Tire mounting bracket for vehicles

Claim 1

A structure for supporting a spare tire on the underside of a vehicle, comprising, an elongated tire supporting frame having longitudinally spaced forward and rearward ends and laterally spaced opposite sides, upstanding side members having upper and lower end portions, the lower end portions being connected to opposite sides of said frame adjacent the forward end thereof, means for pivotally connecting said upper end portions to the underside of a vehicle for up and down pivotal movement of the rearward end of the frame between a generally horizontal transport position and a downwardly and rearwardly inclined service position, a rear mounting bracket adapted for securement to the underside of a vehicle above the rearward end of said frame, a collapsible tension member connected to said rear mounting bracket and to the rearward end of said frame, said tension member being collapsed in non-load bearing relation when the frame is in the transport position and extended in load bearing relation when the frame is in the service position to limit downward pivotal movement of the rearward end of the frame to the service position, means for releasably securing said frame in the transport position including a second tension member connected at one end to said rear mounting bracket and detachably connected at the other end to the rearward end of the frame in the transport position, said second tension member being laterally positioned relative to the frame to limit rearward movement of a spare tire supported on said frame in the transport position. a lifting bracket connected to the frame forwardly of the rearward end of the frame, said bracket adapted to receive one end of an elongated lever which may be extended rearwardly beyond and lifted against said rear cross member to provide leverage for lifting the frame from the service position to the transport position.