US 5,207,173 AGranted

Low pressure tire alarm indicator

OwnerFrederick F. Sadriinventor

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Abstract

A low pressure tire indicator is a mechanical device for producing an audible warning to the driver of low or inadequate tire pressure. The low pressure tire indicator includes a strap for mounting the low pressure tire indicator to a wheel hub. A spring housing is mounted on the strap. A rocker arm is mounted on an anchor pin positioned within the spring housing, and extends away from the wheel hub towards the inside tread wall of a pneumatic tire mounted on the wheel hub. The rocker arm includes a roller on a free end for engaging the inside tread wall of the tire during a low pressure condition. A hammer is mounted on the anchor pin and moves in unison with the rocker arm. A spring is mounted on the anchor pin, and, during proper tire inflation, normally urges the hammer into contact with the wheel hub, and normally positions the roller on the free end of the rocker arm between the wheel hub and the inside tread wall of the tire.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A low pressure tire indicator comprising:

(a) a mounting means for being mounted on a wheel hub;
(b) a rocker arm mounted on the mounting means and extending away from said wheel hub towards the inside tread wall of a pneumatic tire mounted on said wheel hub, said rocker arm including a roller on a free end for engaging the inside tread wall of the tire during a low pressure condition;
(c) a hammer mounted on the mounting means and moving in unison with said rocker arm;
and
(d) a biasing means mounted on the mounting means in cooperation with said rocker arm and said hammer and, during proper tire inflation, normally urging said hammer into contact with said wheel hub, and positioning the roller on the free end of said rocker arm between said wheel hub and the inside tread wall of the tire;
(e) whereby a predetermined low pressure within the tire causes momentary engagement between the roller and the inside tread wall of the tire once during each revolution of the tire as the portion of the tire adjacent the low pressure tire indicator engages a road surface, followed by abrupt disengagement of the roller from the inside tread wall and an abrupt impact between the hammer and the wheel hub as the rocker arm and the hammer return to their normal positions, producing an audible warning of low tire pressure.

3 more elements

A low pressure tire indicator comprising:

(a) a strap means for being secured around the periphery of a wheel hub;
(b) a spring housing carried by said strap means;
(c) an anchor pin including first and second end closures passing through said spring housing;
(d) a rocker arm mounted on said spring housing and carried by said anchor pin, extending away from said wheel hub towards the inside tread wall of a pneumatic tire mounted on said wheel hub, said rocker arm including a roller on a free end for engaging the inside tread wall of the tire during a low pressure condition;
(e) a hammer mounted on said spring housing and carried by said anchor pin, integrally formed with and moving in unison with the rocker arm;
(f) a biasing means mounted on said spring housing and carried by said anchor pin, and, during proper tire inflation, normally urging said hammer into contact with said wheel hub, and positioning the roller on the free end of said rocker arm between said wheel hub and the inside tread wall of the tire;
and
(g) whereby a predetermined low pressure within the tire causes momentary engagement between the roller and the inside tread wall of the tire once during each revolution of the tire as the portion of the tire adjacent the low pressure tire indicator engages a road surface, followed by abrupt disengagement of the roller from the inside tread wall and an abrupt impact between the hammer and the wheel hub as the rocker arm and the hammer return to their normal positions, producing an audible warning of low tire pressure.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.