Towed vehicle monitor system
First Claim
1. A method for viewing at least one tire pressure indicator corresponding to one tire of a towed vehicle behind a towing vehicle, the method comprisingviewing the at least one tire pressure indicator with at least one video camera of a system for monitoring at least one tire of the towed vehicle, the system comprising a towing vehicle, a towed vehicle connected to and towed by the towing vehicle, the towed vehicle having a plurality of tires, at least one tire pressure indicator on the towed vehicle for indicating loss of air pressure in one of the plurality of tires, at least one video camera on one of the towing vehicle or towed vehicle, said at least one camera positioned for viewing the at least one tire pressure indicator, and video apparatus with viewing apparatus, the video apparatus interconnected with the at least one camera for providing to a person in the towing vehicle a view on viewing apparatus of the at least one tire pressure indicator of the towed vehicle, and sending with the video apparatus a signal indicative of a view of the at least one tire pressure indicator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system has been invented for monitoring at least one tire of a towed vehicle, the system in one aspect using mechanical indicators in conjunction with appropriate electrical wiring circuits and lights or other warning apparatus at a driver'"'"'s position in a towing vehicle to signal the lowering of a tire due to loss of air pressure in the tire. Certain embodiments of such a system do not require the use of a monitoring camera and related video apparatus. In other systems according to the present invention, one or more cameras are used to provide a real-time view of either the tire(s) of a towing vehicle, tire pressure indicator(s), or both.
14 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method for viewing at least one tire pressure indicator corresponding to one tire of a towed vehicle behind a towing vehicle, the method comprising
viewing the at least one tire pressure indicator with at least one video camera of a system for monitoring at least one tire of the towed vehicle, the system comprising a towing vehicle, a towed vehicle connected to and towed by the towing vehicle, the towed vehicle having a plurality of tires, at least one tire pressure indicator on the towed vehicle for indicating loss of air pressure in one of the plurality of tires, at least one video camera on one of the towing vehicle or towed vehicle, said at least one camera positioned for viewing the at least one tire pressure indicator, and video apparatus with viewing apparatus, the video apparatus interconnected with the at least one camera for providing to a person in the towing vehicle a view on viewing apparatus of the at least one tire pressure indicator of the towed vehicle, and sending with the video apparatus a signal indicative of a view of the at least one tire pressure indicator.
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3. A system for monitoring at least one tire of a towed vehicle, the system comprising
a towing vehicle, a towed vehicle connected to and towed by the towing vehicle, the towed vehicle having a plurality of tires, at least one tire pressure indicator on the towed vehicle for indicating loss of air pressure in one of the plurality of tires, at least one video camera on one of the towing vehicle or towed vehicle, said at least one camera positioned for viewing in real-time the at least one tire pressure indicator, video apparatus with viewing apparatus, the video apparatus interconnected with the at least one camera for providing to a person in the towing vehicle in real-time a view on viewing apparatus of the at least one tire pressure indicator of the towed vehicle.
Specification