Tire pressure gauge

• US 4,704,901 A
• Filed: 05/19/1986
• Issued: 11/10/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Unibank A/S (Singapore Branch) (Huntington Bancshares Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Neotech Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Ripley, David R., Rocco, Art
• Primary Examiner(s): Woodiel, Donald O.
• Application Number:
  US06/864,799
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 73/146.8, 73/146.3, 73/146.5, 340/58
• 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

Abstract

A tire pressure gauge located within a self-contained enclosure having a chargeable numeric display at its exterior. An air inlet on the enclosure is utilized to establish pneumatic communication between the interior of an inflated tire and the interior of the enclosure. The enclosure interior is provided with electronic pressure responsive circuits operably connected to the display for presenting a numerical reading of air pressure. A power control circuit is operated by a programmed CPU, which electronically shifts it between operative and inoperative states to prolong battery life. The programmed CPU also detects maximum pressure readings, which are announced to the user by an electronically driven audible signal device within the hand-held enclosure.

Claims

1. A tire pressure gauge, comprising:

a self-contained enclosure having a changeable numerical display visible at one exterior surface;

air inlet means mounted to the enclosure for sealing engagement against the outer end of the valve stem on an inflated tire and wheel assembly for establishing pneumatic communication between the interior of an inflated tire and the interior of the enclosure;

electronic pressure responsive means within the enclosure, the electronic pressure responsive means being operably connected to the display for producing, when powered, a numerical presentation on the display corresponding to air pressure within the interior of the enclosure while in pneumatic communication with the interior of an inflated tire;

a power source within the enclosure;

power control means within the enclosure operably connected between the power source, the electronic pressure responsive means and the display, the power control means being electronically shiftable between a first state in which operation of the electronic pressure responsive means and display are powered and a second state in which they are inoperative; and

switch means within the enclosure, operably connected to the power control means for selectively causing the power control means to be shifted to its first state when the switch means is actuated;

the electronic pressure responsive means being operable to cause the power control means to be shifted to its second state following a first predetermined time period after actuation of the switch means unless pneumatic communication is established between the interior of the enclosure and the interior of an inflated tire prior to expiration of the first predetermined time period.

2. The tire pressure gague of claim 1 wherein the switch means comprises a manually operable switch controllable at the exterior of the enclosure.

3. A tire pressure gauge, comprising:

a self-contained enclosure having a changeable numerical display visible at one exterior surface;

air inlet means mounted to the enclosure for sealing engagement against the outer end of the valve stem on an inflated tire and wheel assembly for establishing pneumatic communication between the interior of an inflated tire and the interior of the enclosure;

electronic pressure responsive means within the enclosure, the electronic pressure responsive means being operably connected to the display for producing, when powered, a numerical presentation on the display corresponding to air pressure within the interior of the enclosure while in pneumatic communication with the interior of an inflated tire;

a power source within the enclosure;

power control means within the enclosure operably connected between the power source, the electronic pressure responsive means and the display, the power control means being electronically shiftable between a first state in which operation of the electronic pressure responsive means and display are powered and a second state in which they are inoperative; and

switch means within the enclosure, operably connected to the power control means for selectively causing the power control means to be shifted to its first state when the switch means is actuated;

the electronic pressure responsive means being operable to cause the display to present an ascending sequence of numerical values corresponding to air pressure within the enclosure within a predetermined time period after pneumatic communication is established between the interior of the enclosure and the interior of an inflated tire; and

the electronic pressure responsive means being operable to cause the power control means to be shifted to its second state at the conclusion of the predetermined time period.

4. A tire pressure gauge, comprising:

a self-contained enclosure having a changeable numerical display visible at one exterior surface;

air inlet means mounted to the enclosure for sealing engagement against the outer end of the valve stem on an inflated tire and wheel assembly for establishing pneumatic communication between the interior of an inflated tire and the interior of the enclosure;

electronic pressure responsive means within the enclosure, the electronic pressure responsive means being operably connected to the display for producing, when powered, a numerical presentation on the display corresponding to air pressure within the interior of the enclosure while in pneumatic communication with the interior of an inflated tire;

a power source within the enclosure;

power control means within the enclosure operably connected between the power source, the electronic pressure responsive means and the display, the power control means being electronically shiftable between a first state in which operation of the electronic pressure responsive means and display are powered and a second state in which they are inoperative; and

switch means within the enclosure, operably connected to the power control means for selectively causing the power control means to be shifted to its first state when the switch means is actuated;

the electronic pressure responsive means being operable to detect the maximum air pressure within the interior of the enclosure and then maintain a visual presentation of the corresponding numerical value at the display for a predetermined time period; and

the electronic pressure responsive means being operable to cause the power control means to be shifted to its second state at the conclusion of the predetermined time period.

5. A tire pressure gauge, comprising:

a self-contained enclosure having a changeable numerical display visible at one exterior surface;

air inlet means mounted to the enclosure for sealing engagement against the outer end of the valve stem on an inflated tire and wheel assembly for establishing pneumatic communication between the interior of an inflated tire and the interior of the enclosure;

electronic pressure responsive means within the enclosure, the electronic pressure responsive means being operably connected to the display for producing, when powered, a numerical presentation on the display corresponding to air pressure within the interior of the enclosure while in pneumatic communication with the interior of an inflated tire;

a power source within the enclosure;

power control means within the enclosure operably connected between the power source, the electronic pressure responsive means and the display, the power control means being electronically shiftable between a first state in which operation of the electronic pressure responsive means and display are powered and a second state in which they are inoperative; and

switch means within the enclosure, operably connected to the power control means for selectively causing the power control means to be shifted to its first state when the switch means is actuated;

the electronic pressure responsive means being operable to detect the maximum air pressure within the interior of the enclosure and to maintain a visual presentation of the corresponding numerical value at the display for a second predetermined time period following such detection;

signal means within the enclosure, the signal means being operably connected to the electronic pressure responsive means;

the electronic pressure responsive means being operable to actuate the signal means when maximum air pressure within the interior of the enclosure is detected.

6. The tire pressure gauge of claim 5 wherein the signal means comprises an audible signal device.

7. A tire pressure gauge, comprising:

a self-contained enclosure having a changeable numerical display visible at one exterior surface;

air inlet means mounted to the enclosure for sealing engagement against the outer end of the valve stem on an inflated tire and wheel assembly for establishing pneumatic communication between the interior of an inflated tire and the interior of the enclosure;

battery-powered electronic pressure responsive means within the enclosure, the electronic pressure responsive means being operably connected to the display for producing a numerical presentation on the display corresponding to air pressure within the interior of the enclosure while in pneumatic communication with the interior of an inflated tire;

signal means within the enclosure, the signal means being operably connected to the electronic pressure responsive means;

the electronic pressure responsive means being operable to detect the maximum air pressure within the interior of the enclosure and to actuate the signal means when maximum air pressure within the interior of the enclosure is detected.

8. The tire pressure gauge of claim 7, wherein the electronic pressure responsive means is operable to maintain a visual presentation of the corresponding numerical value presented by the display at the time that maximum air pressure within the interior of the enclosure is detected.

9. The tire pressure gauge of claim 7, wherein the electronic pressure responsive means is operable to maintain a visual presentation of the corresponding numerical value presented by the display at the time the maximum air pressure within the interior of the enclosure is detected for a predetermined time period following its detection.

10. The tire pressure gauge of claim 7 wherein the signal means comprises an audible signal device.