Description:DESCRIPTION
Technical Field
[001] This disclosure relates generally to spare wheel handling, and more particularly to a spare wheel handling device for lifting and lowering of a spare wheel in the spare wheel well.
Background
[002] Several vehicles have spare wheels placed in the spare wheel wells of the vehicles to replace a running wheel in case the running wheel gets punctured or damaged. However, a huge human effort needs to be applied in taking out the spare wheel from the spare wheel well and also in placing the punctured wheel back in the spare wheel well.
[003] Some spare wheel handling devices are known that assist the user in lifting the spare wheel from the spare wheel well. These spare wheel handling devices are generally based on gas hydraulic systems and lift the spare wheel from the spare wheel well to a tail gate sill level. However, these known spare wheel handling devices may not be very effective in reducing the human effort as after lifting the wheel to the sill level one may need to unscrew the wheel from the device and then further lift the wheel from the device. Further, these known spare wheel handling devices are expensive and bulky, and are required to be carried with the spare wheel which may reduce luggage space in a vehicle.
[004] Therefore, a cost-effective, high-efficiency and easily maneuverable device is required for assisting users in lifting and lowering the wheel in the spare wheel well with minimum efforts.
SUMMARY
[005] In one embodiment, a spare wheel handling device for lifting and lowering of a spare wheel in a spare wheel well is disclosed. In one example, the spare wheel handling device may include a rod which may further include a first portion and at least one second portion. The first portion of the rod may be configured to engage with a spare wheel and engage with a floor of the spare wheel well in a stowed position of the spare wheel handling device. The at least one second portion of the rod may extend from the first portion and may be contoured relative to at least one side wall of the spare wheel well. Further, the spare wheel handling device may also include a handle affixed to the rod. In an embodiment, the handle may be configured to enable a user to lift the rod from the stowed position to an equilibrium point of the spare wheel handling device. Further, the spare wheel handling device may also include a spring mechanically coupled to the rod and to a first side wall of the at least one side wall. In an embodiment, the spring may be configured to transition the rod from the equilibrium point to a lifted position.
[006] In another embodiment, a vehicle including a spare wheel well and a spare wheel assembly is disclosed. In one example, the spare wheel assembly may include a rod, a handle and a spring. The rod may include a first portion and at least one second portion. The first portion of the rod may be configured to engage with a spare wheel and engage with a floor of the spare wheel well in a stowed position. The at least one second portion of the rod may extend from the first portion of the rod and may be contoured relative to at least one side wall of the spare wheel well. Further, the spare wheel assembly may include a handle which may be affixed to the rod. In an embodiment, the handle may be configured to enable a user to lift the rod from the stowed position to an equilibrium point. Further, the spring of the spare wheel assembly may be mechanically coupled to the rod and to a first side wall from the at least one side wall. In an embodiment, the spring may be configured to transition the rod from the equilibrium point to a lifted position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[007] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments and, together with the description, serve to explain the disclosed principles.
[008] FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view of a spare wheel handling device for lifting and lowering of a spare wheel in a spare wheel well, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[009] FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the spare wheel handling device for lifting and lowering of a spare wheel in the spare wheel well, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[010] FIG. 3A illustrates a perspective view of a spare wheel well assembled with the spare wheel handling device, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure.
[011] FIG. 3B illustrates a magnified perspective view of the assembly of the rod within the spare wheel well, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure.
[012] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the spare wheel handling device assembled in the spare wheel well in a lifted and a stowed position, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure.
[013] FIGs. 5A and 5B illustrate perspective views of the spare wheel handling device with a spare wheel in stowed position and in lifted position respectively, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure.
