Towed vehicle monitor system

• US 6,225,895 B1
• Filed: 05/26/1999
• Issued: 05/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Floyd E. Bigelow Jr
• Original Assignee: Floyd E. Bigelow Jr
• Inventors: Bigelow, Floyd E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T.
• Application Number:
  US09/320,350
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 340/442, 340/443, 340/444
• US Class Current: 340/442
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00 Devices for measuring, signalling, controlling, or distributing tyre pressure or temperature, specially adapted for mounting on vehicles; Arrangement of tyre inflating devices on vehicles, e.g. of pumps or of tanks; Tyre cooling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/009 having wheels on a trailer
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/02 Signalling devices actuated by tyre pressure hand-held tyre pressure gauges G01L17/00

Abstract

A system has been invented for monitoring at least one tire of a towed vehicle, the system in one aspect using mechanical indicators in conjunction with appropriate electrical wiring circuits and lights or other warning apparatus at a driver'"'"'s position in a towing vehicle to signal the lowering of a tire due to loss of air pressure in the tire. Certain embodiments of such a system do not require the use of a monitoring camera and related video apparatus. In other systems according to the present invention, one or more cameras are used to provide a real-time view of either the tire(s) of a towing vehicle, tire pressure indicator(s), or both.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring at least one tire of a towed vehicle, the system comprising

a towing vehicle,

a towed vehicle connected to and towed by the towing vehicle, the towed vehicle having a plurality of tires,

at least one tire pressure indicator on the towed vehicle for indicating loss of air pressure in one of the plurality of tires,

at least one video camera on one of the towing vehicle or towed vehicle, said at least one camera positioned for viewing in real-time the at least one tire pressure indicator,

video apparatus with viewing apparatus, the video apparatus interconnected with the at least one camera for providing to a person in the towing vehicle in real-time a view on viewing apparatus of the at least one tire pressure indicator of the towed vehicle,

the at least one tire pressure indicator including switch apparatus mounted to the towed vehicle,

the switch apparatus having a movable switch;

movable arm apparatus having a first end spaced apart from a second end, the first end secured to the towed vehicle, the second end sized and positioned for moving the movable arm apparatus upon contact of the second end with ground to contact the movable switch of the switch apparatus;

indicator apparatus in a circuit that includes the switch apparatus and an electrical power source, movement of the movable switch by the movable arm apparatus closing the circuit to activate the indicator apparatus, the indicator apparatus for giving an indication of lowering of the towed vehicle due to decreased air pressure in a tire thereof.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one camera is on the towing vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one camera is on the towed vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the indicator apparatus includes a light on the towed vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the indicator apparatus includes a light in the towing vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the indicator apparatus includes a light on the switch apparatus.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the movable arm apparatus is length-adjustable.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the movable arm apparatus is movable away from a lower side of the towed vehicle and releasably securable to the towed vehicle.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the electrical power source is on the towed vehicle.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one camera is two spaced-apart cameras, one for viewing each of two sides of the towed vehicle.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one camera is movably mounted.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the towing vehicle is selected from the group consisting of automobile, truck, motorcoach, motorhome, and motorized prime mover.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the towed vehicle is selected from the group consisting of automobile, truck, trailer and mobilehome.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the video apparatus includes wiring, electronic apparatus interconnected with the at least one camera by the wiring, and a screen viewable by a person in the towing vehicle and interconnected with the electronic apparatus for presenting a view of the at least one of the plurality of tires of the towed vehicle.

15. The system of claim 1 further comprising

a wheel for contacting the ground, the wheel rotatably mounted to the second end of the movable arm apparatus.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising

a tire on the wheel.