Alert device for pneumatic object

• US 7,030,744 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2004
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hsug Fang Wang
• Original Assignee: Hsug Fang Wang
• Inventors: Wang, Hsug Fang
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V.
• Application Number:
  US10/786,645
• Publication Number:
  US 20040164853A1
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 340/442, 340/445, 340/443, 340/444, 340/446, 340/447, 340/449, 731/465, 731/464, 116/34.R, 116/34.A, 116/34.B, 152/152.1, 152/415
• US Class Current: 340/442
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0496 Valve stem attachments positioned outside of the tyre chamber

Abstract

An alert device, which is adapted for mounting to a valve of a pneumatic object, is capable of detecting any decrease in the interior pneumatic pressure of the pneumatic object and generating a warning signal immediately therefor. The alert device includes a signal arrangement and a connector, wherein the signal arrangement includes a cap, a signal generator fittingly received in the cap, and a power supply arrangement comprising a first contact unit and a second contact unit, and the connector comprises a power inlet and a power outlet.

Claims

1. An alert system for vehicle tire, comprising at least an alert device provided at a tire valve of the vehicle tire, wherein said alert device comprises:

a signal arrangement which comprises a cap, a signal generator received in said cap, and a power supply arrangement which comprises a first contact unit connected to said generator and a second contact unit; and

a connector, for connecting to the tire valve of the vehicle tire, which has a detecting cavity for communicating with an interior pneumatic pressure of the vehicle tire and comprises;

a conductor disposed in said detecting cavity;

a conducting unit normally positioned apart from said connector;

a resilient element disposed between said connector and said conducting unit for applying a force against said conducting unit towards said connector;

a power inlet connected to said second contact unit of said power supply arrangement; and

a power outlet connected to said signal generator, wherein when the interior pneumatic pressure of the vehicle tire is higher than a predetermined standard pressure, said conducting unit is spaced apart from said conductor such that said power inlet and said power outlet are electrically disconnect with each other, wherein when the interior pneumatic pressure of the vehicle tire is lower than said predetermined standard pressure, said resilient element pushes said conducting unit to contact with said conductor such that said power inlet and said power outlet are electrically connected to transmit electricity from said power inlet through said second contact unit of said power supply arrangement to said power outlet and generate a warning signal.

2. The alert system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said connector further comprises a first communicating unit for connecting to the tire valve of the vehicle tire and a second communicating unit spaced apart from said first communicating unit to hold said conductor in position.

3. The alert system, as recited in claim 2, wherein said connector comprises an insulating plate positioned at a bottom surface of said second communicating unit, wherein said conductor is mounted on said second communicating unit at a position to surround a peripheral portion of said insulating plate so as to securely connect said insulating plate with said second communicating unit, wherein said detecting cavity is defined between said bottom surface of said second communicating unit and said insulating plate when resilient element is compressed and shortened in length by the interior pneumatic pressure of the vehicle tire.

4. The alert system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said connector further comprises a main body having a tooth-shaped outer surface, wherein an opening of said cap has an inner surface to receive said outer surface of said connector so as to securely connect said cap to said connector.

5. The alert system, as recited in claim 3, wherein said connector further comprises a main body having a tooth-shaped outer surface, wherein an opening of said cap has an inner surface to receive said outer surface of said connector so as to securely connect said cap to said connector.

6. The alert system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said alter deice further comprises a signal receiver communicated with said signal generator adapted for receiving a signal from said signal generator and transforming the signal to an audio output or a visual display for illustrating said warning signal with respect to said alert device that produces said warning signal.

7. The alert system, as recited in claim 3, wherein said alter device further comprises a signal receiver communicated with said signal generator adapted for receiving a signal from said signal generator and transforming the signal to an audio output or a visual display for illustrating said warning signal with respect to said alert device that produces said warning signal.

8. The alert system, as recited in claim 5, wherein said alter device further comprises a signal receiver communicated with said signal generator adapted for receiving a signal from said signal generator and transforming the signal to an audio output or a visual display for illustrating said warning signal with respect to said alert device that produces said warning signal.

