Patent Application
20060261566
The present invention relates to a vehicle storage container, and more particularly to a container for storage of a spare tire on a vehicle.
One definition of a wheel is a solid disk or a rigid circular ring connected by spokes to a hub, designed to turn around an axle passed through the center. A tire is a covering for a wheel usually made of rubber reinforced with cords of nylon, fiberglass, or other material and filled with compressed air. However, in the automotive art the combination of a wheel and tire is commonly referred to simply as a tire. Accordingly, as used herein, the term “tire” will refer to the combination of a vehicle wheel and tire, with a spare tire referring to a tire reserved for future use.
Over-the-road vehicles, including automobiles, trucks, sport utility vehicles, and recreational vehicles, typically carry one or more spare tires so the vehicle operator or passenger can replace a blown or flat tire occurring during a trip, thereby avoiding the expense and inconvenience of having the vehicle towed to a location where the tire can be replaced.
Historically, spare tires have been stored in the trunks of automobiles, while larger vehicles such as trucks and sport utility vehicles have often secured one or more spare tires to the undercarriage of the vehicle due to the lack of a trunk. With other vehicles, a spare tire may be stored within the interior of the vehicle at a location other than the trunk.
Many conventional means of storing a spare tire in a trunk of an automobile require the operator to grasp the spare tire and lift it out of the trunk, which can be somewhat awkward. The operator is then required to roll or carry the spare tire to the position of the blown or flat tire. This procedure can also be awkward and somewhat dangerous for the operator if done immediately adjacent a roadway.
Replacing a blown or flat tire at night can present additional problems. For instance, if done on the side of the vehicle adjacent the roadway, it may be difficult for other drivers to see the operator changing the tire, placing the operator at risk. Furthermore, the lack of proper lighting can complicate the task of changing the tire. For instance, a dropped lug nut may be difficult to locate without a light and vehicle operators may not remember to carry a flashlight or other light source in their vehicle.
Once the spare tire has been mounted, the operator must return the blown or flat tire to the trunk or other area of the vehicle. This may be particularly difficult if the condition of the tire prevents rolling and it must be carried to the trunk area or other area of the vehicle and lifted into the vehicle. The blown or flat tire may be dirty, crusty, fragmented, and wet, depending on weather and other conditions. Accordingly, placing the blown or flat tire into the interior of the vehicle, including the trunk, may cause undesirable soiling of the vehicle interior, or other damage.
In view of the foregoing, there is a continuing need for an improved device for carrying a spare tire on a vehicle.
A first aspect of the present invention is directed to a spare tire container comprising first and second housing portions, with each having a tire-receiving cavity formed therein. The spare tire container further includes a plurality of wheels rotatably coupled to one of the first and second housing portions. In one embodiment a pair of wheels are utilized, while two pairs of wheels are utilized in another embodiment with one pair on each side of the container.
The spare tire container can also include one or more handles integrally formed with one of the first and second housing portions. The handle(s) makes it easier for the vehicle operator to lift the spare tire container out of its stowed location, typically the trunk of a vehicle, while the wheels allow the operator to effortlessly roll the container to the position of the blown or flat tire.
The first housing portion of the spare tire container is connected to the second housing portion and can be hingedly connected. In one embodiment, this is accomplished with a living hinge, with the first and second housing portions and the living hinge being formed as a unitary construction. In another embodiment, the first and second housing portions are separately formed and are connected by a mechanical hinge.
In the embodiment including a living hinge, the first and second housing portions and living hinge can be advantageously molded as a unitary construction and, even more advantageously molded by blow molding which is very cost effective.
The spare tire container can further include at least one reflector attached to an external surface of one of the housing portions. In this manner, the container is easier to see by other drivers at night, thereby increasing the safety of the operator during the tire changing process. Also, the spare tire container can include at least one lamp secured to one of the housing portions which can assist the operator by providing sufficient lighting during the tire changing process and can also help the operator to be seen by other drivers at night.
One or more implement-receiving cavities can be formed in at least one of the housing portions of the container. For instance, cavities can be formed that are effective for receiving a tire lug nut wrench, a jack, flares, a flashlight, and other items. This provides a convenient way of storing various items necessary to safely complete the installation of a spare tire.
A second aspect of the invention is directed to a method of manufacturing a spare tire container for use on a motor vehicle comprising the steps of forming first and second housing portions of the container, with each of the housing portions including tire-receiving cavities therein. The method further includes the steps of connecting the first and second housing portions to one another and rotatably coupling a plurality of wheels to one of the first and second housing portions.
The steps of forming the first and second housing portions may comprise the steps of blow molding the first and second housing portions. The step of connecting the first and second housing portions to one another can comprise the step of hingedly connecting these two portions and in one embodiment this can be accomplished with a living hinge. In this embodiment, the two housing portions and living hinge can advantageously be integrally formed with one another as a unitary construction.
