Tire deflation indicator

• US 4,895,097 A
• Filed: 10/06/1988
• Issued: 01/23/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alfred M. Lechnir
• Original Assignee: Alfred M. Lechnir
• Inventors: Lechnir, Alfred M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Worth, W. Morris
• Application Number:
  US07/254,241
• Time in Patent Office: 474 Days
• Field of Search: 116/28 R, 116/28 A, 116/34 R, 116/34 A, 116/34 B, 116/303, 116/173, 116/175
• US Class Current: 116/34.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/08 by touching the ground

Abstract

An apparatus for visually indicating to a driver of a towing vehicle the deflection of a pneumatic tire on the towed vehicle. A base member is mounted to the body of the towed vehicle in the proximity of the tire. A spring arm having a rotatable signal device of contracting colors is pivotally attached at one end to the base. A clip for releasably retaining the spring arm in a downward position in close proximity to the surface of the roadway is also attached to the base. Upon deflection of the tire the tip of the spring arm contacts the surface of the roadway which causes the spring arm to be released from the clip and move into a signaling position, extending outwardly from the towed vehicle and perpendicular to the direction of travel.

Claims

1. An apparatus for visually indicating to a driver of a towing vehicle deflation of a pneumatic tire on a towed vehicle having a frame positioned a distance from a roadway when said pneumatic tire is inflated comprising:

(a) mount means affixed to said frame;

(b) elongate signal carrying means, attached to said mount means having a first position substantially perpendicular to said frame, sideways to the direction of travel of said vehicles, and having a second, deflected position, proximate to but spaced a second distance from said roadway when said tire is inflated;

(c) means for urging said signal carrying means from the second position to the first position;

(d) means for retaining said signal carrying means in said second position, releasing said signal carrying means to said first position upon contact of said signal carrying means with said roadway.

2. An apparatus for mounting upon a vehicle traveling over a road surface to detect loss of pressure within a supporting inflated pneumatic tire thereof, comprising:

(a) a mounting plate affixed to an outer surface of said vehicle;

(b) a signal arm affixed to said mounting plate having a first position substantially horizontally extended from said vehicle and visible to a driver of said vehicle, perpendicular to the direction of travel of said vehicle, and having a second downwardly extending position, proximate to said road surface;

(c) means for urging said signal arm to said first position;

(d) restraining means affixed to said mounting plate for strongly restraining said signal arm in said second downwardly extending position against sideways motion, but releasably restraining said signal arm against rearward motion;

(e) said signal arm in said second downwardly extending position being mounted a distance clear of said road surface when said pneumatic tire is fully inflated, said signal arm coming into contact with said road surface when said pneumatic tire deflates.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 above, where said mounting plate is a magnetically affixed plate.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 above, wherein said mounting plate is an adhesively affixed plate.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 above, wherein said signal arm further comprises:

(a) a rotating signal means journaled upon said arm;

(b) said signal means having contrasting visual indicia thereupon; and

(c) means for retaining said rotating signal means upon said signal arm when said signal arm is in said first position.

6. The apparatus in claim 2 above, wherein said means urging said signal arm comprises a spring section, affixed at a first end to said plate and affixed at a second end to a rod section of said signal arm.

7. The apparatus in claim 5 above, wherein said means urging said signal arm comprises a spring section, affixed at a first end to said plate and affixed at a second end to a rod section of said signal arm.

8. An apparatus for signalling loss of pressure within a pneumatic tire supporting a vehicle a distance above a road surface comprising:

(a) a removably affixable plate for mounting upon the frame of said vehicle proximate said tire;

(b) an elongate spring section affixed at a first end to said plate extending in a first position substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of said vehicle;

(c) a signal rod section affixed to a second end of said spring section terminating in a tip end thereof;

(d) visual signal means, movably retained upon said rod section between said spring section and said tip;

(e) a clip affixed to said plate, extending in direction towards said road surface, retaining said signal rod section in a downward direction, proximate said road surface, said signal rod section being free to move from said clip upon application of a force from contact of said tip with said road surface;

(f) said plate being positioned such that, when said rod is restrained within said clip, said tip is positioned at a point distanced from said road surface when said pneumatic tire is inflated and in contact with said road surface when said pneumatic tire is deflated.