초록 ▼

A support structure for a spare tire on a vehicle. A shell is attached to the vehicle and includes first and second end portions and a bottom portion extending at least partially between the first and second end portions. The shell at least partially defines a spare tire storage chamber and includes

A support structure for a spare tire on a vehicle. A shell is attached to the vehicle and includes first and second end portions and a bottom portion extending at least partially between the first and second end portions. The shell at least partially defines a spare tire storage chamber and includes an opening providing access to the storage chamber, wherein the opening is adjacent to the first end portion. The support member is slidably positioned above the bottom portion and is movable back and forth along a movement path from a first position in which the support member is substantially disposed within the shell and a second position in which the support member is at least partially disposed outside the shell. In certain embodiments, a retention member can be fixedly attached to the shell. In further embodiments, the support member and the shell have a cooperative locking configuration.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A vehicle comprising: a first shell at least partially defining a spare tire storage chamber, an opening providing access to the spare tire storage chamber, and a first recess adjacent to the opening; a second shell adjacent to the first shell and defining a second recess and

What is claimed is: 1. A vehicle comprising: a first shell at least partially defining a spare tire storage chamber, an opening providing access to the spare tire storage chamber, and a first recess adjacent to the opening; a second shell adjacent to the first shell and defining a second recess and a third recess; and a support member adapted to support a spare tire and comprising a flange, the support member being movable with respect to the first shell among a first position in which the flange complementarily engages the first recess, a second position in which the flange complementarily engages the second recess, and a third position in which the flange complementarily engages the third recess. 2. The vehicle of claim 1 being a pickup truck and further comprising a truck bed, the truck bed having a cargo-carrying floor, and the first shell and the second shell underlying the cargo carrying floor. 3. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a locking member configured for selective insertion into aligned apertures in the first shell and the support member when the support member is at the first position, wherein the locking member upon said insertion is configured to inhibit sliding movement of the support member relative to the first shell. 4. The vehicle of claim 3 wherein the locking member comprises at least one of a pin and a rod. 5. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the support member, when in the first position, is substantially disposed within the first shell and, wherein the support member, when in each of the second position and the third position, is at least partially disposed outside of the first shell and is at least partially disposed inside of the second shell. 6. The vehicle of claim 5 wherein the first shell includes first and second end portions and a bottom portion extending at least partially between the first and second end portions, the opening is adjacent to the first end portion, the bottom portion defines the first recess adjacent to the first end portion, the second shell extends outwardly from the first shell and to a distal end, and the second shell defines the second recess and the third recess adjacent to the distal end. 7. The vehicle of claim 6 wherein the second end portion of the first shell has an arcuate configuration corresponding to the curvature of the outer circumference of a spare tire. 8. The vehicle of claim 6 wherein the support member is slidably positioned above the bottom portion and is movable back and forth along a movement path, and wherein the support member includes a lower interface surface configured to directly contact an upper interface surface of the bottom portion of the first shell in sliding engagement as the support member moves along the movement path. 9. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein the lower interface surface of the support member is parallel with the upper interface surface of the bottom portion of the first shell when the support member is in each of the first position and the second position, and wherein the lower interface surface of the support member is inclined with respect to the upper interface surface of the bottom portion of the first shell when the support member is in the third position. 10. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein the vehicle further comprises a retention member fixedly attached to the first shell, the retention member configured to selectively interface a side portion of the support member and to permit sliding movement of the support member along the movement with respect to the first shell, and being operative to limit movement of the support member with respect to the first shell in at least one direction substantially perpendicular to the movement path. 11. The vehicle of claim 10 wherein the retention member comprises at least one wheel. 12. