Wheel truck

Claim 1

A wheeled support device for the disabled tire of a vehicle, comprising (a) a generally U-shaped tubular frame having substantially parallel side members; (b) a front wheel mounted for pivoting movement centrally between the forward portions of said side members; (c) at least two rear wheels mounted on an axle extending transversely between the rear portions of said side members; (d) a substantially U-shaped cradle extending between said side members with its open end facing upwardly and having a width sufficient to receive a tire to be mounted on said support device, each of the arms of the U depending downwardly from a respective one of said side members; (e) a ramp member mounted upon said axle mounting said rear wheels and pivotable about said axle from a first position in which it presents a rearwardly downwardly inclined surface adapted to receive a tire to be mounted on said support device to a second position in which said surface extends in a generally vertical direction for retaining said tire in its mounted position, to a third position in which said surface faces downwardly toward said cradle; (f) said ramp member having substantially vertical, generally triangular side walls one of whose sides abuts the ground when said ramp member is in its said first position, the vertical distance of said ground abutting side from said axle being greater than the radius of said rear wheels, whereby said rear wheels are out of contact with the ground when said ramp is in its said first position; (g) a forward restraining member mounted for movement about a pivot member from a first position in which it extends in a rearward, generally horizontal direction in the plane of said frame to a second position in which it extends in a direction within the range of 45° to 90° from a horizontal plane extending rearwardly from said pivot member above said plane, for retaining said tire in its mounted position; and (h) means actuated by movement of said ramp member from its said first position to its said second position for moving said forward restraining member from its said first position to its said second position, said means comprising an abutment member pivotally attached adjacent the leading edge of said surface of said ramp member for forward movement therewith, and a longitudinally extending crank member having one of its ends attached to the pivot axis of said forward restraining member, the other of its ends being abutted by said abutment member as it moves with said ramp member from its said first position to its said second position.