Valve stem extender with integral air pressure gauge

• US 5,377,539 A
• Filed: 04/26/1993
• Issued: 01/03/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tiro Technologies, Llc
• Original Assignee: Robert Lasalle
• Inventors: LaSalle, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Chilcot, Jr., Richard E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FELBER, JOSEPH LEON
• Application Number:
  US08/051,890
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 73/146.8, 73/743, 73/741, 73/732
• US Class Current: 73/146.8
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0496 Valve stem attachments positioned outside of the tyre chamber
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 17/00 Devices or apparatus for measuring tyre pressure or the pressure in other inflated bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 7/04 in the form of flexible, deformable tubes, e.g. Bourdon gauges

Abstract

An air pressure gauge is provided integrally with a valve stem extender as used with automotive vehicle wheels mounting tubeless or tube-type air inflated tires. The gauge comprises a Bourdon tube concentrically coiled about the barrel of the valve stem extender and communicated to the interior of the barrel through an orifice provided in the wall of the barrel. The Bourdon tube carries a dial pointer at its outer end which registers with a stationary dial face bearing visible indicia indicating tire inflation pressure. An annular viewing crystal is provided over the pointer and dial face. The gauge displays air inflation pressure reading constantly and need not be disturbed while air is being added to a tire.

Claims

1. A continuous display, pressure gauge for use with air inflated automotive tires comprising

a) an elongated, air inflated tire valve stem extender portion embodying a spring loaded air valve controlling air flow in a passage extending longitudinally through said extender portion, said extender portion being configured for being operably received on a valve stem of a tire at a base end extremity, and for receiving thereon a pressurized air hose fitting at the opposite free-end extremity,

b) an opening disposed through the wall of said valve stem extender portion,

c) a Bourdon tube operably disposed, sealably connected to the outer surface of said valve stem extender portion for communicating said opening through said wall to the inner end extremity core opening of said Bourdon tube to provide for flow of air between said passage in said valve stem extender portion and said core of said Bourdon tube, wherein said Bourdon tube is configured as a substantially flat spiral coil disposed annularly around said valve stem extender portion substantially axially concentric therewith,

d) a dial pointer distal end configuration of said Bourdon tube,

e) a sealed annular enclosure having disposed therein said Bourdon tube and said dial pointer distal end configuration wherein said enclosure is provided with a transparent viewing face,

f) an indicia disk disposed within said enclosure in fixed relation thereto including a dial scale with which said dial pointer end configuration operably registers to indicate air inflation pressure within said valve stem extender portion and of a tire with which it is used.

2. The gauge of claim 1 wherein said valve stem extender portion and said enclosure are disposed coaxially, with said enclosure being annularly configured and said valve stem extender portion projecting axially from said annular enclosure with a free end thereof being rendered accessible for making connection to a pressurized air hose in a position which renders said indicia visible to a person manipulating said air hose to make such connection.