Safety latch for a tire carrier and improvements therefor

A winch assembly comprising:

• a mounting bracket for mounting the winch assembly to a vehicle, said mounting bracket having a first side and an opposite second side;
• a winch assembly housing having first and second ends and containing operating parts of the winch assembly disposed between said ends, the mounting bracket providing a closure for the winch assembly housing and the operating parts proximate the first end of said housing, wherein said winch assembly housing is coupled to said first side of said mounting bracket;
• a flexible member having a first end and a second end;
• a winch for taking up and letting out said flexible member, wherein said first end of said flexible member is coupled to said winch;
• a carrier for supporting an object, wherein said second end of said flexible member is coupled to said carrier;
• a latch support coupled to said second side of said mounting bracket and extending therefrom, said latch support including a aperture sized for receipt of a portion of said carrier, said carrier being selectively positionable at a raised position and a lowered position by rotation of said winch, wherein said portion of said carrier is selectively coupled with said latch support when said winch is rotated in a first direction and said carrier is moved to said raised position, wherein said carrier portion is decoupled from said latch support when said winch is rotated in a direction opposite said first direction, and wherein said carrier and said latch support remain coupled if said flexible member becomes discontinuous when said carrier is in said raised position and said winch is not moved in said direction opposite said first direction.