Electronic monitoring device and patch assembly

• US 20020174925A1
• Filed: 07/09/2002
• Published: 11/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire LLC (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire LLC (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Inventors: Koch, Russell W., Rensel, John D., Wilson, Paul B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,009,506 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 152/415
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 2030/0072 Attaching fasteners to tyres, e.g. patches, in order to connect devices to tyres
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 2030/0077 Directly attaching monitoring devices to tyres before or after vulcanization, e.g. microchips
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/04 mounted on the wheel or tyre
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0433 Radio signals
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0493 for attachment on the tyre

Abstract

A monitoring device and patch assembly includes a patch that removably and re-attachably holds the monitoring device. The patch is adapted to connect the monitoring device to a pneumatic tire when the monitoring device is held by the patch. The patch is configured to hold a monitoring device having a rounded outer surface. The patch holds the rounded monitoring device by having a resilient tube with an outlet having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the monitoring device. The monitoring device of the invention includes a feature that allows it to be removed from the patch.

Claims

1. A tire monitoring device and patch assembly for mounting the monitoring device in a tire;

the assembly comprising;

a patch adapted to be connected to the tire;

the patch having a base and a tube section projecting from the base;

the base and tube section defining a cavity having a longitudinal axis disposed substantially perpendicular to the base;

an electronic monitoring device having a body; and

at least a portion of the electronic monitoring device being disposed in the cavity.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the tube section has a continuous sidewall that terminates in a lip;

the lip defining an opening to the cavity defined by the patch.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein a portion of the electronic monitoring device extends out of the opening defined by the lip.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the body of the monitoring device defines a retraction opening;

the retraction opening being disposed outside of the cavity defined by the base and tube section.

5. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a layer of bonding material between the patch and the innerliner.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the patch defines an opening to the cavity;

the opening having maximum width dimension;

the body of the electronic monitoring device having a maximum width dimension;

the maximum width dimension of the opening being smaller than the maximum width dimension of the electronic monitoring device.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the patch defines an opening having a resting position that has a resting size;

the body of the electronic monitoring device having a width smaller than the resting size of the opening.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein more than half of the body of the monitoring device is disposed within the cavity.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the body of the monitoring device defines a breathing tube having an opening;

the opening of the breathing tube being positioned outside the cavity of the patch

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the body of the monitoring device is substantially spherical.

11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the body of the monitoring device is an oblong sphere.

12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the body of the monitoring device has an outer surface that is curved.

13. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the electronic monitoring device includes an antenna;

the antenna being disposed substantially perpendicular to the base.

14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the body of the electronic monitoring device surrounds the antenna.

15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the body of the electronic monitoring device is teardrop shaped.

18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the retraction opening passes through the body of the electronic monitoring device.

20. The assembly of claim 19, wherein the head portion of the body is threaded to the patch.

21. The assembly of claim 19, wherein the teardrop shaped body is removably and replaceably connected to the patch.

16. A tire monitoring device and patch assembly for mounting the monitoring device in a tire;

the assembly comprising;

a patch adapted to be connected to the tire;

the patch having, a base and a tube section projecting from the base;

the base and tube section defining a cavity having a longitudinal axis disposed substantially perpendicular to the base;

the tube section having a continuous sidewall that terminates in a lip;

the lip defining an opening to the cavity defined by the patch

an electronic monitoring device having a body; and

a major portion of the body of the electronic monitoring device being disposed in the cavity with a portion of the body of the electronic monitoring device being disposed outside of the cavity.

17. A tire monitoring device and patch assembly for mounting the monitoring device in a tire;

the assembly comprising;

a patch adapted to be connected to the tire,

an electronic monitoring device having a body;

the body being substantially spherical;

the electronic monitoring device being selectively connected to the patch; and

the body of the electronic monitoring device defining a retraction opening;

the retraction opening being adapted to allow a retraction device to be inserted into the body of the electronic monitoring device such that the electronic monitoring device may be pulled from the patch with the retraction device.

19. A tire monitoring device and patch assembly for mounting the monitoring device in a tire;

the assembly comprising;

a patch adapted to be connected to the tire;

an electronic monitoring device having a body;

the body being teardrop shaped;

the teardrop shaped body having a head portion and a tail portion; and

the electronic monitoring device being connected to the patch.

22. A method for removing a monitoring device from a patch wherein at least half of the body of the monitoring device is disposed within a cavity defined by the patch;

the cavity having an opening having a resting size;

the method comprising the steps of;

stretching the opening of the cavity to a size larger than the resting size of the opening; and

removing the monitoring device through the stretched opening.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of stretching the opening of the cavity while replacing at least a portion of the monitoring device into the cavity.