Adjustable Spare Tire Carrier for Off-Road Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional spare tire carriers are fixed in a single vertical position, which can cause damage to vehicles and tires when traversing difficult terrain, limiting the vehicle's mobility.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable spare tire carrier with a first and second leg, each with apertures for attachment, allowing the spare tire to be positioned at various angles or orientations, including vertical and angled positions, using an extender for further adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the spare tire is mounted in a fixed vertical position on the rear of the vehicle, then the mounting structure is simple and stable, but the spare tire can be impacted when traversing difficult terrain causing damage to the vehicle and/or tire and preventing motion of the vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the spare tire carrier adjustable between multiple positions (vertical, horizontal, and intermediate angles) rather than fixed. The carrier includes a mounting leg with multiple apertures and an adjustable mechanism that allows the tire to be repositioned dynamically based on terrain conditions, resolving the contradiction between reliability and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the positional parameter of the spare tire carrier from a fixed vertical orientation to multiple adjustable orientations. The mounting structure includes apertures at different positions and an adjustable mechanism that enables changing the angle and position of the tire carrier, allowing optimization of tire position based on operational requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the spare tire carrier is made adjustable to multiple positions, then the adaptability to terrain is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the carrier into separate functional components: a mounting leg with multiple apertures, an adjustable mechanism, and a tire holder. This modular segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while contributing to overall adjustability, managing complexity through functional decomposition.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting leg is designed with multiple apertures that serve multiple functions: providing attachment points for different positions, enabling both vertical and horizontal mounting orientations, and allowing intermediate angle adjustments. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components for each mounting position, managing complexity while maintaining adaptability.
3Ease of manufacture
If the spare tire is mounted vertically on the rear of the vehicle, then the mounting structure is simple, but the spare tire can be impacted causing damage and preventing vehicle motion when traversing difficult terrain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the mounting structure dynamically adjustable rather than statically fixed. The carrier can be repositioned from vertical to horizontal and to intermediate angles based on terrain conditions, allowing the system to adapt to harmful terrain impacts while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through a standardized adjustable mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by providing multiple pre-configured mounting positions and angles. Before encountering terrain impacts, the user can adjust the tire carrier to an optimal position (such as horizontal or angled) that prevents damage in advance, rather than reacting to damage after it occurs.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are embodiments of a spare tire carrier for a vehicle that can be adjustable for moving the spare tire into different positions. The spare tire carrier can be attached to existing components of a vehicle in order to move the spare tire's position, which can be advantageous for avoiding environmental hazards when off-roading.