Non-attached electronic monitoring device for tire

• US 6,910,372 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2003
• Issued: 06/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire LLC (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire LLC (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Inventors: Wilson, Paul B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cygan, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALLEN, ANDRE J
• Application Number:
  US10/394,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20040182146A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 731/46, 731/468, 731/462, 731/463, 731/464, 731/465, 340/440, 340/442
• US Class Current: 73/146.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver

Abstract

A monitoring device for a pneumatic tire includes a body having a central portion with a monitoring assembly carried by the central portion. A plurality of spaced fingers project from the central portion of the body. The fingers support the monitoring assembly in a spaced located from the inner surface of the tire. The fingers also cushion the monitoring assembly and raise it above any liquid that may be disposed in the tire. In one embodiment, the fingers are designed to position the center of the device at the center of the tire sidewall. In this embodiment, the fingers may be configured to engage the tire and rim at the same time.

Claims

1. A monitoring device for use inside a pneumatic tire;

the pneumatic tire having an inner surface;

the monitoring device comprising;

a body having a central portion;

a monitoring assembly carried by the central portion of the body; and

the body including a plurality of spaced fingers projecting outwardly from the central portion of the body;

the fingers being configured to support the central portion of the body spaced from the inner surface of the tire regardless of the orientation of the body with respect to the tire.

2. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein each projecting finger is substantially conical.

3. The monitoring device of claim 2, wherein each substantially conical finger has a rounded tip.

4. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the projecting fingers have lengths wherein the combination of projecting fingers defines a sphere.

5. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the projecting fingers are evenly spaced about the body.

7. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the projecting fingers are fabricated from a foam material.

8. The monitoring device of claim 7, wherein the foam material is a rubber material.

9. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the projecting fingers are fabricated from a silicone material.

10. The monitoring device of claim 9, wherein the projecting fingers are fabricated from a silicone foam.

11. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the central portion has a first weight and the combined plurality of fingers has a second weight;

the first weight being larger than the second weight.

12. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the central portion of the body has a diameter;

the length of each finger being at least ½

of the diameter of the central portion.

13. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the central portion of the body is substantially spherical.

14. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the central portion of the body is water-tight.

48. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein six of the projecting fingers are disposed on three perpendicular axes.

6. A monitoring device for a pneumatic tire that has an inner surface;

the monitoring device comprising;

a body having a central portion;

a monitoring assembly carried by the central portion of the body;

the body including at least six spaced fingers projecting from the central portion of the body;

the fingers adapted to support the monitoring assembly in a spaced located from the inner surface of the tire; and

six of the projecting fingers being disposed on three perpendicular axes.

39. The monitoring device of claim 6, wherein the projecting fingers have lengths wherein the combination of projecting fingers defines a sphere.

40. The monitoring device of claim 6, wherein each projecting finger is substantially conical.

41. The monitoring device of claim 6, wherein the projecting fingers are fabricated from a foam material.

42. The monitoring device of claim 6, wherein the central portion has a first weight and the combined plurality of fingers has a second weight;

the first weight being larger than the second weight.

43. The monitoring device of claim 6, wherein the central portion of the body has a diameter;

the length of each finger being at least ½

of the diameter of the central portion.

15. A wheel having a monitoring device;

the wheel comprising;

a rim having a radially outer surface;

a tire having an inner surface;

the tire mounted to the rim to define a chamber between the inner surface of the tire and the radially outer surface of the rim; and

a monitoring device disposed in the chamber;

the monitoring device having a body having a central portion;

a monitoring assembly carried by the central portion of the body;

the body including a plurality of spaced fingers projecting outwardly from the central portion of the body;

the fingers supporting the central portion of the body spaced from the inner surface of the tire and the radially outer surface of the rim regardless of the orientation of the monitoring device with respect to the tire.

16. The wheel of claim 15, wherein the fingers of the monitoring device simultaneously engage the inner surface of the tire and the outer surface of the rim.

17. The wheel of claim 15, wherein the height of the monitoring device is greater than ¼

of the height of the tire.

18. The wheel of claim 17, wherein the height of the monitoring device is greater than ½

of the height of the tire.

19. The wheel of claim 18, wherein the height of the monitoring device is substantially equal to the height of the tire.

20. The wheel of claim 15, wherein each projecting finger is substantially conical.

21. The wheel of claim 20, wherein each substantially conical finger has a rounded tip.

22. The wheel of claim 15, wherein each of the projecting fingers has a length;

the lengths being substantially equal such that the combination of projecting fingers defines a sphere.

23. The wheel of claim 15, wherein the projecting fingers are evenly spaced about the body.

25. The wheel of claim 15, wherein the projecting fingers are fabricated from a foam material.

26. The wheel of claim 25, wherein the foam material is a rubber material.

27. The wheel of claim 15, wherein the projecting fingers are fabricated from a silicone material.

28. The wheel of claim 27, wherein the fingers are fabricated from a silicone foam.

29. The wheel of claim 15, wherein the central portion has a first weight and the combined plurality of fingers has a second weight;

the first weight being larger than the second weight.

30. The wheel of claim 15, wherein the central portion of the body has a diameter;

the length of each finger being at least ½

of the diameter of the central portion.

31. The wheel of claim 15, wherein the central portion of the body is substantially spherical.

32. The wheel of claim 15, wherein the central portion of the body is water-tight.

33. The wheel of claim 32, wherein the fingers are water tight.

34. The wheel of claim 32, wherein the fingers are porous.

47. The wheel of claim 15, wherein six of the projecting fingers are disposed on three perpendicular axes.

24. A wheel having a monitoring device;

the wheel comprising;

a rim having a radially outer surface;

a tire having an inner surface;

the tire mounted to the rim to define a chamber between the inner surface of the tire and the radially outer surface of the rim;

a monitoring device disposed in the chamber;

the monitoring device having a body having a central portion;

a monitoring assembly carried by the central portion of the body;

the body including at least six spaced fingers protecting from the central portion of the body;

the fingers adapted to support the monitoring assembly in a spaced located from the inner surface of the tire and the radially outer surface of the rim; and

six of the projecting fingers being disposed on three perpendicular axes.

44. The wheel of claim 24, wherein the combination of projecting fingers defines a sphere.

45. The wheel of claim 44, wherein each of the projecting fingers is fabricated from a foam material.

46. The wheel of claim 45, wherein the central portion has a first weight and the combined plurality of fingers has a second weight;

the first weight being larger than the second weight.

35. A wheel having a monitoring device;

the wheel comprising;

a rim having a radially outer surface;

a tire having an inner surface;

the tire mounted to the rim to define a chamber between the inner surface of the tire and the radially outer surface of the rim;

a monitoring device disposed in the chamber;

the monitoring device having a body having a central portion;

a monitoring assembly carried by the central portion of the body;

the body including a plurality of spaced fingers projecting from the central portion of the body;

the fingers adapted to support the monitoring assembly in a spaced located from the inner surface of the tire and the radially outer surface of the rim; and

a liquid in the tire;

the liquid having a maximum depth;

each finger having a length longer than the maximum depth of the liquid.

36. The wheel of claim 35, wherein the combination of projecting fingers defines a sphere.

37. The wheel of claim 36, wherein each of the projecting fingers is fabricated from a foam material.

38. The wheel of claim 37, wherein the central portion has a first weight and the combined plurality of fingers has a second weight;

the first weight being larger than the second weight.