Wheel rim having a tire sensor for a pneumatic tire

• US 6,694,807 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2002
• Issued: 02/24/2004
• 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: Yang, Wilson, Chuang, Marvin
• Primary Examiner(s): OEN, WILLIAM L
• Application Number:
  US10/184,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20030126918A1
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 731/46, 731/465, 731/462, 731/468, 340/442, 340/444, 340/445, 340/447, 200/61.25, 200/61.26, 200/61.22, 152/152.1
• US Class Current: 73/146.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver

Abstract

A wheel rim having a tire sensor for a pneumatic tire is disclosed. The wheel rim includes a rim portion having a valve rod, a base seat fixing on the rim portion at a location other than the location of the valve rod, and a sensor embedded in and attached to the base seat. The sensor is used for sensing the conditions of the pneumatic tire and transmitting the obtained signals by radio frequency.

Claims

1. A wheel rim having a tire sensor for a pneumatic tire, said wheel rim comprising:

a rim portion having a valve rod;

a base seat fixed on the rim portion at a location other than the location of the valve rod, said base seat being fixed to said rim portion by one selected from the group consisting of welding, spot welding, rivet connection and threaded connection; and

a sensor embedded in and attached to the base seat for sensing conditions of the pneumatic tire and transmitting signals representing the sensed conditions by radio frequency;

wherein the dimension of the sensor matches that of the base seat such that the sensor can be tightly embedded into the base seat, and the base seat comprises at least two fastening hooks for fastening the sensor.

2. The wheel rim having a tire sensor for a pneumatic tire of claim 1, wherein the base seat is in opposite position of the valve rod.

3. The wheel rim having a tire sensor for a pneumatic tire of claim 1, wherein the base seat further comprises two flaps for disassembling the sensors.

4. The wheel rim having a tire sensor for a pneumatic tire of claim 1, further comprising an upper lid portion cooperating with the base seat to firmly fasten the sensor therebetween.

5. The wheel rim having a tire sensor for a pneumatic tire of claim 4, wherein the upper lid portion has a concave portion tightly pressing the sensor toward the base seat when the upper lid portion cooperates with the base seat to fasten said sensor.

6. A wheel rim, comprising a tire sensor for a pneumatic tire, said wheel rim further comprising:

a rim portion having a location adapted to receive a valve rod; and

a base seat positioned on the rim portion at a location other than said location of the valve rod, said base seat including a bottom and two opposing walls spaced from each other and extending upward from said bottom;

wherein said sensor is fastened between said walls of the base seat and adapted to detect conditions of the pneumatic tire and transmit signals representing the detected conditions by radio frequency.

7. The wheel rim of claim 6, wherein said walls are flexible away from each other, a distance between said walls matches a dimension of said sensor, and said sensor is press-fit between said walls.

8. The wheel rim of claim 6, further comprising an upper lid releasably engaging said walls, wherein said lid, said walls and said bottom together define a unsealed space tightly containing the sensor therein.

9. The wheel rim of claim 8, wherein

each of the walls of said base seat includes a hook projecting away from the other of said walls;

said upper lid includes a top and two opposing walls spaced from each other and extending downward from said top, each of the walls of the upper lid including at least one aperture engaging the hook of one of the walls of the base seat so as to fasten the upper lid to the base seat.

10. The wheel rim of claim 9, wherein said top is made of elastic material and includes a downwardly curved portion that resiliently presses the sensor toward said bottom and allows the apertures to release the respective hooks when said top is pressed toward the bottom.

11. The wheel rim of claim 7, wherein each of said walls includes a fastening projection projecting towards the other of said walls, said projections engaging an upper portion of said sensor and firmly holding said sensor against said bottom.

12. The wheel rim of claim 11, wherein an upper portion of each of said walls is bent away from the other of said walls, each of said bent upper portions having an opening adapted to receive a tool used to remove the sensor from said base seat.

13. The wheel rim of claim 12 wherein, for each of said walls, the hook is a part of the upper portion of said wall, said part being partially cut from a remainder of said upper portion and bent toward the other of said walls to form both said hook and said opening.