Auxiliary vehicle tire deployment system

• US 9,919,556 B1
• Filed: 11/13/2014
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cleo Harden, Gerald Barnes
• Original Assignee: Cleo Harden, Gerald Barnes
• Inventors: Harden, Cleo, Barnes, Gerald
• Primary Examiner(s): Marc-Coleman, Marthe Y
• Application Number:
  US14/541,109
• Time in Patent Office: 1,223 Days
• Field of Search: 701 49, 701 319, 280 865, 280735, 340442, 340445, 731462
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 11/10 Emergency wheels collapsible tyres B60C3/08; tyres characterised by means enabling restricted operation in damaged or deflated condition B60C17/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2900/731 Use in cases of damage, failure or emergency
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0063 no swivelling action, i.e. no real caster
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/063 by linear movement parallel to swivel axis
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 1/00 Tyres characterised by the chemical composition or the physical arrangement or mixture of the composition
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 17/00 Tyres characterised by means enabling restricted operation in damaged or deflated condition; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00 Devices for measuring, signalling, controlling, or distributing tyre pressure or temperature, specially adapted for mounting on vehicles; Arrangement of tyre inflating devices on vehicles, e.g. of pumps or of tanks; Tyre cooling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/04 mounted on the wheel or tyre
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 61/12 with variable number of ground engaging wheels, e.g. with some wheels arranged higher than others, or with retractable wheels for manoeuvring purposes only B60S

Abstract

A system for compensating for a flat tire, including a tire deployment sub-system and a tire pressure monitoring sub-system. The tire deployment system comprises an extendable auxiliary tire mounted to the frame of the automobile that is in communication with the tire pressure monitoring system and a user interface. The tire pressure monitoring system is adapted to monitor the internal pressure of the tires of the vehicle, via either direct or indirect means, and send a notification signal to the tire deployment system when the pressure sensor detects that one of the tires of the vehicle is losing pressure. The deployed auxiliary tire provides a temporary support for the tire that has gone flat, allowing the driver to continue driving for a period of time and thereby obviating the need to immediately pull to the side of the road and change out the flat for a spare tire.

Claims

1. An auxiliary vehicle tire deployment system, comprising:

one or more extendable arms comprising an auxiliary tire rotatably mounted thereon;

said one or more extendable arms adapted to be affixed to a frame of a vehicle;

a tire pressure monitoring system comprising a pressure sensor and a transmitter;

a logic stored within a vehicle computer system;

wherein when said pressure sensor detects a flat tire, said transmitter relays an activation signal to said logic;

wherein when said logic receives said activation signal, said logic causes said extendable arm to extend such that said auxiliary tire makes contact with a road surface.

2. The auxiliary vehicle tire deployment system of claim 1, wherein said activation signal comprise a unique ID corresponding to a location of each of said one or more extendable arms.

3. The auxiliary vehicle tire deployment system of claim 1, wherein said tire pressure monitoring system comprises a direct tire pressure monitoring system.

4. The auxiliary vehicle tire deployment system of claim 3, wherein said pressure sensor comprises a pressure transducer.

5. The auxiliary vehicle tire deployment system of claim 1, wherein said tire pressure monitoring system.

6. The auxiliary vehicle tire deployment system of claim 1, wherein each of said one or more extendable arms comprise a hydraulic extension mechanism.

7. The auxiliary vehicle tire deployment system of claim 1, wherein each of said one or more extendable arms comprise a pneumatic extension mechanism.

8. The auxiliary vehicle tire deployment system of claim 1, wherein said one or more extendable arms comprise a mounting plate, said mounting plate adapted to be affixed to a frame of said vehicle, adjacent to a wheel of said vehicle.