Safety tire valve

A tire pressure indicator which includes a valve stem over-pressure indicator and a valve stem cap under-pressure indicator. The valve stem includes an air porting scheme that releases over-inflation air for escape through a whistling reed configuration. The valve stem cap includes a top translucent panel for coaction with a diaphragm spring contained therebelow. Normal tire pressure distends the diaphragm spring to an upward convex attitude in contact with the underside of the translucent panel to project a visual indicator.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The invention relates to automatic low pressure tire indicator assemblies 
and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, it relates to an 
improved method and apparatus for sensing and indicating low tire 
pressure. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The prior art includes a great number of indicating devices that warn of 
pressure drop in pneumatic tires, and such tire aids have developed over a 
long number of years. A U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,686 teaches a valve cap 
adaptation which shows visually any appreciable tire pressure drop by 
using a deflectable diaphragm that moves in response to a reference air 
pressure toward a compartment having existing tire pressure, and the 
moving diaphragm provides a visual indication within a transparent housing 
portion of the valve cap. A U.S. Pat. No. 2,866,432 also teaches a movable 
diaphragm type of indicator which may be detachably secured to a valve 
stem for subsequent actuation manually to indicate by sound, sight or 
touch whether or not the pressure within the tire is equal to or above the 
required amount. 
A U.S. Pat. No. 4,244,214 is of interest in that it describes a device that 
includes an axially appertured bolt that is movably mounted within a 
visual tire valve with respect to an indicating window. The bolt includes 
a series of different color bands which show a gradation in tire pressure. 
Also, U.S. Pat. No. 3,990,467 is of interest for its capability of 
indicating tire air pressure by color whenever the tire is under or over 
inflated. Finally, a U.S. Pat. No. 3,830,249 is cited for its ability to 
give audible indication of over pressure situations; that is, when the 
tire receives additional inflation pressure, it makes an audible sound 
while surplus air is being discharged down to a recommended pressure 
level. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to improvements in construction of tire 
pressure indicating devices of the type that are disposed in the valve 
stem and valve cap. A usual type of valve stem having an axial air passage 
includes a valve consisting of a closure ball that is maintained seated by 
a compression spring within the axial airway. The valve cap then includes 
an axial passage with an air distributor that also includes an axial foot 
member for depressing the valve ball to allow minimal air flow. The cap 
axial passage is closed by means of a diaphragm that is movable toward and 
away from a transparent indicator panel that also includes an air relief 
port. The valve stem includes a circumferential array of radial air flow 
ports which are closed by means of a seated O-ring that is normally closed 
over the ports in the presence of normal or lesser interior tire pressure. 
The O-ring is distended by over-pressure to allow air flow through the 
radial ports for escape past sound vibration reeds to produce an audible 
noise as excess air escapes and the tire returns to normal pressure. 
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an 
economical and highly dependable valve stem tire pressure indicator. 
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a tire pressure 
indicator that may be easily and quickly read for indication of a low 
pressure condition. 
It is still further an object of the invention to provide a pressure 
indicator that provides audible indication of over inflation and effects 
return to normal pressure. 
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such a tire 
pressure indicator device that may be readily installed in the wheels of 
existing automotive vehicles. 
Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device that 
may be utilized on any vehicle to extend automotive life and 
dependability. 
Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from the 
following detailed description when read in conjunction with the 
accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a safety tire valve 10 consists of a valve base 12 
molded in support of a valve stem 14 which receives a cap 16 securely 
threaded thereon. The base 12 is formed from a suitable elastomer and 
includes an axial bore 18 having a rounded plug bottom 20 rising upward to 
define an annular groove 22 beneath a bead 24 and upper shoulder portion 
26. The bead 24 allows the base 12 to be forced through a hole in the 
wheel rim so that it is firmly seated within the annular groove 22. 
