Tire pressure gauge and cap apparatus

• US 5,115,832 A
• Filed: 07/19/1991
• Issued: 05/26/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Douglas W. Capen, John S. Higdon
• Original Assignee: Douglas W. Capen, John S. Higdon
• Inventors: Higdon, John S., Capen, Douglas W.
• Primary Examiner(s): RIVELL, JOHN A
• Application Number:
  US07/733,176
• Time in Patent Office: 312 Days
• Field of Search: 137/227, 137/229, 137/557, 137/559, 73/146.3, 73/146.8, 116/34 R
• US Class Current: 137/227
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0496 Valve stem attachments positioned outside of the tyre chamber
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3662 With gauge or indicator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8359 Inspection means

Abstract

An apparatus including a body tube coaxially mounting an internally threaded lower cylindrical skirt at a lower terminal end thereof for securement to a valve member of a conventional automotive tire. An apertured cylindrical web is mounted adjacent an intersection of the tube and cylindrical skirt, including an axial rod fixedly mounted projecting coaxially of the skirt for projection and depressing of a central displacement needle seat, as utilized in automotive valves. A flexible web formed of memory retentent material is mounted adjacent an upper terminal end of the tube below a translucent viewing lens. The web includes a rigid boss member mounted thereon, whereupon proper inflation within an associated tire permits projection of the boss against the translucent lens for viewing of the boss'"'"' indica of proper inflation, whereupon deflation permitting the web to deflect and displace the boss relative to the lens provides visual indication of underinflated condition.

Claims

1. A tire pressure gauge and cap apparatus, comprising,

a body tube, the body tube including a lower terminal end and an upper terminal end, the lower terminal end including an internally threaded cylindrical skirt fixedly and coaxially mounted to the lower terminal end of the body tube, and

a cylindrical web fixedly mounted within the body tube adjacent the lower terminal end, with the cylindrical web including a plurality of apertures directed therethrough, the cylindrical web formed of a rigid material and including an axle rod fixedly, orthogonally, and coaxially mounted to the cylindrical web projecting downwardly therefrom within the skirt, and

a flexible web mounted within the body tube spaced from the upper terminal end of the body tube, and

a translucent rigid lens mounted within the body tube between the upper terminal end and the flexible web, whereupon deflection of the flexible web effects projection of the flexible web towards a bottom surface of the translucent lens, and

the flexible web is transparent and includes a rigid opaque boss member fixedly and coaxially mounted to a top surface of the flexible web, and

the translucent lens defines a convex lens projecting towards the upper terminal end of the tube, and

a transparent lens directed through the body tube between the cylindrical web and the transparent flexible web for directing illumination interiorly of the body tube and to the convex lens.