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein said wheel is rotatably attached to the first shell and cooperates with the bottom portion of the first shell to therebetween receive a side section of the support member such that the wheel contacts the side section when the support member is at the first position for limiting movement of the support member with respect to the first shell in at least one direction substantially perpendicular to the movement path. 13. A vehicle having a support structure for a spare tire, the vehicle comprising: a first shell, the first shell including first and second end portions and a bottom portion extending at least partially between the first and second end portions, the first shell at least partially defining a spare tire storage chamber and including an opening providing access to the spare tire storage chamber, the opening being adjacent to the first end portion, and the bottom portion defining a first recess adjacent to the first end portion; a second shell extending outwardly from the first shell and to a distal end, the second shell defining a second recess adjacent to the distal end; and a support member adapted to support a spare tire, the support member being slidably positioned above the bottom portion and movable back and forth along a movement path from a first position in which the support member is substantially disposed within the first shell and a second position in which the support member is at least partially disposed outside the first shell and disposed at least partially inside the second shell, the support member including a lower interface surface configured to directly contact an upper interface surface of the bottom portion of the shell in sliding engagement as the support member is moved along the movement path, and a portion of the lower interface surface defining a flange; and a locking member; wherein the flange is configured to selectively engage the first recess in the bottom portion of the first shell for substantially inhibiting sliding movement of the support member relative to the first shell along the movement path when the support member is at the first position, the flange is further configured to selectively engage the second recess in the second shell for substantially inhibiting sliding movement of the support member relative to the first shell along the movement path when the support member is at the second position, the first shell and the support member define respective apertures which are aligned when the support member is at the first position, and the locking member is configured for selective insertion into the aligned apertures to inhibit sliding movement of the support member relative to the first shell. 14. The vehicle of claim 13 wherein the locking member comprises at least one of a pin and a rod. 15. A pickup truck comprising: a truck bed having a cargo carrying floor; a support structure underlying the cargo carrying floor, the support structure comprising: a first shell at least partially defining a spare tire storage chamber, an opening providing access to the spare tire storage chamber, and a first recess adjacent to the opening; and a second shell adjacent to the first shell and defining a second recess and a third recess; and a support member adapted to support a spare tire and comprising a flange, the support member being movable with respect to the first shell among a first position in which the flange engages the first recess, a second position in which the flange engages the second recess, and a third position in which the flange engages the third recess. 16. The pickup truck of claim 15 further comprising a locking member configured for selective insertion into aligned apertures in the first shell and the support member when the support member is at the first position, wherein the locking member upon said insertion is configured to inhibit sliding movement of the support member relative to the first shell. 17. The pickup truck of claim 16 wherein the locking member comprises at least one of a pin and a rod. 18. The pickup truck of claim 15 wherein the support member, when in the first position, is substantially disposed within the first shell and, wherein the support member, when in each of the second position and the third position, is at least partially disposed outside of the first shell and is at least partially disposed inside of the second shell. 19. The pickup truck of claim 18 wherein the first shell includes first and second end portions and a bottom portion extending at least partially between the first and second end portions, the opening is adjacent to the first end portion, the bottom portion defines the first recess adjacent to the first end portion, the second shell extends outwardly from the first shell and to a distal end, and the second shell defines the second recess and the third recess adjacent to the distal end. 20. The vehicle of claim 19 wherein the second end portion of the first shell has an arcuate configuration corresponding to the curvature of the outer circumference of a spare tire. 21. The pickup truck of claim 19 wherein the support member is slidably positioned above the bottom portion and is movable back and forth along a movement path, the support member includes a lower interface surface configured to directly contact an upper interface surface of the bottom portion of the first shell in sliding engagement as the support member moves along the movement path, and a portion of the lower interlace surface defines the flange. 22. The pickup truck of claim 21 wherein the lower interface surface of the support member is parallel with the upper interface surface of the bottom portion of the first shell when the support member is in each of the first position and the second position, and wherein the lower interface surface of the support member is inclined with respect to the upper interface surface of the bottom portion of the first shell when the support member is in the third position. 23. The pickup truck of claim 21 wherein the vehicle further comprises a retention member fixedly attached to the first shell, the retention member configured to selectively interface a side portion of the support member and to permit sliding movement of the support member along the movement path with respect to the first shell, and being operative to limit movement of the support member with respect to the first shell in at least one direction substantially perpendicular to the movement path. 24. The pickup truck of claim 23 wherein the retention member comprises at least one wheel. 25. The pickup truck of claim 24 wherein said wheel is rotatably attached to the first shell and cooperates with the bottom portion of the first shell to therebetween receive a side section of the support member such that the wheel contacts the side section when the support member is at the first position for limiting movement of the support member with respect to the first shell in at least one direction substantially perpendicular to the movement path.