Quotables
"I hate what they've done to my child...I would never let my own children watch it. "
Vladimir Zworykin, television pioneer ; Talking about an invention in which he played a critical role.
PatentStorm News
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8109419 | Crash shock absorbing device A device for absorbing shocks of a liftable and lowerable object such as a spare tire includes a first hoisting cable having a hoist-side end and an object-side end and a hollow cylinder encompassing a folded or coiled length of the first hoisting cable near the obj... | 02/07/2012 |
| 7770764 | Spare tire undercover An aerodynamic spare tire cover system is provided for use with a spare tire stored on a vehicle underbody. The cover system can be used to cover a full sized spare tire or a temporary spare tire, while providing the same aerodynamic qualities. The cover system incl... | 08/10/2010 |
| 7481342 | Spare tire carrier fixing holder A spare tire carrier fixing holder includes a bolt penetrating a vehicle body member. A holder is equipped at the upper end with a nut screwed to the bolt while the lower end of the holder is formed with a hook onto which a carrier is engaged. A guide ring is formed... | 01/27/2009 |
| 7431268 | Manual tire carrier with travel switch A tire carrier assembly for storing a spare tire on a vehicle which includes a carrier adapted for supporting the spare tire and a winch operatively connected to the carrier to raise and lower the carrier between a stowed position wherein the carrier is inaccessible... | 10/07/2008 |
| 7338115 | Motor vehicle rear floor The present invention relates to a motor vehicle rear floor (32) that is intended to form part of a motor vehicle rear block, the block including two longitudinal rails (12), each having a front end forming a rear structural node (20) of the veh... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7270209 | Modular fuel storage system for a vehicle A gaseous fuel storage system for a vehicle is disclosed. The fuel storage system can be installed as a modular unit in the vehicle. The fuel storage system is pivotable relative to the vehicle to allow easy accessibility to the storage tanks without requiring the s... | 09/18/2007 |
| 7226104 | Vehicle tool guide structure A vehicle body supporting structure arrangement that an inner body member, an outer body member a manually operated mechanism and a tool guide tube. The inner body member has an inner aperture. The outer body member has an outer aperture that is offset with respect ... | 06/05/2007 |
| 7195298 | Stability restraint for vehicle spare wheel Restraining a spare wheel in a vehicular floor recession during a vehicle rear impact event is accomplished by securing a connection member from a first anchoring location outside of the recession to a second location within the floor recession. The spare wheel lies... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7195231 | Spare tire security system Disclosed is a security device to protect the spare tire on a vehicle from possible theft. The spare tire, especially in sport utility vehicles, is located on the rear underside of the vehicle and is secured by a cable and yoke. The security device comprises a plate... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7174751 | Method of using a kingpin lock holder The present invention is a method of using a durable, cylinder-like device that is inserted within the main cylinder part of a kingpin lock. One preferred embodiment, of several, has an outside diameter in close tolerance to the inside diameter of a kingpin lock dev... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7073779 | Winch assembly A winch assembly is provided for use with a tire carrier having a mounting plate. The winch assembly includes a spool, a torque limiter and a housing. The housing has a closed end and an open end. The open end is adapted to be fixedly secured to the mounting plate t... | 07/11/2006 |
| 7073778 | Apparatus for supporting automotive tires An apparatus for supporting automotive tires is provided having a hanger pin adapted to fit through the mount hole of a vehicle wheel. The apparatus is intended to be installed on an automotive hoist at a height approximately the same as that of a tire of a vehicle ... | 07/11/2006 |
| 7028989 | Tire carrier A tire carrier assembly for storing a spare tire on a vehicle which includes a carrier adapted for supporting the spare tire and a winch operatively connected to the carrier to raise and lower the carrier between a stowed position wherein the carrier is inaccessible... | 04/18/2006 |
| 7021884 | Removable tire caddy and method of use A removable tire caddy and method of use for providing convenient access and manipulation of a vehicle-mounted spare tire. The removable tire caddy includes a wheeled carriage frame designed to support a tire on at least two wheels. In the center of the carriage is ... | 04/04/2006 |
| 7007964 | Motorcycle lift bar and method A two-wheeled vehicle uprighting device having a support bar with a stabilizing base on one end and a ratcheting mechanism on another end, and a lifting strap with a first end adapted for attachment to a lower portion of the two-wheeled vehicle and a second end for ... | 03/07/2006 |
| 6923394 | Reeling device for a hoisting system The invention provides a reeling device for a hoisting system, including a flexible member having a lower end and an upper end, a rotatable drum on which the flexible member is windable, disk means rotatably mounted on said drum, to which disk means the upper end of... | 08/02/2005 |
| 6871841 | Apparatus for supporting a spare tire and wheel assembly on a motor vehicle A tire lift winch unit includes a depending cable connected through a plastic bushing to an adapter supporting a spare tire and wheel assembly for movement between an elevated stored position an a lower ground engaging position. A secondary support system includes a... | 03/29/2005 |
| 6648577 | Vehicle spare tire container A generally cylindrical shaped unitary body container is adapted to hold a spare vehicle tire. The container is compatible with a vehicle cable retraction system and has at least one aperture through which a horizontal member at the cable terminus support... | 11/18/2003 |
| 6561489 | Automatic winch drive system An automatic winch drive system (AWDS) adapted to mount a motorized conveyance and designed specifically to raise and lower a spare tire and wheel. The AWDS is adapted to mount a motorized conveyance at the rear portion of same during factory installation... | 05/13/2003 |
