Protective rear accessory bumper with integrated spare tire carrier
A protective rear accessory bumper and integrated spare tire carrier for use on a host land vehicle providing protective features designed to minimize vehicle damage in rear-end vehicular collisions, and also providing rapid access to, and stowage of, a spare tire, by means of a pivoting tire carrier assembly, allowing a single person to change a heavy tire too heavy for the person to lift by hand.
1 . An accessory bumper with an integrated spare tire carrier assembly for use on a posterior side of a host land vehicle, comprising:
a bumper assembly ( 400 ) comprising a two-ended protective frame element ( 402 ) having an attachment point ( 402 a ) at one end through which a holding mast ( 301 ) having a first end, extends through the frame element ( 402 ) and pivotably attaches to a first swivel hinge ( 408 ); and
a deployable tire carrier assembly ( 406 ) including a pivot arm ( 304 ) having a first end and a second end, the second end of the pivot arm for pivotably attaching to a spare tire ( 300 ) via a shaft ( 312 ), and the first end of the pivot arm penetrated by the holding mast ( 301 ) at the attachment point ( 402 a ), and a second swivel hinge ( 316 ) connected to the first end of the holding mast ( 301 ) and to the first end of the pivot arm ( 304 ) at the attachment point ( 402 a ), whereby the tire carrier can pivot away from the host vehicle via the first swivel hinge ( 408 ) and the spare tire ( 300 ) can be raised or lowered via the second swivel hinge ( 316 ); and
fastening means ( 320 , 416 ) for securing the tire carrier assembly ( 406 ) in an upright position.
2 . The accessory bumper of claim 1 , wherein the deployable tire carrier assembly ( 406 ) is pivotably attached to the first swivel hinge ( 408 ) by at least one horizontal support member ( 410 ) having two ends, the first end of the at least one horizontal support member connected to the first swivel hinge ( 408 ), and the second end of the at least one horizontal support member connected to a first end of a vertical holding mast ( 301 ) having two ends, a second swivel hinge ( 316 ) connected to the first end of vertical holding mast ( 301 ), a first end of a pivot arm ( 304 ) having two ends attached to the second swivel hinge ( 316 ).
3 . The accessory bumper of claim 1 , wherein the deployable tire carrier assembly ( 406 ) includes a motor ( 314 ) for adjusting tension on a cable ( 306 ) connected to a second end of the pivot arm ( 304 ).
4 . The accessory bumper of claim 1 , wherein the deployable tire carrier assembly ( 406 ) includes features by which the spare tire carrier assembly ( 406 ) can be secured in an upright position by a hitch pin ( 320 ) and a retainer pin.
5 . The accessory bumper of claim 1 , wherein the deployable tire carrier assembly ( 406 ) includes an electric stop ( 308 ) connected to the holding mast for limiting upward travel of the pivot arm.
6 . The accessory bumper of claim 1 , wherein the two-ended protective frame element ( 402 ) is a c-channel weldment.
7 . The accessory bumper of claim 1 , wherein the fastening means for securing the tire carrier assembly ( 406 ) in an upright position locks the tire carrier assembly ( 406 ) against the bumper assembly ( 400 ), and comprises a latch ( 416 ) mounted to a striking face ( 404 ) of the bumper assembly ( 400 ) and aligned so that when the tire carrier assembly ( 406 ) is pushed against the latch ( 416 ), the tire carrier assembly ( 406 ) locks in place and is prevented from swinging freely.
8 . The accessory bumper of claim 1 , wherein the fastening means for securing the tire carrier assembly ( 406 ) in an upright position locks the tire carrier assembly ( 406 ) in an upright position and comprises a hitch pin ( 320 ) having an end with a hole, the hitch pin ( 320 ) being inserted into a hole ( 307 a ) created by a hollow cross section of a ladder arm ( 307 ) in the pivot arm ( 304 ) and a retainer pin threaded through the hole of the hitch pin.