The valve stem 14 consists of a generally cylindrical body that includes a 
lower end having an axial bore 28 leading up to an annular shoulder 30 and 
extending into a counterbore 32 that terminates at the top in a 45.degree. 
shoulder 34 and a narrower bore 36. Valve stem 14 has an annular bottom 
surface 38 and lower cylindrical side wall 40 extending upward to an 
annular ring formation 42. Extending from ring formation 42 is cylindrical 
sidewall 44 leading through an annular, sloping shoulder 46 to a lesser 
diameter sidewall 48 that terminates at the upper end with threads 50 and 
upper annular surface 52. 
The upper end of base 12, i.e., the support shoulder 26, is suitably bonded 
around the bottom surface 38 and lower side wall 40 of valve stem 14 in 
such manner as to provide a very secure and rugged interconnection. An air 
distributor 54 having a plurality of air ports 56 formed vertically 
therethrough is seated upward within lower bore 28, and distributor 54 is 
fastened therein as by forcing, brazing or the like. See also FIG. 4 which 
shows the plan layout of air distributor 54 and the vertical air ports 56 
relative to the valve stem 14 and lower axial bore 28. A stop ball 58 is 
disposed in the upper bore 32 as it is continually urged upward to seal 
against the sloped shoulder 34 by means of a compression spring 60 that is 
seated down against the air distributor 54. 
Valve cap 16 consists of another body of revolution, the valve cap having 
61 having an outer side wall 62 with upper and lower annular surfaces 64 
and 66, respectively. A lower threaded counterbore 68 is formed concentric 
to bottom part 66 for secure, mating engagement with outer threads 50 of 
valve stem 14. An annular groove 70 leading upward to a counterbore 72 
extends up to an annular shoulder 74 defining an inner bore 76. Leading 
upward from inner bore 76 there is formed another annular shoulder 78 and 
an upper bore 80 leading to upper surface 64. 
An upper air distributor 82 (shown also in FIG. 2) is formed as a generally 
flat cylinder having oppositely disposed vertical ports 84 formed therein. 
The upper air distributor 82 includes a cylindrical axial foot member 86 
formed on the underside for the purpose of disengaging the stop ball 58 to 
allow a small air clearance around sloped shoulder 34 when the valve cap 
16 is screwed firmly into operative position, as will be further discussed 
below. The upper air distributor 82 is seated and secured against annular 
shoulder 74 within upper cylindrical wall 72 by welding, brazing or other 
suitable means. A suitable O-ring 88 is urged to seal against upper 
surface 52 of valve stem 14 by the shoulder groove 70 when valve cap 16 is 
secured. See also FIGS. 5B and 6B. 
The upper end of valve cap 16 includes a sealing O-ring 90 seated on 
annular shoulder 78 with a diaphragm spring 92 seated thereon. Spring 92 
normally extends a central portion 94 to urge against a lower surface 95 
of a translucent, e.g., smokey plastic, indicator cap 96. The indicator 
cap 96 includes an annular lower rim 98 and bottom annular surface 100 
which may be secured and bonded adjacent respective upper bore 80 and 
upper annular surface 64. The lower rim 98 holds the diaphragm spring 92 
securely in place against O-ring 90. A very small orifice 102 is formed 
through the indicator cap 96 in communication with the diaphragm spring 92 
to allow pressure equalization. The diaphragm spring 92 is preferably 
colored red with a line etched thereon so that, in normal pressure 
situations, the red portion will touch the indicator cap 96 (FIG. 5A) and 
the viewer will see the color red with a plus sign showing, as will be 
further described. 
As shown also in FIG. 3, the mid-portion of valve stem 14 in the area of 
outer wall 48 includes a plurality, e.g., four, lateral ports 104 which 
are sealed over by a selected strength sealing O-ring 106 that is seated 
within a semi-circular annular seating groove 108. The O-ring 106 is 
selected to be of a distension strength that permits air release through 
ports 104 only at selected over-pressure situations. A cylindrical metal 
jacket 110 having annular shoulders 112 closing around the upper outer 
surface 48 defines an annular air collection chamber 114 which contains 
any air escaping through the lateral ports 104. A plurality, e.g., three, 
air escape ports 116 are disposed equi-distantly around the shoulders 112 
adjacent outer surface 48 to allow over-pressure air flow, and respective 
reeds 118 are secured adjacent each of the air ports 116 to provide an 
audible sound such as a whistling sound during times of air release. 
