudinally of the vehicle and at a higher level than the first axis, and releasable connecting means between the floor and the support means for holding the support means stationary in normal operation of the device and capable of being released in the event of an accident producing an impact capable of displacing the spare-wheel in a direction from said end toward said centre of the vehicle, the support having such position relative to the tank and the first axis and second axis being spaced apart a distance which is such that, upon release of the connecting means, the support means are capable of swinging about the second axis downwardly and toward the centre of the vehicle longitudinally of the vehicle to constrain the basket to move the spare-wheel toward a position under the tank, a straight line through the pivot axes being substantially perpendicular to said inclined wall in the normal position of the support means.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
278 words
A device for stowing away a spare-wheel adjacent an end of a vehicle and comprising, in combination with a floor of the vehicle and a fuel tank which is partly defined by an inclined wall adjacent said end of the vehicle and is carried under the floor, support means mounted under the floor, a basket for carrying and locating the spare-wheel between the tank and said end of the vehicle and mounted on the support means to be pivotable about a first axis extending transversely of the vehicle, the support means being mounted under the floor to pivot about a second axis extending transversely of the vehicle and located with respect to the first axis toward the centre of the vehicle longitudinally of the vehicle and at a higher level than the first axis, and releasable connecting means between the floor and the support means for holding the support means stationary in normal operation of the device and capable of being released in the event of an accident producing an impact capable of displacing the spare-wheel in a direction from said end toward said centre of the vehicle, the support having such position relative to the tank and the first axis and second axis being spaced apart a distance which is such that, upon release of the connecting means, the support means are capable of swinging about the second axis downwardly and toward the centre of the vehicle longitudinally of the vehicle to constrain the basket to move the spare-wheel toward a position under the tank, a straight line through the pivot axes being substantially perpendicular to said inclined wall in the normal position of the support means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2131746A
Cited
US3642296A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-11-28 | 1981-05-30 | 1981-11-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-11-28 | 1985-05-30 | 1985-11-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-11-28 | 1989-05-30 | 1989-11-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |