WO2001098095A1

WO2001098095A1 - Air pressure information device

Info

Publication number: WO2001098095A1
Application number: PCT/GB2001/002641
Authority: WO
Inventors: Norman John Power; Dean Gibson
Original assignee: Norman John Power; Dean Gibson
Priority date: 2000-06-23
Filing date: 2001-06-15
Publication date: 2001-12-27
Also published as: AU2001274233A1

Abstract

A tyre pressure information tag (10) for indicating the correct pressure to which a vehicle tyre should be inflated with air comprises an attachment collar (12) and an information bearing section (14), on which is displayed the correct pressure value for a specific tyre air pressure.

Description

AIR PRESSURE INFORMATION DEVICE

This invention relates to a device for indicating the intended air pressure for a tyre.

It is known that the inflation of tyres on a vehicle to a correct pressure has safety advantages, because correct inflation ensures that a tyre has optimum road gripping properties . Consequently, it is a known problem to indicate to a user the correct pressure to which a tyre on a vehicle should be inflated.

A previous attempt to solve the above mentioned problem involves providing information for the correct pressure to which a tyre should ideally be inflated. The information has been provided on the dust cap for a tyre valve.

Disadvantages arise with this device because each time a tyre is inflated or the pressure is adjusted the dust cap must be removed. In this situation the dust cap is frequently lost .

It is an object of the present invention to address the above mentioned disadvantages.

According to one aspect of the present invention an air pressure information device for a vehicle tyre comprises attachment means and information bearing means, in which the attachment means is operable to be placed over a valve stem of a vehicle tyre to a position at which the attachment means and the information bearing means are substantially at or below a dust cap receiving section of the valve stem.

The air pressure information device may be arranged to allow a dust cap of the valve stem to be fitted and removed whilst the air pressure information device is in position.

The dust cap receiving section may be a threaded section.

The information bearing means may be located above the attachment means. The information bearing means may be arranged to face a user of the valve stem of a tyre. The information bearing means may face upwards in use.

The attachment means may be a collar, which is preferably elastically deformable to give a tight fit on to a valve stem of a tyre. The attachment means preferably has parallel side walls and is preferably cylindrical. The attachment means may alternatively be tapered.

The information bearing means may form a flange around the attachment means, preferably at an upper end thereof. The attachment means preferably extends though the information bearing means. The information bearing means preferably extends approximately perpendicularly to a length of attachment means .

The information bearing means preferably comprises air pressure information, preferably numerical air pressure information, on an upper surface thereof. The information may be paint or ink on said surface. The information may be moulded on said surface. The information may be etched or engraved on said surface.

The information may be repeated at least once on said surface, with the repeat being in a different orientation to the other information.

The attachment means may abut the information bearing means . The attachment bearing means and the information bearing means may be integrally formed, preferably by a moulding process.

A specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a tyre pressure information tag;

Figure 2 is a schematic view from above of the tyre pressure information tag;

Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view from the side of the tyre pressure information tag being placed on a tyre valve;

Figure 4 is a similar view to that of Figure 3 showing the tyre pressure information tag in position;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but from the side; and Figure 6 is a schematic view from the side of the tyre pressure information tag in position with a dust cap fitted to the tyre valve.

A tyre pressure information tag 10 for indicating the correct pressure to which a vehicle tyre should be inflated with air comprises an attachment collar 12 and an information bearing section 14, on which is displayed the correct pressure value for a specific tyre air pressure.

The tyre pressure information tag 10 is made from plastics material, but may otherwise be made of rubber or other suitable material .

The attachment collar 12 is cylindrical in shape and has an internal diameter of 10mm with walls 0.5mm thick. The collar 12 has a length of 5mm. However, the length or diameter may be varied for different valve sizes. For example a length between 2mm and 20mm may be appropriate.

The information bearing section 14 is located at one end of the attachment collar and makes a perpendicular angle with a longitudinal axis of the attachment collar 12.

The attachment collar 12 has a central opening 16 which extends through the information bearing section 14 so that the information bearing section 14 forms a flange around the central opening 16.

An upper surface 18 of the information bearing section 14 carries a number relating to the desired air pressure to which a corresponding tyre should be inflated. The information may be printed on the upper surface 18 with ink or paint or the information may be painted. Alternatively, the information may be embossed or produced by moulding on the upper surface 18.

