Abstract:
A tire pressure sensor includes a sensor device providing a first mounting hole and a second mounting hole in different angles and adapted for detecting the pressure of a tire at a wheel rim, an air valve mountable in a through hole at the wheel rim to guide the air pressure of the tire into the sensor device for sensing, and a fastener for selectively fastening the air valve to the first mounting hole or second mounting hole of the sensor device subject to the type of the wheel rim.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to tire pressure monitoring technology and more particularly to a tire pressure sensor that is applicable to different wheel rims. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Having the proper tire pressure extends the life of the vehicle (car or motorcycle) tires, improves vehicle safety and fuel efficiency. Insufficient tire pressure can reduce the tire life and make the braking distance longer, and the vehicle handling can become wobbly. Overinflated tires are more prone to damage from impacts with small holes in the rod, and can impact the ride comfort of your vehicle. 
         [0005]    To avoid the aforesaid problems, tire pressure sensors are created for mounting in the wheel rim to detect the pressure of the tire, enabling the driver to keep track of tire pressure condition, preventing over-inflation and under-inflation problems. Regular tire pressure sensors generally comprise an air valve and a sensor device. According to conventional designs, the air valve and the sensor device are fixedly connected together, i.e., the angle between the air valve and the sensor device is not adjustable. Thus, conventional tire pressure sensors are simply applicable to one specific type of wheel rims. A tire pressure sensor configured for installation in a wheel rim for sedan is not suitable for installation in a wheel rim for sports car or motorcycle. For enabling a tire pressure sensor to be selectively installed in different types of wheel rims, an extra mounting device will be necessary, complicating the installation and increasing the installation cost. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a tire pressure sensor, which comprises an air valve mountable in any of a variety of wheel rims, a sensor device for detecting the pressure of the tire at the installed wheel rim, and a fastener for selectively fastening the sensor device to the air valve in one of two different angular positions subject to the type of the installed wheel rim. 
         [0007]    A tire pressure sensor in accordance with the present invention comprises a sensor device, an air valve, and a fastener. The sensor device is adapted for measuring the pressure of a tire, comprising a first mounting hole and a second mounting hole. The first mounting hole and the second mounting hole extend in different angles. Thus, the axis of the first mounting hole and the axis of the second mounting hole define a predetermined contained angle. The air valve is mountable in a through hole of a wheel rim, comprising an air intake tip and a tubular mounting rod respectively located at two opposite ends thereof. The fastener is adapted to selectively fasten the tubular mounting rod of the air valve to the first mounting hole or second mounting hole of the sensor device to hold the sensor device in one of two angular positions relative to the air valve. If the air valve is mounted in the first mounting hole of the sensor device, the air valve is kept in an inclined manner relative to the sensor device, allowing the tire pressure sensor to be installed in a wheel rim for sedan. If the air valve is mounted in the second mounting hole of the sensor device, the air valve is kept in vertical relative to the sensor device, allowing the tire pressure sensor to be installed in a wheel rim for sports car. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is an elevational view of a tire pressure sensor in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the tire pressure sensor in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  corresponds to  FIG. 2  when viewed from another angle. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a schematic applied view of the present invention, illustrating the tire pressure sensor installed in a wheel rim for sedan. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view of a part of  FIG. 4 , 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is another schematic applied view of the present invention, illustrating the tire pressure sensor installed in a wheel rim for sports car. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a sectional view of a part of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is still another schematic applied view of the present invention, illustrating the tire pressure sensor installed in a wheel rim for motorcycle. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , a tire pressure sensor  100  in accordance with the present invention is shown. The tire pressure sensor  100  comprises a sensor device  10 , an air valve  20 , and a fastener  30 . 
         [0017]    The sensor device  10  comprises an electronic sensor module (not shown) mounted therein and adapted for measuring the pressure of a tire and transmitting the measured data wirelessly to an on-vehicle main unit (not shown), a mounting frame  13  protruded from a part between a top wall  11  and one sidewall  12  thereof, a first mounting hole  14  located in the mounting frame  13  and extending in an oblique direction relative to the top wall  11  and the sidewall  12 , and a second mounting hole  15  extending through the top wall  11  and a bottom wall  16  thereof in a non-parallel manner relative to the first mounting hole  14 . Thus, the axis of the first mounting hole  14  and the axis of the second mounting hole  15  define a predetermined contained angle smaller than 90-degrees. Further, the first mounting hole  14  and the second mounting hole  15  in this embodiment are countersunk holes. 
         [0018]    The air valve  20  comprises an air intake tip  21  located at a front side thereof, a non-circular mounting rod  22  made in the shape of a tube and located at an opposite rear side thereof, a neck  25  spaced between the annular elastic collar  23  and the elastic stop member  24 , an annular elastic collar  23  and an elastic stop member  24  fixedly arranged around the periphery thereof at two opposite sides of the neck  25  between the air intake tip  21  and the non-circular mounting rod  22 , a screw hole  221  axially located at the distal end of the non-circular mounting rod  22 , and an air hole transversely located at the periphery of the non-circular mounting rod  22  near the elastic stop member  24  and kept in air communication with the inside space of the air intake tip  21  for enabling air to be pumped into the air valve  20 . The outer diameter of the neck  25  is relatively smaller than the outer diameter of the annular elastic collar  23  and the outer diameter of the elastic stop member  24 . After insertion of the air valve  20  through a through hole on a wheel rim. (not shown), the annular elastic collar  23  and the elastic stop member  24  are respectively abutted against the inner and outer sides of the wheel rim. 
         [0019]    The fastener  30  comprises a screw bolt  31  and a cushion ring  32 . The screw bolt  31  is inserted through the cushion ring  32  and then threaded into the screw hole  221  of the air valve  20  to fasten the air valve  20  to the first mounting hole  14  or second mounting hole  15  of the sensor device  10 , enabling the cushion ring  32  to be stopped between the head of the screw bolt  31  and the outer surface of the sensor device  10  around the first mounting hole  14  or second mounting hole  15 . 
         [0020]      FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate an application example of the present invention. According to this application example, the tire pressure sensor  100  is installed in a wheel rim  200  for sedan. As illustrated, the wheel rim  200  defines two rim flanges  201  and a rim body  202  connected between the two rim flanges  201 . The rim flanges  201  and the rim body  202  define a bearing surface area for holding a tire. The wheel rim  200  comprises a through hole  203  obliquely cut through the connection area between one rim flange  201  and the rim body  202 . During installation of the present invention, insert the air valve  20  through the through hole  203  of the wheel rim  200  to keep the neck  25  in the through hole  203  and top have the elastic collar  23  and the elastic stop member  24  be respectively stopped at the opposing inner surface and outer surface the wheel rim  200 , and then fasten the fastener  30  to the screw hole  221  of the air valve  20  to affix the air valve  20  to the first mounting hole  14  of the sensor device  10 , keeping the air valve  20  in an inclined condition relative to the sensor device  10 . 
         [0021]    At this time, the tire pressure sensor  100  is firmly secured to the wheel rim  200  to keep the sensor device  10  in proximity to the wheel rim  200 , avoiding accidental damage to the tire pressure sensor  100 . 
         [0022]      FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate another application example of the present invention. According to this application example, the tire pressure sensor  100  is installed in a wheel rim  300  for sports car. As illustrated, the wheel rim  300  defines two rim flanges  301  and a rim body  302  connected between the two rim flanges  301 . The wheel rim  300  comprises a through hole  303  located in the rim body  302 . During installation of the present invention, insert the air valve  20  through the through hole  303  of the wheel rim  300  to keep the neck  25  in the through hole  303  and to have the elastic collar  23  and the elastic stop member  24  be respectively stopped at the opposing inner surface and outer surface the wheel rim  300 , and then fasten the fastener  30  to the screw hole  221  of the air valve  20  to affix the air valve  20  to the second mounting hole  15  of the sensor device  10 , keeping the air valve  20  in a vertical manner relative to the sensor device  10 . At this time, the tire pressure sensor  100  is firmly secured to the wheel rim  300  to keep the sensor device  10  in proximity to the wheel rim  200 , avoiding accidental damage to the tire pressure sensor  100 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 8  illustrates still another application example of the present invention. According to this application example, the tire pressure sensor  100  is installed in a motorcycle wheel rim  400  for detecting the pressure of the tire. 
         [0024]    In conclusion, subject to the relative installation angle between the sensor device  10  and the air valve  20 , the tire pressure sensor  100  is applicable to different types of wheel rims. 
         [0025]    Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.