Dashboard mounted tire pressure indicator

• US 5,349,328 A
• Filed: 09/13/1993
• Issued: 09/20/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pete S. Lonzame
• Original Assignee: Pete S. Lonzame
• Inventors: Lonzame, Pete S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TONG, NINA C
• Application Number:
  US08/120,076
• Time in Patent Office: 372 Days
• Field of Search: 340/442, 340/443, 340/444, 73/146.4, 73/146.5, 116/34 R, 200/61.22, 152/417
• US Class Current: 340/442
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/06 Signalling devices actuated by deformation of the tyre , e.g. tyre mounted deformation sensors or indirect determination of tyre deformation based on wheel speed, wheel-centre to ground distance or inclination of wheel axle

Abstract

An indicator housing is arranged in operative communication to a plurality of sensor housings, each mounted to a backing plate of an associated vehicle, such that each sensor housing includes a sensor rod reciprocatingly and slidably projecting from the sensor housing, such that upon the respective tire relative to each sensor housing losing air pressure and bulging, deflection of the sensor rod is indicated within the vehicle through the indicator housing.

Claims

1. A dashboard mounted tire pressure indicator apparatus arranged for securement and mounting within a vehicle, the vehicle having a plurality of vehicular tires, with each said of vehicular tires rotatively directed about a backing plate, the apparatus comprising,

a plurality pressure sensors mounted on respective said vehicular tires wherein each of said sensors comprising,

a mounting bracket mounted to a respective said backing plate, wherein said mounting bracket includes a sensor housing, the sensor housing having a front wall spaced from a rear wail, the rear wall mounted to said bracket;

and

a sensor rod reciprocatably directed through the front wall arranged for adjacency to a respective vehicular tire; and

the sensor rod including a mounting plate positioned within the sensor housing between the front wall and the rear wall reciprocatably mounted within the sensor housing, with the sensor rod fixedly mounted to said mounting plate and the mounting plate having a first contact and the rear wall having a second contact, whereupon displacement of the sensor rod within the sensor housing effects engagement of the first contact with the second contact;

the apparatus further comprising;

an indicator housing mounted within said vehicle, with the indicator housing including at least one illumination bulb in operative communication with said first contact and said second contact, Whereupon engagement of said first contact with said second contact effects illumination of said illumination bulb.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein a first spring is captured within said sensor housing between said mounting plate and said front wall, and a second spring captured within said sensor housing between said rear wall and said mounting plate.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said mounting bracket includes a first bracket plate and a second bracket plate, and a hinge pivotally mounting said first bracket plate to said second bracket plate, a spring leg fixedly mounted to said first bracket plate extending over said hinge, with said spring leg having a projection, and the second bracket plate having a second plate recess, with said projection arranged for reception within said recess permitting displacement of said projection relative to said recess and pivoting of said first bracket plate to said second bracket plate.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said sensor rod includes a sensor rod base leg fixedly secured to said mounting plate, with said sensor rod base leg including a sleeve threadedly receiving said sensor rod base leg, and a roller mounted to said sleeve.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said sleeve includes a plurality of spaced support plates, with an axle extending between said support plates and said roller rotatably mounted about said axle., said sensor rod base leg and said sleeve coaxially aligned relative to one another about an axis, with said axle orthogonally oriented relative to said axis.