Diaphragm-type tire pressure indicator

• US 6,525,655 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2001
• Issued: 02/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tien-Tsai Huang
• Original Assignee: Tien-Tsai Huang
• Inventors: Huang, Tien-Tsai
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUNG T
• Application Number:
  US09/892,762
• Publication Number:
  US 20030001733A1
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• Field of Search: 340/442, 340/447, 340/539, 340/626, 340/445, 731/465, 731/468, 116/34.R, 200/61.22, 137/233
• US Class Current: 340/442
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/04 mounted on the wheel or tyre
• 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 diaphragm-type tire pressure indicator is fixedly fastened to the air nozzle of a vehicle tire for indicating a low pressure of the tire. A flexible diaphragm is mounted in a receiving chamber in the casing of the tire pressure indicator. A push rod is connected to the flexible diaphragm for being moved up and down with the diaphragm subject to the status of the tire pressure of the vehicle tire. A sleeve is mounted in the receiving chamber and is around the push rod. A spring is sleeved onto the push rod.

Claims

1. A diaphragm-type tire pressure indicator for being installed in the air nozzle of a vehicle tire to give an indication when the tire pressure of the vehicle tire is low, comprising:

a casing having a receiving chamber and a coupling unit;

a movable diaphragm mounted in the receiving chamber of the casing;

a push rod connected to the movable diaphragm for being moved up and down with the movable diaphragm;

a sleeve mounted in the receiving chamber of the casing and around the push rod, the sleeve having a bottom end and a top end; and

a spring means sleeved onto the push rod; and

an adjustment cap fastened to the top end of the sleeve in such a manner that the push rod extends out of the adjustment cap, so as to achieve a micro-calibration function by adjusting a position of the adjustment cap relative to the top end of the sleeve.

2. The diaphragm-type tire pressure indicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the push rod has one end formed integral with the diaphragm.

3. The diaphragm-type tire pressure indicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movable diaphragm is a flexible diaphragm.

4. The diaphragm-type tire pressure indicator as claimed in claim 3, wherein the flexible diaphragm comprises a mounting base positioned at the bottom end of the sleeve, and a corrugated expansible portion within the mounting base.

5. The diaphragm-type tire pressure indicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sleeve comprises an inside flange and an outside flange;

the push rod has an outward flange radially extended from the bottom edge thereof and fixedly connected to the diaphragm; and

the spring means is sleeved onto the push rod and positioned between the outward flange of the push rod and the inside flange of the sleeve.

6. The diaphragm-type tire pressure indicator as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a washer sleeved onto the push rod and positioned between the outward flange of the push rod and the spring means.

7. The diaphragm-type tire pressure indicator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a transparent cover coupled to the casing, the transparent cover having a through hole.

8. The diaphragm-type tire pressure indicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coupling unit of the casing comprises a press rod.

9. A diaphragm-type tire pressure indicator for being installed in the air nozzle of a vehicle tire to give an indication when the tire pressure of the vehicle tire is low, comprising:

a casing having a receiving chamber and a coupling unit;

a flexible diaphragm mounted in the receiving chamber of the casing;

a push rod connected to the movable diaphragm for being moved up and down with the movable diaphragm;

a sleeve mounted in the receiving chamber of the casing around the push rod, the sleeve having a bottom end and a top end;

an adjustment cap fastened to the top end of the sleeve in such a manner that the push rod extends out of the adjustment cap, so as to achieve a micro-calibration function by adjusting a position of the adjustment cap relative to the top end of the sleeve;

a spring means sleeved onto the push rod;

a conductive member mounted on the adjustment cap;

a circuit board electrically mounted on the conductive member, the circuit board having a light emitting element; and

a battery seat mounted on the push rod for holding a battery cell, the battery cell having a first electrode connected to the light emitting element and a second electrode electrically connected to the battery seat, whereby the battery seat is moved up and down with the push rod relative to the conductive member to selectively contact with the conductive member for turning on the light emitting element.

10. The diaphragm-type tire pressure indicator of claim 9, wherein the conductive member has an inward bottom flange connected to the adjustment cap.

11. The diaphragm-type tire pressure indicator of claim 9, wherein the light emitting diode has a first terminal connected to a conductive spring arranged below the circuit board for electrically connecting the first electrode of the battery cell, and a second terminal connected to a conductor provided at a bottom edge of the circuit board for electrically connecting the conductive member.

12. The diaphragm-type tire pressure indicator of claim 9, wherein the battery seat has a bottom screw rod threaded into a top end of the push rod for being rotated upwards and downwards relative to the conductive member to achieve a micro-calibration function.

13. The diaphragm-type tire pressure indicator of claim 9, wherein the flexible diaphragm comprises a mounting base positioned at the bottom end of the sleeve, and a corrugated expansible portion within the mounting base.

14. The diaphragm-type tire pressure indicator of claim 9, wherein the sleeve comprises an inside flange and an outside flange;

the push rod has an outward flange radially extended from a bottom edge thereof and fixedly connected to the movable diaphragm; and

the spring means sleeved onto the push rod is arranged between the outward flange of the push rod and the inside flange of the sleeve.

15. The diaphragm-type tire pressure indicator of claim 9, further comprising a transparent cover coupled to the casing to hold down the circuit board.

16. A diaphragm-type tire pressure indicator for being installed in the air nozzle of a vehicle tire to give an indication when the tire pressure of the vehicle tire is low, comprising:

a casing having a receiving chamber and a coupling unit;

a flexible diaphragm mounted in the receiving chamber of the casing;

a push-rod connected to the diaphragm for being moved up and down with the diaphragm;

a sleeve mounted in the receiving chamber of the casing around the push rod, the sleeve having a bottom end and a top end;

an adjustment cap fastened to the top end of the sleeve in such a manner that the push rod extends out of the adjustment cap, so as to achieve a micro-calibration function by adjusting a position of the adjustment cap relative to the top end of the sleeve;

a spring means sleeved onto the push rod;

a conductive member mounted on the adjustment cap;

a circuit board electrically mounted on the conductive member, the circuit board having an RF transmitter module; and

a battery seat mounted on the push rod and for holding a battery cell, the battery cell having a first electrode connected to the RF transmitter module and a second electrode electrically connected to the battery seat, wherein the battery seat is moved up and down with the push rod, relative to the conductive member, to selectively contact the conductive member for outputting a radio signal indicating a low pressure of the tire.

17. The diaphragm-type tire pressure indicator of claim 16, further comprising a metal contact member having an inward bottom flange connected to the adjustment cap.

18. The diaphragm-type tire pressure indicator of claim 16, wherein the battery seat comprises a bottom screw rod threaded into a top end of the push rod for being rotated upwards and downwards relative to the metal contact member so as to achieve a micro-calibration function.

19. The diaphragm-type tire pressure indicator of claim 16, wherein the flexible diaphragm comprises a mounting base positioned at the bottom end of the sleeve, and a corrugated expansible portion within the mounting base.

20. The diaphragm-type tire pressure indicator of claim 16, wherein the sleeve comprises an inside flange and an outside flange;

the push rod has an outward flange radially extended from a bottom edge thereof and fixedly connected to the flexible diaphragm; and

the spring means sleeved onto the push rod is arranged between the outward flange of the push rod and the inside flange of the sleeve.

21. The diaphragm-type tire pressure indicator of claim 16, further comprising a transparent cover coupled to the casing to hold down the circuit board.

22. The diaphragm-type tire pressure indicator of claim 16, wherein the RF transmitter module comprises a memory for storing an ID code of the RF transmitter module and a tire code of the vehicle tire that is installed with the diaphragm-type tire pressure indicator, a control circuit, and a transmitting circuit controlled by the control circuit to transmit data stored in the memory.