Tire pressure indicator

• US 5,025,244 A
• Filed: 07/27/1990
• Issued: 06/18/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tien-Tsai Huang
• Original Assignee: Tien-Tsai Huang
• Inventors: Huang, Tien-Tsai
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US07/558,647
• Time in Patent Office: 326 Days
• Field of Search: 340/442-445, 340/626, 340/691, 340/447, 73/146.2, 73/146.5, 73/146.8, 116/34 R, 116/34 A, 116/34 B, 200/61.22, 137/223-225, 137/233
• US Class Current: 340/442
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0496 Valve stem attachments positioned outside of the tyre chamber
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3755 Valve actuating, assembling or locking means on cap

Abstract

A tire pressure indicator includes: a hollow cylindrical body with a closed side and an open side; a light bulb with a threaded negative portion and a positive contact detachably mounted at the closed side of the hollow cylindrical body; a transparent cover positioned at the closed side over the light bulb; a first conductor, together with a piston container, connected to the threaded negative portion of the light bulb; a sleeve member movably disposed around the piston container in the hollow cylindrical body; a piston unit composed of a mercury cell, a pressure spring and a sliding member movably disposed in the piston container; a pressure sensor which is a combination of a flexible film member, a second conductor and an air-channel member fixed on the closed side of the sleeve member under the piston unit; and a supporting base with an air chamber screw-connected to the open side of the hollow cylindrical body; whereby, when the air pressure indicator is connected to the tire valve of an associated tire, the tire pressure condition of the associated tire can be monitored and indicated via the light bulb without incurring any air pressure leakage of the associated tire.

Claims

1. A tire pressure indicator having a hollow cylindrical body formed with a closed side at one end thereof and an open side at another end thereof for being positioned on a tire valve of an associated tire, comprising:

a pressure-indicating mechanism having a visible tire-deflated condition and a tire-inflated condition;

a sleeve member with a closed side located at a lower end thereof movably disposed in the hollow cylindrical body with a portion of said pressure-indicating mechanism being received therein;

a piston means movably disposed in an inner chamber of said pressure-indicating mechanism so as to be controlled by the tire pressure of an associated tire for operating said pressure-indicating mechanism to indicate the tire-deflated and tire-inflated conditions in conjunction with the tire pressure of the associated tire;

a pressure sensing means fixedly provided under said piston means for being detachably connected to the time valve of the associated tire to monitor and indicate the pressure of the associated tire; and

a supporting base, having an air chamber formed therein with internal and external threads provided therearound, screw-connected to the open side of the hollow cylindrical body for being detachably connected to the tire valve of the associated tire;

whereby, with said tire pressure indicator being detachably connected to an associated tire, the pressure of the associated tire can be monitored and indicated via the pressure-indicating mechanism without incurring any air pressure leakage therefrom even when the hollow cylindrical body is damaged or loosened.

2. A tire pressure indicator according to claim 1 wherein said piston means comprises:

a mercury cell having a positive end being kept in contact with a positive end of a light bulb in the hollow cylindrical body;

a pressure spring member having an upper end positioned under a bottom side of said mercury cell for keeping said mercury cell in contact with the positive end of the light bulb thereat; and

a sliding member placed under a lower end of said pressure spring member for being operated by the tire pressure of an associated tire to cause said pressure spring member to either be compressed or released thereat so as to turn the light bulb on or off therewith.