| 6547219 | Safety latch for a tire carrier and improvements therefor A winch assembly includes a winch coupled to a bracket, a carrier having first and second members, and a latch coupled to one of the bracket and the first member. A flexible member extends through apertures extending through the first and second members. ... | 04/15/2003 |
| 6505488 | Spare tire lock A tire lock mounts to an opening in the vehicle frame in order to suspend a locking bar down through an opening in the spare wheel. A locking device may then be slid over the distal end of the locking bar in order to lock the spare wheel securely in place... | 01/14/2003 |
| 6435479 | Load-securing device The invention provides a device for securing the upper terminal position of a liftable and lowerable object, comprising cable means having a hoist-side end and an object-side end; a stationary bracket having an aperture disposed in a substantially horizon... | 08/20/2002 |
| 6427884 | Arrangement for storing a spare tire An arrangement for storing a spare tire includes a cable coupled to the spare tire. A winch device is disposed between the motor vehicle and the cable and is operative for raising and lowering the tire in response to actuation thereof. A spring device is ... | 08/06/2002 |
| 6427981 | Secondary latch for a tire carrier A tire carrier assembly for storing a spare tire of a motor vehicle includes a tire carrier adapted for supporting the spare tire, a winch assembly operably connected to the tire carrier to raise and lower the tire carrier between a stowed position wherei... | 08/06/2002 |
| 6406000 | Load-securing device The invention provides a device for securing the upper terminal position of a liftable and lowerable object, comprising cable means having a hoist-side end and an object-side end; a stationary bracket having an aperture disposed in a substantially horizon... | 06/18/2002 |
| 6279793 | Removal aid for a spare wheel The present invention relates to a removal aid for a spare wheel of a motor vehicle having at least one strap which, at one end, is fastened to a vehicle body section, extends from there under the spare wheel and beyond it and can be braced at the other e... | 08/28/2001 |
| 6220574 | Winch handle A connector for automobile winches comprises a generally cylindrical body with a winch drive shaft receiving end and a crank receiving end. The drive shaft receiving end is provided with a pair of opposed openings through which a retaining pin, attached t... | 04/24/2001 |
| 6142449 | Apparatus suitable for securing an article under a vehicle An apparatus is provided that is suitable for securing an article (e.g., a spare tire and wheel assembly) suspended in an elevated position underneath a support article (e.g., a vehicle) by a resilient support member. The apparatus includes a stationary b... | 11/07/2000 |
| 6092790 | Safety latch for a tire carrier and improvements therefor A winch assembly is provided including a single mounting bracket for mounting the winch assembly directly to a frame (for example beams) of a vehicle having a front and rear. The mounting bracket has a winch mounting area provided therewith, and a tire ca... | 07/25/2000 |
| 6079932 | Corrosion resistant spare tire storage and retrieval system and safety latch assembly for a vehicle, and method of using same A support member for supportively holding a spare tire beneath a vehicle includes a platform section having a cutout area formed therein, the cutout area having an upper cutout portion and a lower cutout portion; and an insert which fits engagingly into t... | 06/27/2000 |
| 6067825 | Spare wheel lock construction A vehicle spare wheel lock construction including a lock body having a funnel guide mounted on one end thereof and a multi-fingered spring-type retaining washer mounted on the other end thereof for biting engagement with the internal surface of a handle r... | 05/30/2000 |
| 6047574 | Lock construction for automotive spare wheel winch A lock arrangement for blocking the open end of a winch inlet tube of a spare wheel hoist and storage winch mounted on a vehicle frame having a bumper mounted thereon with a hole in the bumper for permitting access to the winch inlet tube, the lock arrang... | 04/11/2000 |
| 5993133 | Retractable spare tire carrier An apparatus designed to carry a spare tire against the underside of a vehicle, rearwardly thereof, featuring a mounting plate, for the tire assembly, attached to the first end of a cantilever arm. The second end of the cantilever arm is pivotally attache... | 11/30/1999 |
| 5975498 | Spare tire lift/carrier unit with dual retainers A spare tire and wheel assembly for a motor vehicle are held in a stored position under the vehicle body by a compact tire lift unit or winch having a primary flexible cable extending to the center of a retaining bracket releasably attached to the wheel h... | 11/02/1999 |
| 5975827 | Spare tire mounting structure A spare tire bracket 1 composed of a disk-shaped flat plate member is disposed on the upper surface of a spare tire 4 in such a manner that the spare tire bracket 1 is in contact with the spare tire 4, while a hoist device mounting bracket 2 is fixed to t... | 11/02/1999 |
| 5960654 | Spare tire carrier lock A spare tire carrier lock including a split body collectively formed of at least two body sections, wherein the exterior shape of the split body is complementary to the shape of a predetermined socket of a hoist shaft of a hoist assembly for a spare tire ... | 10/05/1999 |
| 5957346 | Spare tire stowage system for sport utility vehicle A system for stowing a spare tire on the exterior of a sport utility vehicle includes a carrier that holds the spare tire and that can pivoted between a highway configuration, wherein the spare tire is positioned beneath the chassis to thereby provide uni... | 09/28/1999 |
| 5954246 | Automotive spare tire storage system A spare tire storage system for an automotive vehicle includes a swing arm having a first end rotatably attached to a first portion of a vehicle undercarriage and a second end detachably engagable to a second portion of a vehicle undercarriage, the swing ... | 09/21/1999 |
| 5943887 | Lock construction for automotive spare wheel winch A lock arrangement for blocking the open end of a winch inlet tube of a spare wheel hoist and storage winch mounted on a vehicle frame having a bumper mounted thereon with a hole in the bumper for permitting access to the winch inlet tube, the lock arrang... | 08/31/1999 |
| 5893494 | Device for storage of a spare tire beneath a floor of an automotive vehicle and incorporating means for coupling a jack-storage housing A spare tire-storage device incorporating a movable support basket capable of housing the tire, this basket being coupled to a housing used to store an object. The coupling arrangement (12) is configured in such a way as to permit positioning of the housi... | 04/13/1999 |
