Method and apparatus for monitoring tire pressure with a color indicator

• US 20040025582A1
• Filed: 08/08/2002
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tire Guard U.S.A.
• Original Assignee: Tire Guard U.S.A.
• Inventors: Wiseman, Fred J. Jr., Miller, Laurence D., Cook, Ronald D.
• Application Number:
  US10/215,179
• Publication Number:
  US 20040025582A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/146.8
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 17/00 Devices or apparatus for measuring tyre pressure or the pressure in other inflated bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/12 Alarms or signals

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for monitoring the air pressure of a tire. Various colors are displayed by the apparatus to denote an inflation level of the tire, and the apparatus may remain coupled to the air nozzle of a tire indefinitely. The apparatus may include a diaphragm that deforms in response to an air pressure differential on opposing sides thereof. Deformation of the diaphragm may alter the position of a color indicating cup, such that a color is displayed through an observation window, informing a user as to the inflation state of the tire.

Claims

1. A tire pressure monitoring apparatus, comprising:

a housing;

a diaphragm configured within said housing to deform in response to an air pressure differential;

a cover coupled to said housing to retain said diaphragm within said housing, said cover further including a transparent window; and

a color indicating cup disposed within said housing between said diaphragm and said cover, said color indicating cup being visible through said transparent window and further including;

a first color band to indicate that a tire pressure is at least near optimum; and

a second color band to indicate that a tire pressure is insufficient,

wherein a deformation state of said diaphragm causes said first color band, said second color band, or a portion of each of two color bands to become visible through said transparent window.

2. The tire pressure monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein said housing further includes a partition including at least one hole disposed therethrough.

3. The tire pressure monitoring apparatus of claim 2, wherein said partition includes two holes.

4. The tire pressure monitoring apparatus of claim 2, wherein said partition includes a valve stem adapted to contact a central member of an air nozzle.

5. The tire pressure monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cover further includes an opaque portion.

6. The tire pressure monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein said color indicating cup includes a third color band to indicate that a tire pressure is within an acceptable range, although not near optimum, said third color band being disposed between said first color band and said second color band.

7. The tire pressure monitoring apparatus of claim 1, further including a spring to maintain contact between said color indicating cup and said cover, said spring being disposed between said color indicating cup and said cover.

8. The tire pressure monitoring apparatus of claim 1, further including an O-ring to provide a substantially airtight seal between said housing and an air nozzle to which said housing is adapted to couple.

9. The tire pressure monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein said diaphragm includes a center portion to deform in response to an air pressure differential.

10. The tire pressure monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein said housing, said cover and said diaphragm are cylindrical.

11. A method for monitoring the air pressure of a tire, comprising:

observing a color band through a transparent window of an apparatus comprising;

a housing;

a diaphragm configured within said housing to deform in response to an air pressure differential;

a cover coupled to said housing to retain said diaphragm within said housing, said cover further including a transparent window; and

a color indicating cup disposed within said housing between said diaphragm and said cover, said color indicating cup being visible through said transparent window and further including;

a first color band to indicate that a tire pressure is at least near optimum; and

a second color band to indicate that a tire pressure is insufficient,

wherein a deformation state of said diaphragm causes said first color band, said second color band, or a portion of each of two color bands to become visible through said transparent window.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said housing further includes a partition including at least one hole disposed therethrough.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said partition includes two holes.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said partition includes a valve stem adapted to contact a central member of an air nozzle.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein said cover further includes an opaque portion.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein said color indicating cup includes a third color band to indicate that a tire pressure is within an acceptable range, although not near optimum, said third color band being disposed between said first color band and said second color band.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein said apparatus further includes a spring to maintain contact between said color indicating cup and said cover, said spring being disposed between said color indicating cup and said cover.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein said apparatus further includes an O-ring to provide a substantially airtight seal between said housing and an air nozzle to which said housing is adapted to couple.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein said diaphragm includes a center portion to deform in response to an air pressure differential.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein said housing, said cover and said diaphragm are cylindrical.