9. The alert system, as recited in claim 6, wherein said signal receiver has a plurality of receiving channels correspondingly to various signal frequencies so as to distinguish said warning signal received from said alert device.

10. The alert system, as recited in claim 7, wherein said signal receiver has a plurality of receiving channels correspondingly to various signal frequencies so as to distinguish said warning signal received from said alert device.

11. The alert system, as recited in claim 8, wherein said signal receiver has a plurality of receiving channels correspondingly to various signal frequencies so as to distinguish said warning signal received from said alert device.

12. An alert device, comprising:

a signal arrangement which comprises a cap, a signal generator received in said cap, and a power supply arrangement which comprises a first contact unit connected to said generator and a second contact unit; and

a connector, adapted for mounting to a valve of a pneumatic object, which has a detecting cavity for communicating with a pneumatic pressure of the pneumatic object and comprises;

a conductor disposed in said detecting cavity;

a conducting unit normally positioned apart from said connector;

a resilient element disposed between said connector and said conducting unit for applying a force against said conducting unit towards said connector;

a power inlet connected to said second contact unit of said power supply arrangement; and

a power outlet connected to said signal generator, wherein when the pneumatic pressure of the pneumatic object is higher than a predetermined standard pressure, said conducting unit is spaced apart from said conductor such that said power inlet and said power outlet are electrically disconnect with each other, wherein when the pneumatic pressure of the pneumatic object is lower than said predetermined standard pressure, said resilient element pushes said conducting unit to contact with said conductor such that said power inlet and said power outlet are electrically connected to transmit electricity from said power inlet through said second contact unit of said power supply arrangement to said power outlet and generate a warning signal.

13. The alert device, as recited in claim 12, wherein said connector further comprises a first communicating unit for connecting to the tire valve of the vehicle tire and a second communicating unit spaced apart from said first communicating unit to hold said conductor in position.

14. The alert device, as recited in claim 13, wherein said connector comprises an insulating plate positioned at a bottom surface of said second communicating unit, wherein said conductor is mounted on said second communicating unit at a position to surround a peripheral portion of said insulating plate so as to securely connect said insulating plate with said second communicating unit, wherein said detecting cavity is defined between said bottom surface of said second communicating unit and said insulating plate when resilient element is compressed and shortened in length by the interior pneumatic pressure of the vehicle tire.

15. The alert device, as recited in claim 12, wherein said connector further comprises a main body having a tooth-shaped outer surface, wherein an opening of said cap has an inner surface to receive said outer surface of said connector so as to securely connect said cap to said connector.

16. The alert device, as recited in claim 14, wherein said connector further comprises a main body having a tooth-shaped outer surface, wherein an opening of said cap has an inner surface to receive said outer surface of said connector so as to securely connect said cap to said connector.

17. The alert device, as recited in claim 12, wherein said alter deice further comprises a signal receiver communicated with said signal generator adapted for receiving a signal from said signal generator and transforming the signal to an audio output or a visual display for illustrating said warning signal with respect to said alert device that produces said warning signal.

18. The alert device, as recited in claim 14, wherein said alter deice further comprises a signal receiver communicated with said signal generator adapted for receiving a signal from said signal generator and transforming the signal to an audio output or a visual display for illustrating said warning signal with respect to said alert device that produces said warning signal.

19. The alert device, as recited in claim 15, wherein said alter deice further comprises a signal receiver communicated with said signal generator adapted for receiving a signal from said signal generator and transforming the signal to an audio output or a visual display for illustrating said warning signal with respect to said alert device that produces said warning signal.

20. The alert device, as recited in claim 16, wherein said alter device further comprises a signal receiver communicated with said signal generator adapted for receiving a signal from said signal generator and transforming the signal to an audio output or a visual display for illustrating said warning signal with respect to said alert device that produces said warning signal.