# US 10,766,546 B2 · User friendly apparatus and method for retaining and removing a spare tire from a storage position in a motor vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,766,546 B2 - Document ID: US10766546B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/057,200 - Filed: 2018-08-07 - Published: 2020-02-13 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-08-07 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Juan Esteban Rivera Kurezyn; Jose Carlos Parada Centeno; Elias Aram Loza Neri; Juan Carlos Martinez Navarrete; Raul Ahuitzol Quintanar Quintanar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10766546B2 ## CPC - B62D 43/00: Spare wheel stowing, holding, or mounting arrangements - B62D 43/002: {Handling devices, mainly for heavy wheels (via cables and chains B62D43/045)} - B62D 43/10: and arranged substantially horizontally - 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 An apparatus is provided for retaining a spare tire in a storage position on a motor vehicle. The apparatus includes a retainer assembly and a cooperating post. The retainer assembly includes a housing and a first actuator, a first retainer and a first biasing element carried by the housing. The post includes a retainer receiver wherein the first biasing element biases the first retainer into engagement with the retainer receiver. A related method of removing a spare tire from a storage position in a motor vehicle is also presented. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus, comprising: a retainer assembly including (a) a housing and (b) a first actuator, a first retainer and a first biasing element carried by said housing; and a post having a retainer receiver wherein said first biasing element biases said first retainer into engagement with said retainer receiver. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said housing includes a post receiver, said post extending through said post receiver when said retainer assembly is secured to said post. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said first actuator includes a first ear engaging a first socket in said first retainer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said housing includes a first guide feature and said first actuator includes a first guide track slidably receiving said first guide feature. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said first guide feature includes two opposed ribs and said first guide track includes two opposed channels receiving said two opposed ribs. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said first retainer includes a first pivot pin and said housing includes two opposed gudgeons receiving said first pivot pin. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said first biasing element is a coil spring received over said first pivot pin. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said first retainer includes a first lug, said first socket is on a first side at a first end of said first retainer and said first lug is on a second side at a second end of said first retainer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, further including a first stop carried on said housing, said first stop engaging said first side of said second end of said first retainer when said first actuator is fully depressed to release said first lug from said retainer receiver. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said retainer receiver includes a plurality of notches provided at spaced locations along said post. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, including a longitudinal groove in said post and a cooperating tab on said housing wherein said cooperating tab slides in said longitudinal groove when said retainer assembly is properly aligned on said post. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said retainer assembly further includes a second retainer carried on said housing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said second retainer is opposed to said first retainer and said first retainer and said second retainer are provided at opposite sides of said post receiver. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said retainer assembly further includes a second actuator and a second biasing element carried on said housing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said housing includes a second guide feature and said second actuator includes a second guide track slidably receiving said second guide feature. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said second actuator includes a second ear engaging a second socket in said second retainer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said second retainer includes a second lug, said second socket is on one side at one end of said second retainer and said second lug is on an other side at an other end of said second retainer.