# US 10,246,145 B1 · Tire carrier > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,246,145 B1 - Document ID: US10246145B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 15/698,982 - Filed: 2017-09-08 - Published: 2019-03-14 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2017-09-08 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Inventors: Luciano L. Oetting - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246145B1 ## CPC - B62D 43/045: {the wheel or its cradle being attached to one or more chains or cables for handling} - B62D 43/002: {Handling devices, mainly for heavy wheels (via cables and chains B62D43/045)} - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) ## Abstract A tire carrier assembly includes a tire carrier, a carrier support assembly which is lockable and unlockable and configured to support the tire carrier in a stowed position when locked and to lower the tire carrier toward a deployed position when unlocked, and a hoist coupled to the carrier support assembly. The hoist is configured to lock the carrier support assembly and to be selectively actuatable to unlock the carrier support assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tire carrier assembly, comprising: a tire carrier having a first tire carrier end and a second tire carrier end defining a tire-sized aperture, the tire carrier comprising a plurality of tire constraint members formed as upturned wings; a carrier support assembly which is lockable and unlockable and configured to support the tire carrier in a stowed position when locked and to lower the tire carrier toward a deployed position when unlocked, the carrier support assembly comprising a first cable, a second cable, a first cable guide member, and a second cable guide member; and a hoist coupled to the carrier support assembly; wherein the hoist is configured to lock the carrier support assembly and to be selectively actuatable to unlock the carrier support assembly; and wherein the first cable passes through the first cable guide member from the hoist to the first tire carrier end and the second cable passes through the second cable guide member from the hoist to the second tire carrier end wherein the first cable guide member is a tubular member extending from the hoist to a first cable support member and the second cable guide member is a tubular member extending from the hoist to a second cable support member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tire carrier assembly according to claim 1, wherein the carrier support assembly is attachable to a vehicle chassis. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The tire carrier assembly according to claim 2, wherein the stowed position is proximate to an underside of the vehicle chassis and the deployed position is distant from the underside of the vehicle chassis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The tire carrier assembly according to claim 2, wherein the carrier support assembly substantially maintains an orientation of the tire carrier relative to the vehicle chassis during a vertical translation of the tire carrier toward the deployed position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The tire carrier assembly according to claim 1, wherein the tire carrier comprises a tire-shaped webbing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The tire carrier assembly according to claim 1, wherein the hoist comprises a first cable reel and a second cable reel, the hoist being selectively actuatable to either concurrently release the first and second cables to lower the tire carrier to the deployed position or concurrently wind the first and second cables to raise and lock the tire carrier in the stowed position. ### Claim 7 A tire carrier assembly for a vehicle chassis, comprising: a tire carrier coupled to the vehicle chassis and configured to support a tire, the tire carrier having a first tire carrier end and a second tire carrier end defining a tire-sized aperture, the tire carrier comprising a plurality of tire constraint members formed as upturned wings to encircle at least a portion of the tire; a carrier support assembly which is lockable and unlockable and configured to support the tire carrier in a stowed position with the tire proximate to the vehicle chassis when locked and to lower the tire carrier toward a deployed position with the tire distant from the vehicle chassis when unlocked, the carrier support assembly comprising a first cable, a second cable, a first tubular cable guide member, and a second tubular cable guide member; and a hoist coupled to the vehicle chassis and to the carrier support assembly; wherein the hoist is configured to lock the carrier support assembly and to be selectively actuatable to unlock the carrier support assembly, and wherein the first cable passes through the first cable guide member from the hoist to the first tire carrier end and the second cable passes through the second cable guide member from the hoist to the second tire carrier end wherein the first cable guide member is a tubular member extending from the hoist to a first cable support member and the second cable guide member is a tubular member extending from the hoist to a second cable support member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The tire carrier assembly according to claim 7, wherein the tire carrier comprises webbing shaped to accommodate the tire. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The tire carrier assembly according to claim 7, wherein the carrier support assembly substantially maintains an orientation of the tire carrier relative to the vehicle chassis during a vertical translation of the tire carrier toward the deployed position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The tire carrier assembly according to claim 7, further comprising a tank securely disposed within a space defined by the central portion of the tire when the tire carrier is in the stowed position with the tire proximate to the chassis. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The tire carrier assembly according to claim 7, wherein the hoist comprises a first cable reel and a second cable reel, the hoist being selectively actuatable to either concurrently release the first and second cables to lower the tire carrier to the deployed position or concurrently wind the first and second cables to raise and lock the tire carrier in the stowed position. ### Claim 12 A vehicle, comprising: a chassis; a tire carrier configured to support a tire, the tire carrier having a first tire carrier end and a second tire carrier end defining a tire-sized aperture, the tire carrier comprising a plurality of tire constraint members formed as upturned wings to encircle it least a portion of the tire; a carrier support assembly which is lockable to and unlockable from the chassis and configured to support the tire carrier in a stowed position with the tire proximate to the chassis when locked and to lower the tire carrier toward a deployed position with the tire distant from the chassis when unlocked, the carrier support assembly comprising a first cable, a second cable, a first tubular cable guide member, and a second tubular cable guide member; and a hoist assembly coupled to the chassis and to the carrier support assembly; wherein the hoist is configured to lock the carrier support assembly in the stowed position and to be selectively actuatable to unlock the carrier support assembly from the deployed position, and wherein the first cable passes through the first cable guide member from the hoist to the first tire carrier end and the second cable passes through the second cable guide member from the hoist to the second tire carrier end wherein the first cable guide member is a tubular member extending from the hoist to a first cable support member and the second cable guide member is a tubular member extending from the hoist to a second cable support member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein: the carrier support assembly substantially maintains an orientation of the tire carrier relative to the chassis during the vertical translation of the tire carrier toward the deployed position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The vehicle according to claim 13, wherein: the hoist comprises a first cable reel and a second cable reel; and the hoist is selectively actuatable to wind or unwind the first and second cable reels to either concurrently unwind the first and second cables to lower the tire carrier to the deployed position or concurrently wind the first and second cables to raise and lock the tire carrier in the stowed position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The vehicle according to claim 12, further comprising a tank securely disposed within a space defined by the central portion of the tire when the tire carrier is in the stowed position with the tire proximate to the chassis.