Inventors:
Joseph E. Mrozowski - Del Mar CA
Jeffery K. Fusco - La Jolla CA
Alfonso Albaisa - San Diego CA
Assignee:
Nissan Design International, Inc. - San Diego CA
International Classification:
B62D 4300
Abstract:
A primary rack and a secondary rack are connected to each other and are independently rotatably about vertical and horizontal axes, respectively. One end of the primary rack is mounted via hinge assemblies to the rear corner of a body of the utility vehicle. The secondary rack rack is hingedly mounted to the primary rack. The secondary rack carries a hub over which the wheel of a spare tire can mounted and secured. The secondary rack can be rotated through approximately 180 degrees between a raised configuration in which the spare tire is elevated off of a road surface on which the vehicle rests and a lowered configuration in which the spare tire also rests on the road surface.