Status indicator and reminder system for vehicle temporary mobility kit

• US 8,981,921 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2012
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Miller, Thomas Lee, Watkins, Scott Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V
• Application Number:
  US13/343,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20120105222A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• Field of Search: 340457-4574, 340/425.5, 340/309.16, 340/540, 340/584, 340442-448, 340/431, 340/441, 702176-178, 702/184, 702/79, 701/30, 701/30.4, 368/10, 368/12, 368/89
• US Class Current: 340/457
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 73/166 Devices or methods for introducing sealing compositions into articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2030/00 Pneumatic or solid tyres or parts thereof conveyor belts B29L2031/7092; drive belts B29L2031/7094; fourdrinier belts B29L2031/733
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

A status indicator and reminder system for a temporary mobility kit for use in a vehicle having a tire pressure monitoring system. A tire sealant containing temporary mobility kit is fittable within the vehicle. A controller coupled to the temporary mobility kit and the tire pressure monitoring system will generate a service warning signal for the temporary mobility kit in response to information provided by the tire pressure monitoring system. The service warning signal will be provided at a message center in the vehicle to apprise the driver of the need to service the temporary mobility kit. The status indicator and reminder system may also utilize inputs from a power load monitor and a trailer brake controller system to generate and display a service warning signal at the message center.

Claims

1. A status indicator and reminder system for use with a vehicle having a temporary mobility kit and a tire pressure monitoring system, the status indicator and reminder system comprising:

a tire sealant containing temporary mobility kit fittable within the vehicle;

an indicator; and

a controller operatively coupled to the temporary mobility kit, the tire pressure monitoring system and the indicator, the controller generating a service warning signal for the temporary mobility kit in response to a signal from the tire pressure monitoring system and displaying the service warning signal at the indicator.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a feedback system generating a signal confirming the tire sealant has been used to re-inflate a tire.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the feedback system further comprises an input from a driver at a message center coupled to the controller.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal from the tire pressure monitoring system further comprises a signal indicating that at least one tire pressure has changed from being below a threshold pressure to being at least at the threshold pressure.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises an audible or a visual indicator.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises a visual indicator that includes messages pertaining to a maximum vehicle speed, a maximum distance limit, and a need to service the temporary mobility kit.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle further comprises a power load monitor coupled to the controller and wherein occurrence of a predetermined minimum power load for a predetermined minimum amount of time sensed at the power load monitor triggers the controller to generate the service warning signal.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the status indicator and reminder system further comprises a feedback system generating a signal confirming the tire sealant has been used to re-inflate a tire.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the feedback system further comprises an input from a driver at a message center coupled to the controller.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the status indicator and reminder system further comprises an input from a trailer brake controller indicating detection of a trailer attached to the vehicle.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the indicator comprises a visual indicator that includes a reminder to use the temporary mobility kit when the vehicle has a trailer attached thereto.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the visual indicator further comprises a warning to avoid using a spare tire when the vehicle has a trailer attached thereto.

13. A method of operating a monitoring system for a tire sealant containing temporary mobility kit of a vehicle having a tire pressure monitoring system, the method comprising:

programming a controller, which is operatively coupled to the temporary mobility kit and to the tire pressure monitoring system, to generate a temporary mobility kit service signal in the controller based on information supplied by the tire pressure monitoring system; and

programming the controller to display the service signal at a message center.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the information supplied by the tire pressure monitoring system comprises a signal from the tire pressure monitoring system indicating at least one tire pressure has returned at least to a minimum threshold pressure after being below the minimum threshold pressure.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising programming the controller to request an input at the message center confirming the tire sealant was used.

16. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein programming the controller to display the service signal comprises displaying a service signal warning for one or more of a maximum vehicle speed, a maximum distance limit, and a need to service the temporary mobility kit.

17. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the vehicle comprises a power load monitor and the method further comprises programming the controller to generate the service signal based on an occurrence of a minimum load at a voltage outlet on the vehicle for a predetermined minimum amount of time as detected by the power load monitor.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the vehicle comprises a trailer brake controller system operatively coupled to the controller to supply information to the controller indicating that a trailer is attached to the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein programming the controller to display the service signal further comprises displaying a service signal comprising a reminder to use the temporary mobility kit when the vehicle has a trailer attached thereto.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein programming the controller to display the service signal further comprises displaying a service signal further comprising a warning to avoid using a spare tire.

21. A method of operating a monitoring system for a tire sealant containing temporary mobility kit of a vehicle having a tire pressure monitoring system, a power load monitor and a trailer brake controller system, the method comprising:

programming a controller to generate a temporary mobility kit service signal based on a signal from the tire pressure monitoring system indicating at least one tire pressure has returned to at least a minimum threshold pressure after being below the minimum threshold pressure;

programming the controller to generate a temporary mobility kit service signal based on an occurrence of a minimum load at a voltage outlet on the vehicle for a predetermined minimum amount of time as detected by the power load monitor;

programming the controller to generate a temporary mobility kit service signal based on a signal from the trailer brake controller system that detects a trailer attached to the vehicle; and

programming the controller to display the service signal at a message center.

22. The method as claim in claim 21, further comprising programming the controller to request confirmation at the message center that the tire sealant was used.

23. The method as claim in claim 21, wherein programming the controller to display the service signal further comprises displaying a service signal warning for a driver not to exceed a predetermined maximum speed.

24. The method as claim in claim 21, wherein the step of programming the controller to display the service signal further comprises displaying a service signal warning a driver not to exceed a predetermined maximum distance.

25. The method as claim in claim 21, wherein the step of programming the controller to display the service signal further comprises displaying a service signal warning a driver to service the temporary mobility kit.

26. The method as claim in claim 21, wherein the step of programming the controller to display the service signal further comprises displaying a service signal warning the driver to use the temporary mobility kit when a trailer is attached to the vehicle.

27. The method as claim in claim 26, wherein the step of programming the controller to display the service signal further comprises displaying a service signal warning the driver to avoid using a spare tire.