Patent ID: 6901944

Claim:
Apparatus for regulating air flow into a rim mounted pneumatic vehicle tire, said apparatus having an elongated valve housing with an inlet end, an outlet end and a central portion, the outlet end including a rim insertion portion configured to fit into an aperture in the tire rim, a piston disposed within said housing and including a valve member, a coil spring acting between said housing and piston whereby in use of said apparatus the piston is biased to an open position for passage of air into said tire and is movable against said bias under force of air pressure build-up in said tire to a closed position at which the valve member seals against a valve seat to close off said passage of air wherein the spring acts in tension, (and) said piston and spring are located within said central portion of the housing clear of the rim insertion portion so that said rim insertion portion is of a reduced size not obstructive to the mounting of said tire, a band fitted to the piston to show the position thereof is visible through a transparent can fitted to the housing and in use of said apparatus the can carries no structural load and is made of moulded plastic.