In operation, the safety tire valve 10 is installed by snapfitting the base 
12 into the hole formed in the wheel rim (not shown). Thus, the annular 
groove 22 is force-fit into the rim hole where it is seated around groove 
22 and held firmly in place by the annular bead 24. The tire can then be 
inflated with cap 16 unscrewed and removed from the valve stem 14 so that 
the air supply nozzle can be placed directly over upper surface 52 and 
down around the threads 50 of the valve stem 14. In accordance with 
conventional structure, a nozzle member (not shown) forces the stop ball 
58 downward to open up the axial hole 36 of valve stem 14 whereupon air 
under pressure flows through the holes 56 of air distributor 54 and 
through bores 28 and base bore 18 to the interior of the tire. When the 
over-pressure condition is reached within the tire, air flows through the 
lateral ports 104 of valve stem 14 to escape around the regulator O-ring 
106 into chamber 114, and air from chamber 114 escapes through the ports 
112 adjacent reeds 118 to make a whistling sound so long as over-pressure 
condition endures. When the air pressure equalizes to that which is the 
standard for the particular tire, the O-ring 106 once again seats within 
annular groove 108 to cease air escape and the tire is fully functional. 
The O-ring 106 is selected to be of a size and elasticity sufficient to 
maintain the rated air pressure for the particular tire. 
After inflation, with the air source nozzle removed, the valve cap 16 may 
be firmly screwed onto the valve stem 14 and seated along the entire 
length of threads 50. At this time, the axial foot 86 beneath upper air 
distributor 82 depresses the stop ball 58 very slightly to provide a small 
annular clearance upward through bore 36 so that air at the inner tire 
pressure communicates through ports 84 to distend the diaphragm spring 92 
upward against the indicator cap 96. See FIGS. 5A and 5B. 
When the tire is properly inflated, and internal air pressure maintains 
diaphragm spring 92 distended up against the lower surface 95 of indicator 
cap 96, there is a sight indication on the upper face of indicator cap 96 
in the form of a red background with a plus sign showing in the middle. 
The plus sign is formed by virtue of the fact that there is a line 120 
etched on the top, central surface 94 of the red diaphragm spring 92 which 
interacts in visual effect with a crossed line 122 etched on the underside 
95 of indicator cap 96. This is apparent from the combination views of 
FIG. 5 FIGS. 5A and 5B which shows the red plus sign by virtue of etch 
line 120 on top portion 94 of red-colored diaphragm spring 92 combined 
with an etch line 122 that is formed centrally on the bottom surface 95 of 
indicator cap 96. 
When the tire becomes under inflated, the pressure reduction within the 
tire will be seen through the valve stem and upper air distributor 82 such 
that the diaphragm spring 92 will return downward to a low pressure 
position as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. The seepage air port 102 allows 
pressure adjustment above the diaphragm spring 92 to allow the reversal, 
and this also results in the drawing of the diaphragm spring center 
portion 94 away from the underside 95 of indicator cap 96 with only a 
clear image negative sign showing to the observer. That is, only the etch 
line 122 continues to show through the indicator cap 96 and the lower 
indicia carried by diaphragm spring 92 is out of view. 
The foregoing discloses a novel form of safety valve stem with visual 
indicator that enables continual surveillance of vehicle tire condition 
thereby to avoid excessive wear and damage during under inflation periods. 
The device is a very simple design that accomplishes all of the requisite 
functions, yet is an extremely reliable form of structure that is not 
subject to minor misadjustments and bothersome failures. 
Changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of elements as 
heretofore set forth in the specification and shown in the drawings; it 
being understood that changes may be made in the embodiments disclosed 
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in 
the following claims.