TIRE STATUS DISPLAY SYSTEM FOR A CARGO TRAILER

• US 20110043342A1
• Filed: 08/19/2009
• Published: 02/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dale Edward Umstot, Joseph Carmine Lettieri, Peter Ross Shepler, Richard Nicholas Crano, Robert Leon Benedict
• Original Assignee: Dale Edward Umstot, Joseph Carmine Lettieri, Peter Ross Shepler, Richard Nicholas Crano, Robert Leon Benedict
• Inventors: Lettieri, Joseph Carmine, Benedict, Robert Leon, Umstot, Dale Edward, Crano, Richard Nicholas, Shepler, Peter Ross
• Application Number:
  US12/543,567
• Publication Number:
  US 20110043342A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/431
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/007 having multiple wheels arranged side by side
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/008 having wheels on more than two axles
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/009 having wheels on a trailer
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0401 characterised by the type of alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0406 Alarms noticeable from outside the vehicle, e.g. indication in side mirror, front light or audible alarms B60C23/0403, B60C23/0405 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver

Abstract

A multi-tire trailer and display system includes a trailer and a tire status display unit externally mounted to the trailer and operative to communicate a visible trailer tire inflation pressure status indicia, the display unit mounted to a forward end of the trailer at a mounting location operatively visible to an operator of a tractor during coupled operation of the tractor and the trailer. The display unit has a display panel operatively illuminated for visibly communicating the inflation status of the trailer tires and the display panel may communicate changes in the inflation status of the trailer tires by differentiated colored light emission. The display unit is at an elevated mounting location at a forward end of the trailer so as to be visible by means of a rear-view tractor mirror to an operator of a tractor coupled to the trailer as well as ground personnel. A data processing unit receives tire pressure measurement data from the trailer tires and controls the illumination of the display unit attached to the trailer.

Claims

1. A multi-tire trailer and display system comprising:

a trailer having a cargo containment body supported by a plurality of wheel units, each wheel unit having a mounted tire;

a tire status display unit externally mounted to the trailer and operative to communicate a visible trailer tire inflation pressure status indicia, the display unit mounted to a forward end of the trailer at a mounting location operatively visible to an operator of a tractor during coupled operation of the tractor and the trailer.

2. The trailer and display system according to claim 1, wherein the display unit having a display panel operatively illuminated for visibly communicating the inflation status of the trailer tires.

3. The trailer and display system according to claim 2, wherein the display panel communicates changes in the inflation status of the trailer tires at least partially by differentiated colored light emission.

4. The trailer and display system according to claim 1, wherein the display unit mounting location is at an elevated position operatively visible by means of at least one rear-view tractor mirror to an operator of a tractor coupled to the trailer during coupled tractor and trailer operation.

5. The trailer and display system according to claim 4, wherein the display unit includes a substantially L-shaped mounting bracket operatively mounting to a forward corner location of the trailer at the elevated position.

6. The trailer and display system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of tire inflation pressure monitoring devices, each device mounted to measure tire inflation pressure of a respective tire and transmit measured tire inflation pressure data;

at least one antenna operative to receive the measured tire inflation pressure data from the tire monitoring devices and communicate the received measured tire inflation pressure data to a data processing unit;

the data processing unit coupled to the display unit for operatively controlling the display unit to generate a visible trailer tire inflation pressure status indicia appropriate to the measured tire pressure inflation data.

7. The trailer and display system according to claim 6, wherein the display unit having a display panel operatively illuminated for visibly communicating the inflation status of the trailer tires.

8. The trailer and display system according to claim 7, wherein the display panel communicates changes in the inflation status of the trailer tires at least partially by differentiated colored light emission.

9. The trailer and display system according to claim 6, wherein the display unit mounting location is at an elevated position operatively visible by means of at least one rear-view tractor mirror to an operator of a tractor coupled to the trailer during coupled tractor and trailer operation.