End fitting assembly for chain hoist

A chain hoist system for a spare tire carrier in a vehicle comprising:

• a housing containing a reel assembly for winding and unwinding a drive chain, the drive chain comprising a first end mounted to the housing and a second end extending downwardly from the housing;
• an end fitting assembly on the second end of the drive chain;
• an attachment device received on the drive chain above the end fitting for supporting a spare tire;
• an elastic member between the attachment device and the end fitting;
• the end fitting assembly comprising:
• a link insert comprising a body inserted into a last link of a drive chain of the chain hoist with opposing lateral ends extending therefrom, and
• a support bracket at least partially surrounding the last link of the drive chain and the opposing lateral ends of the body to secure the body within the last link.

A method for assembling an end fitting on a drive chain for a chain hoist, the method comprising:

• providing access to a second end of the drive chain extending downwardly from a housing of the chain hoist, a first end of the drive chain configured to be connected to the housing;
• providing a link insert and a support bracket, the link insert comprising a body inserted into a last link of a drive chain of the chain hoist with opposing lateral ends extending therefrom and the support bracket at least partially surrounding the last link of the drive chain and the opposing lateral ends of the body to secure the body within the last link, the support bracket having an opening therein configured to receive at least part of the last link on the second end of the drive chain therethrough;
• inserting at least a last link of the second end of the drive chain through the opening of the support bracket;
• inserting the body of the link insert at least partially through the last link of the second end of the drive chain;
• substantially aligning the link insert with the support bracket, and
• folding at least part of the support bracket at least partially around the link insert, such that the support bracket at least partially surrounds the body of the link insert and the last link of the drive chain.