Patent ID: 6055854
Filing Date: 2000-05-02
Classification: B60C

Abstract:
A tire pressure detector connected to an air valve of a vehicle tire to detect the air pressure of the vehicle tire, comprising:a tubular shell comprising an internally threaded female coupling portion disposed at a bottom side thereof and connected to the air valve of the vehicle tire, an externally threaded male coupling portion at a top side thereof, and an inside annular flange disposed between said internally threaded female coupling portion and said externally threaded male coupling portion;a socket mounted within said tubular shell, said socket comprising a bottom pin inserted through the inside annular flange inside said tubular shell into the air valve of the vehicle tire to open an air passage through the air valve of the vehicle tire, at least one air hole through a bottom side wall thereof, and a top open chamber, which receives air from the vehicle tire through the at least one air hole at the bottom side wall of said socket;a transparent cop cover mounted on said tubular shell, said top cover comprising a stepped inside hole, an inner thread provided in said stepped inside hole and threaded onto the externally threaded male coupling portion of said tubular shell, and an air hole through a center of a top side thereof in communication with said stepped inside hole;a valve block movably mounted in the top open chamber inside said socket, the valve block having an upper portion, a lower portion and sealing elements located on the lower portion in contact with the socket, the valve block movable such that at least a portion extends outwardly from the socket and into the transparent top cover so as to be visible through the transparent top cover; anda display unit comprising a display bolt and a spring acting between the display bolt and the valve block urging the display bolt into contact with the top side of the transparent top cover, the display bolt having a hollow shank, the hollow shank having indicia thereon visible through the transparent cover indicative of tire pressure and extending into the valve block such that outward movement of the valve block relative to the socket covers at least a portion of the indicia on the hollow shank;wherein the air pressure of the vehicle tire passes through the air valve of the vehicle tire and said at least one air hole in said socket to move the valve block against the spring relative to the hollow shank of said display bolt upon connection of said shell to the air valve of the vehicle tire, the exposed indicia on the hollow shank visible through the transparent top cover indicating the air pressure of the vehicle tire.