VISUAL TIRE CAP PRESSURE GAUGE

Abstract: A visual tire cap pressure gauge (10) which comprises a cap member (12). A structure within the cap member (12) is for securing the cap member to a valve stem (16) on a tire (18) in a motor vehicle (20). A lens (22) is mounted in a top end of the cap member (12). An assembly (24) within the cap is for visually indicating when air pressure within the tire (18) drops below a set point, so as to enable a person at a glance to tell if the tire needs more air.

Description: VISUAL TIRE CAP PRESSURE GAUGE Description Technical Field The instant invention relates generally to pressure indicating devices and more specifically it relates to a visual tire cap pressure gauge. Disclosure of the Invention A primary object of the present invention is to provide a visual tire cap pressure gauge that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices. Another object is to provide a visual tire cap pressure gauge that is threaded onto a valve stem which will automatically change color when a tire looses a sufficient amount of air pressure, so that it would enable a person at a glance to tell if the tire needs air. An additional object is to provide a visual tire cap pressure gauge that could be used for passenger, as well as commercial vehicles, and would be an early warning system devised to save fuel, as well as possibly saving lives. A further object is to provide a visual tire cap pressure gauge that is simple and easy to use. A still further object is to provide a visual tire cap pressure gauge that is economical in cost to manufacture. Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds. Brief Description of the Drawing Figures Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein; FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a motor vehicle, showing the instant invention installed and in use. FIGURE 2 is an enlarged perspective view as indicated by arrow 2 in Figure 1, showing the instant invention mounted on a valve stem. FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line 3-3 in Figure 2. FIGURE 4 is a top view taken in the direction of arrow 4 in Figure 2, showing visually the tire pressure below a set point. FIGURE 5 is a top view similar to Figure 4, showing visually the tire pressure at the set point or above. Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. List of Reference Numbers in the Drawing Figures 10 visual tire cap pressure gauge 12 cap member of 10 14 securing structure in 12 16 valve stem on 18 18 tire in 20 20 motor vehicle 22 lens in 12 24 visually indicating assembly cylindrical hollow housing of 12 open top end of 26 open bottom end of 26 internal threads in 30 threaded portion of 16 transparent disc-shaped cover for 22 diaphragm in 26 lower chamber of 26 upper chamber of 26 valve depressor rod on 38 bright colored fluid in 42 rod on 38 dark colored plate on 48 coil spring in 42 Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, Figures 1 through 5 illustrate a visual tire cap pressure gauge 10, which comprises a cap member 12. A structure 14 within the cap member 12 is for securing the cap member 12 to a valve stem 16 on a tire 18 in a motor vehicle 20. A lens 22 is mounted in a top end of the cap member 12. An assembly 24 within the cap member 12 is for visually indicating when air pressure within the tire 18 drops below a set point, so as to enable a person at a glance to tell if the tire 18 needs more air. The cap member 12 is a cylindrical hollow housing 26 having an open top end 28 and an open bottom end 30. The securing structure is internal threads 32 located within the open bottom end 30 of the cylindrical hollow housing 26 which can thread onto a threaded portion 34 of the valve stem 16. The lens 22 is a transparent disc-shaped cover 36 sealed within the open top end 28 of the cylindrical hollow housing 26, to allow the person to look through the cover 36 and into the cylindrical hollow housing 26. The visual indicating assembly 24 includes a diaphragm 38 mounted within the cylindrical hollow housing 26, so as to divide the cylindrical hollow housing 26 into a lower chamber 40 and an upper chamber 42. A valve depressor rod 44 extends downwardly from a bottom surface of the diaphragm 38 into the lower chamber 40. The rod 44 will make contact with the valve stem 16 and release the pressurized air from the tire 18 into the lower chamber 40, so as to deflect the diaphragm 38 upwardly into the upper chamber 42 when the air pressure is at the set point. A bright colored fluid 46 is carried within the upper chamber 42 which can be readily seen through the lens 22. A plurality of rods 48 extend upwardly from a top surface of the diaphragm 38 into the upper chamber 42. A dark colored plate 50 is affixed to top ends of the rods 48, slightly below the lens 22 in the upper chamber 42. A coil spring 52 is between the dark colored plate 50 and the lens 22 in the upper chamber 42, to normally bias the dark colored plate 50 downwardly away from the lens 22. In a first instance, as shown in Figure 5, when the air pressure in the tire 18 is at the set point, the dark colored plate 50 will move up towards the lens 22 and be viewed by the person when the diaphragm 38 deflects upwardly. In a second instance, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, when the air pressure in the tire 18 is below the set point, the coil spring 52 will push the dark colored plate 50 away from the lens 22 allowing the person to view the bright colored fluid 46 within the upper chamber 42, thereby indicating that the air pressure in the tire 18 has dropped below the set point. Operation of the Invention To use the visual tire cap pressure gauge 10, the following steps should be taken: 1. Screw the cap member 12 onto the valve stem 16, so that the internal threads 32 located within the open bottom end 30 of the cylindrical hollow housing 26 will thread onto the threaded portion 34 of the valve stem 16. 2. Make sure that the valve depressor rod 44 makes contact with the valve stem 16, to release the pressurized air from the tire 18. 3. The diaphragm 38 will deflect upwardly into the upper chamber 42 when the air pressure is at the set point, thereby cause the dark colored plate 50 to move up towards the lens 22 and be viewed by the person. 4. The diaphragm 38 will not deflect upwardly into the upper chamber 42 when the air pressure is below the set point, thereby causing the dark colored plate 50 to move away from the lens 22 by the help of the coil spring 52. 5. The bright colored fluid can now be seen through the lens 22 by the person to visually indicate that the tire 18 needs more air.

Claims: VISUAL TIRE CAP PRESSURE GAUGE Claim 1. A sealed visual tire cap pressure gauge which comprises: a) a cap member consisting of a cylindrical hollow housing having an open top end and an open bottom end; b) means within said cap member comprising internal threads located within the open bottom thereof for engaging the threaded portion of the valve stem, for securing said cap member to a valve stem on a tire in a motor vehicle; c) a disc-shaped transparent lens sealed and mounted in the top end of said cap member to allow the person to look through said cover into said cylindrical hollow housing; and d) means within said cap member for visually indicating when air pressure within the tire drops below a set point, so as to enable a person at a glance to tell if the tire needs more air, said visually indicating means comprising a diaphragm mounted within said cylindrical housing dividing said cylindrical hollow housing into a lower chamber and an upper chamber, a valve depressor rod extending down from a bottom surface of said diaphragm into said lower chamber to make contact with the valve stem to release the pressurized air from the tire into said lower chamber to deflect said diaphragm upwardly into said upper chamber when the air pressure is at the set point, a bright colored fluid within said upper chamber which can be readily seen through said lens, a plurality of rods extending upwardly from a top surface of said diaphragm into said upper chamber, a dark colored plate affixed to the top ends of said rods within said upper chamber and below the underside of said lens, and spring means comprising a coil spring between said dark colored plate and said lens in said upper chamber to normally bias said dark colored plate downwardly away from said lens, so that in a first instance when the air pressure is at the set point said dark colored plate will move up towards said lens and be viewed by the person when said diaphragm deflects upwardly, and in a second instance when the air pressure in the tire is below the set point, said coil spring pushing said dark colored plate away from said lens allowing the person to view the bright colored fluid within said upper chamber indicating that the air pressure in the tire has dropped below the set point.

Inventors: CUMMINGS CRAIG, CUMMINGS, CRAIG
Applicants: CUMMINGS CRAIG, CUMMINGS, CRAIG
Application year: 1996
Main classification: B60C23
IPC codes: B60C23