1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an apparatus for storing and transporting a spare tire. More particularly, the invention relates to a spare tire carrier which is removable from the vehicle and doubles as a hand dolly for transporting the tire to and from the vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Currently spare tires for trucks and multiple wheeled vehicles are stored in a tire carrier rack placed under the vehicle. To retrieve the spare tire from the rack the tire must be pulled from the rack and slid or rolled along the ground. Storing the spare tire in the rack, similarly, requires sliding or rolling the spare tire under the truck and lifting it into the rack. Considering the weight and size of tires used on multiple wheeled vehicles, the operation described above is physically difficult and generally requires that the operator obtain assistance.
Several patents have issued which unsuccessfully address this problem. U.S. Pat. No. 2,489,561 issued to Kenneth C. Clark, on Nov. 26, 1946, describes an apparatus in which a tire is mounted on a swingable arm which is in turn mounted on the frame of the vehicle. The swingable arm allows the tire to be stored under the vehicle and allows the arm to pivot and place the tire in a vertical position near the axis for tire mounting operations. U.S. Pat. No. 3,554,397 issued to John Verl Cluff, on Nov. 29, 1968, describes an apparatus which is useful for flat bed vehicles. The spare tire is connected directly by a cable to two pullies and a winch. The winch is turned and the tire is pulled along the ground and lifted into a position under the vehicle frame.