Adapter incorporating a TPMS onto a truck tire valve

• US 8,567,241 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2012
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: William C. Falkenborg
• Original Assignee: William C. Falkenborg
• Inventors: Falkenborg, William C.
• Primary Examiner(s): ALLEN, ANDRE J
• Application Number:
  US13/369,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20120137763A1
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 73146-1468
• US Class Current: 73/146.8
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0494 Valve stem attachments positioned inside the tyre chamber
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 29/064 Hose connections for pneumatic tyres, e.g. to spare wheels

Abstract

An adapter assembly for attaching a tire pressure monitor onto an inflation valve which incorporates a distal end flange. An adapter is included in the assembly that consists of a collar having a configuration sized to fit over and be internally retained by the valve distal end flange. An O-ring is positioned on the flange contiguously engaging the collar. A tire pressure monitoring cap is threadably attached to the collar which is disposed above and compresses the O-ring between the cap, collar and valve end flange. The adapter permits the tire pressure monitor to be attached, for use with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and also prevents minor air leaks. A fourth embodiment incorporates an outward-extending integral arm formed with the collar for mounting the TPMS sensor on the drop center of the wheel.

Claims

1. An adapter assembly for incorporating a tire pressure monitor onto a truck tire pressure inflation valve, wherein said assembly comprises:

a) a truck tire pressure inflation valve, with the valve having a stem with a distal end flange,

b) a hollow adapter collar having a configuration sized to fit over said stem and be internally retained by said distal end flange, said hollow adapter collar having external monitor mounting means, with the adapter collar providing an interface with said tire pressure monitor, said adapter collar further comprising a cup-like configuration with an inner diameter sufficient to clear the outer edge of said valve stem distal end flange, wherein said adapter collar having a clearance hole within an end forming an inward-facing lip, wherein the lip inner diameter is dimensioned to permit the inflation valve stem to slide unrestricted within, and the lip interfacing with the distal end flange on a side facing a valve core proximal end, thereby permitting said inflation valve to incorporate a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), and

c) a modified aftermarket grommet fastened onto said adapter for interfacing between the adapter and a truck wheel, thus preventing possible minor leaks.

2. The adapter assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said hollow adapter collar further comprises an inward-stepped reduced outer diameter adjacent to said inward-facing lip for restriction clearance within a truck wheel.

3. The adapter assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said external monitor mounting means comprises an integral arm extending outward from said adapter collar, with a first mounting pad having a mounting hole therein, and an opposed second mounting pad having a mounting hole therein, for attachment of a specific tire pressure monitor to a selected pad according to the configuration of the tire pressure monitor and the type of truck wheel.

4. The adapter assembly as recited in claim 3 wherein said hollow adapter collar having said cup-like configuration with said clearance hole within an end forming an inward-facing lip, that is integrally formed with said arm extending outward from said adapter collar, with the arm being integral with the collar.

5. The adapter assembly as recited in claim 3 wherein said first mounting pad is angled away from the integral arm from 36-degrees to 39-degrees, and the second mounting pad is angled away from the integral arm from 15-degrees to 17-degrees, and the adapter collar has a flat edge essentially parallel with the integral arm for restriction clearance within a truck wheel.

6. The adapter assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said modified aftermarket grommet has a flat face on one side, and a flat face with a raised radial inner portion on the other side.

7. The adapter assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said hollow adapter collar having external monitor mounting means is investment cast or molded of a metallic material.