[014] FIG. 6 illustrates a working principle of a spring of the spare wheel handling device, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[015] Exemplary embodiments are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Wherever convenient, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. While examples and features of disclosed principles are described herein, modifications, adaptations, and other implementations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosed embodiments. It is intended that the following detailed description be considered as exemplary only, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims. Additional illustrative embodiments are listed below.
[016] Referring to FIG. 1, an exploded view 100 of a spare wheel handling device 102 for lifting and lowering of a spare wheel (not shown) in a spare wheel well 101 is illustrated, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The spare wheel handling device 102 may be disposed within the spare wheel well 101 as depicted in FIG. 2 (described later). The spare wheel handling device 102 may include a rod 104, a handle 106 and a spring 112. The rod 104 may further include a first portion 104A and two second portions 104B and 104C each extending from the ends of the first portion 104A. In an embodiment, the second portions 104B and 104C may be contoured relative to side walls 122 of the spare wheel well 101. The first portion 104A of the rod 104 may include a couple of soft padding 124 to ensure safe and smooth interaction of the first portion 104A with a floor 120 of the spare wheel well 101.
[017] In an embodiment, the handle 106 of the spare wheel handling device 102 may be affixed to the second portion 104B of the rod 104. Further, the rod 104 may be connected to the side walls 122A and 122B of the spare wheel well 101 by operatively coupling each of the second portions 104B and 104C to brackets 108A and 108B respectively, which are attached to the side walls 122A and 122B respectively. Each of the brackets 108A and 108B may have a housing (not shown) to house a bearing 110A and 110B respectively within them. The rod 104 due to this arrangement can be rotated in response to the rotational movement of the second portions 104B and 104C within each of the corresponding brackets 108A and 108B respectively in the direction of a force applied on the handle 106 by a user.
[018] The spring 112 of the spare wheel handling device 102 may be attached from one end to a second pivot pin 114 provided on the second portion 104Cof the rod 104. Further, the spring 112 may be attached from its second end to a first pivot pin 116 that may be further attached to a bracket 118 provided on the side wall 122B. Further, the spring 112 may assist in toggling the rod 104 by the user while lifting or lowering the rod 104 between a stowed position and a lifted position of the spare wheel handling device 102.
[019] In an embodiment, a spare wheel (not shown) may be positioned in the spare wheel well 101. The spare wheel may be placed on the floor 120 such that the spare wheel (not shown) may be supported on the first portion 104A of the rod 104 in the stowed position. In an embodiment, the first portion 104A may include two or more cushion pads 124 in order to avoid any dents or scratches on the floor 120 due to the rod 104 under the weight of the spare wheel resting on the rod 104 in the stowed position. The user may pull the handle 106 in order to lift the rod 104 in order to toggle the rod 104 from the stowed position to the lifted position in order to lift a spare wheel resting on the rod 104 to a height of a tail gate sill 126. In an embodiment, stiffness of the spring 112 may be set as per the weight of the spare wheel to be supported in the lifted position. In an embodiment, the spare wheel handling device 102 may be retrofitted to a spare wheel well 101 of a vehicle in a retrofitting manner with minimal adjustments and changes to the spare wheel well 101.
[020] Referring now to FIG. 2, a top view 200 of the spare wheel handling device for lifting and lowering of a spare wheel in the spare wheel well 101 is illustrated, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The spare wheel handling device 102 of the FIG. 1 may be disposed in the spare wheel well 101 in such a way that the rod 104 may rotate freely within the spare wheel well 101 when a force is applied on the handle 106, which is attached to the second portion 104B of the rod 104.
[021] The second portions 104B and 104C of the rod 104 may be operationally coupled to the wheel well side walls 122A and 122B respectively through brackets 108A and 108B respectively. Further, bearings 110A and 110B housed in each of the brackets 108A and 108B respectively, may be configured to enable the rotatory motion of the second portion 104B and 104C around the bracket axis in the direction of force applied on the handle 106 affixed to the second portion 104B of the rod 104.
[022] In addition to this arrangement, one end of the spring 112 may be coupled to a first pivot pin 116 of the bracket 118 that may be further affixed to the wheel well side wall 122B and the other end of the spring may be coupled to the second pivot pin 114 affixed to the second portion 104C of the rod 104. The rod 104 thus may be lifted from a stowed position to a lifted position and supported due to tension the spring 112 in order for a spare wheel resting on the rod 104 to be raised to a height level of the tail gate sill 126. Once the spare wheel has been raised to the height level of the tail gate sill 126, it may easily be removed by sliding the spare wheel out from the spare wheel well 101.
