Patent ID: 6466127
Filing Date: 2002-10-15
Classification: B60C

Abstract:
An apparatus to indicate the presence of an under-pressurized pneumatic tire for a vehicle with an axle and a wheel, which said wheel rotates in a plane of rotation about the axle, and upon which said wheel the pneumatic tire is mounted, which said pneumatic tire supports the vehicle, which said pneumatic tire rides upon a travelling surface, and which both said pneumatic tire and said vehicle move in a generally forward direction of travel, comprising:a housing, with an interior, exterior, a mounting base, and an opening adapted to be positioned next to the axle for the wheel of the vehicle, and having a mounting means on the mounting base for a fixable attachment of the housing upon the axle for the wheel of the vehicle, a cap, with an interior surface and an exterior surface, having an aperture which extends from the exterior surface to the interior surface, and means to attach the cap to the housing a shaft, with a proximal end, a distal end, a longitudinal axis, and a body, extending through the aperture of cap, a probe element, with a first end, attached to the distal end of the shaft, and with a second end, distal from the first end, a bracket mounted at the proximal end of the shaft, an electrical switching element, which is attached to the bracket, at least one retaining element for engaging the bracket and the electrical switching element, and an electrically-powered alarm, electrically attached to the electrical switching element by an electrical circuit.