The first and second cavities can be substantially cylindrical and the method can further include the step of forming at least one implement-receiving cavity in one of the first and second housing portions, at a position outward of the tire-receiving cavity formed within the respective housing portion. In another embodiment, method can include the step of forming a tool-receiving cavity and positioning it within the tire-receiving cavity formed in the respective housing portion. In either case, an economy of space is realized with the methodology of the present invention.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings wherein:
Referring now to the drawings,
In the illustrative embodiment, the first housing portion 12 is hingedly connected to the second housing portion 14 via a living hinge 16. A living hinge is a term of art in the blow molding industry and is understood to represent a pinched or flattened area that is relatively flexible and is utilized to interconnect one portion of a molded part to another. The two walls of the double wall construction are compressed together and thinned in the living hinge, as may be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art. In the illustrative embodiment, the first housing portion 12, second housing portion 14 and the living hinge 16 are formed as a unitary construction from a thermoplastic material, by blow molding.
The first or lower housing portion 12 includes a floor 18, a forward end 20, rear end 22 and a pair of sides 24, 26. As shown in
The first housing portion 12 further includes a substantially cylindrical rim 28 which extends upwardly from the floor 18. The floor 18 and rim 28 combine to define a first, substantially cylindrical tire-receiving cavity 30 within the first housing portion 12. As may be appreciated from
The spare tire container 10 further includes a plurality of lugs, or wheel housings 32 that are integrally formed with and extend outwardly from the first housing portion 12. Container 10 also includes a plurality of rotatable wheels 34, with each of the wheels 34 being rotatably coupled to one of the lugs 32. In the illustrative embodiment, each wheel 34 is disposed within a channel 36 formed in each of the lugs 32. The wheels 34 may be retained within cavities 36 and rotatably coupled to the lugs 32 by a wide variety of means. For example, in the illustrative embodiment, each lug 32 can include two holes 37, with each extending through a portion of lug 32 on one side of cavity 36. An axle 35 passes through one of the holes 37, through a hole formed in the center of wheel 34 and through the other hole 37. Axle 35 is retained by a pair of fasteners such as winch nuts 38 as illustrated in
Container 10 further includes a pair of handles 40 that can be integrally formed with housing portions 12 and 14 and living hinge 16. As shown in
First 42 and second 44 embossments extend upwardly from the floor 18 of the housing portion 12 and are integrally formed therewith, with embossments 42, 44 being disposed inward of rim 28 within the substantially cylindrical cavity 30. Embossment 42 includes a perimetrical edge 46 and embossment 44 includes a perimetrical edge 48. Embossments 42 and 44 are spaced apart from one another, and the configuration of edges 46 and 48 define a tool-receiving cavity 50 between the spaced apart embossments 42 and 44. More particularly, in the illustrative embodiment, cavity 50 is suitable for receiving a conventional scissors jack 52 as shown in
The first housing portion 12 includes a connecting member 62 integral with and extending between rim 28 and front end 20 of housing portion 12 and a connecting member 64 extending between rim 28 and side 26. Also, the housing portion 12 includes a connecting member 66 connecting rim 28 and rear end 22. The connecting members 62, 64 and 66 in combination with floor 18, rim 28, front end 20, rear end 22 and sides 24, 26, define implement-receiving cavities 68, 70 and 72. Cavities 68, 70 and 72 are operably effective for receiving a variety of implements. For instance, as shown in
Positioning the implement-receiving cavities 68, 70 and 72 outward of the rim 28 results in a further economy of space, since these spaces between the rim 28 and the ends and sides of first housing portion 12 would otherwise be unused. As may be appreciated, storing items such as first aid kit 74, flashlight 76 and flare 78 within container 10 will enhance the safety of an operator in need of mounting spare tire 80, if this procedure must be done at night and provides the assurance of having first aid equipment readily available if needed. Further in this regard, the spare tire container 10 can include one or more reflectors 114 (shown in
The second housing portion includes a substantially planar top 82, a front end 84, rear end 86, and sides 88 and 90. A substantially cylindrical rim 92 extends downwardly from top 82 and, together with top 82, defines a substantially cylindrical, tire-receiving cavity 94. When the spare tire container 10 is in a closed position, as shown in
The second housing portion 14 includes a connecting member 96 extending between rim 92 and rear end 86, a connecting member 98 extending between rim 92 and side 90 and a connecting member 100 extending between rim 92 and front end 84. The connecting members 96, 98 and 100, together with top 82, rim 92, the front end 84, rear end 86 and sides 88 and 90, define implement-receiving cavities 102, 104 and 106. In the illustrative embodiment, cavities 102, 104 and 106 are configured substantially the same as cavities 68, 70 and 72, respectively. In this manner, an implement disposed in cavity 68 for instance, that has a height greater than side 24 of housing portion 12, may be partially disposed in the mating cavity 102 formed in the housing portion 14. However, correspondence between the implement-receiving cavities formed in the first housing portion 12 and the second housing portion 14 is not required.
As may be appreciated by reference to
Container 200 includes a rim 28, the same as container 10. However, container 200 includes connecting members 212, 214, 216, 218 and 220 interconnecting the rim 28 with the various sides and ends of container 200. This produces a different configuration of implement-receiving cavities disposed outward of rim 28, as compared to those of container 10. More particularly, container 200 includes implement-receiving cavities 222, 224, 226, 228 and 230. It should be understood that the implements that can be place in these cavities may or may not be tools. Like container 10, container 200 includes embossments 42 and 44 and the included tool-receiving cavities 50, 56 and 60.
While the foregoing description has set forth the preferred embodiments of the present invention in particular detail it must be understood that numerous modifications, substitutions and changes can be undertaken without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the ensuing claims. The invention is therefore not limited to specific embodiments as described, but is only limited as defined by the following claims.
