Portable tire inflator and reflective device

• US 8,925,594 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2012
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bell Automotive Products Incorporated (Hoppy Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Bell Automotive Products Incorporated (Hoppy Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Ohm, Patrick L., Kong, C. Kwai, Okamura, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Maust, Timothy L
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHMID, ANDREW C
• Application Number:
  US13/342,833
• Publication Number:
  US 20120168030A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,099 Days
• Field of Search: 141/38, 141/94, 141/95, 417/234
• US Class Current: 141/38
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 5/046 using electrical or electronical means
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 35/04 the means being electric
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 35/06 Mobile combinations

Abstract

The present disclosure describes a structure for a portable tire inflator that includes a triangular housing comprising a triangular face, a triangular back, two sides extending between the triangular face and the triangular back on first and second sides of the triangular face and back, and a support base on a third side of the triangular face and back extending between the triangular face and the triangular back, a pump motor within the housing. The inflator may be configured such that a majority of the total weight of the portable tire inflator is positioned between the middle of the triangular face and the base. The tire inflator may also include a reflective border on at least two of three edges of the triangular face and an air pressure indicator responsive to air pressure within the air hose, the air pressure indicator visible on an external surface of the housing.

Claims

1. A portable tire inflator, comprising:

a triangular housing comprising a triangular face, a triangular back, two sides extending between the triangular face and the triangular back on first and second sides of the triangular face and back, and a support base on a third side of the triangular face and back extending between the triangular face and the triangular back;

a pump motor within the housing;

a reflective border on at least two of three edges of the triangular face;

an air hose extending from the housing and in fluid communication with the pump motor such that when the pump motor is activated pressurized air from the pump motor is passed to the air hose;

an air pressure indicator responsive to air pressure within the air hose, the air pressure indicator visible on an external surface of the housing; and

a power switch disposed on the housing and electrically coupled to the pump motor;

at least one light emitting diode (LED) border light between the reflective border and the triangular face, the at least one LED border light being visible through the reflective border when the at least one LED is activated;

wherein a majority of a total weight of the portable tire inflator is positioned between a midpoint of the triangular face and the base.

2. The portable tire inflator of claim 1, further comprising at least one LED side light on a rotatable arm on at least one side of the two sides and a light switch electrically coupled to the at least one LED side light.

3. The portable tire inflator of claim 1, further comprising at least one LED face light on the triangular face of the housing, wherein the at least one LED face light flashes when activated.

4. The portable tire inflator of claim 1, further comprising a retractable hanger within a slot at a peak of the triangular housing, the retractable hanger configured to retract into the slot to a first, storage position, and extend from the slot to a second, hanger position, the retractable hanger comprising an aperture therethrough.

5. The portable tire inflator of claim 4, further comprising an air pressure regulator operably associated with the motor to restrict the tire inflator from inflating a tire through the air hose beyond a preset tire air pressure value.

6. The portable tire inflator of claim 5, wherein the air pressure indicator comprises an air pressure display comprising a radial air pressure gauge and a needle that together are responsive to tire air pressure during tire inflator use.

7. The portable tire inflator of claim 6, further comprising a regulator dial comprising a regulator marker, wherein the regulator dial is configured to rotate about the radial air pressure gauge such that the marker establishes the preset tire air pressure value.

8. The portable tire inflator of claim 5, wherein the air pressure indicator comprises an air pressure display comprising a digital air pressure gauge that is responsive to tire air pressure during tire inflator use.

9. The portable tire inflator of claim 8, further comprising programming buttons on the digital air pressure gauge, the programming buttons configured to allow a user to program the preset tire pressure value.

10. The portable tire inflator of claim 5, further comprising an inflation connector and a deflation connector on the face of the body.

11. The portable tire inflator of claim 5, wherein the power switch comprises a first position for a high pump motor setting, a second position for a low pump motor setting, and a third position for an off pump motor setting.

12. The portable tire inflator of claim 1, wherein a reflective border on at least two of three edges of the triangular face comprises a reflective border on three edges of the triangular face.

13. A portable tire inflator, comprising:

a triangular housing comprising a triangular face, a triangular back, two sides extending between the triangular face and the triangular back on first and second sides of the triangular face and back, and a support base on a third side of the triangular face and back extending between the triangular face and the triangular back;

a pump motor within the housing;

a reflective border on at least two of three edges of the triangular face;

an air hose extending from the housing and in fluid communication with the pump motor such that when the pump motor is activated pressurized air from the pump motor is passed to the air hose;

an air pressure indicator responsive to air pressure within the air hose, the air pressure indicator visible on an external surface of the housing and comprising an air pressure display comprising a radial air pressure gauge and a needle that together are responsive to tire air pressure during tire inflator use;

a regulator dial comprising a regulator marker, wherein the regulator dial is configured to rotate about the radial air pressure gauge such that the marker establishes the preset tire air pressure value;

a power switch disposed on the housing and electrically coupled to the pump motor;

a retractable hanger within a slot at a peak of the triangular housing, the retractable hanger configured to retract into the slot to a first, storage position, and extend from the slot to a second, hanger position, the retractable hanger comprising an aperture therethrough; and

an air pressure regulator operably associated with the motor to restrict the tire inflator from inflating a tire through the air hose beyond a preset tire air pressure value.

14. The portable tire inflator of claim 13, further comprising at least one light emitting diode (LED) side light on a rotatable arm on at least one side of the two sides and a light switch electrically coupled to the at least one LED side light.

15. The portable tire inflator of claims 13, further comprising at least one LED border light between the reflective border and the triangular face, the at least one LED border light being visible through the reflective border when the at least one LED is activated.

16. The portable tire inflator of claim 13, further comprising at least one LED face light on the triangular face of the housing, wherein the at least one LED face light flashes when activated.

17. The portable tire inflator of claim 13, further comprising an inflation connector and a deflation connector on the face of the body.

18. The portable tire inflator of claim 13, wherein the power switch comprises a first position for a high pump motor setting, a second position for a low pump motor setting, and a third position for an off pump motor setting.

19. The portable tire inflator of claim 13, wherein a reflective border on at least two of three edges of the triangular face comprises a reflective border on three edges of the triangular face.