Device for measuring tire pressure and tire tread depth

• US 4,970,894 A
• Filed: 10/26/1989
• Issued: 11/20/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tien-Tsai Huang
• Original Assignee: Tien-Tsai Huang
• Inventors: Huang, Tien-Tsai
• Primary Examiner(s): WOODIEL, DONALD
• Application Number:
  US07/427,297
• Time in Patent Office: 390 Days
• Field of Search: 73/146.8, 73/744, 73/146, 340/442
• US Class Current: 73/146.8
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/18 for measuring depth
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 17/00 Devices or apparatus for measuring tyre pressure or the pressure in other inflated bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0092 Pressure sensor associated with other sensors, e.g. for measuring acceleration or temperature G01L9/025, G01L9/045, G01L9/065, G01L9/085, G01L9/105, G01L9/125, G01L19/02, G01L19/04 take precedence; measuring two or more variable G01D21/02; temperature sensors with pressure compensation G01K1/26

Abstract

A safety device includes a compacted body accommodating a pressure gauge for determining the internal pressure of a tire and a unit for determining the degree of wear caused to the tread of a tire, which includes a slide ruler to measure the depth of the indentations in the tread of the tire. The slide ruler is received in a slide groove provided in the body of the device and associated with graduation marks which show the depth of the indent in the tire tread when the slide ruler extends thereinto.

Claims

1. A device for measuring an internal pressure and a tread depth of a tire comprising:

a body having an elongated bore which accommodates a pressure sensing and measuring unit, and an adapter to connect said pressure sensing and measuring unit to an inflating valve of the tire,

said body further having a first slide groove extending adjacent said bore, a slide piece received in said first slide groove, means for preventing said slide piece from escaping, and graduation marks provided on said slide piece,

said slide piece having a bottom tapered end to extend out from said first slide groove to a tread of the tire and a front face to be exposed from said first slide groove, said first slide groove having a bottom end to permit said bottom end of said slide piece to move outward, and a front open end to expose said front face of said slide piece.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body is a flat body which has a broad front face, a broad rear face, two opposite side face interconnecting said front and rear faces, a top face and a bottom face.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said bore is provided adjacent one of said side faces, said preventing means including a tail portion extending rearward from said slide piece, and a second slide groove provided in said flat body adjacent said rear face for receiving said tail portion, said second groove having a bottom end terminating at a level higher than said bottom end of said first slide groove, said bottom end of said second slide groove preventing said tail portion from moving further downward when said tail portion reaches thereat, thereby limiting the downward movement of said slide piece.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said preventing means further including a restricted front groove portion in said first slide groove adjacent said front open end, and a top stop member fitted in a top portion of said first slide groove.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said pressure sensing and measuring unit includes a tube provided in said bore, a hollow plug member provided at one end of said tube, having one end communicated with said adapter and another end communicated with said tube, a spring-loaded pressure responsive block interrupting the communication between said tube and said hollow plug, a pressure responsive piston provided in said tube, a graduated piston rod connected to said piston, and a pressure release means associated with said tube.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a key ring attached to said body.

7. A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an alarm means incorporated into said body.