Apparatus for loading and unloading a component detachably mounted on a vehicle
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorJames J. Pitoniak
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for storing and unloading a component such as a spare tire and wheel assembly mounted at a rear storage location on a vehicle includes a vehicle attachment arm having a first end releasably attached at a mounting location on the vehicle and a component attachment having a first end positioned adjacent the component storage location. The arms each have a second end attached to a connector member that permits the component attachment arm to be rotated between the component storage location and an unloaded position on the ground. The vehicle attachment arm is adjustable in length to move toward and away from the storage location. The component attachment arm is adjustable in length to move toward and away from the component storage location.
Claims20
An apparatus adapted to be attached to a rear portion of a vehicle for facilitating the storing and unloading of a component, said apparatus comprising:
- a vehicle attachment arm having a first end adapted to be attached to a mounting location on a vehicle and a second end;
- a component attachment arm having a first end adapted to be attached to a mounting location on a component and a second end;
- a connector member having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion of said connector member connected to said second end of said vehicle attachment arm, said second portion of said connector member connected to said second end of said component attachment arm, said connector member being operable to move said component attachment arm relative to said vehicle attachment arm whereby when the component attachment arm is attached to the component, the component is moved between a stored position on the vehicle and an unloaded position on the ground.
An apparatus adapted to be attached to a rear portion of a vehicle for facilitating the loading and unloading of a component, said apparatus comprising:
- a planetary gear assembly having a ring gear meshed with a plurality of planetary gears disposed radially interior of said ring gear, a sun gear disposed radially interior of said planetary gears and meshed with said planetary gears, and a receiver member on which said planetary gears and said sun gear are mounted;
- a vehicle attachment arm having a first end adapted to be attached to a mounting location on the vehicle and a second end attached to said receiver member;
- a component attachment arm having a first end adapted to be attached to the component and a second end attached to said ring gear;
- whereby when said vehicle attachment arm is attached to the vehicle mounting location and said component attachment arm is attached to the component, and when a torque is applied to said sun gear, said sun gear rotates said ring gear to move said component attachment arm and the component between a stored position on the vehicle and an unloaded position with the component on the ground.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.