Tire-condition sensor having positioning bolts for adjustably positioning the sensor in a fixed position on a wheel rim of a pneumatic tire

• US 6,655,203 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2002
• Issued: 12/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lite-On Automotive Corp. (Lite-On Technology Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lite-On Automotive Corp. (Lite-On Technology Corporation)
• Inventors: Hsu, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): OEN, WILLIAM L
• Application Number:
  US10/184,925
• Publication Number:
  US 20030126919A1
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 731/462, 731/463, 731/469, 731/468, 340/442, 340/443, 340/445, 152/152.1, 116/30
• US Class Current: 73/146.8
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0452 Antenna structure, control or arrangement vehicle tyre mounted antennas H01Q1/2241
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0494 Valve stem attachments positioned inside the tyre chamber

Abstract

A tire-condition sensor installed on a wheel rim, which defines a wheel rim platform and a valve hole, of a tire includes a valve rod, a main body, and two positioning bolts. The valve rod extends from one side wall of the main body and passes through the valve hole for fixing the sensor on the wheel rim. The main body has a top surface and a bottom surface. The two positioning bolts adjustably extend from the bottom surface of the main body and rest on the wheel rim platform for supporting the main body on the wheel rim platform such that the tire-condition sensor is fixedly positioned on the wheel rim.

Claims

1. A tire-condition sensor installed on a wheel rim, which defines a wheel rim platform and a valve hole, of a tire, the tire-condition sensor comprising:

a main body having a top surface, a bottom surface defining two threaded holes, and at least a side wall;

a valve rod extending from the side wall and passing through the valve hole; and

two positioning bolts adjustably extending from the two threaded holes of the main body, respectively, and resting on the wheel rim platform for fixedly supporting the main body on the wheel rim platform.

2. The tire-condition sensor of claim 1, further comprising an antenna disposed along the top surface of the main body.

3. The tire-condition sensor of claim 2, further comprising an outer lid covering the antenna and having a plurality of slots for exposing the antenna.

4. The tire-condition sensor of claim 1, wherein the main body further comprises two protective protuberances on opposite sides thereof.

5. The tire-condition sensor of claim 1, wherein

each positioning bolt has a threaded portion and a driven socket at an end of said threaded portion; and

the top surface of the main body defines two openings communicating with the two threaded holes, respectively, whereby each positioning bolt is adjusted with a driving tool cooperating with the driven socket through the respective opening.

6. In combination,

a tire-condition sensor for detecting a tire condition of a pneumatic tire;

and

a wheel rim having a valve hole;

wherein the tire-condition sensor comprises;

a main body containing a tire-condition sensing apparatus, said main body having a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least a side wall connecting said top and bottom surfaces;

a valve rod projecting from the side wall of said main body; and

at least one adjustable positioning element projecting from the bottom surface of said main body an adjustable distance; and

wherein said tire-condition sensor is installed on said wheel rim with the valve rod passing through the valve hole and the positioning element resting on the wheel rim thereby supporting the main body on the wheel rim.

7. The combination of claim 6, wherein said main body further has a hole opening to the bottom surface thereof, and the positioning element is partially received in and moveably retained by said hole.

8. The combination of claim 6, wherein

said main body further has a through hole opening to both the top and bottom surfaces thereof; and

the positioning element is a rod having opposite first and second end portions, the first end portion being completely received in and adjustably moveable within said through hole, the second end portion being located outside said through hole and resting on said wheel rim.

9. The combination of claim 8, wherein said first end portion has an end face that is accessible from the top surface of said main body though an upper opening of said through hole on said top surface;

said first end portion having on said end face an engaging member adapted to engage with a matching engaging member of a driving tool insertable into said through hole through said upper opening to adjustably move said rod relative to said main body.

10. The combination of claim 6, wherein

said main body further has a through hole opening to both the top and bottom surfaces thereof;

and

the positioning element is a bolt having a shank at least partially received in said through hole and an enlarged bolt head located outside said through hole and resting on said wheel rim.

11. The combination of claim 10, wherein said through hole has a threaded section, and said shank has a threaded portion threadedly engaging with the threaded section of said through hole.

12. The combination of claim 11, wherein said shank has an end face at an end opposite to said enlarged bolt head, said end face having a socket adapted to engage with a matching driving tool for adjustably rotating and advancing said bolt relative to said main body.

13. The combination of claim 12, wherein the socket is completely located within said though hole and is accessible from the top surface of said main body though an upper opening of said through hole on said top surface.

14. The combination of claim 6, wherein

said main body further has two through holes each opening to both the top and bottom surfaces and having a threaded section;

the positioning element includes two rods each having opposite first and second portions, the first portion being a threaded portion and threadedly engaging with the threaded section of one of said through holes, the second portion being located outside said through hole and resting on said wheel rim;

said first portion has an end face that is completely located within the respective through hole and accessible from the top surface of said main body though an upper opening of said through hole on said top surface; and

said first portion has on said end face an engaging member adapted to engage with a matching engaging member of a driving tool insertable into said through hole through said upper opening to adjustably move said rod relative to said main body.

15. A tire-condition sensing kit, comprising:

a tire-condition sensor for detecting a tire condition of a pneumatic tire, the tire-condition sensor comprising;

a main body containing a tire-condition sensing apparatus, said main body having a top surface, a bottom surface, at least one through hole opening to both the top and bottom surfaces and having a threaded section, and at least a side wall connecting said top and bottom surfaces; and

a valve rod projecting from the side wall of said main body; and

a positioning element which includes at least one rod having threads engageable with the threaded section of said through hole, said rod further having opposite first and second ends, the first end being sized so as to be completely receivable within said through hole;

wherein said first end has an end face on which an engaging member adapted to engage with a matching engaging member of a driving tool is formed.

16. The kit of claim 15, further comprising said driving tool the matching engaging member of which is sized so as to be insertable into said through hole through an upper opening of said through hole on said top surface for engaging the engaging member of the rod and adjustably driving said rod to rotate and advance relative to said main body when said first end of the rod is completely received in the through hole.

17. The kit of claim 15, wherein the threads of said rod extend up to said end face.

18. The kit of claim 17, wherein said rod is a bolt having an enlarged bolt head at the second end.

19. The kit of claim 18, wherein said engaging member is a socket formed in the end face of said first end.

20. The kit of claim 19, further comprising said driving tool which is a wrench having a configuration matching that of said socket, said wrench being sized so as to be insertable into said through hole through an upper opening of said through hole on said top surface for engaging the socket of the bolt and adjustably moving said bolt relative to said main body when said first end of the bolt is completely received in the through hole;

wherein said positioning element includes two said rods and said main body has two said through holes.