US 12,441,416 B2
Body mounted spare tire tailgate
Gregory Vandervoord, Clarkston, MI (US); Dan M Zimmermann, West Bloomfield, MI (US); Mark C Trostle, Bloomfield Hills, MI (US); and Michael S Sullivan, Washington, MI (US)
Assigned to FCA US LLC, Auburn Hills, MI (US)
Filed by FCA US LLC, Auburn Hills, MI (US)
Filed on May 30, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/325,702.
Prior Publication US 2024/0400140 A1, Dec. 5, 2024
Int. Cl. B62D 43/02 (2006.01); B62D 33/027 (2006.01)
CPC B62D 43/02 (2013.01) [B62D 33/027 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A spare tire support for coupling with a vehicle tailgate including an upper tubular cross bar and a lower tubular cross bar, the spare tire support comprising:
a pivot tube rotatably mounted on the upper tubular cross bar enabling the spare tire support to move between a first position and a second position; and
a spare tire mounting bracket coupled with the pivot tube so as to be rotatable about the upper tubular cross bar with the pivot tube, the spare tire mounting bracket including a shaft extending from the pivot tube and a plate for receiving the spare tire,
wherein the spare tire mounting bracket in the first position mounts the spare tire inboard of the vehicle and in the second position mounts the spare tire outboard of the vehicle.