Air leakage indicator device for a spare tire

• US 4,051,803 A
• Filed: 09/09/1976
• Issued: 10/04/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Charles V. Arnone
• Original Assignee: Charles V. Arnone
• Inventors: Arnone, Charles V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yasich, Daniel M.
• Application Number:
  US05/721,701
• Time in Patent Office: 390 Days
• Field of Search: 116/34 R, 116/34 B, 116/114 P, 73/420, 73/146.2, 73/146.3, 73/146.5, 73/146.8, 73/146.4
• US Class Current: 116/34.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/02 Signalling devices actuated by tyre pressure hand-held tyre pressure gauges G01L17/00
• 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

An indicator device positioned in the passenger compartment of an automotive vehicle to warn the operator of the vehicle when the air pressure in a spare tire, disposed in a remote location, is too low for emergency usage.

Claims

1. An air leakage indicator device for connection to an inflated spare tire of an automotive vehicle, the spare tire, mounted on a wheel with a valve stem provided with a normally closed valve core, being located in a storage compartment in a remote location relative to the passenger compartment of the vehicle, said air leakage indicator device comprising,

means including a pointer and a plurality of dial sections to indicate to a person in the passenger compartment of the automotive vehicle if the air pressure in the spare tire is or is not within a safe range for emergency use thereof,

attachment means removably fixed to the outer end portion of the valve stem of the spare tire, including means on a connection portion of the attachment means and connected to actuate the normally closed valve core of the valve stem to an open condition,

connecting means comprising a flexible air conduit having first and second end portions, fixedly connected at said first end portion to said valve stem attachment means and at said second end portion to said indicating means.

2. The air leakage indicator device as defined in claim 1 wherein said means to indicate comprises an air gauge.

3. The air leakage indicator device as defined in claim 2 wherein said air gauge includes a face dial with delineated "safe", "caution" and "danger" areas, and an indicator needle, operated by said air pressure in a conventional manner to visually indicate relative to said areas the degree of inflation of the spare tire.

4. The air leakage indicator device as defined in claim 3 wherein said "safe", "caution" and "danger" areas are respectively colored green, yellow and red.

5. The air leakage indicator device as defined in claim 1 wherein said attachment means comprises a shut-off valve, screw-threaded onto said valve stem and being of the type which automatically shuts off the flow of air therethrough at a predetermined, below normal air pressure such as twenty-five PSI.

6. The air leakage indicator device as defined in claim 1 wherein said attachment means comprises a cap, screw-threaded onto said valve stem and including an inner axially extending pin comprising said means to actuate said normally closed valve core to an open condition, said cap including a port communicating between the inner chamber of the spare tire via said valve core and said connecting means.