[023] Referring now to FIG. 3A, a perspective view 300A of a spare wheel well 101 assembled with the spare wheel handling device 102 is illustrated, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure. As depicted in FIG. 3A, the spring 112 is coupled to the second portion 104C of the rod 104 and also to the spare wheel well 101. One end of the spring 112 may be coupled to the first pivot pin 116 of the bracket 118 and the second end of the spring 112 may be fixed to second pivot pin 114 affixed to the second portion 104C of the rod 104.
[024] The bracket 118 may be attached to the spare wheel well side wall 122B, as shown in conjunction with the FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The arrangement of the spring 112 with the spare wheel handling device 102 and the side wall 122B of the spare wheel well 101 enable the rod 104 to be lifted to a height of the tail gate sill 126 with minimal effort, as described later in FIG. 4. Further, the arrangement of the spare wheel handling device 102 in the spare wheel well 101 may be in such a way that the direction of rotation of the device 102 may be towards the tail gate sill 126 of the vehicle while lifting the spare wheel handling device 102.
[025] Referring now to FIG. 3B, a magnified perspective view 300B of the assembly of the rod 104 within the spare wheel well 101 is illustrated, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. A bracket 108A may be affixed to the side wall 122A of the spare wheel well 101. The bracket 108A may house a bearing 110A which may rotatably support an end 302 of the second portion 104B of the rod 104. The handle 106, affixed to the second portion 104B, when pulled-up by a user enable the spare wheel handling device 102 to be lifted, as depicted in the FIG. 4.
[026] Referring now to FIG. 4, a perspective view 400 of the spare wheel handling device assembled in the spare wheel well in a lifted and a stowed position is illustrated, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As mentioned earlier, the spare wheel handling device 102 may be integrated or assembled within the spare wheel well 101 of a vehicle. Further, the spare wheel handling device 102 may be in a stowed position 402 or may be in a lifted position 404 in the spare wheel well 101. In the stowed position 402, the spare wheel handling device 102 may be resting on the floor 120 such that the first portion 104A of the rod 104 touches the floor 120 of the spare wheel well 101 and the spring 112 may be in a decompressed state.
[027] Further, in the lifted position 404 the spare wheel handling device 102 may be lifted at a height from the floor 120 and the spring 112 may be in a decompressed state. In some embodiments, the first portion 104A of the rod 104 may be lifted to a height of the tail gate sill level 126 in the lifted position 404 of the spare wheel handling device 102.
[028] Referring now to FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B, perspective views 500A and 500B of the spare wheel handling device with a spare wheel in stowed position 402 and in lifted position 404 respectively are illustrated, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure. By a way of example, in case of a flat-wheel situation, the flat wheel may be required to be replaced by a spare wheel 502 stored in the spare wheel well 101 of a vehicle in the stowed position 402 of the spare wheel handling device 102 as shown in FIG. 5A. In order to remove the spare wheel 502 from the spare wheel well 101, the handle 106 (as shown in FIG. 4) may be lifted upwards to lift a side of the spare wheel 502 resting on the first portion 104A of the rod 104 to the height level of the tail gate sill 126. The spare wheel handling device 102 may lift the spare wheel till the tail gate sill level 302 in the lifted position 404 of the spare wheel handling device 102 as depicted in FIG. 5B. Accordingly, the spare wheel 502 may be slid outwards from the spare wheel well 101 and replaced it with the punctured wheel of the vehicle.
[029] In an embodiment, a portion of the spare wheel 502 may be resting on the first portion 104A of the rod 104 in the spare wheel well 101 and the spring 112 may be in a decompressed state in the stowed position 402. Further spare wheel handling device 102 may be transitioned to the lifted position 404 to lift the spare wheel 502. It may be noted that the transition from the stowed position 402 to the lifted position 404 may be initiated by applying pull force on the handle 106 by a user. The spring 112 may be attached to the first pivot pin 116 of the bracket 118 as shown in FIGs. 1-3A and to the second pivot pin 114 provided on the second portion 104C of the rod 104. In addition to the force applied on the handle 106, the spring 112 may be in tensioned in an equilibrium position and decompresses in the lifted position 404. In an embodiment, the spring stiffness enables the rod 104 to be lifted effortlessly after the equilibrium point. Further, the transition from the lifted position 404 to the stowed position 402 may be initiated by applying a push force on the handle 106 by the user making the spring 112 to compress and then decompress and pushing the rod 104 downwards in the stowed position 402.
