Tire pressure detecting/warning apparatus

• US 6,100,798 A
• Filed: 06/14/1999
• Issued: 08/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shyh-Nan Liang
• Original Assignee: Shyh-Nan Liang
• Inventors: Liang, Shyh-Nan
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phung
• Application Number:
  US09/332,391
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 340/442, 340/447, 340/58, 73/146.2, 73/146.5, 73/146.8
• US Class Current: 340/447
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0433 Radio signals
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0496 Valve stem attachments positioned outside of the tyre chamber

Abstract

A tire pressure detecting/warning apparatus includes a main body mounted to a tire valve for introducing air pressure in the tire. The main body includes a first air passage and a second air passage. A first reed is mounted on the first air passage and is deformed to be in electrical contact with a first contact when the tire pressure is higher than a pre-determined relatively higher value of a safety range. A second reed is mounted on the second air passage and is deformed to be disengaged from a second contact when the tire pressure is lower than a pre-determined relatively lower value of the safety range. The tire pressure is too high if the first reed is in contact with the first contact, and the tire pressure is too low if the second reed is disengaged from the second contact. In either case, a radio- transmitting device sends a signal to a receiver in the vehicle, and a siren is activated to give a warning by sound or lamp that the pressure is too high or too low.

Claims

1. A tire pressure detecting/warning apparatus, comprising:

a main body adapted to be mounted to a tire valve of a tire of a vehicle, said main body including a first air passage and a second air passage;

a first contact and a second contact;

a first reed mounted on said first air passage and not in electrical contact with said first contact when a tire pressure of said tire is within a predetermined safety range between a relatively higher value and a relatively lower value, said first reed being deformed to be in electrical contact with said first contact when said tire pressure is higher then said relatively higher value of said predetermined safety range;

a second reed mounted on said second air passage and in electrical contact with said second contact when said tire pressure of said tire is within said predetermined safety range, said second reed being deformed to be disengaged from said second contact when said tire pressure is lower than said relatively lower value of said predetermined safety range, wherein said first reed and said second reed are integrally made of conductive material and said first reed has a thickness greater than that of said second reed;

a radio-transmitting device mounted in said main body for transmitting a first signal representing insufficient pressure of said tire when said second reed disengages from said second contact and for transmitting a second signal representing overpressure of said tire when said first reed engages with said first contact;

a receiver for receiving said first signal and said second signal from said radio-transmitting device; and

a siren for generating different warning sounds and lamp indications in response to said first signal and said second signal received by said receiver.