Adjustable tire inflation assembly

An adjustable tire inflation assembly for precisely inflating a tire to a desired pressure includes a tire inflation fitting that is fluidly attachable to a valve stem on a tire for inflating the tire. A pressure adjustment unit is integrated into the tire inflation fitting that is settable between a minimum pressure and a maximum pressure. The pressure adjustment unit senses the pressure within the tire when the tire is being inflated with the tire inflation fitting. A light emitter is coupled to the tire inflation fitting and the light emitter is turned on when the pressure adjustment unit senses air pressure within the tire inflation unit that matches the pressure to which the pressure adjustment unit is set. In this way the light emitter alerts the user that the tire has been inflated to the desired pressure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to inflation device and more particularly pertains to a new inflation device for precisely inflating a tire to a pre-determined pressure.

The prior art relates to inflation devices including a variety of tire inflation devices that are integrated into a vehicle for inflating each of the vehicle's tires to a specified pressure. The prior art discloses a portable tire inflation device that includes an electronic display and a pressure relief valve that discharges air when a tire being inflated has reached a predetermined pressure. In no instance does the prior art disclose a portable tire inflation device that includes a pressure adjustment dial and an electronic indicator for indicating when a tire is inflated to a pre-determined pressure.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a tire inflation fitting that is fluidly attachable to a valve stem on a tire for inflating the tire. A pressure adjustment unit is integrated into the tire inflation fitting that is settable between a minimum pressure and a maximum pressure. The pressure adjustment unit senses the pressure within the tire when the tire is being inflated with the tire inflation fitting. A light emitter is coupled to the tire inflation fitting and the light emitter is turned on when the pressure adjustment unit senses air pressure within the tire inflation unit that matches the pressure to which the pressure adjustment unit is set. In this way the light emitter alerts the user that the tire has been inflated to the desired pressure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As best illustrated inFIGS. 1 through 5, the adjustable tire inflation assembly10generally comprises a tire inflation fitting12that is fluidly attachable to a valve stem14on a tire16. In this way the tire inflation fitting12can be fluidly coupled to a compressed air source18for inflating the tire16. The tire16may be an inflatable tire of any conventional design, such as would commonly be found on motorized vehicles that are driven on public roadways or the like.

The tire inflation fitting12has a first end20, a second end22and an outer surface24extending therebetween. The second end22has an inflation valve26that is fluidly integrated therein and the inflation valve26has a first outlet28and a second outlet30. The first outlet28has a direction of flow that is oriented in-line with an axis extending through the first end20and the second end22. The second outlet30has a direction of flow that is oriented at an acute angle with the axis. Either of the first outlet28or the second outlet30is fluidly attachable to the valve stem14to accommodate a variety of valve stem14orientations. Each of the first outlet28and the second outlet30may comprise a tire inflation valve of any conventional design.

The first end20has a female air fitting32integrated therein and the female air fitting32can be fluidly coupled to a male air fitting34that is attached to the compressed air source18. The outer surface24has a flared portion36and the flared portion36has a top surface38and a perimeter edge40. The top surface38is planar and the perimeter edge40is continuously arcuate about a center point of the top surface38such that the top surface38defines a circle. The flared portion36is positioned closer to the second end22than the first end20. Additionally, the outer surface24has an indicator42integrated therein and the indicator42has a pointed end44that is directed toward the flared portion36.

A pressure adjustment unit46is integrated into the tire inflation fitting12that can be manipulated by a user. The pressure adjustment unit46is settable between a minimum pressure and a maximum pressure to facilitate the user to decide the pressure to which the tire16should be inflated. The pressure adjustment unit46is in fluid communication with an interior of the tire inflation fitting12to sense the pressure within the tire16when the tire16is being inflated with the tire inflation fitting12. The pressure adjustment unit46comprises an adjustment dial48that is rotatably integrated onto the tire inflation fitting12. The adjustment dial48is rotatable between a minimum pressure and a maximum pressure.

The adjustment dial48has an upper surface50, a lower surface52and an outer edge54extending therebetween. The lower surface52is spaced from the top surface38of the flared portion36of the outer surface24of the inflation valve26. The upper surface50has indicia56printed thereon and the indicia56are distributed around the outer edge54. The indicia56comprise numbers ranging between a minimum pressure and a maximum pressure to define a pressure scale. The adjustment dial48is rotatable such that pointed end44of the indicator42on the outer surface24of the tire inflation fitting12is aligned with a respective number on the upper surface50.

The pressure adjustment unit46includes a pressure sensor58is integrated into the tire inflation fitting12to sense air pressure within the tire inflation fitting12and the pressure sensor58is in communication with the adjustment dial48. The pressure sensor58emits an alert signal when the pressure sensor58senses air pressure that matches the pressure at which the adjustment dial48is set. The pressure sensor58may comprise an electronic air pressure sensor with an operational sensitivity ranging between approximately 0.0 psi and 150.0 psi.

A light emitter60is coupled to the tire inflation fitting12to emit light outwardly therefrom and the light emitter60is in communication with the pressure adjustment unit46. The light emitter60is turned on when the pressure adjustment unit46senses air pressure within the tire16inflation unit that matches the pressure to which the pressure adjustment unit46is set. In this way the light emitter60can alert the user that the tire16has been inflated to the desired pressure. The light emitter60is electrically coupled to the pressure sensor58and the light emitter60is turned on when the pressure sensor58emits the alert signal. The light emitter60is positioned on the outer surface24of the tire inflation fitting12such that the light emitter60is visible to the user. The light emitter60may comprise an LED or type of electronic light emitter. A power supply62is integrated into the tire inflation fitting12, the power supply62is electrically coupled to the pressure sensor58and the power supply62comprises at least one battery.

In use, the female air fitting32is coupled to an air hose from a compressor, or the like, and the adjustment dial48is set to the pressure to which the tire16is to be inflated. The inflation valve26is coupled to the valve stem14on the tire16to facilitate the tire16to be inflated. The light emitter60is turned on when the pressure sensor58senses air pressure that matches the pressure to which the adjustment dial48has been set. In this way the light emitter60notifies the user to remove the inflation valve26from the valve stem14to cease inflating the tire16. Thus, the tire16can be accurately inflated to any desired pressure without over-inflating or under-inflating the tire16.