[030] Referring now to FIG. 6, a working principle of the spring 112 of the spare wheel handling device 102 is illustrated, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure. As mentioned earlier, a first end 602 of the spring 112 may be fixed to the pivot pin 116 attached to the bracket 118 affixed to the wheel well side wall 122B (as depicted in FIG. 4) and a second end 604 of the spring 112 may be attached to the pivot pin 114 provided on the second portion 104C of the rod 104.
[031] In some embodiments, the spring 112 may transition between an equilibrium condition 606 to decompressed conditions 608 or 610. Accordingly, the spare wheel handling device 102 may also toggle between the lifted position 404 and the stowed position 402 corresponding to the decompressed conditions 608 and 610 of the spring 112. The spring 112 may be toggled from the decompressed condition 610 which may correspond to the stowed position 402 of the spare wheel handling device 102 to the equilibrium condition 606 when a user pulls the handle 106 of the rod 104. During movement of the spring 112 from the decompressed condition 610 to the equilibrium condition 606, the spring 112 may get compressed. The equilibrium condition 606 may correspond to a maximum compression of the spring 112. Accordingly, once the equilibrium position 606 is reached, the spring 112 may automatically transition from the equilibrium condition 606 to the decompressed condition 608, making the rod 104 of the spare wheel handling device 102 to lift towards the tailgate sill level 126.
[032] Accordingly, when the handle 106 of the rod 104 is pulled by a user till the spring 112 reaches the equilibrium condition 606, the spring 112 may push the wheel handling device 102 along with the portion of spare wheel 502 resting on the rod 104 to the height of the tail gate sill 126. Subsequently, a user may pull out the spare wheel 502 by sliding it along the tailgate sill 126. Thus, the effort required to lift the spare wheel from the spare wheel well 101 is significantly reduced.
[033] Further, when the spare wheel 502 or a wheel with a flat tire (not shown in Figs) is to be stored in the spare wheel well 101, a portion of the wheel may be placed on the spare wheel handling device 102 as shown in FIG. 5B, in such a way that the portion of the wheel rests on the first portion 104A of the rod 104 at the tail gate sill level 126. The handle 106 may be pushed down. The downward push of the handle 106 of the rod 104 may compress the spring 112 and may move it from the decompressed condition 608 to the equilibrium condition 606 and the spring 112. Upon reaching the equilibrium condition 606, the spring 112 may decompress to the decompressed condition 610 in order for the spare wheel handling device 102 to toggle from the lifted position 404 and the stowed position 402.
[034] The techniques described above relate to a spring assisted spare wheel handling device for lifting and lowering of a spare wheel in the spare wheel well. The above techniques provide a cost-effective solution for reducing human effort to change the punctured wheel with the spare wheel, by using a spring assisted mechanism. It may be noted that the mechanism is achieved by using the working principle of a tension spring. The compression and decompression of the spring assist the device to reduce human effort as the user may only need to put effort till the spring is in equilibrium condition. Furthermore, the techniques provided may be completely automated by using a motor or an actuator in place of the handle. Moreover, the device provides an efficient, less time-consuming, and minimal human effort consuming mechanism for lifting and lowering the spare wheel in the spare wheel well.
[035] In light of the above-mentioned advantages and the technical advancements provided by the disclosed device and mechanism, the claimed steps as discussed above are not routine, conventional, or well understood in the art, as the claimed steps enable the following solutions to the existing problems in conventional technologies. Further, the claimed steps clearly bring an improvement in the functioning of the device itself as the claimed steps provide a technical solution to a technical problem.
[036] It is intended that the disclosure and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of disclosed embodiments being indicated by the following claims.
, Claims:CLAIMS
I/WE CLAIM:
1. A spare wheel handling device (102) comprising:
a rod (104) comprising:
a first portion (104A) configured to:
engage with a spare wheel (502); and
engage with a floor (120) of a spare wheel well (101) in a stowed position (402) of the spare wheel handling device (102); and
at least one second portion (104B, 104C) extending from the first portion (104A) and contoured relative to at least one side wall (122A, 122B) of the spare wheel well (101);
a handle (106) affixed to the rod (104), wherein the handle (106) is configured to enable a user to lift the rod (104) from the stowed position (402) to an equilibrium point of the spare wheel handling device (102); and
a spring (112) mechanically coupled to the rod (104) and to a first side wall (122B) of the at least one side wall (122A, 122B), wherein the spring (112) is configured to:
transition the rod (104) from the equilibrium point to a lifted position (404).

2. The spare wheel handling device (102) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a pivot assembly (114, 116, 118), wherein the pivot assembly (114, 116, 118) comprises:
a bracket (118) configured to couple with the first side wall (122B); and
a first pivot pin (116) coupled to the bracket (118);
wherein the spring (112) is configured to engage with the first pivot pin (116) through a first end (602) of the spring (112).

3. The spare wheel handling device (102) as claimed in claim 2, wherein one of the at least one second portion (104B, 104C) comprises:
a second pivot pin (114) attached thereto,
wherein the spring (112) is configured to engage with the second pivot pin (114) through a second end (604) of the spring (112).

4. The spare wheel handling device (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the at least one second portion (104B, 104C) comprises a coupling end configured to be rotatably anchored in one of the at least one side wall (122A, 122B).

5. The spare wheel handling device (102) as claimed in claim 4, comprising a bearing assembly (108A, 108B, 110) configured to couple to the at least one side wall (122A, 122B), wherein the bearing assembly (108, 110) comprises:
a bracket (108A, 108B) configured to couple with one of the at least one side wall (122A, 122B), wherein the bracket (108A, 108B) comprises:
a housing configured to:
receive the coupling end of the at least one second portion (104B, 104C); and
anchor the coupling end; and
a bearing (110) enclosed within the housing and configured to:
engage with the coupling end; and
enable rotation of the coupling end within the housing.

6. The spare wheel handling device (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
the handle (106) is configured to enable the user to lower the rod (104) from the lifted position (404) to the equilibrium point; and
the spring (112) is configured to transition the rod (104) from the equilibrium point to the stowed position (402).

7. The spare wheel handling device (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the equilibrium point corresponds to a fully compressed state of the spring (112).

8. A vehicle comprising:
a spare wheel well (101); and
a spare wheel assembly (102) comprising:
a rod (104) comprising:
a first portion (104A) configured to:
engage with a spare wheel (502); and
engage with a floor (120) of the spare wheel well (102) in a stowed position (402); and
at least one second portion (104B, 104C) extending from the first portion (104A) and contoured relative to at least one side wall (122) of the spare wheel well (102);
a handle (106) affixed to the rod (104), wherein the handle (106) is configured to enable a user to lift the rod (104) from the stowed position (402) to an equilibrium point; and
a spring (112) mechanically coupled to the rod (104) and to a first side wall (122B) from the at least one side wall (122A, 122B), wherein the spring (112) is configured to:
transition the rod (104) from the equilibrium point to a lifted position (404).

9. The vehicle as claimed in claim 9, comprising a pivot assembly (114, 116, 118), wherein the pivot assembly (114, 116, 118) comprises:
a bracket (118) configured to couple with the first side wall (122B) from the at least one side wall (122); and
a first pivot pin (116) coupled to the bracket (118);
wherein the spring (112) is configured to engage with the first pivot pin (116) through a first end of the spring (602).

10. The vehicle as claimed in claim 10, wherein one of the at least one second portion (104B, 104C) comprises:
a second pivot pin (114) attached thereto,
wherein the spring (112) is configured to engage with the second pivot pin (114) through a second end of the spring (604).

11. The vehicle as claimed in claim 9, wherein each of the at least one second portion (104B, 104C) comprises a coupling end configured to be rotatably anchored in one of the at least one side wall (122A, 122B).

12. The vehicle as claimed in claim 12, comprising a bearing assembly (108A, 108B, 110) configured to couple to the at least one side wall (122A, 122B), wherein the bearing assembly (108A, 108B, 110) comprises:
a bracket (108A, 108B) configured to couple with one of the at least on side wall (122), wherein the bracket (108A, 108B) comprises:
a housing configured to:
receive the coupling end of the at least one second portion (104B, 104C); and
anchor the coupling end; and
a bearing (110) enclosed within the housing and configured to:
engage with the coupling end of the at least one second portion (104B, 104C); and
enable rotation of the coupling end within the housing.

13. The vehicle as claimed in claim 9, wherein:
the handle (106) is configured to enable the user to lower the rod (104) from the lifted position (404) to the equilibrium point; and
the spring (112) is configured to transition the rod (104) from the equilibrium point to the stowed position (402).