Tire pressure monitor

• US 6,011,462 A
• Filed: 11/02/1998
• Issued: 01/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cooper, Jimmy K.
• Original Assignee: Cooper, Jimmy K.
• Inventors: Cooper, Jimmy K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US09/184,524
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 340/442, 340/445, 340/447, 340/539, 340/448, 116/34 R, 73/146.5, 73/146.8, 73/146.4, 200/61.22
• US Class Current: 340/442
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/02 Signalling devices actuated by tyre pressure hand-held tyre pressure gauges G01L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0496 Valve stem attachments positioned outside of the tyre chamber

Abstract

A tire pressure indicator has a spring-operated sensor mounted in an air chamber of a housing that attaches to a tire pressure valve. Indicator has adjustment screws, accessible from the exterior of the housing, for setting the sensor to a low level of acceptable tire pressure and a high level of acceptable tire pressure. When the pressure level outside of the set limits is detected, a bicolor light emitting diode provides a warning to a driver.

Claims

1. A device for indicating abnormal pressure in a tire provided with a pressure valve, the device comprising:

a hollow housing detachably mountable on the tire pressure valve, said housing defining a pressure chamber, said pressure chamber being in direct fluid communication with the tire pressure valve when the housing is mounted on the tire pressure valve;

a spring-operated pressure sensor mounted in the housing, said pressure sensor comprising a compression spring, a lid mounted above the compression spring, said lid allowing calibration of the pressure sensor for low pressure settings, and a sliding plate mounted in contact with the compression spring opposite said lid, said sliding plate allowing calibration of the pressure sensor for high pressure settings;

an inflatable sleeve mounted within said housing in contact with said lid for communicating tire pressure to said pressure sensor; and

a means operationally connected to the pressure sensor for visually displaying a condition in the tire pressure which is below or above the acceptable level.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising means for adjusting the pressure sensor to a low pressure level, said low pressure adjusting means comprising further comprising a means for adjusting a first adjustment screw engaging said compression spring, said first adjustment screw being accessible from an exterior of said housing.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising means for adjusting said pressure sensor to high pressure level, said high pressure adjusting means comprising a second adjustment screw engaging said sliding plate, said second adjustment screw being accessible from an exterior of said housing.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a power means for supplying electric power to said display means.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said display means is a bicolor light emitting diode.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said pressure sensor comprises a printed circuit board, a compression spring secured on said printed circuit board by an adjustment screw and a contact plate carried by said adjustment screw in abutting relationship to said compression spring.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said means for adjusting the pressure sensor to a low pressure level comprises a first contact member secured to said printed circuit board adjacent a first end of said contact plate, said first contact member establishing an electrical contact with said contact plate and said display means when the tire pressure drops below a pre-determined level.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said means for adjusting pressure sensor to a high pressure level comprises a second contact member secured to said printed board adjacent a second end of said contact plate, said second contact member establishing an electrical connection with said contact plate and said display means when the tire pressure exceeds a predetermined level.

9. A device for indicating abnormal pressure in a tire provided with a pressure valve, the device comprising:

a hollow housing detachably mountable on the tire pressure valve, said housing defining a pressure chamber, said pressure chamber fluidly communicating with the tire pressure valve when the housing is mounted on the tire;

a spring-operated pressure sensor mounted in the housing, said pressure sensor comprising a compression spring mounted in a compartment within said housing, said compartment having a lid above said compression spring;

a sliding plate mounted in said housing below said compression spring, said plate sliding to establish an electrical contact with said lid when an abnormal tire pressure is detected;

an inflatable sleeve mounted above said lid for exerting a downward pressure on said compression spring, said sleeve being filled with air from the tire when said housing is mounted on said tire;

a means extending into the pressure chamber for adjusting the pressure sensor to a low level of acceptable tire pressure;

a means extending into the pressure chamber for adjusting the pressure censor to a high level of acceptable tire pressure; and

a means operationally connected to the pressure censor for visually displaying a condition in the tire pressure which is below or above the acceptable level.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein said means adjusting the pressure sensor to a low pressure level comprises a first adjustment screw engaging said compression spring, said first adjustment screw being accessible from an exterior of said housing.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein said means for adjusting the pressure sensor to a high pressure level comprises a second adjustment screw extending from a bottom of the pressure sensor chamber for contact with said sliding plate, said second adjustment screw being accessible from an exterior of said housing to allow calibration of the pressure sensor for desired pressure seting.

12. The device of claim 9, further comprising a power means for supplying electric power to said display means.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein said display means is a bicolor light emitting diode.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein said display means is a bicolor light emitting diode.

14. A device for indicating abnormal pressure in a tire provided with a pressure valve, the device comprising:

a hollow housing detachably mountable on the tire pressure valve, said housing defining a pressure chamber, said pressure chamber fluidly communicating with the tire pressure valve when the housing is mounted on the tire, said pressure sensor comprising a printed circuit board, a compression spring secured on said printed circuit board by an adjustment screw extending transversely through said printed circuit board and a contact plate extending in a substantially parallel relationship to said printed circuit board, said contact plate being carried by said adjustment screw in abutting relationship to said compression spring;

a means extending into the pressure chamber for adjusting the pressure sensor to a low level of acceptable tire pressure, said means for adjusting the pressure sensor to a low pressure level comprising a first contact member secured to said printed circuit board adjacent a first end of said contact plate, said first contact member establishing an electrical contact with said contact plate and said display means when the tire pressure drops below a pre-determined level and the contact plate moves into a contact with the first contact member;

a means extending into the pressure chamber for adjusting the pressure sensor to a high level of acceptable tire pressure, said means for adjusting pressure sensor to a high pressure level comprises a second contact member secured to said printed board adjacent a second end of said contact plate, said second contact member establishing an electrical connection with said contact plate and said display means when the tire pressure exceeds a pre-determined level and the contact plate moves into a contact with the second contact member; and

a means operationally connected to the pressure sensor for visually displaying a condition in the tire pressure which is below or above the acceptable level.

16. The device of claim 14, further comprising a power means for supplying electrical power to said display means.