Low tire pressure indicator

• US 6,531,960 B1
• Filed: 11/14/2000
• Issued: 03/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TAGG Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Peter Gladstone
• Inventors: Gladstone, Peter, Liemke, Hans-Georg, Gundlach, John, Merle, Thomas C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUNG T
• Application Number:
  US09/712,706
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 340/442, 340/444, 340/450, 340/447, 731/468, 737/15, 737/44, 116/34.R, 116/266, 116/270
• US Class Current: 340/442
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0496 Valve stem attachments positioned outside of the tyre chamber

Abstract

A tire pressure indication device is provided that continuously monitors pressure of a tire and instantaneously generates a visual display having an easy to read indication as soon as the tire pressure falls below a safe threshold limit. This device includes a dome shaped upper end. A two color dome shaped indicator element is disposed therein having two colors or other visually distinguishable markings which are visible through viewing areas. The dome element is rotatable in response to sensed tire pressure to provide a visual indication of low pressure and another visually distinct indication of safe pressure. The lower end of the body includes a connector to be fitted or threaded onto the valve stem of a tire. Multiple seals are provided within the device to substantially eliminate air or gas from escaping to the atmosphere. Thereby, the device can remain on the tire valve and monitor pressure for long periods of time.

Claims

1. A tire pressure indicator comprising:

a valve connector for connecting the tire pressure indicator to a tire;

a cam mechanism having a body with a bottom surface coupled to said valve connector for sensing pressure from the tire and a piston disposed to slide axially within said body having a plurality of legs each terminating in a respective outer cam surface and said legs extending outward through openings in a top surface of said body; and

an indicator having a cylindrical portion and a plurality of ribs extending inward from the cylindrical portion, each of the ribs contacting a respective outer cam surface;

said indicator being rotatable in response to axial movement of said piston, said outer cam surfaces of said legs providing non-linear rotation of said indicator;

said indicator having a visible display portion including a first visual indication when pressure from the tire is in a safe state equal to or above a predetermined safe threshold level and a second visual indication when pressure from the tire is in a warning state below said predetermined safe threshold level;

said piston moving axially in response to tire pressure and operative to provide a non-linear rotational displacement of said indicator to trigger an abrupt transition from said first visual indication to said second visual indication in response to the tire pressure changing between said safe and warning states.

2. A tire pressure indicator according to claim 1, wherein said cam mechanism comprises a seal, a pressure spring, said piston, and a retainer.

3. A tire pressure indicator according to claim 2, wherein said seal comprises an elastomer diaphragm seal for axially displacing said piston by a deflection of said seal in response to pressure from the tire.

4. A tire pressure indicator according to claim 2, wherein each of said legs contact respective ones of said ribs for triggering said abrupt transition of said indicator from said first to said second visual indications in response to the tire pressure changing between said safe and warning states.

5. A tire pressure indicator according to claim 2, wherein said pressure spring comprises a linear spring that is calibrated for relating pressure from the tire to axial displacement of said piston.

6. A tire pressure indicator according to claim 2, wherein said piston, said retainer and said indicator comprise light weight plastic.

7. A tire pressure indicator according to claim 1, wherein said indicator comprises an indicator dome and an indicator cover.

8. A tire pressure indicator according to claim 7, wherein said indicator dome comprises a plurality of first visual indicator markings representing said first visual indication and a plurality of second indicator markings representing said second visual indication, said plurality of first and second visual indicator markings corresponding in number to each other.

9. A tire pressure indicator according to claim 8, wherein said indicator cover comprises a plurality of viewing areas for displaying said first and second indicator markings, said plurality of viewing areas corresponding in number to said plurality of first and second indicator markings.

10. A tire pressure indicator according to claim 9, wherein said indicator dome is triggered to provide said non-linear rotational displacement and said abrupt transition from said first to said second indicator markings being displayed through said viewing areas in response to pressure from the tire sensed by said cam mechanism changing from said safe to said warning states.