A lower surface may bear alternative information, such as a pressure value for an unladen vehicle when the upper surface has a pressure value for a laden vehicle .

In the example shown in Figures 3 and 4 the pressure of 27lbs per square inch (psi) is indicated.

In the Figures the attachment collar 12 is shown having parallel sides. It would be possible for the attachment collar to taper from approximately 10mm in diameter at its junction with the information bearing section 14 to approximately 8mm at the opposite end thereof. This may be suitable for a soft plastic collar that flexes. For a more rigid plastic, such as ABS, the collar may flare outwardly at the base, to achieve a firm fit with a valve stem by slight compression of the valve stem.

In use, the tyre pressure information tag 10 is fitted as follows. A dust cap 24 (see Figure 6) is removed from a valve stem 22 of a vehicle tyre (not shown) . A lower end 20 of the attachment collar 12 is then pushed downwards over the valve stem 22 onto threads 26 of the valve stem 22. The tyre pressure information tag 10 is then pushed downwards until the upper surface 18 of the information bearing section 14 is at about the level of or just below the thread 26. The diameter of the attachment collar 12 is chosen so that stretching of the collar occurs to ensure a tight fit of the tyre pressure information tag 10 on the valve stem 22, so that it stays in position. With the tyre pressure information tag 10 in position the dust cap 24 can be replaced.

With the tyre pressure information tag 10 fitted as described above the correct pressure to which the tyre should be inflated is displayed on the upper surface 18 of the information bearing section 14. Thus, the tyre pressure information is clearly displayed to a user, without the need for a user to look elsewhere for the tyre pressure, such as on a separate chart or on the vehicle's door pillar.

The tyre pressure information tag 10 disclosed herein has the advantage of remaining in position whilst air is pumped into or let out of the valve stem. The tyre pressure information tag also has the advantage of having no moving parts or parts which would wear prematurely and is hence a very long lasting product. Also, the simplicity of the design allows for low cost manufacture of the tyre pressure information tag.

Furthermore, the tyre pressure information tag is very easy to fit and remove. Its durability allows for repeat fitting and removal with very little wear, if desired. Once fitted the tag requires no further handling and does not obstruct connection of an air hose to the valve stem, since the tyre pressure information tag is located below the threads on the valve stem. The information tag is highly useable in that it provides a user with information at the point of application of the air, rather than on a door pillar of the vehicle as is often the case. The above advantages assist in the promotion of road safety because correct tyre inflation is more likely to result with consequent improvements in tyre traction during braking.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) , and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment (s) . The invention extend to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) , or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. An air pressure information device for a vehicle tyre comprises attachment means and information bearing means, in which the attachment means is operable to be placed over a valve stem of a vehicle tyre to a position at which the attachment means and the information bearing means are substantially at or below a dust cap receiving section of the valve stem.

2. An air pressure information device as claimed in claim 1, which is arranged to allow a dust cap of the valve stem to be fitted and removed whilst the air pressure information device is in position.

3. An air pressure information device as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, in which the dust cap receiving section is a threaded section.

4. An air pressure information device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the information bearing means is located above the attachment means .

5. An air pressure information device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the information bearing means are arranged to face a user of the valve stem of a tyre.

6. An air pressure information device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the attachment means is a collar, which is elastically deformable to give a tight fit onto a valve stem of a tyre.

7. An air pressure information device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the attachment means are tapered.

8. An air pressure information device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the information bearing means forms a flange around the attachment means.

9. An air pressure information device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the attachment means extends through the information bearing means .

10. An air pressure information device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the information bearing means extends approximately perpendicularly to a length of the attachment means .

11. An air pressure information device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the information bearing means comprises air pressure information on an upper surface thereof .

12. An air pressure information device as claimed in claim 11, in which the information is paint or ink on said surface.

13. An air pressure information device as claimed in either claim 11 or claim 12, in which the information is moulded on said surface.

14. An air pressure information device as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 13, in which the information is repeated at least once on said surface, with the repeat being in a different orientation to the other information.

15. An air pressure information device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the attachment bearing means and the information bearing means are integrally formed, by a moulding process.

16. An air pressure information device substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings .