SPARE TIRE LIFT/CARRIER UNIT WITH DUAL RETAINERS

摘要

A spare tire and wheel assembly for a motor vehicle are held ina stored position under the vehicle body by a compact tire lift unit orwinch having a primary flexible cable extending to the center of aretaining bracket releasably attached to the wheel hub. A secondary orauxiliary cable has one end portion secured by a crimp connector to thewinch cable spaced above the bracket and extends through a laterallyoffset hole within the bracket to receive a stop fitting spaced belowthe bracket. In the event the winch cable breaks adjacent theretaining bracket, the spare tire and wheel assembly drops slightly toan inclined position supported by the stop fitting where rattling ofthe tire against the vehicle body alerts the driver of the vehicle thatthe winch cable has broken.